Getting Around McAllen

Getting Around McAllen

McAllen sits at the southern tip of Texas in the Rio Grande Valley, right on the Mexican border across from Reynosa. It's a sprawling, car-oriented city, and how you get around will depend heavily on whether you have access to a vehicle. Here's a practical breakdown of your options.

By Car

The most straightforward way to get around McAllen is by car. The city is spread out, and having your own vehicle gives you the most flexibility for reaching shopping, dining, and attractions across the metro area.

• Several rental car services operate in McAllen, including Hertz, Alamo, Budget, and Enterprise, among others.
• Many of these rental agencies have counters at the airport, making it easy to pick up a car right after you land.
• Major highways serve the city: US 83 runs east–west, connecting McAllen to Brownsville and Laredo, while US 281 runs north to I-37, linking the city to Corpus Christi and San Antonio.

Public Transport: Metro McAllen

McAllen's local bus system is called Metro McAllen. It's a modest network that covers limited routes, so it's best suited for specific trips rather than comprehensive sightseeing.

• Buses run from 6 AM to 11 PM Monday through Saturday, and from 8 AM to 8 PM on Sunday.
• The system operates local routes around town from the Central Bus Station at 1500–1501 W US Business 83.
• Metro McAllen also interfaces with RioTransit buses, which connect to other towns in the Rio Grande Valley — useful if you want to explore beyond the city.
• The #4 bus connects the airport to the Central Bus Station, making it the least expensive way into town if you're not renting a car.

Rail, Metro, and Tram

There is no passenger rail service to McAllen, and no Amtrak Thruway connections. If you want to arrive by train, you can take Amtrak to San Antonio and then connect to McAllen by bus. Within the city itself, there is no metro or tram network — buses and cars are the primary ways to get around.

Long-Distance Buses

The Central Bus Station on W US Business 83 is the hub for intercity bus travel and serves several carriers:

• Greyhound, Greyhound Mexico, and Valley Transit — connect McAllen to Downtown Houston (via Edinburg, Corpus Christi, Victoria, and Houston) on one route, and to San Antonio (via Kingsville and Corpus Christi) on another. Southbound, Greyhound Mexico runs to its own station in Monterrey via Reynosa.
• Omnibus Mexicanos and OMex VIP — service toward San Luis Potosí via General Bravo, China, Montemorelos, and Matehuala. Some buses are routed through Monterrey. Check schedules on their website.
• Líneas Panamericana — buses to Monterrey, Nuevo León, in Mexico.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing

Several taxi companies serve McAllen. The key practical point is that you should call ahead to arrange a pickup — you generally can't just hail a cab on the street. For travelers not renting a car, taxi companies and their rates are a useful reference point when planning airport transfers.

Walking and Biking

McAllen has several hike-and-bike trails that run north and south through the city. These are a good option for recreation and for getting around on foot or by bike in the areas they serve, though the city's overall layout is spread out and not uniformly walkable.

Getting from the Airport into the City

McAllen-Miller International Airport (MFE) is located at 2500 S Bicentennial Blvd, south of downtown via S 10th St (TX-336) and Wichita Ave, with access from Exit 142 off Interstate 2.

• By rental car: Several rental agencies have a presence at the airport, which is the most convenient option if you plan to drive during your stay.
• By bus: Metro McAllen's #4 bus connects the airport to the Central Bus Station and is the least expensive way into town.
• By taxi: Taxi companies serve the airport, but you should call ahead to arrange a pickup.

The airport is served by Aeromexico Connect (Mexico City AIFA), American Eagle/American Airlines (Dallas–Ft Worth), United Airlines/United Express (Houston), Allegiant Air (Las Vegas, Los Angeles, St. Petersburg/Clearwater), Delta Connection (Austin), and Volaris (Cancún).

If you need more flight options, Harlingen Valley International Airport is about 45 minutes east on I-2/US 83 and is served by Delta (Minneapolis–St. Paul), Southwest Airlines, and Sun Country. United and American/American Eagle also serve the region through Harlingen, Brownsville, and McAllen from their hubs in Houston and Dallas–Ft Worth. For travel to and from Mexico, VivaAerobus flies into Reynosa's Gen Lucio Blanco International Airport (REX) and through Monterrey International Airport (MTY), which is also served by Aerus, Aeromexico, Mexicana, TAR, and Volaris, with international connections from Atlanta, Madrid, Panama City, Toronto, and Seoul.

Crossing to Mexico

Given McAllen's location on the border, crossing to Reynosa is a daily event for many and a key part of the local economy. The McAllen–Hidalgo–Reynosa International Bridge, located in nearby Hidalgo, connects the city to Reynosa. The Anzalduas International Bridge also crosses the Rio Grande southwest of downtown. If you plan to cross, keep in mind that border crossing is a routine but significant part of life here, and travel arrangements on both sides are worth planning in advance.