This Texas airport is ranked the most stressful in the country

When it comes to causing travel headaches, not all airports are created equal. From long drives through traffic to frequent delays and cancellations, the airport itself may shape whether a trip starts smoothly or becomes stressful. Rightway Parking recently analyzed 55 of the busiest U.S. airports t

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What is the story about?

When it comes to causing travel headaches, not all airports are created equal.

From long drives through traffic to frequent delays and cancellations, the airport itself may shape whether a trip starts smoothly or becomes stressful.

Rightway Parking recently analyzed 55 of the busiest U.S. airports to find out which ones are the most stressful, based on the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' flight delay and cancellation data from 2025 and the delay rate from 2021 to 2025 for broader trends. The parking company also analyzed driving distance and time from the corresponding city, per Google Maps.

The two most stressful airports were Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport, with surging delay rates of 33.67%

and 42.77%, respectively. These airports are also decent drives from their cities' downtowns, with O'Hare taking around 50 minutes.

Travellers enter the terminal at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, U.S., January 23, 2026. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer

Meanwhile, Salt Lake City International Airport and San Jose International Airport were ranked the least stressful for their low flight disruption rates and nearby location.

"Travelers shouldn’t look at this ranking as a list of airports to avoid; it is more useful as a heads-up about places where you might want to allow yourself more time," Matt Pfleiderer, CEO of Rightway Parking, said in a statement to USA TODAY. "If you’re flying through an airport where delays are high or worsening, leave extra time, be cautious about tight connections, and start checking your flight before you leave home rather than once you arrive. Turning on airline app or text alerts can also give you a head start if something changes. The most important point is to focus on the aspects of the journey that you actually have control over."

Here are the most and least stressful U.S. airports.

Most stressful US airports

The airports most likely to cause the most headaches are also the country's biggest hubs, serving the greatest number of daily flights and passengers. According to the study, they scored highest for flight disruptions and distance to get to.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Dallas, Texas
Chicago O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia
John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, New York
Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
LaGuardia Airport in New York City, New York
Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Detroit, Michigan
Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia
Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina

Least stressful US airports

Here are the least stressful airports in the United States, with Salt Lake City International Airport earning the top title. Most offer a convenient location and are often smaller than the most stressful ones.