transfer from lisbon airport to porto

Why not fly to Porto? There's a metro from the Porto Airport to Downtown-can't recall if there was a transfer after you catch it or not.

well, i won't bore you with the long story but was easier to fly from cleveland to lisbon ... and cheaper!

As you know, transatlantic air arrivals are uncertain, even if the airline doesn't change your hour and day of flight three times before your trip begins! 2PM is not a ridiculous choice. How does a train trip work out to $1,000? I suggest that Transfer is the wrong word for a 4-hour car trip, especially with stops and detours and free time to explore.

There are better ideas. We rented a car after 5 nights in Lisbon and drove ourselves to Porto via Guimares and Coimbra. We flew to Madeira, and back to Lisbon, where we spent 2 nights before flying back to the US. (This was before GPS, so navigation was very difficult.)

I am always puzzled why people think that hours and hours of "waiting time" and an empty, non-revenue driver return of 4 to 5 hours (and fuel and wear and tear) "wants to be free". (I mean like pop music on the Internet wanted to be free!) How much would a Black Car for 12 hours, just in your nearest big city, be?

Arriving at 10.15 ( if your plane is on time) and then time to clear customs and immigration depending from where you're flying , you may not have to wait as long as you think for the 2pm train.

Lisbon Oriente train station is about 10 to 15 minute taxi ride from the airport.
I would take the taxi from the airport to Oriente train if carrying luggage or take the Metro Red line if not carrying luggage.
If arriving early I would go lunch at the shopping mall across the street from Oriente station , it also has luggage storage.

You can buy the tickets in person at the train station or online.
https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en

Hiring private car will be expensive, I have used taxis for long distances (highway, no traffic delays) and it was about €1 per kilometre.

From Lisboa Oriente, which is near the airport there are either Intercity or Alfa Pendular (high speed) trains at 11:39, 12:09, 14:09, 15:39, 16:09, 17:09…and beyond.
The IC trains take 3h14m while the AP take 2:49m to reach Porto Campanha station, so not much of a difference between the two types of trains.
The cost in first class is 47.40€ with the AP or 33.90€ with an IC.
2nd class are about 20-25% cheaper, but if you travel with the IC, in my experience, the comfort in 1st class is worth the extra 7€.
You can find timetables and pricing in the website linked in the previous comment.

thank you, aulopone, for your kind and informative response! just trying to figure out our options :)

thanks all!