Travel & Lodging

Houston Airports Guide: Flying Into IAH and Hobby

Date Published

Illustration of Houston airports at night with a jet, control tower and runway lights

Houston has two commercial passenger airports, and choosing the right one can save you an hour on the ground. George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) sits north of the city and handles most long-haul and international flying. William P. Hobby (HOU) sits southeast of downtown, closer in, and runs on a smaller, simpler scale.

This guide covers which airport to pick, how each one is laid out, every practical way to get to and from the city, parking, and where to sleep if you have an early flight. Everything below comes from the official Houston Airports site, fly2houston.com, and from METRO. Fares and policies change, so check those sites before you travel.

IAH or Hobby: which should you fly into?

Start with where you are going once you land, then look at the airline.

Fly into IAH if:

  • You are flying internationally on a long-haul route, or connecting through Houston on United, which uses IAH as a hub.
  • Your trip is centered on the north side: The Woodlands, Kingwood, Humble, Spring or north Houston.
  • You need the widest choice of airlines and nonstop destinations.

Fly into Hobby if:

  • You are staying downtown, in the Texas Medical Center, near NRG Park, in Clear Lake or around NASA's Johnson Space Center, or anywhere south and east of the city.
  • You prefer a smaller airport with a shorter walk from curb to gate.
  • Your airline flies there. Southwest Airlines has a large presence at Hobby and partnered with Houston Airports on its West Concourse, which handles a smaller set of international flights with its own customs facility.

Distance matters here. Fly2Houston puts IAH about 22 miles north of downtown and Hobby about 11 miles southeast. In Houston traffic, that gap can feel bigger than the mileage suggests, especially at rush hour.

If you are heading to the Galleria, Memorial or the Energy Corridor on the west side, neither airport is close. Compare flight prices and times first, then weigh the drive.

George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) at a glance

IAH's official address is 2800 North Terminal Road, Houston, TX 77032. You reach it from Interstate 45, U.S. 59/Interstate 69, the Hardy Toll Road or the Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8). The main roads in are John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Will Clayton Parkway.

Terminals

IAH has five terminals, lettered A through E.

  • Terminal A handles domestic flights on airlines other than United.
  • Terminals B, C and E are United's. Terminal B is mainly United Express regional flights, Terminal C is the core of United's domestic operation, and Terminal E handles United's international flights. Terminal B is being rebuilt in a major United-led project, so expect construction and occasional check-in changes.
  • Terminal D is the Mickey Leland International Terminal, used by most foreign airlines. International arrivals at Terminal D clear customs and immigration and come out in the Terminal E international arrivals hall, which is where you should meet anyone landing from abroad.

Terminal assignments shift as construction progresses. Always check your boarding pass or your airline's app for the terminal, not a guidebook.

Getting between terminals

Two free trains link all five terminals. The above-ground Skyway runs inside security, so connecting passengers can switch terminals without screening again. It stops at Terminals A, C and D/E, and Fly2Houston says the ride from A to D/E takes a little over four minutes. The underground Subway runs before security. It connects Terminals A, B, C and D/E with the Houston Airport Marriott and typically runs from early morning until just after midnight.

William P. Hobby (HOU) at a glance

Hobby is about 11 miles southeast of downtown, off Interstate 45 (the Gulf Freeway) and Airport Boulevard. It works as one terminal building with concourses, so it is easy to find your way around.

The West Concourse handles international flights and has its own customs and immigration facility. Houston Airports and Southwest are expanding that concourse, so you may see construction around the terminal and baggage claim.

Hobby is the better fit for downtown, the Medical Center, the Museum District and the Bay Area. If your plans include Space Center Houston, Hobby is the closer airport.

Getting to and from downtown and key areas

METRO 500 Downtown Direct (both airports)

The cheapest reliable link between either airport and downtown is METRO's 500 Downtown Direct bus. It runs nonstop between the airport and downtown Houston, with stops including the Downtown Transit Center and the George R. Brown Convention Center, and the route also serves Hobby. METRO lists the fare at $4.50 one way, with buses typically every 15 to 30 minutes during regular service hours. The buses have free Wi-Fi.

  • At IAH, catch the 500 at Terminal E, Level 2, outside Door E-201.
  • At Hobby, buses leave from the Hobby Transit Center, just north of the baggage claim exits.

You can pay with a METRO fare card, a contactless credit or debit card, or Apple Pay or Google Pay. With a fare card or card payment, you typically get free transfers to services of equal or lesser value for up to three hours. That makes it easy to connect from downtown to METRORail toward Midtown, the Museum District or the Medical Center. Our METRO Houston guide covers how the rail and bus network fits together.

Local METRO buses

These are cheaper but slower, with many stops.

  • IAH: Route 102 (Bush IAH) is a local route that METRO lists at $1.25. It stops at Terminal C outside Door C-105.
  • Hobby: Routes 40, 50, 73 and 88 are local routes, also listed at $1.25, all leaving from the Hobby Transit Center.

Use the METRO Trip Planner in the METRO app or on ridemetro.org to build a route to your hotel.

Rideshare

Uber, Lyft and other app-based rides pick up at marked zones on the arrivals level.

  • IAH Terminal A: west side, Door A-114.
  • IAH Terminal C: south side, Doors C-103 and C-104.
  • IAH Terminal E: west side, Level 2, Zone 5.
  • IAH Terminal B: take the Skyway to Terminal A or C and go to the pickup there.
  • Hobby: Curb Zone 5. Exit through the door nearest Baggage Claim Carousel 4 and follow the "Ride App" signs.

Rideshare prices change with demand. Check the app before you leave the terminal, especially after a big event or a late arrival bank.

Taxis

Taxis wait outside baggage claim on the arrivals level.

