Some airports are so enormous you can walk for what feels like miles between checking in, going through security and finding your gate. But why go through all the hassle? As these tiny American airports, with their minimal facilities, low footfall and short waiting times show, sometimes less is definitely more.
With their fun-sized airstrips and tiny terminals, click through the gallery to discover the smallest airports in the US...
Paine Field in Washington is one of America’s favourite tiny airports. The compact, two-gate terminal offers approximately 12 departures a day – in comparison to the 600 daily departures handled by nearby Seattle-Tacoma Airport – to cities including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Honolulu and San Diego.
When they arrive, travellers can enjoy a modern terminal with a lounge-like feel, high-speed wifi and electric sockets at every seat. The 30,000-square-foot (2,787sqm) building includes individual gender-neutral bathrooms, relaxed seating and floor-to-ceiling windows, offering the ultimate in pre-flight comfort.
This airport in Trenton, New Jersey, can claim 90 years of aviation history, but it's been a small, local hub for most of that time. Passengers stepping off the plane must use a ramp that’s exposed to the elements, rather than a covered jet bridge, and there’s just one food outlet and no shopping areas.
But what Trenton-Mercer Airport lacks in frills, it more than makes up for in convenience: the car park is right next door, waiting times are minimal and the Sky Lounge is ideally located for watching the (few) planes come and go.
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Originally opened as a training site for the US Air Force during World War II, Garden City Regional Airport was handed over to the ownership of the city in 1948. Located around nine miles (14km) southeast of its namesake, the airport offers daily flights to and from Dallas/Fort Worth.
Despite its limited commercial offering, Garden City Regional Airport serves 50,000 passengers a year, and is also used for charter flights, pilot training, cargo operations, air ambulance and leisure flying. The airport opened a restaurant, Provecho at The Flight Deck, in 2024.
With just two runways, Bradley International Airport offers nonstop flights to destinations across the US, as well as Canada and Ireland. In 2021, the travel hub was recognised as one of the top 10 best small airports in the country by readers of USA Today.
Conveniently located in Windsor Locks, the airport is within easy reach of New York and Boston. Plus, it has great facilities: plenty of parking spaces, charging slots and free wifi. Food outlets including Black Bear Saloon, Beercode Kitchen & Bar and Phillips Seafood Restaurant give ample options for a pre-flight meal.
In keeping with the airport’s motto – 'fly easy' – Piedmont Triad International has short lines, minimal crowds and speedy security screening. The Greensboro transit hub offers nonstop daily flights to 14 US cities including Denver, Atlanta, Orlando, Detroit, Chicago and Miami.
It's still an 'international' airport as it has customs services and border patrol that allow it to handle international arrivals – be they diverted passenger flights, cargo flights or private jets.
Since the Honda Aircraft Company established its headquarters at the airport in 2007, the facility has seen substantial investment. A third runway was opened in 2010, followed by the completion of a state-of-the-art, £43.5 million ($58m) air traffic control tower in 2022, replacing the original 1974 structure. Currently, the airport is undergoing a major terminal modernisation, which includes the construction of a new 16-gate concourse.
Many travellers snub the nearby Boston Logan in favour of this smaller airport, located in Warwick, six miles (10km) south of downtown Providence. Glowing passenger reviews on the airport's website include 'the most stressless airport I have been through' and 'Green is so much easier and better than Logan'.
The airport offers nonstop flights to 38 destinations across the United States and beyond, including cities like Los Angeles, Baltimore, Denver and multiple airports in Florida. For those venturing internationally, the airport also offers service to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Passengers will find all the amenities needed for a pleasant trip – a small selection of food and shopping outlets, free wifi and ATMs.
Operating at its current location since 1964, the small-but-mighty HSV boasts two parallel runways, including one measuring an impressive 12,600 feet (3,840m) – making it longer than those at many major regional airports. Recognised for its exceptional service, the airport was named the Best Small Airport in the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards.
Passengers love Huntsville International Airport because it’s quick and easy to navigate, has good customer service and is conveniently located in northern Alabama. It offers nonstop flights to 15 destinations across the US, including Chicago, Washington DC, Houston, Las Vegas, Detroit and Orlando.
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Skip the crowds usually found at JFK and LaGuardia and head to peaceful Long Island MacArthur instead, a smaller airport located in the town of Ronkonkoma. It’s known for having less congested air space than larger airports, which means you’re less likely to face flight delays and cancellations.
The airport offers a seamless and comfortable experience for travellers, featuring amenities such as free wifi, ATMs and a selection of dining options. It's served by four carriers – Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Breeze Airways and JetBlue Airways – providing nonstop flights to over 10 destinations, including Charleston, Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore, Orlando and Myrtle Beach.
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport may be Montana’s busiest airport, but with its wooden-beamed ceilings, stone columns and panoramic windows, arriving here feels like being welcomed into a cosy Big Sky mountain lodge.
Located in the heart of the beautiful Gallatin Valley, the airport provides year-round service to Yellowstone National Park and the Big Sky ski resort, with nonstop flights to 25 cities across the United States, including major destinations such as Denver, Seattle and Chicago.
