--- iata: CLE name: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport city: Cleveland country: United States lastUpdated: '2026-09-02' officialWebsite: 'https://www.clevelandairport.com/' sources: - 'https://www.clevelandairport.com/' - 'https://www.clevelandairport.com/about-cle/facts-figures' - 'https://www.clevelandairport.com/airport/tsa-security' - >- https://www.clevelandairport.com/parking-transportation/ground-transportation/public-transportation - 'https://www.riderta.com/fares' - 'https://theclubairportlounges.com/lounges/cle-the-club-concourse-b' - >- https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/airport/united-club-and-lounge-locations.html - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america/cleveland-hopkins-international - >- https://www.eater.com/22797138/airport-dining-cleveland-hopkins-international-cle-where-to-eat-restaurants-guide - >- https://www.pointswithacrew.com/the-club-cle-lounge-review-cleveland-airport-priority-pass/ - 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Hopkins_International_Airport' - 'https://www.oag.com/nam-on-time-performance-data' quickFacts: - >- Single main terminal with three active concourses (A/B/C); free airside walking between them - >- United is the largest carrier (Concourse C); Southwest and Delta share B; Frontier/Avelo on A - >- ~10 million annual passengers; first U.S. airport with direct rail link (1968) - Three TSA checkpoints (North/Central/South) with PreCheck and CLEAR - >- RTA Red Line train station on lower level reaches downtown Tower City in under 30 minutes - Recent central security checkpoint expansion completed bentoTips: - label: Timing title: 'Arrive 2 hours domestic, hit early banks carefully' detail: >- Peak security pressure hits 5-8am and 4-7pm when United and Southwest banks depart; midday is usually under 15 minutes. summary: >- Aim for 2 hours before domestic departures (3 for international); early morning and late afternoon banks create the longest lines. category: timing - label: Terminal title: 'One terminal, walk freely airside' detail: >- Concourse C is longest; allow 10-15 minutes end-to-end if changing gates after a tight connection. summary: >- All gates are in one building—clear security once then walk between A, B, and C without re-screening. category: terminal - label: Food title: Hit Bar Symon or Great Lakes for real Cleveland flavor detail: >- Main terminal food court has Shake Shack, Chick-fil-A, and Currito; Concourse A is weakest for options. summary: >- Skip generic chains for Michael Symon’s Bar Symon (wings, pierogies) or Great Lakes Brewing Company beers and bar food on C. category: food - label: Status title: Check live TSA boards and flight status on arrival detail: >- Central checkpoint usually stays open longest; North and South close earlier in the evening. summary: >- Use the airport site or app for real-time checkpoint waits (often under 15 min) and gate changes. category: status lounges: - name: The Club CLE hours: '04:00-20:30' access: - Priority Pass - Day pass $50 - The Club membership bestFor: - Priority Pass holders - Short pre-flight relax summary: >- Basic but convenient Priority Pass option with light snacks and views; fine if you have access, skip the $50 day pass unless desperate. verdict: depends terminal: Main Terminal amenities: - Complimentary food and drinks - Wi-Fi - Runway views - Bar - Restroom - name: United Club hours: '05:00-19:30' access: - United Club membership - United Polaris/premium cabin select flights - Star Alliance Gold on UA/Star metal - One-time pass bestFor: - United flyers - Work - Longer waits summary: >- Solid, rarely overcrowded United Club with better food and vibe than The Club; locals rate it highly for the size of the airport. verdict: worth-it terminal: Main Terminal amenities: - Full-service bar - Snacks and light food - Wi-Fi - Gelato machine - Comfortable seating - name: Bar Symon (Priority Pass restaurant) hours: '04:00-20:30' access: - Priority Pass (up to $28 credit) - Pay out of pocket bestFor: - Real meal - Priority Pass restaurant credit summary: >- Michael Symon spot delivers better-than-average airport food and drinks; use PP credit for a proper sit-down instead of lounge snacks. verdict: worth-it terminal: Main Terminal amenities: - 'Full menu (wings, burgers, pierogies)' - Bar - Table service - name: USO Lounge hours: '08:00-22:00' access: - Active duty military - Veterans with ID - Eligible family bestFor: - Military travelers summary: >- Landside near baggage claim carousel 1; reliable free oasis for service members if you qualify. verdict: worth-it terminal: Main Terminal amenities: - Snacks - Wi-Fi - Quiet space - TV waterOptions: - kind: refill name: Bottle filling stations zone: airside summary: >- Free purified water refill stations are the clear winner—bring an empty bottle through security. location: >- Food court restrooms (men’s and women’s entrances) and across from Bar Symon near Gate C8 terminal: Main Terminal isBestValue: true isBestQuality: true - kind: refill name: Bottle filling station zone: airside summary: Convenient free refill right after clearing the north security lane. location: Near North Checkpoint terminal: Main Terminal - kind: purchase name: Starbucks or convenience shops zone: airside price: $3-5 for 500ml-ish bottle summary: >- Standard overpriced airport bottled water if you forgot a bottle; refill stations make this unnecessary. location: Starbucks at Gate A1 or Concourse C near C22; various newsstands airside terminal: Main Terminal - kind: free name: Water fountains zone: airside summary: >- Basic free fountains available if stations are busy, though bottle fillers are preferred. location: Throughout concourses near restrooms and gate areas terminal: Main Terminal airportistScore: 7.1 slug: cle region: North America --- > Markdown for [/airports/cle](/airports/cle). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/cle) - [Lounge directory](/airports/cle/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) Cleveland, United States · North America CLE is a compact, easy-to-navigate mid-size airport with excellent direct rail and decent local food, trading off limited lounge depth and average on-time performance. ## Airportist Score **7.1 / 10** - Comfort: 6.8 - Navigation: 8.0 - Food: 7.3 - Transport: 8.2 - Disruption resilience: 6.5 ## At a glance - Passengers: 10M - Terminals: 1 main terminal with 3 active concourses - Typical security: 18 min - On-time: 72% - Disruption: normal ## Best for - Quick domestic connections via single terminal - Budget travelers using Red Line rail - United flyers with Club access - Local food seekers (Bar Symon, Great Lakes) ## Watch out for - Peak morning/evening security banks can stretch to 30+ minutes without PreCheck - Limited premium lounge options outside United/Priority Pass - Concourse C length for far gates on tight connections - Rideshare airport premium pricing vs. nearby pickup ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/cle/lounges.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/cle/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/cle/amenities.md) - [Traveler tips](/airports/cle/tips.md) - [Water](/airports/cle/water.md) - [Full guide](/airports/cle/guide.md) - [Disruptions](/airports/cle/disruptions.md) - [Reviews](/airports/cle/reviews.md)