What are some great US airports worth seeing?

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Chronigan2@reddit

I don't understand. Flying places is great, but airports suck. They're crowded and loud and getting through security is a pain in the ass.

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CoastRegular@reddit

Comedian Kurt Braunohler has the best take on that:

"Train stations! Remember those! They were like... cathedrals to human ingenuity. Then we got to airports and it's like someone said, 'FUCK it! Let's make this place look like a maintenance hallway of a mall in 1984!'"

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Middleage_dad@reddit (OP)

I met him a few times!

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bcsmith317@reddit

I love airports. I like to people watch, I like seeing all the different destinations at the gates, I like being able to drink a beer at 8 am and not get judged too much, I love the anticipation and excitement of starting my trip or getting back home, etc…Yeah security is a pain some times, but it’s a blip in an otherwise enjoyable experience for me.

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Inevitable_Train1511@reddit

I’ve heard amazing things about the new PDX terminal

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USArmyAirborne@reddit

Fun fact about the vendors at PDX, they have to charge the same prices as their outlets in town so the prices are reasonable.

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Inevitable_Train1511@reddit

It’s funny, I believe a similar thing is true with NYC airports but they all use a reference bodega in manhattan that is like 400% more expensive than all other bodegas.

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USArmyAirborne@reddit

I talking restaurants or shops that have a location in town. Same prices.

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itsgettingcoldhere@reddit

PDX is gorgeous with its new remodel. IDK how complete it is though.

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NathanArizona@reddit

Pdx really needs to be at the top with mountain views on arrival and departure, and holy shit the new terminal sure is something

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So_HauserAspen@reddit

Also two rivers and three volcanoes

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USArmyAirborne@reddit

Not quite done yet. There is still a long detour to get to the e gates not sure when they will finish with that.

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mouse_puppy@reddit

Its done but you need to go into the ticket checkout area outside security. I concur that its one of a kind

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Paul_The_Builder@reddit

If you fly into Seattle and do your research to pick the seat on the correct side, you get an amazing view of Mount Raineer on the beginning of the approach.

The Seattle SeaTac airport is nice, but nothing special. You can take the train into downtown seattle straight from the airport which is nice.

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NathanArizona@reddit

Unfortunately depending on wind and direction of destination, the Rainier side can can vary

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Ficsit-Incorporated@reddit

You might see Rainier on approach on one of the three clear days per year in Seattle! Any weather and it becomes tougher.

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Ferrous_Patella@reddit

Actually, there are many days where the ceiling is low that Tahoma peaks (pun intended) above the clouds.

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NotARealGeologist@reddit

And if you decide to go entry level international tack on the 24 minute flight from SeaTac to YVR (Vancouver, BC). YVR is a pretty nice airport. The international area is excellent, but US departures have their own section (and you can clear US customs there).

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nqthomas@reddit

The new PIT is nice. CLE too. Come in the summer though

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DonoAE@reddit

MIA flying into EYW. It's all low flying views of the Keys and Corals reefs for 30 minutes.

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MR406N2@reddit

Portland PDX is pretty cool

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Kerze@reddit

TPA has Phoebe the flamingo which is cool to see.

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bovinecop@reddit

I really want to visit Palm Springs airport some day (I live in LA so it’s too close to justify unless it’s purely for novelty).

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MorningMan464@reddit

It’s like flying back to the glamorous days of air travel.

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MobiusX0@reddit

Yeah unless you’re traveling in the summer and it’s 115+ out.

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MorningMan464@reddit

Yes. Then it’s hell. Don’t go in summer.

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IM_REFUELING@reddit

Denver is pretty interesting with its demon horse lore and war crime murals. The airfield diagram reveals a pretty... interesting shape too.

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TrashtvSunday@reddit

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imref@reddit

there are some wild stories about that airport:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/airlines-airports/denver-airport/denver-international-airport-conspiracy-theories

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Old_Flan_6548@reddit

The demon horse has killed and it will kill again.

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TrashtvSunday@reddit

If you come during the holiday season, you can ice skate for free at Denver Int. Airport.

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smack300@reddit

HNL- kinda cool having most of the walking spaces outside. You can sit in the gardens and have lunch while waiting for your flight.

BOS- the visual of coming over the bay is pretty amazing, the airport is whatever but what a view coming in.

ASE/EGE- either of these mountain airports are incredible views coming in. The airport terminals are small but great views.

ANC- Anchorage has both, cool airport and views. So much heavy metal that flies in there from all over the world, no place like it. Airport itself is cool with some big grizzly’s waiting to meet you.

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cleverkid@reddit

I wish I could say Meigs Field...

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mdp300@reddit

It's still in Microsoft Flight Simulator

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TheTangoFox@reddit

Fuck Daley.

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cleverkid@reddit

One day he randomly got out of a cab right in front of me in River North and I told him "Fuck you Daley for killing Meigs Field" and he laughed and said "You're WELCOME" what a p.o.s.

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4Sammich@reddit

DALEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

-ALA Kahn

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N878AC@reddit

IAD (Washington Dulles) offers a free shuttle to the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar Hazy Museum on the same field. You could spend days in the Udvar Hazy facility which includes a space Shuttle, an SR71, and other planes too numerous to mention. Free admission — it’s part of the Smithsonian.

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callme_nostradumbass@reddit

Plus the terminal building is iconic.

