William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is the oldest commercial airport in Houston, Texas. It is, however, secondary to the bigger airport serving Houston, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), the latter more commonly called “Houston Airport” than the former. Thus, this guide will use either the airport’s full name or the shorter version - Hobby Airport.
The airport is located approximately 7 miles southeast of downtown Houston and serves as a significant hub for domestic travel, though it also offers a few direct flights to other countries in North America. In 2022, Hobby Airport became the first airport in North America to receive a 5-Star Airport status by Skytrax.
In 2024, HOU served over 14 million passengers, making it the fifth busiest airport in Texas and among the top 40 in the USA.
Major Airlines - Southwest Airlines
Hobby Airport is a primary hub for Southwest Airlines, which operates the enormous majority of flights, including international routes to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Because over 90% of passenger traffic at HOU is served by Southwest, the two have become somewhat synonymous.
All other airlines at HOU serve only domestic routes. These include the major carriers Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, as well as low-cost airlines like Frontier Airlines, Allegiant Air, Avelo Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines.
You can reach over 70 destinations by a non-stop flight originating from Hobby Airport. See a full list of destinations from HOU here.
Terminal Layout and Gates of HOU
HOU features a single terminal building divided into two concourses:
Domestic Concourse (aka Central Concourse): When it opened in 2003, it replaced the original three concourses and created new retail shops, eateries, and other facilities.
International Concourse (aka West Concourse): A concourse especially for international flights was inaugurated on October 15, 2015. It includes five gates for narrow-body aircraft, four of which are utilized by Southwest Airlines and one available to other carriers.
A new $250 million expansion project, spearheaded by Southwest Airlines, has been announced with an expected completion date of 2027. It will add seven new gates to the West Concourse, six of which will be for Southwest’s domestic flights.
Wi-Fi at Houston Hobby Airport
Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal and the parking garages.
To connect, select the "Free Airport WIFI" network and accept the terms and conditions on the welcome page that should open automatically.
Other services at Hobby Airport
Here are some of the extra services and convenience facilities you can take advantage of at the airport:
Airport Information Booths: Four locations around the airport, both before and after Security. Nearby you will also find several Interactive Visitor Kiosks.
ATMs: Find multiple ATMs near the baggage reclaim area, in the Main Lobby before Security, as well as near Gates 1 and 21.
Power Outlets for charging: Seating areas next to sockets for charging personal electronic devices are located near gates 1-5, 20-25, 27, and 40-51.
Interfaith Chapels: Calm places to pray or meditate in 2 locations: pre-Security near Baggage Reclaim and airside near Gate 44.
Two free-to-use libraries near Gate 5 and in the Central Play Area on Level 2.
U.S. mailbox in the Main Lobby. Includes a MailSafe Express service for those valuable items not allowed in the Security area by the TSA
Mother Rooms near Gates 4 and 24.
Smoking areas outside the terminal building and at least 25 feet away. Both on Level 1 and Level 2.
Several vending machines and drinking water filling stations spread throughout the airport.
Dining Options at Houston Hobby Airport
Despite it being a relatively small airport with mostly regional flights, Hobby offers a surprisingly diverse selection of dining establishments, including restaurants, coffee shops, pastry delis, and bars.
Here are just some of the best places to eat at the airport:
The Spot in the West Concourse: A diner favorite with locals, serving everything from breakfast tacos and pancakes to burgers, cocktails, and juices. Find it near Gate 1.
The Spot Bar: A few meters down the hall from the diner, near Gate 4. You can grab a drink or one of the diner’s signature dishes.
Pink’s Pizza: One of Texas’s best known local pizza brands has an outlet near Gate 21 of the Central Concourse with a second one set to open in late 2025.
Fat Cat Creamery: A Houston-based ice cream shop known for its small-batch scoops, with both classic and quirky flavors. Find it near Gate 27.
Hubcap Bar & Grill: Another Houston name, this one known for its big portions at affordable prices, even at the airport. Located near Gate 46.
