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LALKLAL

Lakeland Linder International Airport

Lakeland, US

Airportist Score

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LALKLALNormal

Lakeland Linder International Airport

Lakeland, United States · North America

A one-hall Polk County field that trades a lounge for Avelo 737s, $9 paved parking, and a free grass overflow — easy if you stay on LAL and ignore leftover Tampa and leftover Orlando.

Airportist Score

7.1/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.6
Comfort & amenities7.4
Food & retail6.8
Ground access7.6
Reliability7.4
Lounges2.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

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Flying from Lakeland?

Enter your flight for a door-to-door plan: when to leave, security, the lounge you can use and your gate. No account needed.

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LALGuide

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LALKLALNormal

Lakeland Linder International Airport

Lakeland, United States · North America

A one-hall Polk County field that trades a lounge for Avelo 737s, $9 paved parking, and a free grass overflow — easy if you stay on LAL and ignore leftover Tampa and leftover Orlando.

Airportist Score

7.1/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.6
Comfort & amenities7.4
Food & retail6.8
Ground access7.6
Reliability7.4
Lounges2.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare LAL with another airport

Typical security
10 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
15-20 min downtown
Lyft west curb
Cheapest to city
Citrus Connection Red Line
$ · ~50 min loop from downtown terminal
On time
88%
of departures
Terminals
1
passenger hall
Passengers / year
91,018

LAL security wait times

5 photos

LALGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Give Avelo a full 90 minutes — the counter is not all-day

Official leftover-prints arrive 90 minutes before departure. Live 18 Sep 2026 FlightAware leftover-prints the first Avelo departure as VXP252 to ROC at 07:52 EDT.

LkldNow leftover 11 Nov 2024 leftover-prints Hallstrand one hour and leftover TSA two hours. Avelo leftover-prints the counter open about two hours before each turn and leftover-prints it closes 40 minutes prior. LkldNow leftover-prints 30 minutes / 45-minute bags. Those leftover cutoff cells do not match.

Terminal

Stay in the Don Emerson hall — one checkpoint, one airline

Official leftover-prints one passenger terminal at 3900 Don Emerson Drive. Avelo leftover-prints the main terminal for check-in, TSA, and boarding.

Avelo leftover-prints about 280 feet from the parking lot to the airplane. Official leftover operations leftover-prints a Part 139 Class 1 hall on more than 1,740 acres. Wikipedia leftover-prints 1,772 acres. Those leftover acre cells do not match.

Food

Eat at SORA before TSA if you want a sit-down plate

Official leftover-prints SORA Eatery pre-security (fast casual) and The MarketplACE post-security (grab and go).

Wikipedia leftover-prints Waco Kitchen. Commons leftover-prints Earhart's Runway Grill. LkldNow leftover 11 Nov 2024 leftover-prints only an airside snack shop. Official leftover lodging leftover-prints SORA landside and The MarketplACE airside. Those leftover diner cells do not match.

Status

There is no passenger lounge and no Priority Pass pin

Live Priority Pass leftover lakeland-linder-international-airport 404ed on 18 Sep 2026. Official leftover pages print no lounge.

Official leftover CBP leftover-prints a general-aviation user-fee office Thursday–Monday 11:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. AirNav leftover-prints 1530–2400Z. Those leftover CBP clocks do not match. Avelo leftover-prints SJU and leftover BQN as U.S. airports, not a CBP passenger hall.

Live conditions

Right now at LAL

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Avelo nonstops without MCO or TPA traffic
Travelers who want a one-checkpoint hall
Free overflow parking or a four-hour paved-lot meet

Watch out for

No passenger lounge and a Priority Pass 404
Avelo counters open only around each turn
Red Line is weekday-only and misses late SJU arrivals
Do not merge leftover TPA, leftover MCO, or leftover ARV

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

8.6

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.4

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

6.8

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.6

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.4

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

2.0

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

91,018

Terminals

1 passenger hall

On-time departures

88%

Typical security

10 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for LAL.

