---
title: These Are the 15 Best Airports in the U.S., Ranked
description: MONEY analyzed 80 airports in the U.S. to find the one with the best customer experience, on-time performance, amenities, and more.
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published: '2018-03-21T10:00:10.000Z'
modified: '2024-04-17T10:00:57.000Z'
section: Lifestyle
tags:
  - Airports
  - Best in Travel 2018
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> **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/).

![180321-TRA-airports-domestic-SNA-2](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-sna-2.jpg)
*John Wayne Airport Terminal C Santa Ana, California*

Long lines. Delayed flights. Security pat-downs. It's no wonder that getting through the airport is generally people’s least favorite part of any trip.

![](https://img.money.com/2018/03/moneytravellogo-2018.jpg?quality=85)

You may not have noticed the shift. Unfortunately, many of the largest U.S. airports—LAX in California, John F. Kennedy in New York, O’Hare in Chicago—are still very much in the "needs improvement" category. (In fact, the [three worst airports on our list are all in one big metro area](http://money.us/2D0BE0B).)

And yet, there are airports in the U.S. that have managed to change the way travelers feel about these travel hubs.

“To be a high-performing airport, you’ve got to do the basic blocking and tackling well—you’ve got to have decent access, good security, restrooms have to be clean,” says Mike Taylor, who leads J.D. Power’s airport research. “But what separates the really high performers from the good airports is the food, beverage and retail.”

<!-- omitted unsupported block: interactive -->

To find the best airports in the U.S.—those that reduce travel headaches rather than creating them—Money analyzed 80 of the nation’s top airports. We took into account [customer experience](http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/jd-power-2017-north-america-airport-satisfaction-study) scores from J.D. Power, reader reviews from *[Travel + Leisure](http://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best/)**,* on-time arrival rates, security delays, and traveler amenities such as shops and restaurants. What follows are the top 15 U.S. airports.

* * *

![Thomas F. Riley Terminal, John Wayne Airport](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-sna.jpg)
*Thomas F. Riley Terminal, John Wayne Airport*

## **1\. John Wayne Airport (SNA)**

*Santa Ana, Calif.  
*\-On-time arrivals (as a percent of total): 84.98%  
\-Number of restaurants: 24

When you think of airports, the last thing that comes to mind is calm. But that’s exactly what John Wayne airport is going for. “They’re trying to create the feeling of serenity in the airport—something that’s at a premium these days,” Taylor says. The airport limits TV monitors, keeps the volume and frequency of overhead announcements low, and even repainted the terminal recently in neutral, stress-reducing tones.

That attention to detail is certainly paying off for this U.S. airport. John Wayne—which served about 10.4 million passengers in 2017— took top marks from J.D. Power, scoring particularly high in areas including airport parking and access, as well as the security processes. The airport also provides a number of amenities, including 24 restaurants and free Wi-Fi while you wait for takeoff.

* * *

![Country Cat at Portland International Airport (PDX)](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-pdx.jpg)
*Country Cat at Portland International Airport (PDX)*

## **2\. Portland International Airport (PDX)**

*Portland, Ore.  
*\-On-time arrivals: 84.46%  
\-Number of restaurants: 32

* * *

![May 31, 2010 Indianapolis, IN, USA Hoosier Marketplace is a souvenir and gift shop located in the Indianapolis International Airport](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-ind.jpg)
*May 31, 2010 Indianapolis, IN, USA Hoosier Marketplace is a souvenir and gift shop located in the Indianapolis International Airport*

## **3\. Indianapolis International Airport (IND)**

*Indianapolis, Ind.  
*\-On-time arrivals: 81.18%  
\-Number of restaurants: 25

* * *

![Leap by Argent at the Sacramento International Airport](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-smf.jpg)
*Leap by Argent at the Sacramento International Airport*

## **4\. Sacramento International Airport (SMF)**

*Sacramento, Calif.  
*\-On-time arrivals: 81.15%  
\-Number of restaurants: 22

* * *

![Passengers at Bozeman terminal](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-bzn.jpg)
*Gallatin Field in Bozeman is now the busiest airport in the state. August 4, 2015.*

## **5\. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)**

*Belgrade, Mont.  
*\-On-time arrivals: 85.75%  
\-Number of restaurants: 2

* * *

![T.F. Green Airport](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-pvd-2.jpg)
*T.F. Green Airport*

## **6\. T.F. Green Airport (PVD)**

*Warwick, R.I.  
*\-On-time arrivals: 82.35%  
\-Number of restaurants: 11

* * *

![Tampa International Airport](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-tpa.jpg)
*Tampa International Airport*

## **7\. Tampa International Airport (TPA)**

*Tampa, Fla.  
*\-On-time arrivals: 80.44%  
\-Number of restaurants: 40

* * *

![180321-TRA-airports-domestic-JAX](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-jax.jpg)
*Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) JAX Airport's central courtyard area recently underwent a makeover. The old furniture was replaced with new pieces, each with convenient power charging stations. Plants have also been placed throughout the area.*

## **8\. Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)**

*Jacksonville, Fla.*  
\-On-time arrivals: 80.59%  
\-Number of restaurants: 13

* * *

![795411052](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-rsw.jpg)
*Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)*

## **9\. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)**

*Fort Myers, Fla.  
*\-On-time arrivals: 80.49%  
\-Number of restaurants: 18

* * *

![Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-sav.jpg)
*Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport*

## **10\. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)**

*Savannah, Ga.  
*\-On-time arrivals: 81.35%  
\-Number of restaurants: 10

* * *

![Entrance sign for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-cvg.jpg)
*Entrance sign for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport*

## **11\. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)**

*Hebron, Ky.  
*\-On-time arrivals: 83.25%  
\-Number of restaurants: 21

* * *

![Travelers Steve Gould, left, of Tustin, and Diane Armitage, of Laguna Beach, check out new iPads wh](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-lgb.jpg)
*Travelers Steve Gould, left, of Tustin, and Diane Armitage, of Laguna Beach, check out new iPads while they wait for their flights at the passenger concourse at the Long Beach Airport.*

## **12\. Long Beach Airport (LGB)**

*Long Beach, Calif.  
*\-On-time arrivals: 80.99%  
\-Number of restaurants: 7

* * *

![Pittsburgh International Airport](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-pit.jpg)
*Pittsburgh International Airport*

## **13\. Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)**

*Pittsburgh, Pa.  
*\-On-time arrivals:82.13%  
\-Number of restaurants: 33

* * *

![Departure terminal of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, March 31, 2013](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-mht.jpg)
*Departure terminal of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, March 31, 2013.*

## **14\. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT)**

*Manchester, N.H.  
*\-On-time arrivals: 82.63%  
\-Number of restaurants: 10

* * *

![Travelers walk to the security check at the Portland International Jetport on Saturday, Dec. 14, 201](https://img.money.com/2018/03/180321-tra-airports-domestic-pwm.jpg)
*Travelers walk to the security check at the Portland International Jetport on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013.*

## **15\. Portland International Jetport (PWM)**

*Portland, Maine  
*\-On-time arrivals: 78.94%  
\-Number of restaurants: 5

*With additional reporting by Sergei Klebnikov*

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