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timster@reddit

Gotta love a bit of Eero Sarinen. He even designed the font that’s used throughout.

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chilibball@reddit

Don’t forget about the mock ATC tower where you get a stellar view of planes landing from the south, weather permitting.

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YogurtclosetSouth991@reddit

La Guardia and JFK both have approaches over or near Manhatten depending on the wind and runway in use.

The approach and landing into YVR is a beauty on a nice day if coming from the east. Rockies, interior of BC and then letting down over the Coast Mountains. If your landing from the west it's along the North Shore with Vancouver on the left and then a turn inbound over the water. Straight in from the east is over the Lower Mainland which is a long urban area often with great views.

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cmmatthews@reddit

Maybe I'm a masochist but ORD is nicely decorated in the Holidays and you can go see the Home Alone gate. Chicago is also just a great city to visit.

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Ficsit-Incorporated@reddit

DCA is a great airport. The river visual approach is visually gorgeous, particularly at night and particularly from the right side of an aircraft. The main terminal is also very easy to get around in on account of being g small but doesn’t feel overcrowded most of the time even at peak hours.

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aarrtee@reddit

Agree!!!

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chilibball@reddit

Left side!! You want to have a north facing window on a river visual approach to see the national mall.

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Ficsit-Incorporated@reddit

Sometimes that’s true, it depends on the direction of approach! When runway 1 is active the city (Mall included) would be the right side, as it has been most times when I’ve flown in and out.

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chilibball@reddit

That’s fair. It’s amazing that DCA has several stunning takeoff/landing patterns when most airports are rather dull.

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Ficsit-Incorporated@reddit

For sure. I also like how quickly they tend to climb and turn after takeoff to avoid the many airspace restrictions in and around DC.

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chilibball@reddit

Haha I call it the beautiful peoples airspace.

In May 2005, NORAD started using a laser warning system to warn pilots that cross into restricted airspace. The bright laser beams, which flash red-red-green, are easily seen, even during daylight. The laser beams can be seen 15 to 20 miles (24 to 32 km) away. Other pilots are unlikely to see the lasers because, when activated, the directional beams are pointed at the aircraft that has crossed into restricted airspace. Multiple lasers could be activated. These lasers do not harm the eyes of aircrew or passengers.[22][23][24]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C.,_Special_Flight_Rules_Area

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Wineshop-Axx@reddit

If small airports are an option, consider Fredericksburg, TX. Really cool airport with a great 40's style diner and hotel. Plus Fredericksburg is a really pretty, German style town in the Texas hill country. It's about a 1 hour drive west of Austin.

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Wineshop-Axx@reddit

Austin. Such a cool "keep Austin Weird" vibe. And Las Vegas, also unique and fun.

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floo82@reddit

Honolulu / joint base pearl harbor hickam

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Sigtauez@reddit

SBA- is a perfect representation of Santa Barbara and beautiful approach over the water.

SBP- small surrounded by mountains. Courtyard with live music

Sedona, AZ- on the top of a mountain in some of the most beautiful scenery in the country

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DanookOfTheNorth@reddit

I’m glad somebody mentioned SBA. I love when my inbound flight there is on an outside gate and I can walk from the plane to the parking lot without ever going indoors. I also love the way they do baggage claim there.

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throw667@reddit

Nashville Airport has more vendors (esp. food vendors) per gate than I've ever seen. It's intriguing; I heard that was developed to present a more attractve experience as opposed to more sterile old airports.

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Mach_v_manchild@reddit

I got stuck in KBNA earlier this year for like 14 hours. I was very thankful for all those food vendors 😂

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imbasicallycoffee@reddit

Made a trip to Portland OR this year and wow is PDX incredible. It's not finished yet but it's phenomenal. Love my local airport ROC. Has a great approach over downtown and right down the river with an awesome view. Also always love walking through the Home Alone running terminal in ORD.

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moretodolater@reddit

New PDX remodel is pretty incredible

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Greek143@reddit

LaGuardia

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groovemonkeyzero@reddit

Midway if you’d like a bit of a fright

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caribbeachbum@reddit

The old Maison stockyards is always worth a visit, though it is a poor choice if you're a teetotaler.

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windyoctopus8@reddit

Good old MSY for sure

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Rich-Dig-9584@reddit

Jackson

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lawontheside@reddit

LAS for slot machines in the terminals

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DoItForLA@reddit

And RNO.

LAS' D gates building, which you can take a tram to, even has an enclosed slot area for smokers.

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schlomoweinstein@reddit

Avoid all NY area airports

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Ficsit-Incorporated@reddit

LaGuardia is good now! Not as transit connected as one would like but it’s vastly better than it used to be. Have flown in and out of these a couple of times.

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Middleage_dad@reddit (OP)

I used to live there... don't need to revist them...

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heine19@reddit

Everett, north of Seattle is a nice little airport

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el_infidel@reddit

SFO

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imref@reddit

I'd suggest Dulles for a couple of reasons: The C/D terminal is a throw-back to the 1970s as are the "people mover" mobile lounges that transport passengers between the D gates and other terminals, and for international arrivals, and because the Udvar-Hazy center of the National Air and Space Museum is right next door.

Las Vegas' airport is unique as well.

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IATA	ICAO	Name	Location
SFO	KSFO	San Francisco International Airport	San Francisco, California, United States

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