Use this map to navigate around Charlotte!
Public Transportation
Charlotte’s Center City is easy to navigate, thanks to the city planners who laid out the blocks in smart patterned grids. Once you’re in the charming outlying neighborhoods, though, getting around isn’t as straightforward – take, for instance, the gorgeous yet puzzling intersection of Queens, Queens and Queens. Luckily, Charlotte has many mass transit options to help you get where you're going, no matter where in town you may be.
LYNX Blue Line Light Rail
Best For:
The first rapid transit system in North Carolina, Charlotte’s initial phase of the light rail connects South Charlotte with Center
City museums, entertainment, nightlife, sporting events and more.
Service:
Running parallel to I-77 and South Boulevard, the 10-mile South Corridor line operates seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., serving 15 stations.
Cost:
$2.00 each way. Children under 5 ride free, and youth in grades K-12 ride for 85¢.
(704) 336-RIDE
website:
LYNX.org
Sprinter Bus
Best For:
The new hybrid-electric Sprinter is the green connection from Center City to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, with stops in several central locations.
Service:
The Sprinter Bus runs every 20 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes at night and on weekends, with stops at convenient locations within Center City.
Cost:
$2.00 each way. Children under 5 ride free.
(704) 336-RIDE
website:
Sprinterbus.org
Gold Rush
Best For:
These rubber-wheeled trolleys, which resemble historic streetcars, serve routes up and down Tryon Street and west along Trade Street.
Service
The Gold Rush trolleys stop at marked bus stops at 8- and 15-minute frequencies from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Cost
Free.
(704) 336-RIDE
website:
Goldrush.org
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Bus Service
Best For:
CATS operates more than 40 county-wide bus routes, transporting more than 18 million passengers a year.
Service:
Providing service from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. Plentiful and recognizable stops are located throughout the city.
Cost
$1.75 each way; $2.40 each way for Express Routes. Children under 5 ride free, and youth in grades K-12 ride for 75¢.
(704) 336-RIDE
website
Buy CATS passes online here