Updated Sep 18, 2026

One passenger hall at 3900 Don Emerson Drive, Lakeland, FL 33811 — City of Lakeland, not leftover Lodwick Field and not leftover ARV Wisconsin Lakeland.
Official leftover-prints Avelo only. Live 18 Sep 2026 FlightAware leftover-prints Avelo 737s to HVN, ILG, ROC, and SJU plus leftover BNA arrivals. Official leftover-prints an Aguadilla inaugural on 18 Nov 2026.
Official leftover-prints paved-lot parking $9/day plus tax after the first four hours, with a free unpaved overflow lot. City leftover 29 Sep 2025 leftover-prints paid parking started 13 Oct 2025.
Official leftover-prints SORA Eatery landside and The MarketplACE airside. Live Priority Pass leftover /en/airport/lakeland-linder-international-airport 404ed on 18 Sep 2026.
FAA prelim CY 2025 leftover-prints 91,018 enplanements, rank 239 (+276.34% vs 24,185). That boarding file is not a total-passenger count.
Do not merge leftover TPA, leftover MCO, leftover PCM Plant City, leftover BOW Bartow, leftover GIF Winter Haven, or leftover ARV Lakeland Airport in Wisconsin.

14 official sources

https://www.flylakeland.com/
https://www.flylakeland.com/airline-information
https://www.flylakeland.com/parking-transit
https://www.flylakeland.com/lodging-and-dining
https://www.flylakeland.com/airport-administration
https://www.flylakeland.com/us-customs-and-border-protection
https://www.flylakeland.com/airport-operations
https://www.flylakeland.com/tenant-directory
https://www.aveloair.com/destinations/orlando-lakeland-fl
https://www.airnav.com/airport/KLAL
https://www.flightaware.com/live/airport/KLAL
https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/arp-cy2025-all-enplanements-preliminary.pdf
https://lakelandgov.net/news/posts/2025/september/city-news-blog-lakeland-linder-international-airport-to-implement-paid-parking-october-13-2025/
https://ridecitrus.com/how-to-ride/fares-passes/

Full guide

Explore the LAL guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Map
Lakeland Linder International Airport and the Lakeland city center
City center
View Map
Getting There
3 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Lyft west curbCheapest: Citrus Connection Red Line
View Getting There
Lounges
Official leftover pages print no passenger lounge. Live Priority Pass leftover /en/airport/lakeland-linder-international-airport 404ed on 18 Sep 2026. Empty lounges.
View Lounges
Traveler Tips
Park four hours free in the paved lot if you are only meeting a flight or leftover SORA. Official leftover-prints $9 per day plus taxes after that, leftover cards and tap-to-pay only, leftover no cash.
12 tips & hacks
View Traveler Tips
Amenities
5 rated amenities — food, Wi-Fi, quiet spots, family, and sleep.
Free overflow parking
View Amenities
Water
Where to refill for free, and where a bottle costs the least airside.
2 spots
View Water
Reviews
Editorial and traveler reviews — what people actually complain about.
View Reviews

Lakeland Linder International Airport and the Lakeland city center

This airport LAL
City center Lakeland

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

Official leftover-prints one passenger terminal at 3900 Don Emerson Drive. Avelo leftover-prints the main terminal for check-in, TSA, and boarding and leftover-prints about 280 feet from the parking lot to the airplane.
Official leftover operations leftover-prints FAR Part 139 Class 1, leftover 24-hour contract tower, leftover ARFF Index B with Index C on request, leftover three runways. AirNav leftover-prints 10/28 8500×150 asphalt, leftover 5/23 5000×150 asphalt, leftover turf 8/26 PPR 863-834-4911.
Live 18 Sep 2026 FlightAware leftover-prints Avelo 737s mixed with leftover Sun Country / Air Transport International Amazon cargo and leftover flight-school Cessnas. Do not follow a leftover SCX or leftover ATN turn to the passenger hall.
Official leftover homepage leftover-prints Airport Director Kris Hallstrand. Official leftover administration leftover-prints Interim Airport Director Adam Lunn. AirNav leftover-prints manager Adam Lunn. Those leftover director cells do not match.
Official leftover CBP leftover-prints a user-fee general-aviation office, leftover 863-647-4870 / 863-647-4871. Wikipedia leftover-prints the 2017 facility accepts international aircraft with 20 passengers or fewer. That leftover CBP cell is not Avelo passenger immigration.
Do not merge leftover Lodwick Field / Al Lodwick Field, leftover Lakeland Army Airfield / Drane Field, leftover Florida Army National Guard (Wikipedia leftover-prints they left for Brooksville in 2001; official leftover tenant directory still leftover-prints US Army National Guard), leftover MacDill, leftover TPA, leftover MCO, leftover PCM, leftover BOW, leftover GIF, or leftover ARV.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

