In this article, I’ll list the 16 best airports in Dallas, Texas, so you’ll know your options the next time you want to travel.
Dallas is a fast-growing city and is one of the fastest-growing economies in the U.S., so it is only natural that there be a lot of options for air travel, both in and out of the city, to connect Dallas and its surrounding suburbs to the rest of the country, and the world.
Let’s check out some of these airports in the next section.
The Best 16 Airports In Dallas, Texas
- Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
- Dallas Love Field Airport
- Dallas Executive Airport
- Dallas CBD Vertiport
- Grand Prairie Municipal Airport KGPM
- Addison Airport
- Denton Enterprise Airport
- Lancaster Regional Airport
- Ralph M. Hall Rockwall Municipal Airport
- Mesquite Metro Airport
- McKinney National Airport
- Air Park Dallas Airport
- Terrell Municipal Airport
- Dallas South Port Airport
- Arlington Municipal Airport
- Mid-way Regional Airport
The Best 16 Airports In Dallas, Texas
1. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Also called the DFW Airport, the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport is the main international airport serving the city of Dallas and Fort Worth and is located conveniently between those two cities. It is the main commercial airline gateway of Dallas to domestic and international locations.
It is where the headquarters of American Airlines is located, which is the second-largest single airline hub in the country and the world (behind Atlanta’s Delta Airlines hub).
DFW Airport is considered the second busiest airport in the world. Over 60 million travelers go through this airport, and over 25 airlines with services to over 250 destinations operate here.
- Distance to Downtown Dallas: 18.3 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: International and Domestic Flights
- Airport Code: DFW
2. Dallas Love Field Airport
Dallas Love Field Airport was once the main airport in Dallas before the DFW Airport opened in 1974. It is where Southwest Airlines started and where it is headquartered. The City of Dallas Department of Aviation also has its headquarters here.
Dallas Love Field Airport has two runways, one terminal, and 20 gates. Most flights and services are operated by Southwest Airlines, but Alaska Airlines (flights to Seattle and San Francisco) and Delta Airlines (flights to Atlanta) also have some operations here.
- Distance to Dallas City Center: 6 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: Mostly domestic flights operated by Southwest Airlines
- Airport Code: DAL
3. Dallas Executive Airport
Located 10 miles south of Downtown Dallas, Dallas Executive Airport provides a way for travelers, especially corporate business travelers, to arrive in style.
It is an airport owned by the city of Dallas and operated by its Department of Aviation, like Dallas Love Field airport, but there are no commercial airlines that operate here. The airport is used mostly by private jets and private charter flights. The airport was opened in 1948.
There are meeting rooms, pilot lounges, and sleeping areas, and the terminal building has a restaurant and briefing rooms for its guests and tenants.
The largest WWII airshow, Wings Over Dallas, is also staged here yearly by the Commemorative Air Force. This non-profit organization preserves historical aircraft and holds air shows across the country.
- Distance to Dallas City Center: 10.4 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: Private jets, Charter flights, Reliever for Dallas Love Field
- Airport Code: RBD
4. Dallas CBD Vertiport
A vertiport is an area or structure used as a landing or take-off site for VTOL aircraft. VTOL means “vertical take-off and landing”, which means that these aircraft can take off, land, or hover vertically without needing the support of a runway.
The Dallas CBD Vertiport is conveniently located in the central business district of Downtown Dallas, in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. If you work in Dallas, the downtown area is one of the best places to live. (Read: 12 Best Places To Live In Dallas For Young Professionals).
It is considered the biggest elevated vertiport or heliport in the world. It is operated by the Dallas Executive Airport and is said to be able to accommodate five aircraft simultaneously (3 helicopters and 2 VOTL aircraft). It also has car parking, conference rooms, and a waiting area for pilots in the facility.
It is designated for use for general aviation purposes, but it is mostly used by law enforcement and traffic watch, private transportation, and charters, as well as corporate aviation departments.
- Distance to Dallas City Center: Located in Dallas CBD
- What The Airport Is Used For: General Aviation, Law Enforcement, Traffic, Media, Private Charters, Corporate Aviation
- Airport Code: JDB
5. Grand Prairie Municipal Airport
This airport, located in Grand Prairie, Texas, is a designated Reliever Airport. Still, it is mostly used by aviation academies for various types of flight training and by private businesses for their aviation needs.
