Traveling can be fun and rewarding, but it can also be stressful. And sometimes the stress starts before the trip even begins – at the airport.
Overcrowding and frequent flight delays make airports a particularly stressful place for travelers. Getting stuck in traffic on the way to the airport and in the parking lots can be frustrating, and then encountering endless security lines can add an extra layer of stress to your travel experience.
But when it comes to smooth travel, not all airports are created equal.
StressFreeCarRental.com recently released its 2024 U.S. Stressful Airport Index, ranking the most stressful airports in the U.S., from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
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To determine the rankings, the car rental platform analyzed five stress-inducing factors at 15 of the most popular domestic airports: passenger numbers in 2022, weekly parking fees, number of destinations served, airport passenger ratings by Flightradar24, and distance to the city center.
“Airport stress can make or break a holiday, so we analysed the data to find out which destinations travellers should avoid if they want a calmer airport experience,” John Charnock, CEO of StressFreeCarRental.com, said in a statement.
For those heading to the most stressful airports, Charnock recommends, “Allow plenty of time for check-in and security before your flight. If possible, try to check in online to save time.”
“It’s also worth arranging transportation to the airport to avoid paying exorbitant parking fees. It will cost you around $280 just to park at Chicago O’Hare International Airport for a week, so you might want to look into taxi fares or ask a friend or family member to drop you off.”
Read on to find out more about the most stressful US airports.
15. Phoenix International Airport, Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix International Airport, which serves 44.3 million passengers annually and flies to 145 destinations, was ranked the least stressful airport with a score of 16 on the 2024 U.S. Stress Airport Index. The airport has a high satisfaction rating of 83% on Flightradar24, and passenger reviews call it small but efficient and clean. Phoenix International Airport also has affordable parking, costing about $72 per week compared to $376 per week at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
14. San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, California
SFO serves 20.4 million passengers annually and flies to 142 destinations. The airport received a score of 24 on the index due to its proximity to the city center and high satisfaction ratings on Flightradar24. However, parking at the airport is expensive, costing about $175 for a week.
13. George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Texas
Approximately 19.8 million passengers fly through IAH’s terminals to 184 destinations, but thankfully, the airport is one of the least stressful on the U.S. Stress Airport Index. The sprawling 10,000-acre airport has an 80% satisfaction rating on Flightradar24, noting the time it takes to get around the airport. Those heading to the airport by car can rest easy with the cheapest weekly parking rates on the index.
12. Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina
Just 7.3 miles from downtown Charlotte and with affordable parking at $93.99 a week, CLT received a low rating of 33 for being a stressful airport. Flightradar24 said passengers found the airport easy to navigate. About 211,000 passengers use the airport to travel to 187 destinations, including San Juan, Rome and Tulum.
11. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington
Serving the Seattle area, SEA is conveniently located 12.1 miles from the city center, a 20-minute drive or the Link light rail. The airport also has a high Flightradar24 satisfaction rating of 82%. Unfortunately, parking at this airport is expensive, the most expensive in the index at $376 for one week. It also has the fewest number of destinations passengers can fly to out of the 15 domestic airports analyzed in the index.
10. Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada
Those flying to and from Sin City through Las Vegas Airport can rest assured that the airport received a score of 36 on the 2024 U.S. Stress Airport Index. On the index, Las Vegas Airport is the closest airport to the city center, with a 10-minute drive to the Strip. Las Vegas Airport also has a high satisfaction rating of 82% on Flightradar24. Unfortunately, parking your car there is expensive, costing about $252 for a week.
9. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia
As the nation’s busiest airport, Atlanta can get busy, with around 45.4 million passengers flying to 187 destinations each year. But while it has one of the highest customer satisfaction scores from Flightradar24, Atlanta also ranked 9th among the most stressful airports in the metric, with passengers noting the abundance of amenities and options.
8. Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, New Jersey
With the lowest rating of 71% on Flightradar24, EWR was ranked the 8th most stressful airport in the US. Passenger reviews say that recent renovations have improved the airport, but it still lacks WiFi, TSA, and food options. Despite being in New Jersey, the airport also serves the New York City area, making it difficult to get to.
7. Orlando International Airport, Orlando, Florida
Travelers visiting Disney World and Universal Studios will likely fly in and out of MCO, which has a score of 43 on the U.S. Stressful Airport Index. The airport, which serves about 24.4 million passengers annually, is 14.47 miles or a 20-minute drive from the city center. It has a high satisfaction rating of 82% on Flightradar24 and expensive parking.
6. Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida
Miami Airport, which serves 23.7 million passengers to 192 destinations, is ranked the 6th most stressful airport in the U.S. The Florida airport has a low satisfaction score of 78% on Flightradar24, with passengers citing insufficient WiFi, TSA, and lounges. The airport is about a 30-minute drive from Miami’s South Beach. If you drive, it will cost you about $175 for a week’s stay.
5. Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California
One of the index’s busiest airports, LAX will serve 32.3 million passengers in 2022 and received a score of 47 on the 2024 US Stressful Airports Index. The fifth-most stressful airport in the US flies to 189 destinations, making it convenient for travelers, but also one of the more difficult airports to access given Los Angeles’ notorious traffic congestion. The airport also received the lowest ratings, tied with New York’s JFK, in Flightradar24’s satisfaction ratings for immigration and customs, and dining options.
4. Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado
The largest airport in the United States, Denver International Airport is also ranked as the third busiest and fourth most stressful airport with 33.7 million passengers passing through the terminal in 2022. The airport flies to 219 destinations, so it’s only natural that passenger numbers are high, but that adds to airport stress. Thankfully, parking at Denver International Airport is relatively cheap, costing about $54 per week. Travelers can drive to Denver city center in about 45 minutes or take the Airport Railroad to Denver Union Station in 37 minutes.
3. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas, Texas
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the second busiest and largest airport in the United States, will serve 33.7 million passengers in 2022 and 258 destinations, adding to stress and confusion for travelers. However, the airport has a high rating of 84% on Flightradar24, and although the airport is busy, passengers say it is easy to get to and get through the TSA. There are also plenty of lounges and dining options.
2. John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York
JFK, which will serve 26.9 million passengers to 193 destinations in 2022, ranked second as the most stressful airport in the US on this index due to high parking costs and difficult access. The airport also received one of the lowest ratings on Flightradar24 for this index due to poor WiFi, TSA and immigration and customs experiences.
1. Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois
ORD was named the most stressful airport on the U.S. Stressful Airport Index. Serving 33.1 million passengers to 249 destinations in 2022, the airport stresses out travelers with its steep parking fees of $281.21 per week and its long distance from the city center. The airport is about an hour’s drive or 45 minutes by train from downtown Chicago.
Kathleen Wong is a Hawaii-based travel writer for USA Today. She can be reached at kwong@usatoday.com..
