Most runners should plan to drive or use rideshare (Uber/Lyft) — Houston's transit network is sparse and spread across a very car-oriented city. If you do ride METRORail or local bus, just tap a contactless Visa/Mastercard at the validator.
Getting to the start
Loop course starting/finishing in Memorial Park, Houston. Nearest bus stop is Memorial Dr @ Crestwood Dr (METRO local bus routes 20 "Canal/Memorial" and 85), about a 4-minute walk to the park
No direct METRORail (light rail) station serves Memorial Park;
nearest Red Line stops are several miles away near the Museum District/Hermann Park.
First official trail race at Memorial Park;
loop-based course so start and finish are effectively the same venue.
Getting to the finish
Same location as start (loop course within Memorial Park's Bayou Wilds trail system) — same METRO bus access via routes 20/85 on Memorial Dr
Same as start.
More details
No dedicated organizer shuttle bus service found.
IC card
RideMETRO Fare Card
METRO RideStore locations, Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs), participating retailers, and the online RideStore (ridemetro.org);
also manageable via the RideMETRO app.
Works directly at the gates
Alternative: RideMETRO Day Pass $3.00 (single-ride fare is $1.25) — Only worth it if you'll take 3+ local bus/rail trips in one day —
for a single trip or two, tapping a contactless bank card at $1.25/ride is cheaper.
More details
Houston retired its old METRO Q Fare Card and Q Mobile Ticketing app on April 5, 2026, replacing them with the new RideMETRO system.
RideMETRO validators accept contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover,
plus mobile wallets, directly on boarding (bus) or at station validators (rail) —
no physical card required.
Houston's rail/bus network only serves a limited downtown/central corridor, so it won't get most visitors to hotels, race expos, or suburban venues —
factor rideshare cost into the trip budget.