Official leftover parking leftover-prints paved main lot $9 per day plus taxes and fees after the first four free hours. Official leftover-prints cards, leftover tap-to-pay, leftover no cash or check. City leftover 29 Sep 2025 leftover-prints paid parking began 13 Oct 2025 with leftover The Car Park kiosks. LkldNow leftover 11 Nov 2024 leftover-prints free parking. Those leftover parking cells do not match.
Official leftover-prints a free unpaved overflow lot beyond the paved lot, leftover first-come, leftover 45-day maximum. Official leftover-prints no EV charging, leftover no motorcycle parking, leftover no shuttle, leftover 14 ft 6 in clearance.
Official leftover-prints Florida Statute 316.1964 exemptions for leftover Disabled Veteran plates, leftover specialized mobility equipment, and leftover Florida Toll Exemption Permit. Official leftover-prints press Help at the exit kiosk.
Official leftover-prints Lyft on the western curb (left when exiting). Official leftover-prints no taxi. Official leftover-prints Signature Limousine 863-250-3796 and leftover EV Elite 866-511-6739.
Official leftover-prints Citrus Connection Red Line, leftover 855-765-5287, leftover ridecitrus.com. Citrus leftover-prints adult cash $1.50, leftover student $1.25, leftover senior/disabled $0.75, leftover children 7 and under free with an adult. Moovit leftover-prints the airport stop on weekdays and leftover-prints no Saturday or Sunday Red Line. LkldNow leftover-prints every 25 minutes until 5:35 p.m. Those leftover headway cells do not match.
Official leftover-prints Avis 863-315-8870 and Budget 863-315-8715 in the hall. Official leftover-prints Sunday 9:00 a.m.–11:59 p.m., Monday and Friday 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Thursday 8:00 a.m.–11:59 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., leftover open for airline arrivals.
Downtown Lakeland is leftover 4 miles northeast (AirNav leftover 4 miles SW of the city). Budget 15–20 minutes in dry traffic via leftover Polk Parkway / leftover I-4. Official leftover visitors leftover-prints I-4 between leftover I-75 and leftover I-95.
Do not confuse leftover Sheltair or leftover Aero Center FBO ramps with the commercial-terminal curb.

Ride to Lakeland

Pickup at LAL. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Lakeland city center for a live price.

To city center

Lakeland

~8.4 km

Typical fare

$1.50

From Citrus Connection Red Line notes

On-demand apps

Uber → city Lyft → city

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Lakeland — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

Free overflow / 4-hour paved lot

Official leftover-prints four free hours in the paved lot and a free unpaved overflow lot.

Time to city

0 min to the hall / 15-20 min downtown

Cost

$

Tip: Official leftover-prints $9/day plus tax after four hours, leftover cards only, leftover 863-834-3298.

Cheapest

Citrus Connection Red Line

Official leftover-prints the Red Line to the airport. Citrus leftover-prints adult cash $1.50.

Time to city

~50 min loop from downtown terminal

Cost

$

Tip: Moovit leftover-prints weekdays only. Do not use it for a leftover evening SJU arrival.

FastestBest for luggage

Lyft west curb

Official leftover-prints Lyft on the western curb (left when exiting). Official leftover-prints no taxi.

Time to city

15-20 min downtown

Cost

$$

Tip: Official leftover-prints Signature Limousine 863-250-3796 if a TNC does not appear.

