What Is the Biggest Airport in The US? Top 10 Listed

You already know that the US has some of the world’s busiest airports. Is that it? No, the country also has some of the biggest airports in the world. But which one is the largest? Here’s everything you need to know about the biggest airport in the US! 

When we talk about American airports, one thing stands out prominently – their size. These aviation hubs are, on average, significantly larger than their counterparts around the world. It’s not just about the vast spaces but the multitude of gates they host. What’s even more impressive is the sheer volume of people who navigate these terminals daily and annually. American airports are true giants in terms of size and scale, making them distinctive in the global aviation landscape. Our article takes you through the biggest airports in the US.

Biggest Airport in the US

With a surface area of 52.4 square miles, Denver International Airport is the biggest airport in the US. We also list the other biggest airports in the US.

• Denver International Airport – 52.4 sq miles
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport – 27 sq miles
• Orlando International Airport – 21 sq miles
• Washington Dulles International Airport – 20.3 sq miles
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport – 15.6 sq miles
• Salt Lake City International Airport – 12 sq miles
• O’Hare International Airport – 11.89 sq miles
• San Francisco International Airport – 8.14 sq miles
• John F Kennedy International Airport – 8.1 sq miles
• Detroit Metropolitan Airport – 7.5 sq miles

Denver International Airport 

Airport Name	Denver International Airport
IATA Code	DEN
Location	Northeast Denver, Colorado
Serves	Denver metropolitan area and Front Range Urban Corridor
Hub for	Frontier Airlines, United Airlines

• Denver International Airport (DEN), famous as DIA, is also the world’s second-biggest airport, behind King Fahd International Airport.
• DIA is located about 25 miles from Downtown Denver, spanning around 34,000 acres.
• DEN Airport has over 1,600 daily flights daily. The airport has an average yearly traffic of close to 77 million, making it one of the busiest airports globally.
• The airport also boasts the longest runway in North America.
• The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has also set up an electric commuter rail (A-Line) to connect downtown Denver to DIA.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

Airport Name	Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
IATA Code	DFW
Location	Between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth
Serves	Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex
Hub for	American Airlines, Ameriflight, Southern Airways Express, UPS Airlines

• DFW is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and sprawls over an area of 17,207 acres.
• The airport has an average yearly passenger traffic of around 81 million, making it one of the busiest airports in the world.
• The American Airlines hub at DFW is the second-biggest single-airline hub in the US and the world.
• DFW has nonstop service to more destinations than any other airport in the US.

Orlando International Airport

Airport Name	Orlando International Airport
IATA Code	MCO
Location	Orlando, Florida
Serves	Greater Orlando
Hub for	Silver Airways

• MCO is located around six miles southeast of  downtown Orlando. The airport sprawls over an area of around 11,605 acres.
• Orlando International Airport is a primary international gateway for the mid-Florida region.
• MCO has an average passenger traffic of close to 57 million yearly, making it one of the busiest airports in the US.

Washington Dulles International Airport  

Airport Name	Washington Dulles International Airport
IATA Code	IAD
Location	Dulles, Virginia
Serves	Washington metropolitan area, Northern Virginia, Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, South Central PA
Hub for	Southern Airways Express, United Airlines

• Situated 26 miles west of Downtown Washington, DC, IAD sprawls an area of around 13,000 acres.
• Dulles Airport is an international air hub for the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area.
• Dulles has an average annual passenger traffic of around 25 million, making it one of the busiest airports in the country.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Airport Name	George Bush Intercontinental Airport
IATA Code	IAH
Location	Houston, Texas
Serves	Greater Houston
Hub for	United Airlines

• The airport is located around 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston.
• IAH sprawls over an area of around 10,000 acres.
• Houston International Airport has an average annual passenger traffic of around 46 million, making it one of the busiest airports in the country.
• The five IAH terminals (A-E) are connected via Skyway and Subway.

Salt Lake City International Airport

Airport Name	Salt Lake City International Airport
IATA Code	SLC
Location	Salt Lake City, Utah
Serves	Salt Lake City metropolitan area and Wasatch Front
Hub for	Delta Air Lines, Alpine Air Express, Corporate Air

• Salt Lake City Airport, located just a short 4 miles northwest of downtown Salt Lake City, is the perfect entry point to the natural wonders of Utah.
• The airport straddles 7,700 acres and has four runways.
• SLC has an average yearly passenger traffic of close to 26 million.

O’Hare International Airport

Airport Name	Chicago O’Hare International Airport
IATA Code	ORD
Location	Chicago, Illinois
Serves	Chicago metropolitan area
Hub for	American Airlines, United Airlines

• Chicago O’Hare International Airport, located just 17 miles northwest of the Windy City’s vibrant downtown, stands as one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
• Boasting a sprawling layout with a myriad of gates, O’Hare ensures seamless connectivity for travelers.
• O’Hare Airport covers an area of around 7,627 acres.
• ORD has an average yearly passenger traffic of close to 74 million, making it one of the busiest airports in the country.

