Terminals You’ll Curse Or Praise
Getting through an airport can feel like a sprint with luggage—especially when signs vanish, gates change, or the layout makes zero sense. But not all air travel experiences lead to frustration or frantic pacing. A few airports manage to make the process feel—dare we say—relaxing. Curious which hubs will test your patience and which might surprise you with ease? Let’s begin with the airports that are hardest to commute through.
1. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX handles 76 million passengers a year, but its horseshoe-shaped layout often causes more trouble than it's worth. The outdated design creates constant traffic jams and makes travelers walk up to 15 minutes just to reach their ride-share pickup.
2. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Originally known as Idlewild Airport until its 1963 renaming to honor President Kennedy, JFK has evolved into New York City's primary international gateway. However, it's overwhelmed with its disjointed layout, and its five terminals don’t connect airside, forcing travelers onto shuttles for even simple transfers.
3. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
The airport looks sleek, but walking from security to your gate might feel like hiking a scenic trail—minus the fun. Travelers have clocked nearly 20 minutes on foot across the stretched layout. The open design impresses, yet convenience often takes a backseat to scale.
4. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
DFW feels more like a city than an airport, stretching across nearly 27 square miles with its own ZIP code. Its semicircle terminal layout and immense distances create navigation headaches despite having the fast Skylink train trying to keep transfers manageable.
5. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Traveling through O’Hare can feel like a marathon, with vast concourses and frequent long walks between gates. Even with its people mover, transfers remain time-consuming. Its iconic 72‑foot Brachiosaurus skeleton offers a fun landmark, but it doesn’t ease the stress of this complex layout.
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6. Miami International Airport (MIA)
Here, lost travelers pause before yet another bewildering directional sign. These sprawling corridors and marathon walks between gates reflect the airport's massive scale as Florida's busiest international hub, connecting to seventy-plus Latin American and Caribbean destinations.
FunctioningMemberOfSociety on Wikimedia
7. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Logan Airport's well-intentioned network of walkways and shuttles connecting its four terminals promises seamless transitions, but reality bites back. The peninsular location creates bottlenecks, while the complex layout transforms simple gate-hopping into an impromptu marathon.
8. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
At ATL, the world's busiest airport, a delicate choreography unfolds across 190 gates, with the mile-long Plane Train conducting 250,000 daily passengers between terminals. However, when this underground train falters, the entire system slows and turns manageable connections into lengthy walks.
9. Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
MSP can feel disjointed, with its two main terminals separated by more than a mile and little clarity on how to move between them. Additionally, long corridors and crowded walkways slow everything down. Even though features like a fitness path and light rail add function, it does not ease confusion.
10. Denver International Airport (DEN)
Massive in every direction, Denver’s layout stretches across over 33,000 acres. Passengers rely on underground trains to cross vast distances between terminals, while walking can catch many off guard. From the mountain-shaped roof to the towering blue Mustang, the airport’s immense scale is impossible to miss.
Next up: airports that make travel feel easy.
1. John Wayne Airport (SNA)
Compact and efficient, John Wayne Airport serves as Orange County’s primary air hub with just 22 gates across three terminals. The layout makes quick connections possible, and a bronze statue of its namesake, actor John Wayne, adds a touch of local pride.
2. Key West International Airport (EYW)
Landing at Key West International Airport offers travelers their first glimpse of island life, where a streamlined single runway welcomes over a million annual visitors. The intimate terminal keeps every amenity within easy reach, perfectly positioned just two miles from the continent's southernmost edge.
3. Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
Gerald R. Ford International balances small-scale convenience with a strong sense of community. Travelers move easily through the well-organized terminal, while rotating art exhibits and an open observation deck reflect the hometown legacy of the 38th president.
4. T.F. Green International Airport (PVD)
With its streamlined terminal design, clear signage, and GoodMaps navigation tools, T.F. Green International Airport delivers hassle-free travel. It also offers direct MBTA rail service to Boston from its convenient Warwick location, just six miles from Providence.
5. Huntsville International Airport (HSV)
Travelers appreciate Huntsville International Airport's user-friendly design, as it features clear signage and an efficient single-terminal layout. The North Alabama aviation hub even has space-themed decor throughout its facilities and operates two runways, including a 12,600-foot stretch ranking among the Southeast's longest.
Five-Minute Tour: Huntsville International Airport (HSV) by Miles By Foot
6. Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
Operating with four strategically designed runways in Islip, New York, Long Island MacArthur Airport serves as Suffolk County's aviation cornerstone. The facility's terminal infrastructure delivers comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage and intuitive wayfinding to enable consistently stress-free navigation.
7. Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
Airport terminals can feel like endless mazes, but Myrtle Beach International Airport offers simplicity. Its single terminal with twin concourses features an intuitive linear layout and clear signage throughout. Better still, this former military airfield sits just three miles from the beach and boardwalk.
Myrtle Beach International Airport [MYR] - Walking Tour by Brit Trips
8. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)
A stately replica of Savannah's Forsyth Park fountain anchors the heart of SAV's terminal, which symbolizes the airport's blend of historic charm and modern efficiency. This 15-gate facility serves both Savannah and Hilton Head Island travelers with warm Southern hospitality.
9. Fairbanks International Airport (FAI)
Operating continuously through Alaska's endless summer days and winter nights, Fairbanks International Airport stands as a model of Arctic aviation efficiency. The facility's expertly designed compact terminal and intuitive layout ensure seamless passenger flow year-round, maintaining consistent accessibility regardless of seasonal extremes.
10. Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
Wichita's rich aviation heritage shines through the terminal's curated artwork celebrating its "Air Capital" status, a legacy now linked to Kansas-raised President Eisenhower through the airport's 2015 renaming. Today's twelve-gate facility combines efficient navigation with modern safety features, including an integrated tornado shelter.