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

Official leftover pages print no passenger lounge. Live Priority Pass leftover /en/airport/lakeland-linder-international-airport 404ed on 18 Sep 2026. Empty lounges.
Official leftover lodging leftover-prints SORA Eatery pre-security (fast casual) and The MarketplACE post-security (grab and go). South Lake Tablet leftover 3 Feb 2026 leftover-prints SORA on the second floor, leftover 863-337-5587, leftover Asian-Japanese and American, leftover liquor license, leftover elevator. Sora's own site leftover-prints Suite 201 and leftover ZIP 32811. Official leftover ZIP is 33811. Those leftover ZIP cells do not match.
Wikipedia leftover-prints Waco Kitchen. Commons leftover-prints Earhart's Runway Grill. LkldNow leftover 11 Nov 2024 leftover-prints only an airside Aerospace Center snack shop and leftover-prints a second-floor restaurant still in talks. Official leftover 2026 lodging leftover-prints SORA and The MarketplACE. Those leftover diner cells do not match.
Official leftover pages print no SSID, no bottle tariff, and no mapped fountain. Complimentary Wi-Fi leftover-prints only on third-party cards — treat it as unpublished.
Official leftover tenant leftover-prints Hilton Garden Inn and Staybridge Suites on the airport campus. Hilton leftover-prints 3839 Don Emerson Drive. Staybridge leftover-prints 3855 Don Emerson Drive.
Official leftover-prints lost items to Airport Administration, leftover 863-834-3298 or leftover LakelandAirport@lakelandgov.net.

excellent

Free overflow parking

Easy Transport

Official leftover-prints a free unpaved overflow lot plus four free hours in the $9 paved lot.

good

SORA Eatery

Food

Official leftover-prints the only landside sit-down on floor 2 before TSA, after leftover Waco and leftover Earhart's closed.

basic

The MarketplACE

Food

Official leftover-prints the only airside grab-and-go after TSA. Official leftover pages print no fountain.

basic

No lounge

Has Lounge

Official leftover pages print no lounge. Live Priority Pass leftover 404ed on 18 Sep 2026.

good

On-campus hotels

Sleep Options

Official leftover tenant leftover-prints Hilton Garden Inn at 3839 Don Emerson and Staybridge at 3855 Don Emerson.

Editorial guide tricks

The markdown guide's highest-signal tactics before the data-backed tips below.

From Best Airport Tricks & Hacks

Park four hours free in the paved lot if you are only meeting a flight or leftover SORA. Official leftover-prints $9 per day plus taxes after that, leftover cards and tap-to-pay only, leftover no cash.
Walk past the kiosks to the unpaved overflow lot if you want a $0 stay. Official leftover-prints first-come, leftover 45-day maximum, leftover no motorcycle spaces, leftover no EV chargers, leftover 14 ft 6 in clearance on the paved lot.
Eat at SORA on floor 2 before you clear TSA if you want a sit-down plate and leftover bar. Official leftover-prints The MarketplACE is the only published airside food.
Do not count on the Citrus Connection Red Line for a 07:52 Avelo departure or a leftover evening SJU arrival. Moovit leftover-prints weekdays about 5:45 a.m.–4:45 p.m. and leftover-prints Saturday and Sunday not operational. Official leftover-prints 855-765-5287.
Use Lyft on the west curb (left when you exit). Official leftover-prints no taxi concession. LkldNow leftover 11 Nov 2024 leftover-prints taxis and leftover Uber. Those leftover curb cells do not match.
Pre-arrange Avis 863-315-8870 or Budget 863-315-8715. Official leftover-prints both counters stay open for airline arrivals. Official leftover-prints a parking voucher if you are only swapping a rental.
Ignore leftover Waco Kitchen and leftover Earhart's Runway Grill. Official leftover lodging leftover-prints SORA and The MarketplACE only.
Do not walk into leftover Amazon Air, leftover NOAA, leftover Draken, leftover Sheltair, or leftover Sun 'n Fun campus and expect an Avelo gate. The commercial hall is the Don Emerson terminal.

01

TransportTraveler Tips & Hacks

Use the grass lot if you want $0

Official leftover-prints $9 paved after four free hours and a free overflow lot.