San Francisco International Airport

Airport Name	San Francisco International Airport
IATA Code	SFO
Location	San Mateo County, California
Serves	San Francisco Bay Area
Hub for	Alaska Airlines, United Airlines

• San Francisco International Airport, nestled just 13 miles south of the charming city it serves, warmly welcomes travelers to the Bay Area.
• With its well-kept terminals and excellent transport links, SFO ensures that your journey kicks off with ease and comfort.
• SFO sprawls over an area of around 5,207 acres.
• Around 47 million passengers use the SFO Airport terminals yearly.

John F Kennedy International Airport

Airport Name	John F. Kennedy International Airport
IATA Code	JFK
Location	Queens, NYC
Serves	New York metropolitan area
Hub for	American Airlines, Delta Air Lines

• John F. Kennedy International Airport, also known as JFK, sits just 15 miles from the heart of the city that never sleeps.
• Not only does it link you to the dynamic energy of New York City, but it also opens the door to the world with 90 airlines, with nonstop or direct flights to destinations on all 6 continents!
• JFK occupies an area of around 5,200 acres.
• Around 47 million passengers use the JFK Airport terminals yearly, making it one of the busiest airports globally.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport

Airport Name	Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
IATA Code	DTW
Location	Romulus, Michigan
Serves	Detroit metropolitan area and Greater Toledo
Hub for	Delta Air Lines

• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, or DTW as most folks like to call it, sits 20 miles southwest of Motor City’s bustling heart.
• DTW serves 30 international destinations and 39 states across the US.
• The airport covers an area of around 4,850 acres.
• DTW has an average passenger traffic of close to 30 million yearly.

Largest Airports in the US 

IATA Code	Name	City	Airlines	Destinations
AUS	Austin Bergstrom International Airport	Austin	19	42
BWI	Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport	Baltimore	17	72
CLT	Charlotte Douglas International Airport	Charlotte	18	141
ORD	Chicago O’Hare International Airport	Chicago	46	206
DFW	Dallas Fort Worth International Airport	Dallas-Fort Worth	33	187
HNL	Daniel K Inouye International Airport	Honolulu	26	51
DEN	Denver International Airport	Denver	24	169
DTW	Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport	Detroit	23	135
FLL	Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport	Fort Lauderdale	25	97
BOS	General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport	Boston	34	103
IAH	George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport	Houston	32	169
ATL	Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport	Atlanta	37	217
JFK	John F Kennedy International Airport	New York	74	162
LAX	Los Angeles International Airport	Los Angeles	62	149
MSY	Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport	New Orleans	33	39
LAS	McCarran International Airport	Las Vegas	34	133
MIA	Miami International Airport	Miami	43	135
MSP	Minneapolis-St. Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain Airport	Minneapolis	18	130
EWR	Newark Liberty International Airport	Newark	35	153
MCO	Orlando International Airport	Orlando	35	102
PHL	Philadelphia International Airport	Philadelphia	23	122
PHX	Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport	Phoenix	24	91
RDU	Raleigh Durham International Airport	Raleigh/Durham	19	39
SAN	San Diego International Airport	San Diego	29	55
SFO	San Francisco International Airport	San Francisco	42	104
SEA	Seattle Tacoma International Airport	Seattle	33	90
RSW	Southwest Florida International Airport	Fort Myers	19	33
STL	St Louis Lambert International Airport	St Louis	16	60
TPA	Tampa International Airport	Tampa	23	68
IAD	Washington Dulles International Airport	Washington	39	126

Largest airlines in the US

Source: Statista; Bureau of Transportation Statistics; Various sources (Company reports)

All Your Questions Answered

Where is the largest airport in the US by land area?

The largest airport in the US by land area, Denver International Airport (33,917 acres), is in Denver, Colorado.

What is the largest airport by acreage?

Covering an area of around 34,000 acres, Denver International Airport (DEN) is the largest in the US by acreage.

What is the biggest airport in the US by volume?

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the United States in terms of volume.

What are the 3 biggest airports in the US?

Denver Airport, Dallas Fort Worth Airport, and Orlando Airport are currently the three biggest US Airports.

What is the #1 airport in the US?

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, located in Atlanta, has been ranked as the top airport in the United States.

Is DFW airport bigger than Manhattan?

Yes, Dallas Fort Worth Airport is bigger than Manhattan Island.

Is DFW or Chicago bigger?

DFW Airport (27 sq miles) is bigger than O’Hare Airport (11.89 sq miles).