The Best Airport in Every State

Traveling by plane can be a bear, and not your friendly Yogi-and-BooBoo types either. Luckily, many airports across the country are making strides to alleviate the stress passengers feel.

After scouring through numerous 'best of' lists and rankings, along with weaving in several factors ranging from how the airport handles busy passenger loads to its modern amenities and more, we discovered the best airport each state has to offer.

Huntsville International Airport - Although not the biggest in Alabama (Birmingham-Shuttlesworth takes that honor), Huntsville's efficiency and revenue growth over the past two decades set it apart.

Fairbanks International Airport - While Anchorage may be the biggest city in Alaska, Fairbanks has non-stop service to many parts of the country-as well as Europe-and a great new terminal that is less than 10 years old.

Phoenix Sky Harbor - Like some of the airports on this list, Sky Harbor is considered one of the best in the country. So it's only natural that it's the best in the state.

Northwest Arkansas Regional - Clinton National in Little Rock is the state's main airport, but XNA is generally regarded as better-run. Northwest Regional set a record for passenger volume in 2018 and just added free wifi throughout the terminal.

San Francisco International - One of the most modern, yet eclectic, airports in the country. Not only are there numerous outlets, charging stations and free wifi, but SFO also has an incredible collection of artwork and even boasts a yoga room.

Denver International Airport - Construction to replace Denver's Stapleton Airport ran 16 months overdue, but boy, when DIA was finished in 1995, it was worth it. It's the little things like clearly marked navigation, plenty of charging stations and artwork along walls that make this airport so friendly.

Bradley International - Just last fall, this Hartford-based airport was named among the 10 best in the U.S. by Conde Nast Traveler. Bradley is now New England's second biggest airport behind Boston Logan.

Wilmington-New Castle Airport - One of the smallest airports in the country and, unfortunately, often underutilized. Most people traveling to or from Delaware use Philadelphia International to the north or Baltimore-Washington International to the south.

Orlando International Airport - With three of the greatest theme parks in the world just minutes from its runways, MCO trademarked the phrase 'The Orlando Experience.' That's how important it was to airport officials to replicate the kind of comfort and hospitality the theme parks show visitors.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport - One of the biggest airports in the country, producing the largest volume of passengers annually. Unlike other major airports that often get a failing grade, Hartsfield-Jackson is perennially considered among the best.

Kahului International Airport - You would think that Honolulu International, one of the busiest in the U.S. with more than 21 million annual customers served, would be tops for the island. But Kahului in Maui has undergone renovations and upgrades that make it a pure joy to fly in and out of.

Boise Airport - It goes without saying that given the state is largely rural, the airports are few and far between. Not surprisingly, Boise is the biggest and the best. There are food and concession shops on both sides of security as well as free wifi throughout.

O'Hare International - One of the busiest airports in the country yet one that scores high marks in several categories. While the traffic to and from O'Hare isn't ideal, the airport itself is business-friendly and boasts a nursing mothers' room, an indoor garden above the atrium and a yoga room. It's also one of the best at quickly cleaning up after a storm.

Indianapolis International Airport - All you need to know about IIA is that it consistently has been named to the Best in North America list in the Airport Council International's Airport Service Quality Awards. The award is based on customer surveys at 320 airports around the world.

Des Moines International - Located in the state capital city, the airport does a nice job of providing exceptional customer service to both business and leisure travelers.

Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport - This is the largest airport in the state-sorry folks, but Kansas City International is technically located in Missouri-and serves up about 33 daily flights.

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport - One of the greater smaller international airports in the country. Although based in Kentucky, it generally serves southern Ohio and has consistently made the SkyTrax list of world's best airports.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport - From one of the most moribund airports to one of the best, Armstrong is scheduled to open a completely new terminal on May 15, one of the most modern in the country. Airport traffic grew 60 percent in the last decade and the airport added flights to Europe via British Airways and Condor.

Portland International Jetport - Easy navigation and free wifi allow Portland International to hang with any big airport. In fact, it has made the Airports Council International list and was named North America's best airport in 2015.

Baltimore-Washington International - Granted, BWI is 33 miles from Washington D.C., but there are suburban airports across the country that are much farther from downtown. It's also cheaper to fly out of BWI than the two major D.C. airports-and that's worth a few extra miles.

Boston Logan International - With almost every airline imaginable flying in and out of Logan, this is a well-run facility that drew a record 40 million passengers in 2018.

Detroit Metropolitan - There was a time when flying to or through DTW was like being sentenced to purgatory, causing passengers to make the trek to Grand Rapids or Flint to avoid the facility. Then they built the new McNamara Terminal, improved parking, made the commute more accessible and viola-one of the best airports in the country.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International - A tremendous selection of food, great walkways and some of the fastest moving security lines make MSP a very popular airport, both as a final destination and a connection facility.

Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport - Some great themed restaurants, an exhibition of artifacts from the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and a sampling of blues music. Throw in free wifi and you have all the makings of a fun experience.

Kansas City International - MCI is a friendly, rustic-looking facility whose great attribute is location, right in the middle of the country barely three hours to either coast.