It has one 4,000 feet long by 75 feet wide runway and a helipad. The airport can accommodate and service both small planes and bigger aircraft and helicopters.
It has repair services and cargo facilities and general aviation support and maintenance within the airport. A self-fueling facility, a restaurant, and conference rooms for rent for meetings and events are also available.
- Distance to Dallas City Center: 20.4 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: Private aviation, Training, Corporate
- Airport Code: KGPM (IACO), GPM (FAA)
6. Addison Airport
Addison Airport is a 368-acre airport with one 7,203 feet long by 100 feet wide concrete runway that is mostly used for general aviation.
General aviation is defined as recreational flying and private transport. Private charter services run by companies like FlexJet and Business Jet Solutions are available here, as well as cargo and freight services from various companies.
Some flight schools also use the airport for various training purposes, and a few fixed-base operators who offer services like fueling and aircraft maintenance also have their operations here.
Addison Airport is also known for being the location of the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, an aviation museum that is one of the main attractions in Addison.
It houses the largest collection of WWI and WWII warplanes in the Southwest. A yearly event celebrating the 4th of July, Addison Kaboom Town is a dramatic air, and fireworks show that attracts over 400,000 visitors to the area.
- Distance to Dallas City Center: 15.2 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: General aviation, Private Jets, Charter Flights, Airshow of Cavanaugh Flight Museum
- Airport Code: ADS
7. Denton Enterprise Airport
Another public-use, city-owned airport, Denton Enterprise Airport, is just three miles from Denton Central Business District and 42.1 miles from the Dallas City Center. Denton is located far north, at the tip, of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
It was established in 1942 and was formerly a U.S. Air Force training airfield before the military turned it over to the city of Denton in 1946.
Denton Enterprise Airport has two runways paved with asphalt measuring 7,002 feet by 150 feet and 5,003 feet by 75 feet.
Two flight schools (In the Pattern, U.S. Flight Aviation Academy) and two fixed base operators (U.S. Trinity Aviation, U.S. Jet Center in Denton, and a museum (Hangar 10 Flying Museum).
- Distance to Dallas City Center: 42.1 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: General Aviation, Training, Flight Schools
- Airport Code: DTO
8. Lancaster Regional Airport
Lancaster Regional Airport is another general reliever airport located about 20 minutes from the Dallas City Center.
The airport is 548 acres with one asphalt runway measuring 6,502 feet by 100 feet. It is also used for general and private aviation purposes.
Several aviation businesses have operations in this airport. Air Salvage of Dallas is a pioneer in buying and selling used aircraft parts and AirSpace is an airport real estate firm that can help you find and manage your airport properties. The Commemorative Air Force also has operations here, as well as other companies focused on aircraft repair and maintenance.
The airport’s facilities include a pilots’ lounge, café, flight planning rooms, conference rooms, hangar space, and others.
- Distance to Dallas City Center: 19.6 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: General Aviation, Reliever Airport
- Airport Code: LNC
9. Ralph M. Hall Rockwall Municipal Airport
Rockwall is located northeast of Dallas, on the east shore of Lake Ray Hubbard, and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The Ralph M. Hall Rockwall Municipal Airport was named after Ralph M. Hall, a congressman that served from 1980-2014, and was born and raised in Rockwall County.
It is a General Aviation Airport under the classification of the FAA and is a community service airport under the Texas Airport System Plan. A community service airport means that it provides access to smaller communities and it increases the capacity of metropolitan areas.
Ralph M. Hall Rockwall Municipal Airport is 50 acres with one asphalt runway measuring 3,373 feet x 45 feet.
- Distance to Dallas City Center: 25.1 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: General Aviation
- Airport Code: F46 (FAA)
10. Mesquite Metro Airport
The Mesquite Metro Airport was originally built as a privately-owned airport in 1975 (under the name Phil L. Hudson Municipal Airport). Still, in 1983, the city of Mesquite acquired it and has since developed airport facilities and enlarged the runway to 6,000 feet by 100 feet, making it large enough to accommodate bigger aircraft, and thus attracting more potential business.
The airport offers full-service and self-service fueling facilities as well as other airport services and aims to make them affordable to remain competitive with other airports servicing the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
- Distance to Dallas City Center: 18.6 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: General Aviation, Corporate Aviation
- Airport Code: HQZ (FAA)
11. McKinney National Airport
McKinney National Airport is the Dallas Love Field and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport’s reliever airport, but it is under the general aviation airport classification. It is located in McKinney, 30 miles from Dallas City Center.
