Michigan is home to some of the nation's best airports, USA TODAY readers say.
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) in Romulus ranked No. 4 among the 10 best "large airports "in the nation in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards, its third straight year making the list.
"Spending time at the airport is an inevitable part of most travel experiences, and the quality of the airport itself can make a big difference," the 10BEST website says.
In west Michigan, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids ranked No. 2 among the 10 best small airports in the U.S. in the 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards.
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The Cherry Capital Airport in northern Michigan's Traverse City took the No. 5 spot among
the 10 best resort airports in the nation in the 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards.
Here's what to know about Detroit Metro Airport's ranking.
How did USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards rank DTW?
Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) took the No. 4 spot among the top 10 large airports nationwide in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards.
"Officially established in 1930, the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) currently serves as the busiest airport in all of Michigan, with more than 30 million annual passengers. Since opening, the airport has expanded to cover over 7.6 square miles filled with plenty of shopping, dining, and lounge options," the 10BEST website described the airport.
DTW was also recognized among the nation's best large airports for the past two consecutive years in the 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, ranking No. 3 in 2024 and No. 6 in 2025.
Where is Detroit Metro Airport?
Detroit Metropolitan Airport is located in Romulus in metro Detroit, in southeast Michigan.
How big is Detroit Metropolitan Airport?
The Detroit Metro Airport includes two terminals, McNamara Terminal and Evans Terminal, with 31 million passengers traveling at the airport each year and over 800 flights daily to and from three continents, the airport's website says.
The Michigan Department of Transportation has tracked over 7 million passenger enplanements at DTW so far in 2026.
What services are available at Detroit Metropolitan Airport?
During your travel experience at DTW, you can shop from local and national vendors and grab a bite to eat at restaurants, bars and cafes or from vending machines.
To step away from the crowds, you can visit a reflection room in the McNamara Terminal and Evans Terminal to unwind in prayer, meditation or reflection, per the airport's website. For breastfeeding mothers, nine nursing rooms are available throughout the airport, five in McNamara Terminal, three in Evans Terminal and one for employees in the Berry Administration Building.
What other large airports made the 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards?
Here are the USA TODAY 10 BEST Readers' Choice Awards ranking for the 10 best large airports in the U.S.:
- Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Florida
- Nashville International Airport in Nashville
- Denver International Airport in Denver
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan
- Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City
- San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport in St. Paul, Minnesota
- Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon
- Orlando International Airport in Orlando
Where did Cherry Capital Airport rank in the 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards?
Traverse City's Cherry Capital Airport ranked No. 5 among the top 10 best resort airports in the U.S. in the 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards.
"Getting up to Northern Michigan's vacationland is simple when Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) is your airport of choice. It serves many of the famed golf courses, beaches, lakes, and islands nearby, along Lake Michigan and inland as well. With 18 nonstop flights from bigger cities across the U.S. on carriers including Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, and Sun Country, the ways to get to this vacation paradise are numerous. On arrival, travelers find a modern terminal with architecture inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Arts and Crafts design, comfortable seating areas, and the Cherry Country Café located inside the security area," the 10BEST website says about the Cherry Capital Airport.
What other airports ranked in the top 10?
- Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in Sarasota, Florida
- Northwest Florida Beaches International Airportin Panama City, Florida
- Monterey Regional Airportin Monterey, California
- Myrtle Beach International Airportin Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Cherry Capital Airportin Traverse City, Michigan
- Hilton Head Island Airportin Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Springfield-Branson National Airportin Springfield, Missouri
- Palm Springs International Airportin Palm Springs, California
- Bozeman Yellowstone International Airportin Belgrade, Montana
- Glacier Park International Airportin Kalispell, Montana
Where did Gerald R. Ford International Airport rank in the 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards?
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids took the No. 2 spot among the 10 best small airports in the U.S. in the 10BEST Readers Choice Awards.
"Named in honor of the 38th president of the United States, Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) serves as the gateway to Michigan’s second-largest city and the shores of Lake Michigan. Travelers can enjoy a dedicated Military Welcome Center, sensory room, observation deck and plane-themed playrooms for younger guests, along with a self-serve wine wall featuring local wineries and locally crafted beer. GRR recently expanded its terminal and opened a new consolidated rental car facility, while also becoming the first airport in the nation to implement an Individual Carrier System (ICS), an advanced baggage handling system that tracks all luggage," the 10BEST website says about the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
What other airports ranked in the top 10?
- Long Island MacArthur Airportin Ronkonkoma, New York
- Gerald R. Ford International Airportin Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Northwest Arkansas National Airportin Bentonville, Arkansas
- Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airportin Warwick, Rhode Island
- Huntsville International Airportin Huntsville, Alabama
- Fresno Yosemite International Airportin Fresno, California
- El Paso International Airportin El Paso, Texas
- Colorado Springs Airportin Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airportin Rochester, New York
- Piedmont Triad International Airportin Greensboro, North Carolina
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Traveling soon? These Michigan airports get high marks
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