Orlando International Airport (the IATA code is MCO, from the former McCoy Air Force Base on site) is the busiest airport in Florida and one of the busiest in the USA. It serves the city known as the “Theme Park Capital of the World” and is the airport you’d likely land at if you want to visit Disney World, Universal Studios/Universal Resort, or SeaWorld.
The airport is located about 6 miles southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida, and between 16 and 22 miles driving from the various theme parks in the area.
In 2024, MCO served over 57 million passengers, ranking as the ninth busiest in the United States. It offers nonstop flights to more than 170 domestic and international destinations.
Major Airlines - Southwest, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines
No airline has a commanding presence at Orlando International, and several use it as an operating base:
Southwest Airlines: The airport's largest carrier by passenger volume, with over 50 routes from MCO.
Spirit Airlines: A large low-cost airline in the USA connecting Orlando to over 30 cities across the country.
Frontier Airlines: Another low-cost airline that serves Orlando.
Breeze Airways: A low-cost airline that focuses on providing connectivity to smaller airports in the USA.
JetBlue, yet another major low-cost player, sees Orlando as a focus city and flies to over two dozen destinations.
The big players in American aviation - American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines - also serve Orlando with frequent direct flights to their big hubs around the USA.
Given Orlando’s geographical location and tourism appeal, it’s no surprise that it receives numerous international flights by some of the region’s (and the world’s!) largest airlines. Some of them are:
British Airways flies to London-Gatwick.
Emirates flies to Dubai.
Air Canada flies to Toronto.
Aer Lingus flies to Dublin and Manchester.
Air France flies to Paris.
Copa Airlines flies to Panama.
Gol Linhas Aéreas flies to Brasilia and Fortaleza.
Icelandair flies to Reykjavík–Keflavík.
Different LATAM subsidiaries fly to countries in South America, including São Paulo, Brazil, Santiago de Chile, Bogotá in Colombia, and Lima, Peru.
Viva and Volaris connect the airport to several cities in Mexico.
In total, over 35 airlines connect Orlando to destinations across the Americas, Europe, the Caribbean, and beyond.
Find a full list of airlines at MCO here.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Orlando International Airport has 3 terminals in two separate areas. In the North Terminal Complex are Terminals A and B, connected by a large main terminal building in the middle.
Terminal A: Has Airside Zone 1 with Gates from 1 to 29 and Airside Zone 2 with Gates from 100 to 129. Some of the airlines it serves include Alaska, JetBlue, and some of Southwest’s operations.
Terminal B: Has Airside Zone 3 with Gates from 30 to 59 and Airside Zone 4 with Gates from 70 to 99. It is served by airlines such as American, Delta, United, and others. Airside 4 is the primary concourse for international flights by American carriers
The four airside concourses (Airside 1 to Airside 4) are connected by Automated People Movers (APMs), also called Gate Links.
Terminal C is known as the South Terminal Complex and contains gates 230 to 245. A tramway before Security (landside) connects it to the North Complex. It accommodates international and select domestic flights, has streamlined customs processing, and more modern amenities than its northern counterparts. It is the primary terminal for foreign airlines, including Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Emirates.
A separate people mover called “Terminal Link” connects Terminal C with the North Complex. It runs landside, i.e., before Security. Another option is the shuttle bus, which connects Terminals B (space B16) and C (space C262) 24 hours a day.
Each terminal side has its own ticketing, baggage claim, and ground transportation facilities.
Check out the over 170 destinations you can get to from MCO.
Connecting Flights and Transit at Orlando Airport
Orlando Airport is one of the better ones to have a layover at. With interterminal transportation being frequent and convenient, most transfers are just a matter of finding your new gate.
The minimum connecting time for domestic flights is 45 minutes for flights using the same terminal and 1 hour if you need to change terminals or concourses.
Remember that US airports require international arrivals to clear Immigration at the first point of entry (except for pre-cleared flights) and to re-check luggage even if flying onwards with the same airline. International-to-domestic (or vice-versa) transfers require a minimum of 2 hours connecting time to factor in Immigration and Customs.
