Everyone desires to get a favorable deal when it comes to travel. You already compare airlines to find the best price, but have you considered comparing airports? Selecting an airport in the nearby city could potentially save you a significant amount of money.
The USDOT's list of the busiest airports was analyzed to determine which ones have, on average, the cheapest airline tickets. It's important to note that airfare can fluctuate based on the time of year and demand. You can always check for current deals on websites like Cheapflights and Skyscanner.
Of the 50 busiest airports in the United States, the following 5 were among the most affordable options for flights last year. If you'd like to see how some of your local airports stack up against the competition, you can check out the complete list of the 441 busiest US airports and their average ticket prices. In 2023, the nationwide average airfare was $367.79.
Alright… Let's jump right in!
So what are those most budget-friendly American airports you can travel through?
1. Oakland International Airport, California
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Oakland International Airport (OAK) is the sole California airport featured on our list. Serving the San Francisco Bay area, this airport offers an average airfare of $304.59, making it a fantastic choice for your trip to central California. Conveniently located just a 25-minute drive from downtown San Francisco, OAK is a no-brainer for easy travel. In addition, the airport is only an hour away from Napa and the surrounding wine country, two hours from the stunning Big Sur, and three hours from the beautiful Lake Tahoe.
2. LaGuardia Airport, New York
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LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is situated in the borough of Queens in New York City, providing easy access to Brooklyn and Manhattan. As the 14th busiest airport in the United States, it's no surprise that LGA is a popular choice. Interestingly, it's 10 miles closer to the city than the other major Queens airport, the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), which is the 12th busiest airport in the country. When it comes to the average airfare, flights through LaGuardia tend to be more affordable, costing around $309.38 on average, compared to the $396.42 average for JFK. Next time you visit LaGuardia, be sure to check out the newly renovated Terminal B, which was recently recognized as the world's best new airport terminal in a passenger survey conducted by Skytrax.
3. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Louisiana
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Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) not only provides excellent airfare prices, but it was also named the best airport in North America (for the second consecutive year) at the 2022 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. With a brand new terminal that opened in 2019, MSY offers direct access to the vibrant city of New Orleans, renowned for its delectable cuisine, rich culture, and historic French Quarter. In addition, it's in close proximity to other popular Gulf Coast destinations like Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama. A flight through MSY typically costs around $315.53, making it one of the best options on our list.
4. Tampa International Airport, Florida
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Tampa International Airport (TPA) serves the thriving Tampa-St. Petersburg Metropolitan Area, known for its stunning beaches along the Gulf Coast. With an average airfare of $324.15, TPA stands out as a cost-effective option compared to other Florida Gulf Coast airports. Offering flights to approximately 85 domestic and international destinations, TPA provides passengers with a wide range of travel choices. Travelers can also look forward to a pleasant experience at the airport, as it was voted the third-best US airport by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine in 2023.
5. Miami International Airport, Florida
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Florida is undoubtedly the state where air travel is the most affordable, with many airports that offer the lowest fares in general. Miami International Airport (MIA) is the last airport on our list that's the most budget-friendly in the country, with an average airfare of around $324.73. As the largest airport in southern Florida, MIA is a highly active hub, served by more than 90 air carriers. In fact, it's the second-busiest airport in the US for international flights, offering more routes to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other. Besides being a popular stopover destination, MIA is also the most convenient airport for travelers heading to famous tourist attractions like Miami Beach, Florida Keys, and Everglades.
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Along with our ultimate travel guide, we would like to share an additional valuable suggestion. This advice will prove beneficial for individuals who opt for air travel.
If you get to the airport by car, you always need to find a good parking space for your vehicle to leave for the period of a trip. In most cases, airports have special on-site parking for that purpose. However, such a parking lot is pretty costly most of the time, and people aren't ready to spend a lot of money at the beginning of a trip. So is there any solution?
The best way to solve this problem is to choose off-site parking. Why, you may ask? We will explain.
There are many reasons which can prove the benefit of this parking type. Here are some of them:
- Affordable Rates. Depending on the duration of your trip, you can choose between short-term and long-term airport parking. Anyway, an off-site airport parking is much cheaper, so you can save your money and spend the most considerable amount on things you really want to see or try while traveling.
- Fast Service. In contrast with on-site airport parking, which can take quite a long time, off-site parking offers you the convenience of driving directly to the entrance and having a staff member pull your luggage out of your vehicle and load it into the shuttle. Then they will park your car for you. After your baggage is loaded, you can take your seat in the shuttle, which will bring you and your bags to the airport. It's a hassle-free option that is usually faster.
- Convenience. When people travel, they may be stressed about making it to the airport on time. If you use off-site parking, you will definitely make your travel experience more convenient, as you use the service of a private company. Even though you may be able to park on-site at the airport in a short-term or long-term airport parking lot, consider using an off-site parking lot service.
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We are glad to say that our booking platform, ParkingNearAirports.io, offers travelers online reservations for parking just outside airports that are convenient and affordable. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing travelers parking options at over 100 airports in the US and Canada. The app allows customers to search and compare parking rates at up to 70 percent savings compared to the cost of on-site parking at all major airports.
With our platform, it only takes a few clicks in the app to reserve a parking spot. Guests receive a booking confirmation and a guaranteed parking space upon arrival at the off-airport parking. In addition, the app helps customers locate the most convenient lots to the airport. Cancellations are easy if plans change with hassle-free, refundable cancellations.
Besides this, we also offer services for top cruise ports in Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and Texas.
Now let's take a good example. Imagine that you're planning a trip to Miami, Florida. This state is located in the southeastern United States. So if you're flying from New Orleans, Louisiana, you can use cheap parking near New Orleans Airport. If you're coming from Oakland, California, you can choose affordable Oakland Airport off-site parking. It just depends on the place you're flying from.
You can always find everything you need on our official website: the best deals for parking near US and Canadian airports, domestic airport parking charges, and much more.
