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A guide to Blue Grass Airport (LEX)

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      Quick insights

      • Blue Grass Airport (LEX) is a mid-size airport in Lexington, KY with daily flights to several U.S. cities.
      • Its one terminal houses ticketing counters, security screening and baggage claim on Level 1 and all gates on Level 2.
      • LEX has options for short- and long-term parking, with 30 minutes of complimentary parking in any lot of the garage.

      Lexington, KY is synonymous with horse racing and the blue grass that covers much of the state. So, it’s only fitting that Lexington’s airport, which is nestled among horse farms, racetracks and lush green fields, is called Blue Grass Airport (LEX).Opens overlay

      Read on to learn about getting to, from and around LEX.

      Navigating to and from LEX

      LEX is approximately 6 miles west of downtown Lexington. Its address is 4000 Terminal Dr. in Lexington, which can be accessed from Man o’ War Blvd.

      Ground transportation at LEX is located on Level 1 of the terminal. Options include:

      • Rental cars: Rental car counters are located near the baggage claim area on Level 1. The airport’s rental car facility, directly next to the terminal, provides a central pick-up and drop-off location.
      • Rideshare: The rideshare pick-up area is curbside between the terminal and rental car facility.
      • Taxis, shuttle and limousine services: These transportation services are located on the curbside of the terminal when exiting the baggage claim area.
      • Public transit: LexTran offers an express bus route from the airport to the downtown Transit Center on Vine St. Passenger pick-up is located next to the cell phone waiting area. The shuttle operates Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

      There also are several hotels in the area that provide shuttle service to and from the airport. Check with individual hotels for information about hours and pricing. 

      Parking at LEX

      LEX has a mix of parking optionsOpens overlay spread across one garage and three lots. There are also valet options.

      Parking options include:

      • Short-term parking: LEX’s one parking garage is across the street from the terminal and is designed for short-term parking. There is also a short-term lot west of the garage.
      • Long-term parking: There are long-term and economy lots just north of the short-term parking lot and garage.
      • Cell phone waiting area: This area is located off the airport’s main entrance road on the right prior to the terminal. Visitors can wait in this area for no charge, and it is less than a minute drive from the terminal.

      The first 30 minutes of parking in all lots and the garage is complimentary as well.

      LEX offers ticketless parking where your license plate serves as your ticket. It is scanned when you enter; upon exit, your plate is scanned again. Your parking fee then will be displayed on the exit touchscreen. Cash payments are not accepted.

      LEX terminals and map

      LEX has one terminal with nearly a dozen gates spread across two concourses: Concourse A and Concourse B. Concourse A is the smaller of the two. All gates are located on Level 2 of the terminal.

      On Level 1, travelers will find all ticketing counters, baggage claim, ground transportation and a security checkpoint. There is a smaller third level of the terminal that houses an executive lounge.

      You can check the terminal mapOpens overlay on the LEX website.

      Security at LEX

      There is one security screening checkpoint at LEX with dedicated TSA PreCheck® lanes. It is on Level 1 of the terminal just past the ticketing counters. Once passengers pass through security, there are escalators to take them to Level 2. TSA checkpoints are open daily from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

      Airport guidance recommends arriving at the airport at least 90 minutes before your scheduled departure time. Passengers are encouraged to arrive earlier if they are flying during peak travel times.

      Getting through airport security faster

      TSA wait times can vary, but there are Trusted Traveler Programs (TTPs) that may help expedite the security and passport screening processes.

      TSA PreCheck allows members to use designated lanes at airport security checkpoints. Passengers in these lanes typically do not need to remove light jackets, shoes, belts or jewelry during screening.

      Some credit cards offer reimbursement for TTP application fees when the cardmember uses their eligible card to pay the fee.

      Airport amenities at LEX

      Travelers can find a handful of shopping and dining options at the airport, with most of the options past security on Level 2. While the options may be limited, the bourbon selection is not. There are a few shops and restaurants that sell and serve one of Kentucky’s most well-known exports.

      The airport also offers the following amenities:

      • A pet relief area (Level 1, Concourse A)
      • Activity and coloring books for kids (Level 1, Information Center)
      • A mothers' nursing suite (Level 2, Concourse B)

      You can reference a list of dining and shopping optionsOpens overlay and airport amenitiesOpens overlay on the LEX site.

      In summary

      Blue Grass Airport is a mid-size airport located in Lexington, KY offering daily flights to several U.S. cities. It has one terminal with baggage claim, security and ticketing counters on Level 1. All gates and most dining and shopping options are on Level 2.

      There is one garage that offers short-term parking and lots that offer short- and long-term parking. The first 30 minutes of parking in any lot or the garage is complimentary. There is also a cell phone waiting lot near the short-term lot, located less than a minute drive from the terminal. LEX uses a license plate scanning system that serves as your parking ticket. Plates are scanned upon entry and exit to calculate parking fees.

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