Traveling via plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else. The whole navigating the airport part? Less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful.

To help make your time at Charlotte Douglas International Airport as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide covering everything from terminals and parking to details for the sixth-busiest airport in the world for passengers — serving more than 58 million travelers in 2024.

Plus, the airport is about to unveil some major transformations.

What to know

TSA | According to the CLT's website, it takes ~15 minutes to get through security during off-peak hours and 30+ minutes during peak hours. Check live wait times.Nice link
Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, these maps of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
Food and drink | The airport offers a wide range of local eateries (like Midwood Smokehouse and Olde Mecklenburg Brewery) and national staples like Panera and Starbucks.
Reminder | As of May 7, 2025, flyers now need a REAL ID to board commercial flights in the US.
Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your respective airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch.

The terminal lobby expansion will increase the lobby space by 175,000 sqft. | Rendering via Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Airport Updates

The newly finished $608 million Terminal Expansion Project, part of Destination CLT, expands the airport's lobby to 366,000 sqft and includes the opening of new pedestrian bridges to the terminal.

TSA Checkpoint 2 recently opened + work is underway for the fourth parallel runway, accommodating the airport’s increasing flight traffic. Additional gates for concourses B and C are planned but construction timelines have not been scheduled.

Other renovations also include upgrading Concourses D and E — set to be done by fall 2026 + spring 2027.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is ranked the world's seventh busiest airport. | Photo by CLTtoday

Parking, transit, and rideshare

Not everyone has a bestie who will drop everything to pick them up from their midnight arrival. Schedule your parking in advance for a hassle-free travel day and to save a little cash. The price per day is as listed:

Hourly lot | Free/first 15 min, $8/hour first day, $32/daily
Express | $24/day for preferred or $20/day for self-park
Daily lots | $14/day
Long Term lots | $12/day
Valet | $45/day

Bonus: If you're traveling for a few days, parking is available at nearby The Parking Spot. The 24/7 option provides a shuttle ride to the terminal, covered and uncovered spots, a car wash + is only ~$11 per day.

Hate the thought of driving yourself? Try a shuttle, rideshare, or taxi service that will take you to and from the terminal. These services are suggested by CLT Douglas:

CATS' Airport Sprinter | Public transit | Route No. 5 takes about 30 minutes to get from the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown to the terminal and costs $2.20.
Uber | Rideshare | Exit your terminal under the rideshare sign near the baggage claim to catch your ride.
Lyft | Rideshare | Remember to accommodate the amount of luggage in your party.
Cab companies | Taxi | An airport guest assistant is available 6:45 a.m.-12:15 a.m. to help you secure service from one of the CLT Douglas-recommended cab companies.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport had a record number of 53 million passengers in 2023.
| Photo by CLTairport

Nonstop flights

CLT Douglas offers 188 nonstop destinations — 146 domestic flights, plus 42 international destinations.

Here are five nonstop flights to local destinations:

Orlando, FL | American Airlines, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit | Daily | If you happen to be in the Sunshine State, let LALtoday + TBAYtoday be your guides.
New York, NY | American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Spirit | Daily
Dallas/Fort Worth | American Airlines, Delta, Frontier | Daily | Our friends at DALtoday and FTWtoday can keep you in the know.
Chicago, IL | Frontier, United, American Airlines | Daily
Boston, MA | American Airlines | Daily | Need a local's perspective? That's where BOStoday comes in handy.

CLT also has some brand new destinations starting soon. Here’s what to look for:

Athens, Greece | Board a flight straight to Athens beginning June 5, 2025.
Spirit Airlines | The budget airline announced flights to six cities starting on May 9, 2025.
Frontier Airlines | Starting May 2, 2025, Frontier will offer twice-weekly nonstop flights from CLT to Tampa International Airport, increasing to four times a week on May 22, 2025.

Here are CLT's five top international nonstop flights:

London, England | American Airways | Three times per day | Departures start at 12:10 a.m.
Cancun, Mexico | American Airlines | Daily | Departures begin as early as 7:20 a.m.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | American Airlines | Four times per week | Departs at various times
Montego Bay, Jamaica | American Airlines | Daily | Departs as early as 7:15 a.m.
Munich, Germany | American Airlines, Finnair, Lufthansa, and Iberia | 12 times per week | Departs at various times

Pro tip: Remember that flight times and schedules will often change — you should rely on your respective airline for exact timing and to stay updated on any changes.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is on track to break its 53.4 million passenger record set in 2023. | Photo via CLTairport

Terminals

Here are the five terminals with popular food and drink options, lounges, and stores nearby:

Concourse A | Delta, Frontier, various airlines | Nearby services: Delta Sky Club, Great Wagon Road, Crown Diner, and Market Place. Live like a local: Try a cocktail made with spirits distilled here in Charlotte.
Concourse B | American Airlines | Nearby services: Grab a bite from Midwood Smokehouse before relaxing at the American Airlines Admirals Club.
Concourse C | American Airlines + American Eagle | Nearby services: Consider grabbing a bite on-the-go from Beatrix Market before getting your CLT-themed souvenirs at Charlotte News & Gifts.
Concourse D | International flights | Nearby services: Purchase duty-free items before visiting Sammy's Cabo Wabo Cantina and taking a break at the American Airlines Admirals Club. Editor's note: This concourse is undergoing upgrades.
Concourse E | American Airlines | Nearby services: Sip on a craft beer from Charlotte's oldest brewery, The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, before visiting Gameway, the world's first video game lounge within an airport.

Fly comfortably

While we may not be able to offer solutions for crying babies or mysterious in-flight meals, we do have some tricks up our sleeves for upping your comfort while flying. Browse some of our favorite travel essentials:

Lights Out Sleep Mask | This eye mask provides optimal comfort and aids restful sleep amidst changing environments and varying light conditions.
The AirFly Pro | Make sure you can always access in-flight entertainment (while avoiding the wired headphones airlines pass out) by using an AirFly. It plugs into your seat’s headphone jack and connects to your earbuds or headphones via Bluetooth.
Trtl travel pillow | The Trtl pillow is scientifically designed to provide a better head position when sleeping upright, thanks to an internal support system comfortably cushioned in cozy fleece.
Leather Dopp Kit | Keep your essentials organized and easily accessible, ensuring hassle-free journeys wherever you go.
Bose Noise Canceling Headphones | These headphones are tried-and-true traveling companions, beloved for their crisp sound and ability to block exterior noise.
Cozy Earth joggers | These Oprah-approved joggers are polished enough to navigate the airport in, but comfy and stretchy enough for long flights.
Snacks | Bringing your own snacks ensures dietary preferences are met — plus, you’ll save time and money while traveling.
Anti-nausea wristbands | Some simple anti-nausea wristbands might relieve a nervous stomach or sensitivity to turbulence while flying.