Note that while Airside 1, 2, 3, and 4 are all connected, as the name suggests, Airside, Terminal 3 is a separate building which requires clearing Security to enter, if coming from Terminals 1 or 2.
Wi-Fi at MCO
Orlando Airport has free Wi-Fi in all public areas of the airport.
To connect, simply select “MCO Internet” from the list of available networks, then follow the prompts on the welcome page.
Dining Options at MCO
The dining scene at Orlando Airport is always in flux, with old places closing, new ones opening, and some frequent fliers mourn the departure of their favorite restaurants, while others rejoice at the new variety and fresh options.
One thing is for certain - Orlando is a big airport with over 170 shops and restaurants that will always have what you like, whichever terminal or concourse you fly from.
So without further ado, here are some of the best places to eat or drink at MCO
Main Terminal (common area, landside):
For a proper, sit-down meal, try Hemisphere for its full breakfast in the morning and seafood and steaks in the evening, or McCoy's Bar and Grill, which will “wow” you with a wide menu and international options.
For fast/casual bars, check out the Home Team Sports Bar.
For fast food, you have many, many options, including Auntie Anne’s, Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, Quiznos, and Dunkin’ Donuts.
In Airside 1 (Terminal A), the best place for a sit-down meal with a drink is the On the Border Mexican Grill Cantina.
If you’re flying out of Airside 2 (Terminal A), check out Kafe Kalik, famous for its Caribbean cuisine, or the pizza from Sbarro.
In Airside 3 (Terminal B), go to the Ruby Tuesday casual bar for American food.
Airside 4 (Terminal B) has fewer choices than the rest, though you can grab a quick meal at Burger King or Nathan’s.
Lastly, international travelers flying from Terminal C have access to some of the airport’s newest establishments. The Orange County Brewery near Gates 230-245 is perhaps the best place to grab a drink, while the Cucina & Co is a pleasant place to have a healthy lunch or dinner.
Lounges at Orlando International Airport
There are 7 lounges at MCO, most of which can be accessed by purchasing aday pass even if you’re not flying with the corresponding airline.
For starters, the three biggest airlines in the US each have their namesake lounge near the gates they use at MCO:
Delta Sky Club: Situated in Airside 4, near Gate 71. Open daily from 4:30 AM to 9:15 PM. Only available to qualifying passengers of Delta.
United Club: Located in Airside 3, near Gate 43. Open daily between 5 AM and 8 PM. A day pass costs 59 USD, but certain premium fliers or those part of membership tiers can enter for free.
American Airlines Admirals Club: Located in Airside 3, near Gate 55. Open daily from 4:30 AM until 8:30 PM. It costs 79 USD, unless you have a premium membership.
There are 2 lounges not affiliated with any airline: The Club MCO has two locations:
Airside 1, right next to XpresSpa. Open from 5 AM to 10 PM.
Airside 4, near Gate 91. Open from 5 AM to 9 PM.
Both offer a nice place to unwind before boarding your flight as well as the standard amenities expected from an airport lounge, including complimentary snacks, beverages, Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating.
The Club MCO can be accessed by using Priority Pass or paying 50 USD for a day pass.
Another non-airline lounge with a similar value proposition is the Plaza Premium Lounge, located on the second level of the Palm Court area in Terminal C. It’s open from 7 AM to 9 PM, and a day pass costs 69 USD.
Lastly, the USO Lounge is a free place to relax and grab a complimentary snack for active military members and their families. It’s located at the west end of the Arrivals level in Terminal A and is open between 8 AM and 8 PM.
Transport to and from Orlando International Airport
Orlando Airport has a convenient location not too far from the city, the theme parks, and other places of interest in the region. It’s also much better connected by public transport than other equally big airports in the country.
You can use three different rail services to reach the airport (and by extension, to quickly and cheaply reach your final destination after you land at MCO):
Brightline: Trains run from the MCO station inside the airport, beside Terminal C to Orlando, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura, and Miami. Trains run every day from 5 AM to 11 PM.
