2023’s Best and Worst Cities for Long Layovers

woman tourist walking with luggage and smiling with buildings in the background

Don’t let delays and cancellations dampen your travel spirit — kill time with a mini excursion outside the airport. 

But which cities are worth the jaunt, and where should you just stay put? 

Lawn Love ranked nearly 130 U.S. cities served by the busiest airports to determine 2023’s Best and Worst Cities for Long Layovers. 

We looked at each city’s share of delayed and canceled flights and average departure delay time. We also searched for cities that are easy to navigate, especially from the airport, and offer plenty of fun things to see and do without breaking the bank. 

Get the most out of your layover with the help of our rankings and in-depth analysis below.

In this article

City rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

Infographic showing the Best Cities for Layovers, a ranking based on delays, cancellations, amenities, affordability, and more

The upshot

Make it a detour

Big, bustling cities reached high altitudes in our ranking. Our top 10 includes the nation’s largest tourist destinations, with New York at No. 1. 

NYC has high delay rates, with the fifth-longest average departure delay. If you’re crunched for time, you might not make it all the way to Times Square from LaGuardia or JFK. But if you’re stuck for hours, it’s not hard to venture into the city for a Big Apple adventure. 

Chicago (No. 2) has the most delayed departures and the third-highest share of canceled flights. Meanwhile, you can expect relatively more punctual flights in Los Angeles (No. 3), but if you end up with a delay, you’ll have plenty of attractions to occupy your time. Keep LA’s notorious traffic in mind if you do decide to explore the city — a delay of at least 12 hours should make the detour worthwhile. 

If getting back to the airport in time isn’t worth the risk, LA has the second-highest number of airport lounges, which are a great option for travelers who need to stick around.

Travel tips:

  • New York: Stay the night in a former airport terminal at JFK Airport’s TWA Hotel, previously the TWA Flight Center. Admire 1960s-era architecture while enjoying modern amenities like the world’s largest hotel gym, an airplane-turned-cocktail lounge, and a rooftop infinity pool with a view of the runway. 
  • Chicago: O’Hare’s CTA Blue Line makes it easy to get out of the airport to explore the city. Devour a deep-dish pizza, or catch a comedy show if you have the time. If you’re stuck in the city for the night, you can get some rest at Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel
  • Los Angeles: Grab your dream and your cardigan, and get out of the airport for some fast food at In-N-Out Burger. If you want to get some sun and sand, Manhattan Beach isn’t far from LAX, and the FlyAway Bus service allows travelers to explore everything Downtown LA has to offer.

Quick excursions

Smaller cities can be enticing during a long layover, too. 

When it’s not packed for spring break, you can find a comfortable place to stay overnight in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (No. 16), which has the most accommodations in our ranking. If you’re stranded in The Grand Strand, there are also plenty of attractions outside the airport if you don’t feel like lounging. 

You might be more likely to get caught up in a snowstorm in Northern cities like Burlington, Vermont (No. 26), or Portland, Maine (No. 14), which have the highest and second-highest shares of canceled departures, respectively. Their airports are fairly close to the city center, so if the winter weather isn’t too bad, you can easily take a short drive to check out these charming cities. 

Travel tips:

  • Myrtle Beach: Myrtle Beach State Park is not far from the airport and has a pier and boardwalk where you can stretch your legs and breathe in some ocean air. If you have several hours to spare, head to Broadway at the Beach, where you can shop, eat, catch a show, or get an adrenaline rush at the theme park
  • Burlington: Explore Church Street Marketplace, the city’s historic pedestrian mall, which has plenty of options if you’re hungry or itching to shop. If you need to move around after a long flight, you can bike or walk along Lake Champlain on the Burlington Greenway  — keep an eye out for Champ, the mysterious lake monster. 

