Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is Ohio’s largest and busiest airport.
It is located 9 miles southwest of downtown Cleveland.
CLE is famous for several firsts in American civil aviation:
Back in 1930, it became the first airport in the US to be equipped with an air traffic control tower
It was the first airport to have a two-level terminal design with arrivals on the ground floor and departures separately above.
In 1968, CLE became the first airport in North America to be directly connected with a rail transit line.
Cleveland Hopkins offers nonstop flights to over 40 destinations across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Even though it hasn’t been a hub airport since 2010, when Continental (after the United merger) moved out, it has continued to receive hundreds of flights daily and has seen a resurgence in passenger traffic and route expansion in recent years.
In 2024, CLE served just over 10 million passengers, making it one of the top 50 busiest airports in the USA.
Major Airlines - United Airlines, Frontier Airlines
As of 2025, Cleveland Hopkins is not a hub for any airline, though United Airlines continues to maintain a flight attendant and pilot bases as well as maintenance facilities at the airport. It is also the airline with the most passengers flown - nearly a quarter of those flying through Cleveland choose United.
Close second is Frontier Airlines, which also considers CLE as an operating base. This low-cost airline offers the greatest number of routes to and from Cleveland Hopkins.
The other major US airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines, also operate scheduled flights between Cleveland and their major hub across the USA.
Other airlines serving CLE include Spirit Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue.
Cleveland Airport has US Customs and Border Protection facilities and is capable of receiving international flights, however, currently, it only does so from airports with US pre-clearance. Notably, Aer Lingus operates direct flights between Cleveland and Dublin, whereas Air Canada connects CLE with Toronto-Pearson.
You can see the full list of airlines at CLE here.
Terminal Layout and Gates
CLE has one terminal with three active concourses:
Concourse A: Used by Frontier, Spirit, and all international arrivals. It features Gates A1–A14. It’s on the north side of the airport and was originally known as the North Concourse.
Concourse B: Used by Delta and Southwest. Also known as the West Concourse, it contains Gates B1–B11.
Concourse C: Houses all domestic operations and pre-cleared international flights of Air Canada Express, Alaska, American, JetBlue, and United. Has Gates from C1 to C29. It’s located on the southwest side of the terminal.
Concourse D, formerly used exclusively by United, has been closed since 2014.
The concourses are connected by a common Security Area, so it’s possible to walk freely between concourses.
There are 3 Security checkpoints:
Central, open from 4 AM to 10 PM and normally used by most passengers.
South, open from 3:30 AM to 7:15 PM.
North, open from 4:00 AM until the last flight when necessary due to increased passenger flow.
See all destinations you can reach by direct flight from Cleveland Airport.
Transit and Connecting Flights at Cleveland Airport
Given the single terminal and the common transit area, connecting flights at Cleveland are relatively easy to sort out. Walking between concourses takes no more than 6-7 minutes from one end to another, so the legal minimum connecting time is just 25 minutes, though, ideally, you’d want at least 40, to be safe.
As Cleveland is not a hub airport, most flights are point-to-point flights. If you’re self-connecting (i.e., you have 2 flights on 2 different reservations and with a different PNR), you should allow extra time for transit as your connection won’t be guaranteed by the airline.
Note that if you have checked-in luggage, you will need to retrieve it and check it in again, adding to the time required between flights.
Lastly, non-pre-cleared international flights must fulfill Immigration and Customs obligations at Cleveland before proceeding to a domestic flight. Any luggage must be re-checked, even if traveling onwards with the same airline.
Dining Options at CLE
Even though Cleveland Hopkins is only a mid-sized airport, it can give some of the US’s biggest airports a run for their money (or laurels and awards, in this case).
There are several solid options, including exquisite restaurants, popular local beerhouses, multiple options for fast food, and several coffee shops.
You can find something to suit you at every concourse. Here are some of the best places to eat at Cleveland Hopkins Airport:
Bar Symon: Located at Gate C6, this casual restaurant offers a full-service dining experience with unique twists and surprises.
Embers: Situated across from the central checkpoint, and provides a wide and eclectic menu.
Quaker Steak & Lube: A gas station-themed casual restaurant found at Gate B5, known for its chicken wings and sauces.
