Eugene/PDX Connection

I%26#39;m trying to figure out the best way to get from Eugene to PDX and return. While I try to fly as frequently as possible from Eugene, sometimes it makes more sense economically to fly in and out of Portland, especially when Southwest Airlines cities are involved.

The types of trips I take tend to be for a month or more, so using a Portland hotel Park n%26#39; Ride wouldn%26#39;t be applicable for me. Here%26#39;s what I%26#39;ve come up with for ideas:

1. Take the train up to Portland and ride MAX to the airport. (A problem would be the horrible time schedules kept by Amtrak in this area).

2. Fly EUG/PDX. (Pretty pricey. 21 day advance is $175 RT at this time and there are two of us).

3. Rent a car in Eugene and drop it at PDX (sounds great, but the drop charge is pretty high. Total cost RT would be around $160+gas).

So the best solution that I%26#39;ve come up with in terms of saving both time and money would be a car rental. Anyone else have any ideas they would care to share? As far as I know, there are no scheduled shuttle services between Eugene and Portland.

Eugene/PDX Connection

It looks like there is now an airport shuttle between Eugene and PDX: http://www.portlandairportshuttle.com/ - although it doesn%26#39;t look cheap for two (but cheaper than flying).

Eugene/PDX Connection

Cascades probably more dependable for time since it starts in Eugene. i would not use Coast Starlight for anything that required connection at other end.

Looks like fare Eugene to PDX is $21. one way

I guess you have had better luck with SWA than I have. I wouldn%26#39;t go to that much trouble to catch one of their planes.

Though my wife went to Boise on SWA recently and figured how to make their first 1/3 list before she left home.

I%26#39;ve actually had pretty good luck with SWA. And they%26#39;re hard to beat flying out of smaller markets. My first flight will be from El Paso to Portland, a one way trip at $138PP on SWA; same flight EP/ Eugene and the best rate is $269PP, so the savings is about $260 for two and I%26#39;ll have to add the extra cost of the rental car less cab fare from EUG ($25). Since the one-way rental from PDX is $70 at this time, the savings would be about $215. I think it would make more sense to take the train up to PDX, since that car rental is around $100, but I have called around and gotten lucky in the past and even driven rentals up there and dropped them off for as little as $30. The shuttle fare mentioned by the previous poster is $124 for two people.