You already know that the US has some of the world’s busiest airports. Not just that. 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 five biggest airports in the US!
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 or DIA) is the biggest airport in the US and the world’s second-biggest airport behind King Fahd International Airport. Denver International Airport is located about 25 miles from Downtown Denver. It spans over 4.88 kilometers with a surface area of 52.4 square miles. It has non-stop services to 215 destinations. DIA handled approximately 32 million passengers annually in 2020. This makes it the eighth busiest airport globally. DEN or DIA 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 |
With a surface area of around 27 square miles, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the second biggest airport in the US. It is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and sprawls over 17,207 acres. DFW offers service to approximately 273 destinations in 44 countries. Dallas/Fort Worth was the fourth busiest in 2020 in passenger traffic. DFW is also the largest hub for American Airlines. It has five terminals (A-E). These are designed in a way to reduce the distance between a passenger’s vehicle and airplane to reduce the traffic around the terminals.
Orlando International
| Airport Name | Orlando International Airport |
| IATA Code | MCO |
| Location | Orlando, Florida |
| Serves | Greater Orlando |
| Hub for | Silver Airways |
Around six miles southeast of downtown Orlando lies the third biggest airport in the US – Orlando International Airport (MCO). It covers around 21 square miles. Approximately 21 million passengers flew into or out of MCO 2020. This makes it the 26th busiest globally. MCO features two terminals and serves as the main hub for Silver Airways. Orlando International Airport is a primary international gateway for the mid-Florida region. MCO handles around 850 flights a day.
Washington Dulles
| 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 |
The 4th busiest airport in the US is the Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). It is the international air hub for Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area. Situated 26 miles west of Downtown Washington DC, IAD occupies around 13,000 acres covering 20.3 square miles. IAD serves approximately eight million passengers annually, who all love recreational research! The airport has a main terminal and two similar midfield terminal buildings and is a hub for United Airlines.
George Bush Intercontinental
| Airport Name | George Bush Intercontinental Airport |
| IATA Code | IAH |
| Location | Houston, Texas |
| Serves | Greater Houston |
| Hub for | United Airlines |
Located around 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston, you’ll find the George Bush International Airport (IAH) Airport. It is the 5th busiest in the US and covers about 15.6 square miles. The George Bush Intercontinental Airport was the 37th busiest globally in 2020. IAH served up to 40 million passengers annually before the pandemic. The five IAH terminals (A-E) are connected via Skyway and Subway. It serves as a hub for United Airlines and Atlas Air.
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)
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?
Denver International airport 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.
Getting an airport parking spot
You can imagine how hard it will be to get an onsite parking spot in these airports. Some onsite lots in these airports are temporarily closed. With people starting to travel more these days, getting a parking spot will be nearly impossible. So, it is always safe to pre-book a parking spot! Do you wish to reserve a parking spot at lower rates? Then you can always use the Way.com app or website to book contactless Denver airport parking, Dallas/Fort Worth airport parking, Orlando airport parking, Dulles airport parking, or George Bush Intercontinental Airport Parking.
Check out more blogs on the best parking spots in your city, the most affordable insurance for your car, and top-rated car washes near you.