Currito: The best place to have a quick meal at the airport. Offers fresh and healthy bowls, smoothies and more. Find it in the Main Terminal.
Vino Volo: This chain is famous for pairing meats, cheeses, and other bite-sized appetizers with various wines. Located near Gate B2.
Great Lakes Brewing Company: Cleveland's most famous bar meets Eastern Europe’s cuisine in this brewpub near Gate C14.
Additional options include Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Auntie Anne’s, Chick-fil-A, Bruegger’s Bagels, and others.
Lounges at Cleveland Airport
CLE houses 3 lounges in different places at the airport:
The Club CLE is located at the entrance to Concourse B and offers natural lighting with airfield views, various seating options, including workdesks, and a bar that serves local FLOH Vodka. Access is available to Priority Pass members, though anybody can purchase a day pass for $50. It’s open from 4:30 AM to 9 PM.
The United Club is located near Gate C14 and offers much the same amenities to its premium passengers. Again, anyone wishing to relax inside can purchase a day pass worth $50. This lounge is open from 5 AM to 5 PM.
Lastly, the USO lounge, located adjacent to Baggage Carousel 1, serves active military members and their families from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, with an earlier closing time of 6:00 PM on weekends.
Transportation options at Cleveland Hopkins Airport
As the first US airport to have its dedicated railway station, you’d expect it to be well connected to the surrounding area. And it is! Travelers consider Cleveland Airport to have one of the best public transport links in the country.
The Red Line of Cleveland Rapid Transit (RTA) stops at Cleveland Airport Station and runs to Tower City Station in downtown Cleveland. One-way tickets cost $2.50, making it the most economical way to travel between the two.
From Tower City Station, you may take the Green or the Blue Line to the Amtrak Station for services of Lake Shore Limited and Capitol Limited Amtrak.
Besides the train, the next best transportation option at CLE is the taxis and ride-sharing. Both are available curbside on the lower level. A fleet of 110 taxis serves the airport, with vehicles waiting for passengers at any time during airport working hours, whereas app-based rides have dedicated pick-up locations. A trip to the Cleveland city center costs around 35 USD.
Another option is several companies like SuperShuttle, Hoppa, SunTransfers, and Prime Time Shuttle, that offer shared and private shuttle rides. You can find and book your shuttle here.
Lastly, rental car companies are consolidated off-airport on Maplewood Ave and accessible via a complimentary shuttle from the terminal in just 5-7 minutes. Companies present include Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Hertz, and National, among others.
Parking Information
CLE offers 5 different on-site parking options:
Smart Parking Garage: Attached to the terminal via skywalk and featuring an intelligent guidance system. Rates are $25/day or $7/hour.
Red Lot: Located north of the terminal, walking distance away. It is credit card only facility, with a daily rate of 23 USD.
Blue Lot: Opposite the Red Lot and identical in all aspects.
Orange Lot: Located across Park Road from the Smart Garage. It is also connected directly to the Smart Parking Garage by another covered skywalk. It costs $20/day, also accepts credit cards only.
Brown Lot: Located at 4960 Rocky River Drive and served by a complimentary shuttle to the terminal, which runs every 15 minutes. It is the cheapest parking option at $17/day (credit card only).
Those looking for maximum convenience can take advantage of the curbside valet parking option located on the upper roadway by Door 1 and available 24/7 at a rate of $37/day.
Additionally, the Cell Phone Lot is a free waiting area for those picking up passengers.
There exist several off-site parking facilities like The Parking Spot and Fast Park, which provide covered parking with a shuttle service to the terminal.
Hotels near CLE
There are no hotels within the airport, but two stand out as the closest by road at just 2 miles away:
Best Western Airport Inn & Suites Cleveland: A solid 2-star hotel with free hot breakfast from 6 to 9 in the morning.
Holiday Inn Express Cleveland Airport - Brook Park by IHG: Also a 2-star property. It features well-appointed, comfortable rooms, bathrooms equipped with toiletries, and a complimentary breakfast.
Both hotels offer a free shuttle to and from the terminal, as do many of the other hotels in the vicinity.
Cleveland, OH, USA