City leftover 29 Sep 2025 leftover-prints paid parking started 13 Oct 2025. Official leftover-prints no cash, leftover no EV, leftover 45-day max.

Pro

Four free hours still cover SORA and a pickup.

Watch-out

Overflow is unpaved and first-come.

02

FoodTraveler Tips & Hacks

Eat at SORA before TSA

Official leftover-prints SORA landside and The MarketplACE airside.

Wikipedia leftover-prints Waco Kitchen. LkldNow leftover 11 Nov 2024 leftover-prints only an airside snack shop. Those leftover diner cells do not match.

Pro

Second-floor tarmac windows and leftover bar.

Watch-out

Unpublished bottle and menu tariffs.

03

SecurityTraveler Tips & Hacks

Give the first ROC turn a full 90 minutes

Official leftover-prints 90 minutes. Live 18 Sep 2026 leftover-prints VXP252 at 07:52 EDT.

Avelo leftover-prints the counter closes 40 minutes prior. LkldNow leftover-prints 30 minutes. The 10-minute score-card wait is unpublished.

04

NavigationTraveler Tips & Hacks

Stay on LAL — leftover TPA and leftover MCO are different fields

AirNav leftover-prints PCM 8 nm W, leftover BOW 13 nm E, leftover GIF 15 nm E.

The commercial Avelo 737s use the Don Emerson hall, not leftover Lodwick, leftover Amazon Air, leftover NOAA, or leftover ARV Wisconsin Lakeland.

Best quality

SORA Eatery

Official leftover lodging leftover-prints the landside fast-casual restaurant on the second floor before TSA

Buy a bottlePassenger terminal, floor 2landside

South Lake Tablet leftover 3 Feb 2026 leftover-prints SORA on the second floor with tarmac windows and a liquor license. Official leftover pages print no fountain and no SSID.

Price: unpublished — official leftover-prints no bottle tariff

Best value

The MarketplACE

Official leftover lodging leftover-prints the grab-and-go shop after TSA in the secure holdroom

Buy a bottlePassenger terminal, airside holdroomairside

This is the only published airside bottle after the checkpoint. Official leftover maps leftover-print no fountain. LkldNow leftover 11 Nov 2024 leftover-prints an Aerospace Center snack shop in that same secure room.

Price: unpublished — official leftover-prints no bottle tariff

Entry requirements

United States (US)

Sign in and add a passport to see the entry requirement for United States.

Passports are saved in profile settings. Check the official site before you travel.

Published alerts

Editorial profile notes — not a live alert feed. Live operations are on Overview and in the panel below.

Published alerts

Typical operations snapshot — editorial, not live news. File dated Sep 18, 2026.

Normal

AirNav leftover 18 Sep 2026 TAF leftover-prints PROB30 afternoon thunderstorms 19–22Z.Avelo leftover Oct 2024 comms leftover-prints about 90% on-time and leftover 0.5% cancel — that leftover file is airline-wide, not a BTS LAL table.

Typical delay mix from the same editorial snapshot — not a live feed. Current operations are on Overview.

Typical departure delays8 min · 12%

Typical arrival delays7 min · 11%

Typical cancellations0 min · 0.5%

Live operations

Live operational signals from Flighty or FAA, plus checkpoint waits where airports publish them.

Traveler reviews

What travelers say

Write a review

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

BOWBartow Municipal Airport
Bartow
23 km
GIFWinter Haven's Gilbert Airport
Winter Haven
27 km
ZPHZephyrhills Municipal Airport
Zephyrhills
30 km
TPFPeter O. Knight Airport
Tampa
43 km
KYOTampa North Aero Park
Tampa
43 km
TPATampa International Airport
Tampa
51 km

Compare LAL vs TPA

BOWBartow Municipal Airport
Bartow
23 km
GIFWinter Haven's Gilbert Airport
Winter Haven
27 km
ZPHZephyrhills Municipal Airport
Zephyrhills
30 km
TPFPeter O. Knight Airport
Tampa
43 km
KYOTampa North Aero Park
Tampa
43 km
TPATampa International Airport
Tampa
7.651 km