These are The Top-Rated Airports in the US in 2026 2027: Miami and Orlando are Surprising for Tour
A new study by JD Power reveals which North American airports generate the most satisfaction among travelers.
Choosing a flight based on price and schedule is the norm. But there's another factor that can significantly change the travel experience: the airport you depart from, arrive at, or especially the one where you have a connection.
It's not the same to spend two hours between flights in a terminal that's easy to navigate, with good signage and plenty of places to eat, as it is to wade through a huge, congested airport trying to get to another gate. And passengers seem to know exactly which ones work best.Consult Interactive Maps
The JD Power 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study analyzed the experiences of 24,710 passengers in the United States and Canada, evaluating airports based on factors that extend far beyond flight punctuality. These include ease of movement within terminals, facilities, staff, the departure and arrival experience, and the availability of food and retail options.View Demographic Reports
The results leave some familiar names among the top spots, but also several surprises: Minneapolis is once again the highest-rated giant airport, Tampa leads among the large ones, and Charleston tops the medium-sized ones.Explore Local Guides
What you will find in this article:
- What are the best airports in the United States in 2026?
- Minneapolis is once again the highest-rated giant airport
- Hire Urgent Deliveries
- The airports that came in last among the largest
- Tampa is the highest-rated major airport
- Charleston leads among medium-sized airports
- What makes an airport considered good?
- What to consider before choosing an airport for a connection
- Is it worth choosing a flight through the airport?
- Which is the best airport in the United States in 2026?
- Which is the best large airport in Florida?
- Is Miami among the best airports in the United States?
- Is Orlando well-rated by passengers?
- Which ones came in last among the mega airports?
JD Power doesn't place all airports in the same ranking. It divides them according to their annual passenger volume, which is important because the experience of managing tens of millions of travelers cannot be directly compared to that of a much smaller terminal.Book Charter Flights
So-called mega-airports , for example, receive at least 33 million passengers annually. This is precisely the category that includes many of the airports most frequently used by international travelers.
And there's a winner there who's starting to become a regular.
Minneapolis is once again the highest-rated giant airport
Minneapolis -Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) scored 684 points out of 1,000 and ranked first among mega airports for the third year in a row.Search for Cheap Flights
The result is especially significant because it's not a small terminal. More than 36 million passengers passed through MSP during 2025, and the airport continues to expand its connections and facilities.
Following behind are Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , with 663 points, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport , with 642.Consult Interactive Maps
The top 10 mega airports are as follows:
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport — 684
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport — 663
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport — 642
- LaGuardia Airport — 638
- Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas — 634
- San Francisco International Airport
- Miami International Airport — 628
- John F. Kennedy International Airport — 626
- Boston Logan International Airport — 622
- Orlando International Airport — 621
There is one particularly interesting fact for Hispanic travelers: Miami and Orlando are among the ten highest-rated mega-airports .
This is no small matter. Both attract a huge volume of international tourism and are common gateways for travelers from Latin America. Miami ranks seventh and Orlando tenth.Hire Urgent Deliveries
New York also presents an interesting situation. LaGuardia appears fourth , while JFK comes in eighth. The extensive renovations carried out at LaGuardia in recent years seem to have radically changed the perception of an airport that long had a very different reputation.
The airports that came in last among the largest
The ranking also allows us to look at the other end of the spectrum. Among the mega-airports, Denver International Airport scored 602 points , while Newark Liberty International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport each registered 585 points , placing them at the bottom of the ranking.Search for Cheap Flights
That doesn't necessarily mean these are airports to avoid. They are major hubs with hundreds of connections and, depending on the itinerary, can still be the most convenient option. But the study measures something different: how passengers perceive the entire experience of passing through them.
And that matters especially when you have to choose between two similar flights with different layovers. If price, duration, and schedules are comparable, the ease of making a connection can become a reasonable deciding factor.
Tampa is the highest-rated major airport
When you go down a level in passenger volume, another interesting winner emerges for those traveling to Florida. Tampa International Airport (TPA) scored 715 points , the highest score among the large airports.View Demographic Reports
Tampa surpassed Portland International Airport , which scored 708 points, and Dallas Love Field , with 698. Kansas City, Raleigh-Durham, Nashville, and New Orleans also appear very well positioned.