Distant destinations

If you’re traveling to or from the Paradise of the Pacific, you’re in luck — cities in Hawaii have the lowest rates of cancellations and delays. Hilo (No. 128) boasts the timeliest flight record in our entire ranking. You’re not likely to encounter a long layover in Hilo, Kailua Kona, and Kahului, which is why they descended to the very bottom of our ranking. 

Even volcanic activity won’t stop Hawaiian Airlines from getting you to your destination on time. Good thing, too, because securing a last-minute accommodation in The Aloha State could really sting your wallet

Our other far-off state, Alaska, isn’t far behind. Anchorage and Fairbanks both landed at the bottom of our ranking — between the aforementioned Hawaii cities and Lihue, Hawaii. It’s not so easy to get around these cities if you happen to experience a layover, but there are plenty of attractions to fill your spare time if you manage to rove out of the airport.

Travel tips:

Expert take

Traveling by air can be overwhelming, especially during the holidays. 

We turned to a panel of experts to learn how to deal with travel stress and what to anticipate at the airport this year. Read their tips and insights below. 

  1. How can you kill time at the airport without spending a ton of money?
  2. What are the best three strategies for reducing stress while traveling for the holidays?
  3. If you have a multi-hour or multi-day layover, what would you prioritize seeing or doing?

Ask The Experts

Dr. Deb J. C. Brosdahl
Associate Professor, Department of Retailing
John Noble Masi, BS & MBA
Faculty of Culinary/Industry Consulting, Teaching Assistant Professor
David Charles Miles
Part-Time Faculty, School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, The W. A. Franke College of Business
Gisele Canova, MHR, MS
Instructor and Internship Coordinator, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
Dr. Mark Z. Meng
Assistant Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management, School of Business
Dr. Deb J. C. Brosdahl
Associate Professor, Department of Retailing
University of South Carolina

How can you kill time at the airport without spending a ton of money?

My go-to is to take either a good book, a lot of magazines from home I haven’t had time to catch up on, and last, work that I want to get off my mind so I can devote my time to visiting with my relatives, meal prep or to watching lots of football.

What are the best three strategies for reducing stress while traveling for the holidays?

  1. A lot of positive mental preparedness helps me. Basically, I tell myself,a) I am going to be running into a lot of harried, impatient, and sometimes unpleasant people. I have two choices when they come into my emotional, mental or physical space.I can choose to respond to them the same way they are acting, which doesn’t help me or the situation. I can choose to ignore them or better yet, turn the other cheek. A smile or sympathetic word can go a long way toward defusing a situation while also making yourself feel better for your choice; andb) I am not going to get upset, angry or impatient while I travel because it doesn’t make things go faster or better.In other words, a conscious decision to ‘chill out’ helps me in many ways.
    1. If I find I am getting agitated or stressed because of others or the situation, I listen to my favorite podcast or music. This really helps me focus on myself or on what I am listening to.
    2. I can’t get upset or stressed out if I get into a book by my favorite author.

If you have a multi-hour or multi-day layover, what would you prioritize seeing or doing?

Multi-hour:

If you only have a couple of hours to stroll around, many airports are starting to feature local, national and internationally known artists and exhibitions. If you are here in the States, the San Francisco International Airport is well-known for its rotating exhibitions.

Some of the current exhibitions include: The Victorian Papered Wall; Curiosity & Discovery: Antique Scientific Instruments; glass artist Martin Lipovsky’s work; From Kezar to Candlestick: The Photography of Frank Rippon (football photographic); and Arko Datto: Rail Diwali (about Diwali, the Hindu festival held in the fall and how this festival is celebrated in some of the most heavily populated and underprivileged areas of Kolkata.).

The Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX and the Miami International Airport are also gaining notoriety for the artists and exhibitions they are curating. If you have time to kill, Google the name of the airport and see if they have exhibitions, outstanding restaurants, or things to do that you might not see otherwise.

Of course, you can always browse and shop, but if you do this, be prepared to pay a premium on most goods and if you can, at least shop for goods made or produced locally.

