The 10 most stressful airports in America
Long-distance travel can be stressful. And a big factor in just how stressful is the airport through which you’re traveling.
The British car-hire site Stress Free Car Rental took a look at a number of American airports and parsed out which ones would be the source of the most stress. It ranked them according to factors like how many passengers were at the airports, how far they were from their respective city centers, the number of flight destinations they accommodate, how much it costs to park a car at them, and passenger opinions of the airports.
Click through to see which U.S. airports were ranked as the 10 most stressful and why.
10. Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
Las Vegas’s airport is the closest to its downtown among the 10 most-stressful airports at just 10 driving minutes away from the Welcome to Las Vegas sign. But a passenger’s journey might still longer than at other airports because the airport also traveled to the fewest further destinations, with just 164 connections.
9. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Atlanta’s airport is by far the busiest among the 10 most-stressful airports, having ferried more than 51 million passengers enplaned last year. Its traffic-clogged hallways and infamous size might make it a tricky stop for even the most experienced flyers.
8. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Newark’s airport had some of the most expensive weekly parking among the 10 most-stressful airports at an observed $200 a week. Plus, it had the lowest user score on the flight-tracking site Flightradar24 at 71%.
7. Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Orlando’s airport had the second-most expensive weekly parking among the 10 most-stressful airports at an observed $256. It also had the second-fewest connections, traveling to only 172 further destinations.
6. Miami International Airport (MIA)
Miami’s airport had one of the lowest user rating scores among the 10 most-stressful airports on the flight-tracking site Flightradar24 at 78%.
5. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Los Angeles’s airport was on the busier side of the 10 most-stressful airports, having enplaned nearly 37 million passengers in 2023. It was also tied for the second-lowest user rating score on the flight-tracking site Flightradar24, at 77%.
4. Denver International Airport (DEN)
Denver’s airport was even busier than LAX, enplaning nearly 38 million passengers in 2023. It was also the furthest from its downtown among the 10 most-stressful airports at 45 driving minutes away in decent traffic. It did have the cheapest weekly parking at an observed $54.
3. Dallas Forth Worth International Airport (DFW)
Dallas’s airport was among the furthest from its downtown among the 10 most-stressful airports at about 30 driving minutes from either downtown Dallas or Fort Worth in decent traffic. Still, it had the second-cheapest weekly parking at an observed $75.
2. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
New York’s busiest airport is pretty far from its downtown, at possibly an hour’s drive from midtown Manhattan in decent traffic. Plus, it was tied for the second-lowest user rating score among the 10 most-stressful airports on the flight-tracking site Flightradar24 at 77%.
1. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Chicago’s busiest airport was pretty busy indeed, at nearly 36 million passengers enplaned last year. Plus, it had a pretty low score on the flight-tracking site Flightradar24 at 78%. In addition, it had the most expensive weekly parking among the 10 most-stressful airports at an observed $283.