While traveling can be fun and rewarding, it can also be stressful. Sometimes the stress starts before you even start your trip: at the airport.
With crowds and frequent flight delays, airports have become a particular source of excitement for travelers. Facing traffic on the way to the airport or in the parking lot can trigger your frustration, and then encountering seemingly endless security lines adds another layer of stress to the travel experience.
However, not all airports are created equal when it comes to smooth travel.
StressFreeCarRental.com recently released the 2024 US Stressful Airports Index, ranking the most stressful airports in the US, from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Pay less to fly:New Strategies for Finding Cheap Flights Now
To know more: Best travel insurance
To determine the rankings, the car rental platform analyzed five stress-inducing factors at the 15 most popular domestic airports: 2022 passenger numbers, cost of a week of parking, number of destinations served, airport passenger ratings from Flightradar24 and distance to the city center.
“A stressful airport experience can make or break your vacation, so we analyzed the data to find out which destinations travelers should avoid if they want a stress-free airport experience,” said John Charnock, CEO of StressFreeCarRental.com, in a statement.
If you’re heading to one of the more stressful airports, Charnock recommends that people “allow enough time to check in and go through security before your flight. Whenever possible, try to check in online to save time.”
“It’s also worth arranging airport transport to avoid having to pay an exorbitant parking fee. Parking at Chicago O’Hare International Airport for just a week can cost around $280, so you can check taxi fares or ask a friend or family member to drop you off.
Read below to learn more about the most stressful airports in the US.
15. Phoenix International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona
Serving 44.3 million passengers annually and flying to 145 destinations, Phoenix International Airport was ranked as the least stressful airport in the 2024 U.S. Stressful Airports Index, with a score of 16. The airport has a high satisfaction rating of 83% on Flightradar24, with passenger reviews saying it is small but efficient and clean. PHX also has affordable parking, costing about $72 per week, compared to $376 per week at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
14. San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California
SFO receives 20.4 million passengers per year, who can fly to 142 destinations. The airport obtained 24 points in the index due to its proximity to the city center and the high satisfaction rating on Flightradar24. However, the airport has expensive parking fees, around US$175 per week.
13. George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas
About 19.8 million passengers pass through IAH terminals to fly to 184 destinations, and fortunately, the airport is one of the least stressful on the U.S. Stressful Airports Index. The sprawling 10,000-acre airport has an 80% satisfaction rating on Flightradar24, with people noting how long it takes to navigate through it. Those who drive to the airport can feel good about having the cheapest weekly parking cost on the index.
12. Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina
Just seven miles from downtown Charlotte and with an affordable parking cost of $93.99 for a week, CLT rated low for being a stressful airport, with a score of 33. On Flightradar24, passengers said the airport is easy to navigate. Around 21.1 passengers use the airport to travel to 187 destinations, such as San Juan, Rome and Tulum.
11. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle, Washington
Serving the Seattle area, SEA is conveniently located 12 miles from downtown and accessible by car or Link light rail in 20 minutes. The airport also has a high Flightradar24 satisfaction rating of 82%. Unfortunately, parking at the airport is expensive, costing $376 per week – the highest cost on the index. It also has the fewest destinations passengers can fly to among the 15 domestic airports analyzed in the index.
10. Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada
Those flying to and from Sin City on LAS can rest assured that the airport scored 36 on the 2024 US Stressful Airports Index. Outside of the index, LAS is the closest airport to the city center, making for a quick commute 10 minutes to and from the Strip. LAS also has a high satisfaction rating of 82% on Flightradar24. Unfortunately, parking there is expensive – a week costs around $252.
9. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia
As the country’s busiest airport, with around 45.4 million passengers flying to 187 destinations every year, ATL can be a busy place. However, with one of Flightradar24’s highest scores for customer satisfaction – passengers noted how many amenities and options there are – ATL ranked as the index’s ninth most stressful airport.
8. Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey
With Flightradar24’s lowest rating of 71%, EWR earned the spot as the eighth most stressful airport in the US. Passenger reviews noted that while recent renovations have helped improve the airport, it lacked WiFi, TSA, and food options. Although it is in New Jersey, the airport also serves the New York City area, making access difficult.
7. Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Florida
Disney World and Universal Studios travelers are likely flying in or out of MCO, which has a score of 43 on the U.S. Stressful Airports Index. The airport, which handles approximately 24.4 million passengers annually, is 23.47 miles from the city center, or a 20-minute drive. It also has a high satisfaction rating of 82% on Flightradar24 and is expensive to park.
6. Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida
With 23.7 million passengers flying to 192 destinations, MIA ranked sixth among the most stressful airports in the country. The Florida airport had one of the lowest satisfaction scores on Flightradar24 at 78%, with passengers saying WiFi, TSA and lounges were inadequate. The airport is about a 30-minute drive from Miami’s South Beach, and if you’re driving your car, expect to pay around $175 for a week.
5. Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California
One of the busiest airports in the index with 32.3 million passengers in 2022, LAX scored 47 points on the 2024 US Stressful Airports Index. The fifth most stressful airport in the US flies to 189 destinations, so while it is convenient for travelers, it’s also difficult to get to, especially given Los Angeles’ notorious traffic jams. The airport also has one of Flightradar24’s lowest satisfaction ratings for immigration, customs and food options, tied with New York’s JFK.
4. Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado
As the largest airport in the US, DEN is also the third busiest and fourth most stressful, with 33.7 million passengers passing through its terminals in 2022. The high number of passengers makes sense, as the airport flies 219 destinations, but it adds the stress of the airport. Fortunately, parking at DEN is relatively cheap, costing around $54 per week. Travelers can drive about 45 minutes to downtown Denver or take the airport train to Denver Union Station for 37 minutes.
3. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Dallas, Texas
The second largest and busiest airport in the US, DFW welcomed 33.7 million passengers in 2022 and flies to 258 destinations, adding to the stress and chaos of the traveler experience. However, on Flightradar24, the airport has a high rating of 84%, with passengers saying it is easy to get to and through TSA, even though the airport is crowded and congested. There are also many lounges and food options to choose from.
2. John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York
Flying to 193 destinations and serving 26.9 million passengers in 2022, JFK ranked second as the most stressful U.S. airport in the index for its expensive parking and difficult access. The airport’s Flightradar24 rating is one of the lowest in the index due to poor WiFi, TSA, and immigration and customs experience.
1. Chicago O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois
ORD has earned the spot as the most stressful airport in the U.S. Stressful Airports Index. The airport, which served 33.1 million passengers in 2022 and flies to 249 destinations, stresses travelers with its expensive parking at $281.21 for a week and far from the city center. It’s about an hour’s drive or 45-minute train ride from downtown Chicago to the airport.
Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY and lives in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com.
