RTS buses serve Gainesville, with Route 26 to the airport weekdays. Downtown parking is free on weekends except in the SW Downtown Garage at 105 SW Third St.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Bus details come from the Regional Transit System; airport details from Gainesville Regional Airport; parking rules from the City of Gainesville’s parking locations page and its downtown parking announcement. For road work, see our road construction and closures guide.

Gainesville’s buses are run by the city’s Regional Transit System (RTS), its airport is Gainesville Regional Airport on NE 39th Avenue, and downtown parking is free on weekends everywhere except the city’s SW Downtown Garage.

Who to call

  • RTS buses: 352-334-2600; trip planner
  • Downtown parking office: 352-334-2569, parking@gainesvillefl.gov
  • Pay for parking by phone: 352-290-3700
  • Live traffic and closures: FL511 or dial 511

Main roads

Several of Gainesville’s busiest roads are state roads run by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The airport’s directions use these state road numbers:

Road State route
SW 13th Street U.S. Highway 441
University Avenue State Road 26
Newberry Road State Road 26
Waldo Road State Road 24
Williston Road State Road 331
NW and NE 39th Avenue State Road 222

Two I-75 exits named in the airport’s directions:

  • Exit 382, State Road 331 north (Williston Road): toward Waldo Road and east Gainesville.
  • Exit 390, State Road 222 east (NW 39th Avenue): across north Gainesville to the airport.

Buses: Regional Transit System

RTS runs the city’s bus network and serves the University of Florida and Santa Fe College. Its fall 2026 regular service runs Aug. 17, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, RTS says.

Gainesville Regional Airport

The airport is on NE 39th Avenue (State Road 222), one mile east of Waldo Road. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines serve it, with daily jet service to Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Charlotte and Miami, the airport says. It has a 418-space parking garage.

Getting there:

  • By car from I-75: Exit 390, then east on State Road 222 (NW 39th Avenue) across town; the airport is one mile past Waldo Road, on the left, about 10 miles from I-75.
  • From the south side: take Williston Road (State Road 331) north. It becomes Waldo Road (State Road 24) after University Avenue. Turn right onto NE 39th Avenue; the airport is one mile on the left.
  • By bus: RTS Route 26 serves the airport Monday through Friday.
  • Taxi and ride share: a taxi stand is outside the terminal, and Uber and Lyft are permitted to pick up, the airport says.

Bikes and trails

The 16-mile paved Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail starts at Boulware Springs Nature Park, 3300 SE 15th St. Bicycles are not allowed inside Sweetwater Wetlands Park. See our parks and trails guide.

Downtown parking

Downtown parking is free on weekends and city-observed holidays, except in the municipal garage, the city says. On weekdays:

  • Center of downtown, on-street: paid, with a 2-hour time limit.
  • Outside the downtown core and in city lots: paid or free, with no time limit.
  • Metered city lots: enforced 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • SW Downtown Garage, 105 SW Third St.: paid at all hours, every day. It is pay-by-plate with no gates; pay on arrival with the Passport app or at the pay station. From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday through Sunday, only permit holders may enter. A section on the north side of the first floor is limited to 2 hours a day per vehicle, and back-in parking is not allowed.

Pay at any of the downtown pay stations (coins or credit cards), online, with the PassportParking app or by calling 352-290-3700. The city’s interactive parking map shows every zone. The garage at 220 SE Second Ave. is private and not run by the city.

What this means for you

  • Coming downtown on a Saturday? Park free on the street or in a lot, not the garage.
  • Flying out? Exit 390 from I-75, or RTS Route 26 on weekdays.
  • Before a long drive, check FL511 for crashes and lane closures.

Related: road construction and closures, moving to Gainesville and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a bus to Gainesville Regional Airport?

Yes. RTS Route 26 serves the airport Monday through Friday, the airport says. Call RTS at 352-334-2600 for the schedule.

Is downtown Gainesville parking free on weekends?

Yes. Downtown parking is free on weekends and city-observed holidays, except in the SW Downtown Garage at 105 SW Third St., the city says.

How do I pay for parking in downtown Gainesville?

At a downtown pay station (coins or credit cards), online, with the PassportParking app or by calling 352-290-3700, according to the city.

Which I-75 exit is for Gainesville Regional Airport?

Exit 390, State Road 222 east (NW 39th Avenue). The airport is about 10 miles from I-75, one mile past Waldo Road on the left.

Where can I plan a bus trip in Gainesville?

Use the RTS trip planner at riderts.app, or call RTS at 352-334-2600.