The corporate fleets of companies like Toyota Motor Corporation and Texas Instruments are stationed here. It serves as the air base of PHI Medical, a medical transportation and ambulance provider with 24-hour emergency services.
McKinney Air Center is a fixed-base operator owned by the city that offers its services here. Many flight schools also have operations in the airport.
McKinney National Airport is 745 acres and has a concrete runway measuring 7,002 feet by 150 feet.
- Distance to Dallas City Center: 32 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: General Aviation, Home to Corporate Fleets, Medevac and Air Ambulance Services
- Airport Code: TKI
12. Air Park – Dallas Airport
Air Park – Dallas Airport was built as a residential airpark (aka “fly-in community”), where homeowners near the airport can freely use and access the runway to operate their aircraft. However, the arrangement has seen a lot of disputes between the homeowners and the owners of the airport.
Air Park Dallas has one asphalt runway, measuring 3,080 feet by 30 feet, and is located in Collin County.
- Distance to Downtown Dallas: 18.4 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: General Aviation
- Airport Code: F69 (FAA)
13. Terrell Municipal Airport
The Terrell Municipal Airport offers services for both private aviation and commercial aviation. It is located east of Dallas, in the city of Terrell.
In history, it is most known for being the first location (of seven in the U.S.) of the No. 1 British Flying Training School, a civilian flight school that trained the British Royal Air Force during World War II. A museum commemorating that period can be found in the airport.
The Terrell Municipal Airport has facilities for corporate aviation, recreational flying, training, and aerial inspections and is an integral part of the city’s operations. Its air traffic averages 70 a day.
It has one asphalt runway measuring 5,006 feet by 75 feet.
- Distance to Dallas City Center: 34.3 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: General Aviation
- Airport Code: TRL
14. Dallas South Port Airport
Dallas South Port Airport is located in the city of Ferris, located about 20 miles south of Dallas. It is used exclusively for general aviation.
It has a turf runway measuring 3,800 feet by 100 feet.
- Distance to Dallas City Center: 25.5 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: General Aviation
- Airport Code: T13 (FAA)
15. Arlington Municipal Airport
Arlington Municipal Airport is a general aviation reliever airport located in Arlington, a city 20 miles to the west of Dallas. It offers various services for corporate, cargo, and recreational pilots.
Located close to the city’s major entertainment venues, it offers corporate and recreational travelers convenient access to the best that the city has to offer. Arlington is known as the “Entertainment Capital of North Texas,” and it is considered to be one of the best places to live in Dallas. (Read: 14 Best Areas To Live Around Dallas [2022]).
There are several businesses operating in the airport, including Bell Helicopter.
The airport features both pilot and passenger lounges, rental and courtesy cars, conference rooms and flight planning rooms, repair services, and maintenance services.
The airport is 500 acres and has one runway measuring 6,080 feet by 100 feet.
- Distance to Dallas City Center: 25.7 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: General Aviation, Corporate Aviation
- Airport Code: GKY
16. Mid-way Regional Airport
The Mid-Way Regional Airport is in Ellis County, located south of Dallas.
It is also mainly used as a general aviation airport.
They have many facilities like a private pilot’s lounge with a shower and entertainment options that can be accessed 24 hours, conference and meeting rooms, snacks, and complimentary coffee. Courtesy cars for going to the city are also available upon request.
They host many events regularly, so it is an interesting airport to land in.
The airport has one asphalt runway measuring 6,500 feet by 100 feet.
- Distance to Dallas City Center: 32 miles
- What The Airport Is Used For: General Aviation
- Airport Code: JWY
Conclusion to The 16 Best Airports In Dallas, Texas
The best airports in Dallas, Texas, include Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas Love Field Airport, Dallas Executive Airport, Dallas CBD Vertiport, Grand Prairie Municipal Airport, Addison Airport, Denton Enterprise Airport, Lancaster Regional Airport, Ralph M. Hall Rockwall Municipal Airport, Mesquite Metro Airport, McKinney National Airport, Air Park Dallas Airport, Terrell Municipal Airport, Dallas South Port Airport, Arlington Municipal Airport and Mid-way Regional Airport.