Multi-day layover:

If you can get out of the airport, and need to stay overnight, look for hotels away from the airport if financially feasible. If nothing else, you can spend money on the hotel, and stroll an interesting downtown area with interesting sites for free.

For example, if you are laying over in Savannah/Hilton Head, uber or take a taxi downtown Savannah and stroll along the River Street Market Place, stroll along any of the small green squares surrounded by historic homes and buildings, walk under the moss-draped live oak trees, eat some classic Southern staples like shrimp and grits, or perhaps go on one of the many ghost tours in one of the most-haunted cities in the U.S.

But many cities have things you can do that are unique and delightful.

John Noble Masi, BS & MBA
Faculty of Culinary/Industry Consulting, Teaching Assistant Professor
Florida International University

How can you kill time at the airport without spending a ton of money?

If you have time to kill, the best way is to walk when you have the opportunity between gates. I love the Atlanta airport for layovers. You can get exercise walking between gates and stay away from the compacted crowds of the trains.

I also love grabbing some healthy and tasty snacks. There are great options for seasoned nuts in the retail stores and great fresh baked options from the coffee shops that will not break the bank.

What are the best three strategies for reducing stress while traveling for the holidays?

The best and first strategy I recommend for reducing stress is to have a plan. I always plan to target my arrival at the airport at least an hour prior to take off. Planes board 30 to 40 minutes ahead of departure, so that target allows me to get through security with plenty of time and not rush to the gate.

Secondly, use a traffic/GPS app like Waze or Google Maps. They can steer you the most time saving route to the airport and they can also share what traffic and drive times are at various parts of the day.

Lastly, I recommend picking a favorite airline and building mileage and loyalty within that airline. You can build miles more easily also if you have a credit card sponsored by that airline. The perks of priority boarding, free checked baggage, and potential upgrades are immeasurable when it comes to stress-free traveling. Build your points and status with a single carrier to lessen your stress and enjoy the perks.

If you have a multi-hour or multi-day layover, what would you prioritize seeing or doing?

Multi-hour and multi-day layovers allow for exploration. My best layover was a 6 hour one in LA where local friends picked us up and took us to a cool local spot for lunch and then dropped us back off at the airport with plenty of time for the departing flight.

I love great food especially enjoyed with great friends and if you plan well enough, you can enjoy both on a longer layover.

David Charles Miles
Part-Time Faculty, School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, The W. A. Franke College of Business
Northern Arizona University

How can you kill time at the airport without spending a ton of money?

Maximize any credit card or airline loyalty programs that may get you entry to one of the airport lounges for stays of an extra hour or more. Hotel lobbies and amenities may be available on a day rate and it is a good way to have family needs satisfied.

Again, check your hotel loyalty benefits.

What are the best three strategies for reducing stress while travelling for the holidays?

  1. Make realistic plans as well as backup plans. You have options when you can think and gain agreement to alternatives when it’s done in a relaxed environment.
  2. Travel at non-peak times within a reasonable schedule of your needed arrivals. I am travelling Tuesday and Saturday.
  3. Stay cool, calm and even headed so you can make better decisions. Do not let stress get to you. Minimize alcohol and sedatives and just accept that there will be issues.

If you have a multi-hour or multi-day layover, what would you prioritize seeing or doing?

Hotel concierge/Bell Captain/Front Desk all know the area best. You are their customer and these are the most frequently asked questions at many properties.

Be prepared to spend reasonable dollars on ride share and attractions. Remember it is a Holiday.

Also do not forget to cancel reservations you will not be able to keep. Stay open to cancelling the entire trip and rebooking maybe the following week or two.

Gisele Canova, MHR, MS
Instructor and Internship Coordinator, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
University of Central Florida

How can you kill time at the airport without spending a ton of money?

