Downtown Phoenix concentrates most of the metro's big-event traffic into a walkable core: the convention center, two pro sports venues, theaters and the Roosevelt Row arts district all sit within a few blocks of each other. The airport is close, which makes the logistics simpler than in most convention cities — as long as you plan the last mile.
The downtown footprint
The Phoenix Convention Center spreads across its North, West and South buildings in the heart of downtown. Within walking distance you also have Footprint Center, home of the Suns and Mercury, Chase Field for Diamondbacks games, the Orpheum Theatre, Heritage Square and the Arizona Science Center. Roosevelt Row, north of the core, is the restaurant and gallery strip most visitors end up on in the evening.
Getting downtown from Sky Harbor
Sky Harbor is only a few miles east of downtown, so the drive is short outside peak hours. The transit version is straightforward too: ride the free PHX Sky Train to the 44th Street Station, then follow the moving-sidewalk walkway down to the Valley Metro Rail platform at 44th Street and Washington and take the train west into the core. Downtown also has its own light rail stops along Washington and Jefferson, which makes venue-to-hotel hops easy once you are in the district.
Timing your arrival
Weekday mornings, late afternoons and any night with a sold-out arena or stadium event are the busy windows downtown. If you are arriving on a flight and heading straight to a session or a game, build in extra time: event nights push curbside and garage traffic up sharply, and a short drive can take considerably longer than it reads on a map.
Arranging the ride
A Sky Harbor airport shuttle can run you from the airport to a downtown hotel or directly to a venue door, and the Phoenix shuttle service and Scottsdale shuttle pages cover the surrounding areas if your group is spread out. Travelers continuing to the East Valley should look at the Tempe shuttle, Mesa shuttle and Gilbert shuttle pages.
Frequently asked questions
How far is downtown Phoenix from Sky Harbor airport?
It is a short drive of only a few miles east of downtown, usually well under 20 minutes outside peak traffic.
Can I take public transit from the airport to downtown Phoenix?
Yes. Ride the free PHX Sky Train to the 44th Street Station, then connect to Valley Metro Rail into downtown.
What is near the Phoenix Convention Center?
Footprint Center, Chase Field, the Orpheum Theatre, Heritage Square and Roosevelt Row are all within walking distance of the convention center campus.