The top 10 in this category were as follows:
- Tampa International Airport — 715
- Portland International Airport — 708
- Dallas Love Field — 698
- Kansas City International Airport — 692
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport — 685
- Nashville International Airport — 683
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport — 682
- Southwest Florida International Airport — 680
- John Wayne Airport, Orange County — 677
- Sacramento International Airport — 672
At the bottom of the list were St. Louis Lambert International Airport , with 605 points; Honolulu International Airport , with 604; and Philadelphia International Airport , with 596.Explore Local Guides
Charleston leads among medium-sized airports
The third category analyzed by JD Power comprises airports that receive between 4.5 and 9.9 million passengers annually.
The winner here was Charleston International Airport , with 712 points. It was followed by Ontario International Airport in California, with 705, and Indianapolis International Airport , with 695. Milwaukee, Hollywood Burbank, and Palm Beach also appeared among the top-ranked airports.Hire Urgent Deliveries
For a traveler, this category raises an interesting question: flying to the largest airport in a region does not always mean having the most comfortable experience.
In certain US destinations, smaller alternative airports can be attractive if fares and connections are convenient. The time spent walking to your gate, collecting your luggage, finding ground transportation, or exiting the terminal is also part of the journey.
What makes an airport considered good?
The ranking is not built simply by asking travelers which is their favorite airport.Consult Interactive Maps
JD Power analyzes seven dimensions of the experience: ease of moving around the airport, trust it inspires, terminal facilities, staff, departure and airport access experience, restaurants and shops, and arrival experience.
This explains why investments that are not directly related to airplanes can end up significantly changing the passenger's perception.
In recent years, numerous North American airports have renovated terminals, improved signage, and expanded their dining options. The 2026 study specifically identifies an improvement in passenger satisfaction despite the high volume of travelers .Search for Cheap Flights
Food has also ceased to be a secondary detail. More and more terminals are incorporating restaurants and businesses linked to the city or region in which they are located, instead of exclusively featuring the same international chains.
What to consider before choosing an airport for a connection
This is where the ranking can become truly useful information. If you have two virtually identical flights, but one connects in Minneapolis and the other in an airport near the bottom of the list, the ranking can be an additional factor in your decision. But it shouldn't be the only one .
First, check the length of your layover. An excellent airport doesn't compensate for a tight connection.Book Charter Flights
It also matters if you have to change terminals, go through security again, or collect and recheck your luggage. On international trips , immigration procedures can completely alter the time needed to make a connection.
And there's another common mistake: automatically choosing the biggest airport thinking it will have better services.
JD Power's results show that this isn't always the case. Some large and medium-sized airports achieve higher satisfaction levels precisely because navigating them is easier.Hire Urgent Deliveries
Is it worth choosing a flight through the airport?
When there's a significant price difference, the airport is probably not the deciding factor. Paying much more just to use a better-rated terminal rarely makes sense.
The situation changes when you're comparing similarly priced flights.
For layovers of several hours, traveling with children, accompanying a senior citizen, or making an international connection, the airport experience becomes crucial. Reasonable distances, clear signage, ample restaurants, and a comfortable terminal can make a long journey much less tiring.
That's why these rankings work best as an additional tool for comparing flights , not as a rigid list of airports you should use or avoid.
The best airport for your trip will still depend on the route, price, airline, and connection time. But when two options are very similar, knowing how other passengers rate their experience can help break the tie.
Which is the best airport in the United States in 2026-2027?
It depends on the size. Minneapolis-Saint Paul was the highest-ranked mega-airport in JD Power's 2026 study. Tampa led the large airport category, and Charleston led the medium airport category.
Which is the best large airport in Florida?
Tampa International Airport ranked first among large airports, with 715 points. Miami and Orlando belong to a different category due to their higher passenger volume, and both appear within the top 10 mega-airports.
Is Miami among the best airports in the United States?
Yes. Miami International Airport ranked seventh among mega-airports in JD Power's 2026-2027 passenger satisfaction rankings.
Is Orlando well-rated by passengers?
Orlando International Airport ranks tenth among North American mega-airports in the 2026-2027 study, with 621 points.
Which ones came in last among the mega airports?
Among the last places in the category are Denver International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
