If saving travel dollars were a profession, you’d already be flying off into the sunset of early retirement. If you don’t have an unrivaled talent for sniffing out the best deals in the air, you definitely appreciate tips that get you up there without crashing the budget. Whether you’re a dedicated wing nut or a casual tourist, stash this handy list of the five cheapest U.S. airports into your carry-on bag.
1. Cincinnati in Kentucky
Yes, the city is in Ohio, but Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is actually just south on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. You can afford to party in both states because this location tops the list of cheapest airports to fly into, with average airfare hovering around $199. The Queen City’s beloved Cincinnati Reds were the very first MLB team to catch a plane to an away game, so you’ll be in historic territory when you arrive at this 8,000-acre, twin-state facility.
2. Atlanta’s International Peach
You don’t have to rip up curtains for clothes like Miss Scarlet when you depart from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. A median ticket price of $231 makes this sprawling setting one of the cheapest airports in the southern United States. The locals have a saying: “When your time is up, you’re headed for heaven or hell, but you’ll still have to connect through Atlanta.” Complimentary on-site tram facilities make it easy to negotiate the airport regardless of which direction your journey takes.
3. The Field of Love in Dallas
Bigger isn’t always better, even in the Lone Star State. Dallas Love Field tramples its sizable competition with fares that wing in at around $251, so this busy spot tops the list of cheapest airports to fly out of in Texas. It’s not all cowboys and spurs here, either. This is the home of the Frontiers of Flight Museum, where it costs absolutely nothing to explore World War I aircraft and the Apollo 7 command module. The main terminal’s ever-changing art gallery exhibit is a freebie, too.
4. Eight Miles From Manhattan
Everything costs too much in the Big Apple, so it’s surprising to see LaGuardia on a list of the country’s cheapest airports where you can sail into town for an average ticket price of $251. Granted, this is the smallest of the city’s three airports, but it’s only 8 miles from Manhattan, so that holds down taxi fare. Buses cost even less, and you get to rub shoulders with other daring souls willing to brave the ride and save some bucks. After all, traveling is supposed to be an adventure, right?
5. The Hub at O’Hare
It’s one of the busiest airports in the world, but your fare through Chicago-O’Hare International glides in low at around $265. Your feet will cover a lot of ground at this airport, so treat them right with the free Automated Transit System that zips between terminals and remote parking. If you’re traveling with the kids, skip on over to Terminal 2. There’s a complimentary Kids on the Fly play area designed to keep them busy, and its great view of the field keeps you from going crazy.
How far can you go on all those dollars saved traveling through airports with the cheapest flights? Will you spend that leftover green on new luggage, or splurge on a limo ride home from the airport? These are the kind of questions every savvy flyer enjoys figuring out, so have fun and indulge yourself. Your smart, penny-pinching soul deserves it!