The airport’s location is as stunning as its terminal, surrounded by Montana’s towering, scenic mountain ranges. Visitors travelling to Yellowstone National Park have three scenic routes to choose from, with the drive through Paradise Valley along US Route 89 often regarded as the most breathtaking.
During winter, a shuttle service operated by Yellowstone National Park Lodges connects the airport to Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, ensuring visitors can safely enjoy the journey without navigating icy, snow-covered roads.
Located three miles (6km) southwest of central Myrtle Beach, this airport has become a traveller favourite thanks to its low average fares and ease of travel. Ten airlines, including Spirit, United, Southwest, American and Delta, fly from here to more than 50 nonstop destinations across the eastern US.
In 2021, Myrtle Beach International was named the best small airport in the US by readers of USA Today, and travellers have plenty of good things to say about it. The airport's single terminal has no fewer than eight dining options, and an expansion – set for completion in 2025 – will increase the number of gates from 12 to 18.
Blue Grass Airport celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2021, after fielding its first commercial departure on 13 October 1946. Since the 1980s, it's also been home to the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, which showcases a model of first-ever-plane the Wright Flyer alongside a host of retired military planes, some from the earliest days of aviation.
Blue Grass Airport is a small yet convenient hub for travellers to and from Lexington, featuring two runways, a variety of shops and restaurants and the Paddock Gallery, which sells framed photos and paintings of Kentucky’s renowned thoroughbred horses. The airport currently offers nonstop flights to 18 US destinations, including Philadelphia, Dallas, Orlando, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago and Atlanta.
Conveniently located 12 miles (19km) northwest of downtown Charleston, this East Coast hub offers popular routes to Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, Washington, Chicago, Baltimore and more. The airport processes more flights than many on this list but gets by with just one terminal and two runways.
It has a good selection of dining options, including local favourite Charleston Beer Works and the Jack Nicklaus Grill, named for the legendary golfer. Meanwhile, premium lounge The Club CHS provides a sleek, modern and comfortable spot for paying customers.
Established back in 1933, with the present terminal dating to 1948, Des Moines International Airport offers nonstop flights to 33 destinations, including Austin, Fort Lauderdale, Denver, Phoenix, San Diego and Houston, providing more direct routes than any other airport in Iowa.
The airport encompasses 2,600 acres, with two runways and seven parking facilities. At the terminal, food and beverage options include flagship restaurant Portermill bar and grill, which serves local Iowan produce, and Friedrichs Coffee, which delivers a much-needed caffeine fix.
Excellent customer service, short lines and ease of navigation have all been cited as reasons travellers choose Bangor International. The Maine airport offers nonstop flights to 15 US destinations, including New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Chicago, Orlando, Tampa and Punta Gorda.
The small yet perfectly formed terminal offers three dining options and a shop, plus charging stations, ATMs and a kids play area. In 2024, the airport began a major runway rehabilitation project. The first phase was completed that year, with the final phase set to be finished during the 2025 construction season.
Ideally located for passengers looking to visit upstate New York, Buffalo Niagara is one of the country’s oldest public airports. It was established in 1926 after a group of aviation enthusiasts convinced city officials that it would help stimulate economic growth. Since then, the airport has been expanded several times, so that it currently encompasses around a thousand acres.
In 1997, the airport unveiled its renovated terminal building, featuring a striking 27,000 square feet (2,508sqm) of glass in its expansive lobby. Seven major airlines operate direct flights to destinations across the US, including Los Angeles and Miami. In 2022, a £60 million ($80m) expansion project was completed, adding four baggage carousels, a spacious greeting area and other upgrades to enhance the passenger experience.
Located three miles (5km) northwest of its namesake city, Bellingham International Airport runs nonstop flights to seven cities across the southwest, plus Seattle and some local islands. The small but well-designed airport has plenty of parking spaces, plus a coffee shop, restaurant and free wifi.
One recent reviewer on Yelp described Bellingham International as 'super cute and easy', while others called it 'gorgeous, clean and user friendly' and 'an easy airport to navigate'. Another reviewer said it had 'no lines, easy TSA and ample seating'.
In 2024, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport was voted the number one airport in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler's Readers’ Choice Awards, marking the fifth consecutive year it has received this honour.
It's not hard to see why – the compact terminal, which is modelled on the colonial streetscapes of the city it serves, literally oozes Southern charm, with colourful shop fronts, wrought iron benches, rocking chairs and a large clock.
The vibe may be intimate and relaxing, but there is no shortage of services offered. Visitors can shop for golfing gear or cigars and dine at the PGA Tour Grill. If you’re sensing a strong golf-theme, that’s because there are 32 courses within a 15-mile (24km) radius.
Add in more than 30 nonstop destinations, easy parking, friendly staff and top-notch services and it’s easy to see why Savannah/Hilton Head International is a perennial favourite with air travellers. It’s also just a short 10 to 15-minute drive from the Historic District that inspired it.
Read on to see what the world's top airports used to look like...