  • IAH: Terminal A south side at Door A-115, Terminal C south side at Door C-105, and Terminal E west side at Door E-103. Airport staff are on duty at the A, C and E curbs around the clock.
  • Hobby: Curb Zone 2, outside baggage claim.

Hobby publishes flat taxi fares to key destinations. According to Fly2Houston, these are typically $29 to downtown, $35 to the Medical Center/NRG Park, $41 to NASA Space Center, $59 to the Galleria and $76 to IAH, before tip. Small fees apply, including a departure fee and a late-night surcharge, and seniors get a 10% discount. IAH lists its taxi fees and discounts on its taxi page, so check there before you ride.

Rental cars

  • IAH: All rental companies operate from one Rental Car Center at 17330 Palmetto Pines, about five minutes away by shuttle. Blue-and-white "Rental Car Shuttle" buses typically run every five minutes during the day and every ten minutes overnight. They pick up outside baggage claim at Terminals A, C and E.
  • Hobby: Courtesy shuttles to the rental car facilities leave from Curb Zone 1 outside baggage claim. Individual counters keep their own hours.

Driving and picking someone up

Neither airport allows waiting at the curb. If you are collecting someone, wait at a free cell phone lot until they call.

  • IAH has three cell phone lots, all free and open 24/7: one on John F. Kennedy Boulevard, one on Will Clayton Parkway and a Control Tower lot, also on Will Clayton Parkway.
  • Hobby's cell phone lot is at 7450 Airport Boulevard, on the south side of Airport Boulevard east of Telephone Road. It is free and open 24/7.

At both airports, the driver must stay with the vehicle.

For pickups at IAH, use your traveler's terminal door. International arrivals come out in the Terminal E arrivals hall, even if they landed at Terminal D.

Parking at IAH and Hobby

Both airports offer terminal garages close to the gates and cheaper ecopark lots with shuttle buses. Valet is available at both. Rates vary by facility and change over time, so we don't print them here. Check the IAH parking page or the Hobby parking page for current prices and live availability.

A few things worth knowing:

  • Reserve ahead. Fly2Houston offers online reservations and says booking ahead can save up to 50%. At both airports, once garage parking reaches 85% capacity, only pre-booked reservations can enter.
  • ecopark2 at IAH is reservation-only. You can't drive up without a booking.
  • Payment is cashless. Insert a credit or debit card on entry and the same card on exit.
  • Watch the height limit. Terminal garages accept vehicles up to 6 feet 7 inches tall. Taller accessible vehicles have designated alternatives, listed in the parking FAQ.
  • Remember your spot. Photograph the column and level number in a garage, or keep the location slip from the ecopark shuttle driver.
  • Join Parking Plus. The free loyalty program earns points toward free parking days at both airports.
  • Veterans and EV drivers. Both airports have veteran parking privileges and EV charging. Details are on each parking page.

Tips for flying in and out of Houston

  • Allow extra time on the roads. I-45, I-69 and the Beltway all back up at peak hours, and heavy rain can slow everything. Give yourself more slack than the mileage suggests.
  • Check security wait times. Both airports post live wait times on their official security pages.
  • Download the Fly2Houston app. It has terminal maps, flight status and parking booking in one place.
  • Expect construction. Both airports are in the middle of long-running expansion projects, so follow the signs rather than memory.
  • Use hotel phones in baggage claim at IAH. For a hotel shuttle, IAH has direct-dial phones and visitor kiosks in baggage claim.
  • Travelling between airports? It is a long cross-town trip. Hobby's flat taxi fare to IAH gives you a sense of the distance. Leave plenty of time if you are switching airports on the same day.
  • Pick your season. If you have flexibility, our best time to visit Houston guide breaks the year down month by month.

Hotels near IAH and Hobby

For a very early departure or a late arrival, a hotel near the airport usually beats a long cross-town drive.

At IAH, the Houston Airport Marriott sits on airport grounds and connects to the terminals by the IAH Subway. Many other hotels around the airport run free shuttles, and some offer park-and-fly packages. Our full guide to hotels near IAH airport compares the options.

Around Hobby, most hotels sit along the Gulf Freeway and Airport Boulevard, and many run courtesy shuttles. See our guide to hotels near Hobby Airport.

If you would rather stay in the city and commute to the airport, browse our neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to Houston hotels. Once you're settled, our 2 days in Houston itinerary is a good place to start.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Which Houston airport is closer to downtown?

Hobby (HOU) is closer. The Houston Airports site puts Hobby about 11 miles southeast of downtown and Bush Intercontinental (IAH) about 22 miles north.

Is there public transit from Houston's airports to downtown?

Yes. METRO's 500 Downtown Direct bus serves both IAH and Hobby and runs to downtown, with a listed fare of $4.50 one way. Local routes are slower but cheaper, including Route 102 at IAH and Routes 40, 50, 73 and 88 at Hobby.

How much is a taxi from Hobby Airport to downtown Houston?

Hobby publishes flat taxi fares. Downtown is typically $29 before tip, plus small fees such as a departure fee. Check fly2houston.com before you ride.

Where do Uber and Lyft pick up at IAH?

At marked arrivals-level zones: Terminal A west side at Door A-114, Terminal C south side at Doors C-103 and C-104, and Terminal E west side on Level 2, Zone 5. From Terminal B, take the Skyway to A or C.

Which terminal do international flights use at IAH?

Most foreign airlines use Terminal D, the Mickey Leland International Terminal, and United's international flights use Terminal E. Arriving international passengers clear customs and exit into the Terminal E arrivals hall.

Should I reserve airport parking in Houston?

It's a good idea. Both airports take online reservations, and once garage parking reaches 85% capacity only pre-booked reservations can enter. IAH's ecopark2 lot is reservation-only.