Some airports have artwork, holiday decorations and local souvenir shops that you can browse. Duty free stores are a great time killer too. You can try on perfume and make-up. Sometimes they even have free beverage tastings, I had a tequila tasting in Mexico City, Vodka tasting in Sydney and a whiskey tasting in Glasgow for free.

But your best bet is to bring a portable device uploaded with videos, games and books. Remember your headphones and chargers, pre-upload your content and don’t rely on free wi-fi. If you have luggage and a companion, you can alternate taking walks or if you checked your luggage, you have the freedom to stroll.

What are the best three strategies for reducing stress while traveling for the holidays?

Plan ahead with a checklist, pack light, arrive early at the airport, and avoid checking luggage if you can. Other strategies are avoiding peak days and being flexible to travel on the actual holiday.

Don’t cram too much into your trip, pack your patience, be kind to workers and people traveling with children.

If you have a multi-hour or multi-day layover, what would you prioritize seeing or doing?

First, it is important to check the time of the layover. I often see cheaper flights with a substantial layover in the middle of the night, if that is the case you will have to pay for a hotel or you could end up having a terrible night stuck in the airport.

You can look for attractions near the airport, however the time of the day will determine what you can do. I once had a 7 hour layover in Reykjavik and I planned on visiting the Blue Lagoon but the flight was delayed and I ended up spending the night on a bench at KEF.

Also, take in consideration where you are flying from, I once had a 5-hour layover in San Francisco and planned on sightseeing but since I had been travelling for almost 20 hours, I was too exhausted to do anything so I took a long nap at the airport instead.

If your layover times are ok, prioritize the attractions with easy access and use reliable transport such as trains or ferries. It would be terrible to be stuck in traffic and not be able to return to the airport in time for your flight.

Plan ahead and make sure you have plenty of time to go and come back, but also think about what you will do with your luggage. Will you check it or store it? Where? Luckily, most airports have plenty of this type of information on their websites.

Dr. Mark Z. Meng
Assistant Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management, School of Business
Indiana University Kokomo

How can you kill time at the airport without spending a ton of money?

Although not everyone is able to join the membership of a luxury lounge service at the airport, there are still many affordable options for the majority, such as enjoying a decent meal at a restaurant, receiving a 30 mins SPA treatment, browsing countless number of shops not far from your gate, and last but not the least: do you bring your electronic devices with you at all? Now it may not be a bad time to catch up on emails from work or chat with your family.

What are the best three strategies for reducing stress while traveling for the holidays?

We know that you want to be there ASAP for your loved ones, family, or friends, but be mentally prepared that you might be running into a delay only because there are so many travelers like you scrambling for the same destination at the same time. So, if it is possible, consider departing a bit earlier.

The magic of wearing comfortable clothing is often underestimated by many, especially when they want to put on their best while arriving at their destination.

Download some of your favorite music on your phone, which can come in handy when you do feel stressed or bored.

If you have a multi-hour or multi-day layover, what would you prioritize seeing or doing?

Visa, Visa, Visa. Make sure you understand the Visa policy and requirement at your layover destination, so you can leave the airport and enjoy the city. Other things include checking the weather there, knowing what type of currency you need, whether you can use your credit card, booking an accommodation in advance if you want to stay in the city overnight, and finding out one or two tourist attractions that you may want to visit.

Behind the ranking

Sample selection

We first identified the busiest U.S. airports by the total number of passengers who boarded commercial flights (or total enplanements) in 2021. We included only airports categorized as Large, Medium, or Small Primary Hubs by the Federal Aviation Administration.

We then identified 128 cities served by those airports. Additional selection criteria:

  • If the airport serves a metro area (designated Metropolitan or Micropolitan Statistical Areas, or MSAs, by Census), we collected data for only the biggest principal city, as it is likely to offer the most amenities and services to travelers.
  • The city center must be within an average of 30 miles from the airport(s) by which it is served. If more, we selected the city where the airport is located. These include four cities: Mesa, Arizona; Palm Springs, California; Santa Barbara, California; and West Palm Beach, Florida.

