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We got a lot of great comments on yesterday's post about the value of airports being close to downtown. Many asked why certain airports weren't on the list, and several noted the importance of transit and rail connections.
In our post, we listed the ten airports that were closest to downtown, and the ten that were furthest away. We also did not include those in Canada.
The table below lays out our complete data set. It covers the major airports that serve American and Canadian cities. It was complied by my Martin Prosperity Institute colleague Zara Matheson, who used Google Maps to calculated the distance and drive time from the airport to the urban core. She listed only airports that are connected to the city by rail.
Below, our data, ranked from nearest to furthest away:
| City (Airport Code) | Distance to Downtown (Miles) |
Drive Time (Minutes) |
Rail Transit Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| TORONTO ON (YTZ) | 2.5 | 31 (incl. ferry), 10 after ferry | Free shuttle to subway |
| BOSTON MA (BOS) | 3.5 | 10 | Free shuttle bus to rail |
| SAN DIEGO CA (SAN) | 3.6 | 11 | No |
| SAN JOSE CA (SJC) | 3.9 | 8 | No (Airport flyer bus to metro light rail station) |
| LAS VEGAS NV (LAS) | 4 | 11 | No |
| MIAMI FL (MIA) | 5 | 9 | AirportLink, scheduled for compleition in 2012 |
| WASHINGTON DC (DCA) | 5.1 | 13 | Yes |
| BIRMINGHAM AL (BHM) | 5.4 | 11 | No |
| VANCOUVER BC (YVR) | 5.7 | 17 | Yes |
| DALLAS TX (DAL) | 6.4 | 19 | No |
| ROCHESTER NY (ROC) | 6.5 | 9 | No |
| PHOENIX AZ (PHX) | 6.6 | 16 | Free shuttle to light rail |
| CHARLOTTE NC (CLT) | 7.2 | 16 | No |
| LOUISVILLE KY (SDF) | 7.4 | 13 | No |
| SALT LAKE CITY UT (SLC) | 7.6 | 16 | Connection to light rail under construction |
| MILWAUKEE WI (MKE) | 8 | 15 | Amtrak only |
| AUSTIN TX (AUS) | 8.1 | 17 | No |
| COLUMBUS OH (CMH) | 8.2 | 16 | No |
| RICHMOND VA (RIC) | 8.3 | 17 | No |
| TAMPA FL (TPA) | 8.4 | 15 | No |
| OTTAWA ON (YOW) | 8.6 | 23 | No |
| ATLANTA GA (ATL) | 9.2 | 15 | Yes |
| LAS VEGAS NV (VGT) | 9.6 | 19 | No |
| NASHVILLE TN (BNA) | 9.7 | 15 | No |
| OAKLAND CA (OAK) | 9.7 | 15 | Airbart bus to rail |
| NORFOLK VA (ORF) | 9.7 | 19 | No |
| BUFFALO, NY (BUF) | 9.8 | 14 | No |
| PHILADELPHIA PA (PHL) | 9.9 | 19 | Yes |
| OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (OKC) | 10.1 | 18 | No |
| SAN ANTONIO TX (SAT) | 10.6 | 15 | No |
| CHICAGO IL (MDW) | 11 | 19 | Yes |
| HOUSTON TX (HOU) | 11.3 | 18 | No |
| CALGARY AB (YYC) | 11.4 | 23 | No |
| NEW YORK NY (LGA) | 11.8 | 18 | No |
| SACRAMENTO CA (SMF) | 11.8 | 18 | No |
| ORLANDO FL (MCO) | 12.2 | 23 | No |
| MEMPHIS TN (MEM) | 12.3 | 17 | No |
| PORTLAND OR (PDX) | 12.3 | 19 | Yes, light rail |
| NEW ORLEANS LA (MSY) | 12.5 | 21 | No |
| BALTIMORE MD (BWI) | 12.6 | 18 | Yes |
| CLEVELAND OH (CLE) | 12.9 | 18 | Yes |
| MONTREAL QC (YUL) | 12.9 | 21 | No |
| NEWARK NJ (EWR) | 13 | 23 | Airtrain to N.J. Transit/Amtrak |
| CINCINNATI OH (CVG) | 13.4 | 20 | No |
| SAN FRANCISCO CA (SFO) | 13.5 | 21 | Yes |
| INDIANAPOLIS IN (IND) | 13.8 | 23 | No |
| JACKSONVILLE FL (JAX) | 14 | 22 | No |
| MINNEAPOLIS MN (MSP) | 14.5 | 20 | Yes |
| SEATTLE WA (SEA) | 14.6 | 20 | Yes |
| ST LOUIS MO (STL) | 14.9 | 23 | Yes |
| RALEIGH-DURHAM NC (RDU) | 15 | 24 | No |
| TORONTO ON (YYZ) | 15.6 | 24 | No |
| HARTFORD CT (BDL) | 16.2 | 22 | No |
| CHICAGO IL (ORD) | 18.3 | 26 | Yes |
| LOS ANGELES CA (LAX) | 18.8 | 25 | Free shuttle bus to metro rail |
| KANSAS CITY MO (MCI) | 19 | 24 | No |
| EDMONTON AB (YEG) | 19.1 | 36 | No |
| PITTSBURGH PA (PIT) | 19.2 | 28 | No |
| NEW YORK NY (JFK) | 20.4 | 28 | Airtrain to subway |
| DETROIT MI (DTW) | 21.8 | 29 | No |
| HOUSTON TX (IAH) | 21.8 | 31 | No |
| DALLAS/FORT WORTH TX (DFW) | 23 | 31 | Commuter rail |
| DENVER CO (DEN) | 24.9 | 36 | No (under construction) |
| SANFORD FL (SFB) | 26.5 | 33 | No |
| WASHINGTON, DC (IAD) | 26.8 | 34 | No (design phase) |
| PHOENIX AZ (AZA) | 36 | 44 |
No |
Photo credit: Jorg Hackemann /Shutterstock
