Overview
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is in western Charlotte.
1 sights · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Carolinas Aviation Museum
This is a big attraction for aviation fanatics. This museum features a wide variety of resources including historic and restored airplanes (most notably the "Miracle on the Hudson" plane), air shows and a library (by res…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 32°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Aug and Mar. (climate data from nearby Charlotte)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CLT Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte — 0 mi away (major hub). Directions
- USA Concord-Padgett Regional Airport, Concord — 18 mi away. Directions
Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $50–$90 a night (typical $90), from 4 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$90, mid-range ~$160, comfortable ~$260.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Food for you
Don't worry if you get hungry at CLT – the airport is home to many restaurants and shops. Many of the restaurants are decently priced.
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Charlotte has one terminal with 115 gates and five concourses, A-E. The concourses are arranged in a pinwheel format. There is a single ticketing, baggage, and security location with all concourses connected behind security with moving walkways.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is one of the few airports in the United States with a public viewing area. Here, visitors can watch planes take off, land, and taxi to and from runway 18C/36C in addition to providing a view of concourse A. The Overlook is a popular spot for aviation enthusiasts and plane spotters.
Traveler information
Get around
There is no rail or bus services to get around the airport, but many hallways have moving walkways.
See
See Carolinas Aviation Museum
This is a big attraction for aviation fanatics. This museum features a wide variety of resources including historic and restored airplanes (most notably the "Miracle on the Hudson" plane), air shows and a library (by research request only). Because it is at Charlotte-Douglas, it is the only attraction in the city that can be reached by airplane. If you want to meet people working on restoring the airplanes, come on a Tuesday or Thursday. (It is also a great place to watch takeoffs and landings at the airport.) The museum is temporarily closed to make way for Honeywell’s aircraft at Charlotte Douglas. The museum plans to reopen on Saturday, June 1, 2024.
Buy
The shops are not reasonably .
Eat and drink
Don't worry if you get hungry at CLT – the airport is home to many restaurants and shops. Many of the restaurants are decently priced.
Sleep
Travelers are permitted to stay airside overnight. Minute Suites has a location in the Atrium open 24 hours. Rooms can be rented for periods ranging from one hour to overnight.
There is no other attached lodging, but several options exist off-property:
Stay La Quinta Inn and Suites
From the hotel, you have a short drive to the airport and a straight shot through South End into Uptown. Fitness center, pool, hot tub.
Flights
Charlotte is a major international airport serving North Carolina and South Carolina. It has excellent coverage of the eastern half of the U.S. and the Caribbean as well as service to several European and Central American hubs. American Airlines operates the majority of the airport's flights.
The airport is the second-largest hub for Oneworld member American Airlines. American Airlines serves over 120 domestic destinations from Charlotte/Douglas and over 35 international destinations, including Rome, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Dublin, Madrid, and Mexico City, among many others. The airport also receives domestic flights from Delta, United, JetBlue, Southwest, Frontier, and ViaAir. Lufthansa, aligned with Star Alliance, is the only foreign transoceanic carrier, with service to Munich. Air Canada has service to Toronto. Volaris has flights to Guadalajara in Mexico. Though the airport has diversified somewhat in the past few years, American Airlines domestic flights are still its primary source of traffic. Due to this dominance by a single carrier, finding fare bargains can be a challenge.
Passengers flying on American will arrive and depart from Concourse B, C, D, or E. Lufthansa passengers will arrive and depart from Concourse D, the airport's international concourse. All other airlines arrive and depart from Concourse A. All concourses connect through the Atrium however, so passengers of any airline may clear security at any security checkpoint.
Ground transportation
By bus
Charlotte Area Transit System has 2 routes to the airport. The Sprinter route 5, a rapid bus to downtown, and route 60 to the Tyvola LYNX station.
The HOP bus operates scheduled service from Asheville, Boone/Blowing Rock, and Hickory.
By shuttle bus
Courtesy shuttles service local hotels and parking lots.
By taxi or ride-hailing
Ride hails and taxis are available on the Arrivals level.
By car
There is road access from Wilkinson Blvd/Andrew Jackson Hwy/29, and I-84. A variety of airport and private parking lots are available.
By rental car
Rentals cars are located on the other side of the pickup/drop off lanes, on level 2 of the hourly parking deck.
By bicycle
Nearby
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