Some airports are so enormous you can seemingly walk for miles between checking in, going through security and finding your gate. But why go through all the hassle? As these tiny airports, with their minimal facilities, low footfall and short waiting times, go to show, sometimes less is definitely more. Intrigued? Join us as we step through the doors of America’s dinkiest airports.

Since reopening for commercial flights two years ago, Paine Field has quickly become one of America’s favorite tiny airports. The compact, two-gate terminal offers just 24 flights a day – in comparison to the 1,010 daily flights handled by nearby Seattle-Tacoma Airport – to cities including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Boise, Palm Springs, Phoenix and Tucson.

When they arrive, travelers can enjoy a modern terminal with excellent facilities, including electrical power and high-speed Wi-Fi at every seat. The 30,000-square-foot (2,787sqm) building includes gender-neutral and family bathrooms, lounge-style seating and floor-to-ceiling windows, offering the ultimate pre-flight comfort.

This airport in Trenton, New Jersey, is so small that baggage claim is just a trailer. On top of that, passengers stepping off the plane must use a ramp that’s exposed to the elements, rather than a covered jet bridge, and there’s just one food outlet and no shopping areas.

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But what Trenton-Mercer Airport lacks in frills, it more than makes up for in terms of convenience: the parking lot is right next door, waiting times are minimal and the Sky Lounge is ideally located for watching the (few) planes come and go.

Originally opened as a training site for the US Air Force during the Second World War, Garden City Regional Airport was handed over to the ownership of the city in 1948. Located around nine miles (14.5km) southeast of its namesake, the airport offers daily flights to and from Dallas/Fort Worth.

Despite its limited offering, Garden City Regional Airport serves 50,000 passengers a year, and it’s also used for charter flights, pilot training, cargo operations and leisure flying. Plans are currently being drawn up to add a restaurant and public viewing area. 

With three runways and two terminals, Bradley International Airport offers non-stop flights to destinations across the US, as well as Mexico, Canada and Ireland. In 2021, the travel hub was recognized as one of the best small airports in the country by readers of USA Today. 

With its convenient location in Windsor Locks, it’s easy to reach from New York and Boston, plus it has great facilities: plenty of parking lot spaces, charging slots and free Wi-Fi. Food outlets including Black Bear Saloon, Papa Gino’s Pizza and Phillips Seafood Restaurant give ample options for a pre-flight meal.

In keeping with the airport’s motto “fly easy”, Piedmont Triad International has short lines, minimal crowds and speedy security screening. The Greensboro transit hub offers 16 daily non-stop domestic flights to 13 destinations including Charlotte, Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia and Miami.

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Since the Honda Aircraft Company relocated its headquarters to the airport in 2007, it's benefited from significant investment. In 2010, a third runway was opened and terminal renovations brought in a new bag belt system and purpose-designed areas for TSA security screening. Meanwhile, a $9 million facility improvement program in 2012 saw the hub gain high-speed Wi-Fi. 

Many travelers snub the nearby Boston Logan in favor of this smaller airport, located in Warwick, six miles (9.7km) south of Providence. Passengers have left glowing reviews for T. F. Green: one calls it the “most stressless airport I have been through”, while another thinks, “Green is so much easier and better than Logan”.

The airport flies non-stop to 26 destinations across the East Coast, Midwest and Canada. Passengers will also find all the amenities needed for a pleasant trip – a small selection of food and shopping outlets, free Wi-Fi and ATMs.

Opened over 50 years ago in its current location, Huntsville International transformed into a modest-sized yet popular airport. Today, it has the second longest runway in the southeast US. Measuring 12,600 feet (3,840) in length, it's pretty impressive for such a small airport. 

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Passengers love Huntsville International Airport because it’s quick and easy to navigate, has great customer service and is conveniently located in northern Alabama. It offers non-stop flights to 13 destinations across the US including Chicago, Washington DC, Houston, Dallas and Charleston.

