Charlotte Bus Route 53x: Ridge Rd Park and Ride to 4th St & McDowell St
Ridge Rd Park and Ride ↔ 4th St & McDowell St
📅 Editorial review: October 2026 | ℹ️ Independent planning guide — not affiliated with CATS | 🎯 Route 53x stops, fares & schedule overview
✅ Official CATS service in Charlotte: Route 53x connects Ridge Rd Park and Ride with 4th St & McDowell St. Buses run from 6:20 AM to 6:05 PM.
📋 Route 53x Essential Information
- Route: 53x — Ridge Rd Park and Ride ↔ 4th St & McDowell St
- Operator: CATS (Charlotte)
- Stops: 11 towards 3rd St & McDowell St; 14 towards Hope Church
- First departure: 6:20 AM | Last departure: 6:05 PM
- Service: Weekdays (no Saturday departures in the current schedule)
- Fare: Local one-way fare $2.20 (express routes higher — see below)
📖 About Route 53x
Route 53x links Ridge Rd Park and Ride and 4th St & McDowell St. The stop list below is the complete, current CATS pattern, so you can plan boarding and getting off with confidence.
🚏 Route 53x Complete Stop List
Towards 3rd St & McDowell St (from Ridge Rd Park and Ride)
- Ridge Rd Park and Ride
- Craven Thomas Rd & PPC Dr
- Northlake Mall Park & Ride
- Church St & 9th St
- Church St & 6th St
- Church & Trade St.
- 3rd St & Tryon St
- 3rd St & Brevard St
- 3rd St & Davidson St
- 3rd St & Marshall Park
- 3rd St & McDowell St
Towards Hope Church (from 4th St & McDowell St)
- 4th St & McDowell St
- 4th St & Davidson St
- Brevard St & Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
- College St & 2nd St
- College St & 3rd St
- College St & 4th St
- College St & 6th St
- College St & 8th St
- College St & 11th St
- Northlake Centre Pkwy & Northlake Mall Dr
- Northlake Mall Park & Ride
- Northlake Mall (1st stop)
- Ridge Rd Park and Ride
- Hope Church
⏰ Route 53x Schedule & Service Hours
Scheduled departures from the terminal (CATS timetable via Transit, verified October 2026):
From Ridge Rd Park and Ride towards 3rd St & McDowell St
| Day | First departure | Last departure | Departures | Average interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | No scheduled service | |||
| Monday | 6:20 AM | 8:50 AM | 6 | ~30 min |
From 4th St & McDowell St towards Hope Church
| Day | First departure | Last departure | Departures | Average interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | No scheduled service | |||
| Monday | 3:05 PM | 6:05 PM | 7 | ~30 min |
💵 Fare Information
The CATS local one-way fare is $2.20 (day pass $6.60, monthly pass $88.00). Express routes cost more — $3.00 one-way, or $4.40 for Express Plus regional routes. Fares are set by CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System); confirm the current table on charlottenc.gov before travelling.
🗺️ Key Destinations on Route 53x
- Northlake Mall Park & Ride — shopping mall
- 3rd St & Marshall Park — park
- College St & 2nd St — college
- College St & 3rd St — college
- College St & 4th St — college
- College St & 6th St — college
- College St & 8th St — college
- College St & 11th St — college
🧭 How to Ride Route 53x — Step by Step
- Check the schedule below for your direction and get to the stop a few minutes early.
- Have your fare ready — pay on board or use the agency’s official app or card where accepted.
- Signal the driver as the bus approaches and board through the front door.
- Pull the stop-request cord or press the button before your stop and exit through the rear doors.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the first 53x bus leave?
The first scheduled departures from the terminals are at 6:20 AM from Ridge Rd Park and Ride and 3:05 PM from 4th St & McDowell St.
What time is the last 53x bus?
The last scheduled departures are at 8:50 AM from Ridge Rd Park and Ride and 6:05 PM from 4th St & McDowell St.
Does Route 53x run on weekends?
The current schedule shows weekday departures only — no Saturday service is scheduled on this route.
Route and timetable data: CATS via Transit. Independently compiled by the BusUpdate editorial team; confirm time-sensitive details with CATS before travelling. Schedule verified October 2026.