Bozeman-Yellowstone International - Although this small airport has barely 10 gates, it's very efficient. The local airport authority recently approved a $27 million expansion to add four gates, a third restaurant inside security, more retail stores and space for future expanded outbound baggage handling, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

Eppley Airfield, Omaha - Eppley began its first international service to Toronto just last year. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Eppley was among the country's fastest-growing airports when it comes to capacity or the number of seats available for purchase. Among the 61 largest airports in the United States, Eppley ranked No. 17 in capacity growth in 2018, clocking a 7.3 percent rise from the previous year.

McCarran International - The Las Vegas-based airport is extraordinarily business-friendly, which is only natural since this is the No. 1 spot in the country for conventions. McCarran is also surprisingly easy to get around and, more importantly, to get in and out of.

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport - Simply put, one of the best and most highly regarded airports in the country. Generally, Manchester is used by those who opt for a longer drive to avoid Boston Logan. Once they arrive, they are rewarded with a fantastic facility.

Newark-Liberty International Airport - If you can't find a flight out of Newark, you're not trying hard enough. The airport offers flights from more than 30 airlines and does a better job of servicing its customers than fellow New York City-area airports JFK and LaGuardia.

Albuquerque International Sunport - A nice, medium-size facility where the terminal architecture reflects a Southwestern style.

Westchester County Airport, White Plains - A surprise choice, but it's a terrific alternative to the big New York City airports. It's extraordinarily easy to get to and extraordinarily easy to navigate.

Charlotte-Douglas International - An American Airlines hub, Charlotte-Douglas draws raves for its ease of access and its comfortable terminals. This was a tough call with Raleigh-Durham, the king of connection airports.

Fargo-Hector International, N.D. - Easy to get to, easy to navigate. Fargo is economical, with flights to major cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Phoenix and Tampa. If those aren't your destinations, they're a great group for connecting flights.

John Glenn Columbus International - Not only easy to get to, but the airport houses some terrific restaurants compared to some of its bigger counterparts.

Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma City - Will Rogers never met a man he didn't like. He would like the ease of this airport and the fact that American Airlines just added its seventh destination from OKC to Reagan National in Washington D.C this past February.

Portland International Airport - A no-brainer. PDX has consistently been ranked on numerous top 10 lists when it comes to the best airports in the country. In September of 2018, it was rated third-best in the U.S. in a J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey.

Pittsburgh International Airport - A great airport overall. How great? In 2017, Pittsburgh International was the first U.S. facility to earn the "Airport of the Year" designation from Air Transport World.

T.F. Green Airport, Providence - Named the third-best airport in the country in 2015 in the annual Conde Nast Readers Choice awards, this facility is one of the best small airports in the nation.

Charleston International - Although South Carolina is not that big a state, Charleston International, Columbia Metropolitan, Myrtle Beach International, Greenville-Spartanburg and Savannah-Hilton Head are some great regional facilities. None will get you on a direct flight to London or Rome, but they all-especially Charleston International-will get you to many places in the U.S.

Sioux Falls Regional Airport - Truly one of the smallest regional airports in every sense of the word. Sioux Falls has just 150 weekly flights and only 1,750 daily seats to offer on 10 daily fights.

Nashville International - An up-and-comer on many lists that rank the best airports in the U.S. Known for its easy-to-navigate terminal and stress-free environment.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston - This one has made numerous top-10 lists in the last year or so, including an appearance on the Conde Nast Reader's Choice Awards. A huge hub, Bush has a plethora of food and retail shops as well as numerous charging stations to go along with free wifi. Or, in other words, amenities that make travelers happy.

Salt Lake City International - An older facility that somehow manages to impress on a national level every year. Perhaps that's because, despite its location, Salt Lake City is perennially one of the nation's top airports for lowest percentage of delays.

Burlington International - For a facility that processes only about 700,000 enplanements a year, Burlington is well-run and business friendly. It bills itself as "Close, Convenient, Comfortable."

Washington-Dulles International - Another airport making strides on 'best of' lists, especially after renovations and improvements to the metro were completed. Dulles has one of the best lounge-to-passenger ratios among airports, making it one of the most comfortable around.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport - Sea-Tac scores high on airport amenities for business travelers yet it's also very family-friendly, too. And, given the crazy weather at times, Sea-Tac handles its volume quite well.

Yeager Airport, Charleston - West Virginia's largest airport and largest selection of airlines, albeit fairly limited with other options out of state. Yeager services cities such as Charlotte, Washington, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston and Chicago.

Dane County Regional Airport, Madison - Welcome to Mad City, home to the University of Wisconsin. Madison's airport is clean and attractive but doesn't have as many airline options as Milwaukee. Still, it is well-run and a traveler's delight when the bitter cold isn't causing issues all over the state.

Jackson Hole Airport - Located near the Teton Mountains and offering spectacular views, Jackson is serviced by American, Delta, United, Frontier and Alaska Airlines. A 2010 renovation not only gave the terminal a more down-home, well-lit look, but it tripled capacity.