Skip the crowds usually found at JFK and LaGuardia and head to peaceful Long Island MacArthur instead, a smaller airport located in the town of Ronkonkoma. It’s also known for having a less congested air space than larger airports, which means you’re less likely to face flight delays and cancellations.

The airport ensures a seamless yet comfortable experience with three food outlets, as well as shops, ATMs and free Wi-Fi. It’s served by three airlines – Frontier, American and Southwest – which fly to destinations including Orlando, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Tampa. A new non-stop service to Nashville, Akron/Canton, Savannah, Richmond, Jacksonville and Sarasota/Bradenton, operated by Breeze Airways, will start in June 2022. 

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Located three miles (6km) southwest of central Myrtle Beach, this airport has become a traveler favorite thanks to its low-cost flights and ease of travel. Nine airlines fly to more than 50 non-stop destinations across the US.

Myrtle Beach International was named the best small airport by readers of USA Today in 2021, and travelers have plenty of good things to say about it. One reviewer wrote: “As a frequent flyer, this airport covers all basics with a smile”, while another described it as “incredibly simple to navigate and not too crowded”.

Blue Grass Airport celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2021 and in this time has catered to both military and commercial flights. Since the 1980s, it's also been home to the Aviation Museum of Kentucky. Currently, Blue Grass offers non-stop flights to 15 US destinations.

With a few nods to the state's famous Thoroughbred farms, Blue Grass Airport is a small yet convenient outpost for travelers to and from Lexington. Despite its modest size, the airport has two runways and a selection of shops and restaurants.

Conveniently located 12 miles (19km) northwest of downtown Charleston, this transport hub offers popular routes to Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, Washington, Chicago, Baltimore and many other domestic destinations.

It also has a good selection of dining options, including local favorite Charleston Beer Works and gourmet market and café Caviar & Bananas. Meanwhile, premium lounge The Club CHS provides a sleek, modern and comfortable spot for Priority customers.

Established back in 1933, with the present terminal dating to 1948, Des Moines International Airport currently offers a service to more than 30 non-stop destinations, including Austin, Fort Lauderdale, Denver, Salt Lake City and Palm Springs.

The airport encompasses 2,600 acres, with two runways and seven parking facilities. At the terminal, travelers can enjoy six food and beverage options, which include Portermill Craft Food & Beer serving local Iowan produce, and Friedrichs Coffee providing a much-needed caffeine fix.

Excellent customer service, short lines and ease of navigation have all been cited as reasons why travelers choose Bangor International. The Maine airport flies directly to eight key US cities: Orlando, New York, Washington DC, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Chicago, Newark and Tampa. 

The small yet perfectly formed terminal offers three dining options and a shop, plus charging stations, ATMs and a kids play area. In May 2021, it was announced that Bangor would receive $2.1 million from the US Department of Transportation's Airport Improvement Program, which is being used to rebuild the runway along with other improvements.

Ideally located for passengers who wish to visit upstate New York, Buffalo Niagara is one of the country’s oldest public airports. It was established in 1926 after a group of aviation enthusiasts convinced city officials that it would help stimulate economic growth. Since then, the airport has been expanded several times, so that it currently encompasses almost a thousand acres.

Thanks to a renovation in 1997, the airport gained its modern, crystalline terminal building, which is meant to resemble a plane in flight and contains around 27,000 square feet (2,508sqm) of glass. Eight airlines operate services to a number of destinations across the US from the terminal and it’s currently undergoing another renovation, costing $80 million, which is due to be completed in fall 2022.

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Located three miles (5km) northwest of its namesake city, Bellingham International Airport runs non-stop flights to seven cities across the southwest, plus some local islands. The small yet perfectly formed airport has plenty of parking spaces, plus a coffee shop, restaurant and free Wi-Fi.

One recent reviewer on Yelp described Bellingham International as “gorgeous, clean and user friendly” with “no lines, easy TSA and ample seating”, while another said it’s “an easy airport to navigate” with “everything you need”.