SunRail: Central Florida’s new commuter train departs from the Sand Lake Road SunRail station, about 5 miles from the terminals. To get there, take the Lynx local bus service from stops A38 to A41 on the A side of the north terminal on level 1.
Amtrak: The main station is in the city, but you can reach it easily by using the Lynx bus 11. Take it to the intersection of Orange Avenue and Columbia Street, after which the station is about a 10-minute walk away.
Buses perfectly complement rail services:
Lynx Bus: These are public local buses, which cost only 2 USD per one-way ticket. They depart from lanes A38 to A41, on the A side of the North Terminal Complex. Services include downtown Orlando, International Drive, SeaWorld, and the Florida Mall.
Greyhound Bus: A popular US intercity bus operator. To reach the Greyhound station from the airport, you can take Lynx Bus #11 to North Garland Avenue and Bus #25 to 500 John Young Pkwy.
Another popular transport option is the shuttle buses. They can be either shared or private, but all depart from Level 1 of their corresponding terminal:
A19 to A21
B27 to B29
C282 to C283
Many hotels, resorts, and theme parks (depending on your ticket) offer complimentary shuttles to and from the airport, so enquire with them beforehand.
You may also check different private shuttle options from MCO here.
Last but not least - taxis and ridesharing. These are perhaps the most expensive option, but also quite convenient. Metered taxis are always available in front of each of the terminals. A trip to downtown Orlando costs around 35-45 USD. The ridesharing apps that operate at MCO are Uber, Lyft, and Wingz - they have designated pick-up locations, so look for the signs. Approximate pick-up time is 3-5 minutes.
On-site car rental companies are situated on Level 1 ground transportation on both the A and B sides of the terminal. Providers include Alamo, National, Dollar, and SIXT. For off-site companies, of which there are many, you may take a free shuttle bus to their offices and parking spaces.
Parking at MCO
With over 57 million people coming and going through Orlando Airport, many of whom use private vehicles, parking is never in low demand. MCO delivers several parking garages, uncovered lots, and long-term economy lots.
The following is a summary of available parking options and prices:
Terminal Top Parking: Located directly above the terminal A/B building, offering unprecedented convenience and is most suitable for short trips. The first 20 minutes are free, then it costs 2 USD for up to 30 minutes and 1 USD for each additional 15 minutes. Capped at 24 UD per day.
Parking Garages A, B, and C: Multi-level facilities connected to their corresponding terminals via walkways. The price is the same as the Terminal Top Parking.
Economy Lots: Budget-friendly options with shuttle service to the terminals. There is one north of and one south of the terminal. The first 10 minutes are free, then stays of up to 3 hours are charged 5 USD. Longer than that, and you will be charged the daily maximum of 14 USD.
Valet Parking: Available curbside next to each terminal, from 6 AM to 11 PM. The first 20 minutes cost 4 USD, then every 20 minutes add 1 USD to the fare. Stays above 3 hours are charged the daily maximum of 35 USD.
Cell Phone Waiting Lots: There is one free waiting lot on each end of the airport. You must remain in the vehicle. Most suitable while waiting for a passenger to land, after which you can drive and pick them up from the curbside.
Hotels near Orlando Airport
If you want convenience, look no further than the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, which is situated within the main terminal and offers direct access to airline check-in and Security. A 4-star hotel with premium, modern amenities, it’s on the high-end of the budget spectrum, but is mostly worth it.
Many other hotels are located outside the airport grounds, chiefly on both sides of the S Semoran Boulevard, after it crosses the Beeline Expressway (State Road 528). Some of them are:
Hampton Inn & Suites Orlando Airport is located 1.5 miles from MCO and offers complimentary shuttle service.
Marriott Orlando Airport Lakeside is the closest to the terminals after the Hyatt. At just 1.2 miles from the airport. It features resort-style amenities.
Orlando, FL, USA
