The Best US Airports for a Layover

Layovers can be stressful and the COVID-19 pandemic only made them more challenging as air travelers were met with fewer dining and shopping options and services amid resulting staffing shortages. Fortunately, the nation's airports are once again full and thus more prepared to accommodate travelers awaiting their next flight. The team of travel experts at ParkSleepFly recently analyzed the busiest airports across the U.S. based on their food and beverage offerings, hygiene, staff service, customer satisfaction, shopping facilities and hotel availability to reveal the best airports to kill time between flights. Here are the 10 best domestic airports for a layover right now.

Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) rounds out the list of the top 10 U.S. airports for an enjoyable layover experience, earning an overall score of 3.67 out of 10. ORD is tied for the highest customer satisfaction score of three out of 10, offers as many as eight hotels within two miles and receives a respectable 3.5 out of 5 for both food and beverage and staff service.

Another of the nation's busiest airports, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the most-visited airport of any in the top 10 with more than 75.5 million annual visitors. ATL earns a four out of five for food and beverage and a three out of five for shopping facilities.

A hub for American Airlines, Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is perhaps one of the most surprising entries in the top 10. CLT scored three out of five or better for food and beverage, staff service and shopping facilities.

In the Southwest, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is propelled to seventh-best for a domestic layover on the strength of its hotel selection-there are 23 within two miles-and staff service, for which it earns a score of four out of five.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is the top-scoring New York City area airport for a layover, offering nearly two dozen local hotels to choose from and earning solid scores for food and beverage (3.5 out of 5) and shopping facilities (3.75 out of 5).

On the other side of the country, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) beats out JFK with an overall layover score of 4.78 out of five. LAX's 40 hotel options within two miles are the second-most of any airport in the top 10 and it earns a three out of five or better for food and beverage, hygiene, staff service and shopping facilities.

With a whopping 75 hotels located within two miles, Miami International Airport (MIA) ranks as the nation's fourth-best airport for a smooth layover. MIA scored a four out of five for both food and beverage and shopping facilities, helping it to an overall layover score of 5.45 out of 10.

Denver International Airport has been one of the worst for flight disruptions of late but is nonetheless one of the best for a layover, earning 4.17 out of five for food and beverage offerings and four out of five for shopping facilities.

Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) narrowly edges out DEN with an impressive layover score of 6.11 out of 10. IAH's food and beverage score of 4.33 out of 5 is the best of any airport in the top 10 and it also earned four out of five for hygiene, staff service and shopping facilities.

Receiving an overall score of 7.22 out of 10, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the nation's best for a layover. SeaTac earned a four out of five for both hygiene and staff service and offers a solid selection of nearby hotels, with 33 located within two miles of the airport.