Velvet Taco: Coming from Dallas, their tacos and margaritas have hit Houston like a storm, including its airports. Find it near Gate 46.
With new places popping up at the airport all the time and future expansions in progress, you will certainly find new and exciting dining places to visit whenever you fly from Houston’s Hobby Airport.
Lounges at HOU
Without any major airlines, Houston Hobby Airport doesn’t have all that many lounges within its terminals.
The closest thing to a VIP lounge is the USO Lounge, which is exclusive to military personnel and their families. It is located below Gate 44 and offers drinks, snacks, entertainment, and free Wi-Fi. The lounge operates daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
An alternative for the youthful among you is The Gameway Lounge. It is more of a gaming room where you can enjoy video games and high-speed internet, but it also serves food and drinks. You can access it using Priority Pass, various credit card schemes, or pay at the door. It’s open from 6 AM until 9 PM daily.
Transport to and from William P. Hobby Airport
With Houston’s reliance on private vehicles and a lagging public transportation system, it’s no surprise that Hobby Airport is still not connected by rail to the city.
However, there are ways to travel between Houston and HOU using public transport.
From the Curb Zone 3 of the airport, you can take METRO buses, with routes connecting to downtown Houston and surrounding areas. Alternatively, Curb Zone 4 is where you will find long-distance buses and shuttles to smaller regional airports around Houston.
From many places around Houston, you can take the METRO's Red, Green, or Purple Line to Central Station, then transfer to the Green Line to Magnolia Park Transit Center, and finally take Bus 50 Broadway to Hobby Airport (this bus departs from Eastwood Transit Center).
Another option is the METRO Bus 40, which connects the airport to the George R. Brown Convention Center in about 1 hour.
To get from William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), take the aforementioned Metro Bus 40 and get off at the intersection of Lamar and Milam. From there, walk to the corner of Travis and McKinney, about 10 minutes away, and catch the METRO Bus 102 to IAH Terminal C. This journey can take up to 2.5 hours, but it is quite cheap at only 2.50 USD total.
Public transit may be cheap, but perhaps not the most convenient. If you want more flexibility, take a taxi from Curb Zone 2 or an Uber or Lyft (among other app-based ride-sharing companies) from their designated pick-up zones. A trip from HOU to downtown Houston costs between 25 and 35 USD, not including a tip or any surcharges.
Multiple rental car companies provide services at Hobby Airport, including Alamo, Dollar, Avis, Sixt, and Thrifty. To reach the rental car facilities, take the free shuttle from Curb Zone 1 outside Arrivals. Look for signs for “Rental Car Shuttles”.
It’s also worth checking out these options for private transfers.
Parking at Hobby Airport
Hobby Airport provides over 9,000 parking spaces across three garages:
The ecopark is the cheapest option at just 9.24 USD plus tax per day. However, it’s a bit farther from the terminal.
The Red Garage is the closest to the main building. Parking there costs 25 USD per day.
The Blue Garage is beside the Red one, and the parking fee there is the same.
A free shuttle service connects the parking areas to the terminal.
Note that cash payments are not accepted, but there is a solution for those who don’t have anything else - a cash-to-card machine at Level 2 across from the American Airlines check-in counter. The standardly accepted forms of payment include credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
Hotels near Hobby Airport
There are no hotels directly inside the terminal, nor within the airport grounds, but there are several good hotels outside, and within a 5-minute ride away.
The closest you can stay to the terminal building is the Quality Suites Houston Hobby Airport - a 2-star hotel with a good breakfast and spacious rooms. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer a shuttle.
A bit higher in class (and with a free shuttle) is the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Hobby Airport, also located adjacent to the airport.
Near the Car Rental facility are a few more hotels, for example, the Hampton Inn Houston Hobby Airport and the Best Western Plus Hobby Airport Inn & Suites.
To see a bigger selection of airport hotels near HOU, click here.
Houston, TX, USA