We did not include cities that are part of U.S. territories, including Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Ranking calculation

For each of the 128 cities in our sample, we gathered publicly available data on the factors listed in the table below. 

We then grouped those factors into seven categories: Delays, Cancellations, Getting Around, Things to Do, Staying and Eating, Affordability, and Safety.

Next, we calculated weighted scores for each city in each category. 

Finally, we averaged the scores for each city across all categories. 

The city that earned the highest average score was ranked “Best” (No. 1), while the city with the lowest was ranked “Worst” (No. 128). 

Notes: 

  • The “Worst” among individual factors may not be No. 128 due to ties among cities.
  • Delay and cancellation data was collected for the years 2018, 2019, and 2021.

Sources

Alamo, AreaVibes, Big Bus Tours, Booking.com, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Curb, Enterprise, Flywheel, Getaround, Google Maps, Hertz, Hop On Hop Off, Institute for Transportation & Development Policy, LoungeBuddy, Loungereview.com, Lyft, National, NeighborhoodScout, Tripadvisor, Turo, Uber, Walk Score, Wingz, Via, and Zipcar

Get lost in the airport

These days, you don’t need to spend your layover watching planes take off and hours tick by. 

Long delays and cancellations are disappointing but can give you an opportunity to explore the city. Just be sure to build in enough time to go back through security and to your gate. 

Many airports also have entertaining options to keep idle travelers busy. If you land in one of these top-flight airports, here’s how to make the most of your connection:

Denver International Airport is the largest airport in America and the second-largest in the world. At 53 square miles, it’s bigger than Manhattan. With so much space, there’s plenty of room to get lost and encounter strange things, such as a 32-foot-tall mustang nicknamed “Blucifer” and a talking gargoyle that debunks conspiracy theories. You can destress with a visit to the Canine Airport Therapy Squad (CATS), the world’s largest airport therapy program. 

Photo Credit: “P1020069” | pravin.premkumar | CC BY 2.0
You can hit the slot machines as soon as you land in Las Vegas at Harry Reid International Airport (formerly McCarran International Airport). Stretch your legs with a workout in the fitness center or on the Fly Fit walking paths marked throughout the airport. If you’re traveling with kids, they can get their energy out in the aviation-themed Kids Play Area. You can also see plenty of art or learn about the history of flight in the Aviation Museum

Photo Credit: “It sure took a long time but I’m now in Las Vegas.” | Dion Hinchcliffe | CC BY-SA
At the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, take a stroll on walking paths, play video games in mini arcades, and even hop on a shuttle and escape to the Mall of America. You can also head to the spa, see a chiropractor, or take a shower if you’re stranded or need some R&R during your travels. 

Photo Credit: “Nickelodeon Universe” | Larry Syverson | CC BY-SA 2.0
Catch a locally made short film at Portland International Airport in their microcinema, or decompress with some pets in the dog therapy program. You can also enjoy live music and rotating art exhibits throughout the terminals. If you get hungry, your wallet won’t hurt with expensive airport pricing — PDX is committed to a street pricing policy and there’s no tax on food in Portland. 

Photo Credit: “Public entertainment at the airport” (cropped) | Kristina D.C. Hoeppner | CC BY-SA 2.0
Take care of yourself at San Francisco International Airport with showers, nap rooms, yoga, and a meditation room. Explore the Aviation Museum and Library to learn about commercial aviation and the airline industry. Watch planes take off and land in the airfield from the outdoor SkyTerrace, or enjoy short films inside the Video Arts gallery. SFO also has a wag brigade to help distract from travel worries and woes. 

Photo Credit: “SFO Museum” | Ed Bierman | CC BY 2.0

Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Sav Maive

Sav Maive is a writer and director based in San Antonio. Sav is a graduate from the University of Virginia and is a loving cat and plant mom.