One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
PGD8.7+0.4
RSW8.3
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
PGD7.0+0.8
RSW6.2
Food & retail
Best for
PGD
Southwest Florida trips that can skip RSW and SRQ for AllegiantOvernight parkers who will take the $12 + tax long-term lotDomestic departures that can follow the official 2-hour clock
Watch out for
PGD
No passenger lounge — do not buy a third-party Escape PGD passNo jetways; lightning inside five miles stops boarding and bagsWolfgang Puck and new Gates 5–6 are still coming soon
Amenities and tips
PGD
One-story Bailey Terminal, walk-up ramps, TSA opens with the flightNo passenger loungeThe Junction airside; Dunkin’ Express in bagsFree open Wi-Fi; fillers unpublished
PGD · Punta Gorda put 2,282,002 people through a one-story, walk-up-ramp field in 2025: easy when you use the two-hour clock, eat at The Junction, park long-term at $12 + tax, and accept there is still no lounge.
RSW · Friendly, easy-to-navigate mid-size airport with decent food and beach proximity, but zero lounges and punishing peak-season security lines are the clear tradeoffs.
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
PGD6.8
RSW7.4+0.6
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
PGD7.4+0.4
RSW7.0
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
PGD7.2+0.4
RSW6.8
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
PGD2.0
RSW6.8+4.8
RSW
Southwest Florida beach tripsStraightforward domestic flyingRental-car and family travelersQuick in-and-out with PreCheck
No kiosks; counter check-in closes 45 minutes prior
Short-term is $24 + tax and is not an overnight lot
RSW
Jan-Apr morning security surgesNo traditional lounges or Priority PassRe-clear security for any concourse changeConstruction-related curb and bridge shifts
Mother’s Room at Gate 2; family restrooms at 2A and 7
Long-term $12 + tax; free reserved county transit
Arrive 2 hours — TSA opens with the flight
Official FAQ and construction cards: counters and TSA open two hours before each flight. Use two hours, especially for the 6–8 a.m. Allegiant bank.
One building, walk-up ramps, gates 7–12 live
Bailey Terminal is one story. Gates 7–12 are open. Official pages still stamp new Gates 5–6, Wolfgang Puck, and a new TSA as coming soon.
The Junction after TSA; Dunkin’ in bags
Airside Junction opens 90 minutes before the first departure and closes with the last. Landside Dunkin’ Express is in baggage claim.
