A Guide to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Quick insights
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) offers several transportation options including taxis, rental cars and public transportation rail service.
- There are five parking lots at CLE, and travelers can reserve parking in advance via the airport's Smart Parking Garage.
- Peak travel periods at CLE include holidays, spring break, summer and early morning hours.
Cleveland is a city with a history of innovation when it comes to air travel. The Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) was the first airport with an air traffic control tower and a two-level design that separated arrivals from departures. It was also the first airport in North America to be directly connected with a rail transit line.
Whether you’re heading there or just passing through, here are some things travelers may want to know about flying in and out of CLE, Ohio’s largest and busiest airport.
Navigating to and from CLE
CLE is located approximately 9 miles southwest of downtown Cleveland and serves greater Northeast Ohio. There are multiple ways to navigate to and from the airport, including:
- Public transportation: The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) offers service to and from the airport via RTA's Red Line. The trip to downtown Cleveland takes less than 30 minutes, and trains depart every 15 minutes.
- Taxis: CLE offers a dedicated taxicab service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The taxi entrance is located at the south end on the Baggage Claim level. Taxi cab drop-offs can be made anywhere at CLE.
- Rental cars: Rental car operations are located at a consolidated rental car facility off airport property. Shuttle services are provided from the main terminal to the facility. The ride to the rental car facility takes approximately 5-7 minutes and runs daily.
- Rideshare: There is no designated rideshare area at CLE. Rideshare customers can be picked up or dropped off at the departures or arrivals roadways.
For those driving to or from the airport, two major highways—I-71 and I-480—provide access to the airport.
Parking at CLE
There are several options for short and long-term parking at CLE. There are five different on-site parking options as well as a cell phone waiting lot located off Jackson Road just east of the airport.
Travelers can reserve parking in the airport's Smart Parking Garage—a multi-level parking garage attached to the terminal building—in advance. The airport website homepage provides real-time information about the capacity and availability at the airport parking lots.
CLE terminals and map
CLE has one two-level passenger terminal with three concourses:
- Concourse A: Gates A1 – A14
- Concourse B: Gates B1 – B11
- Concourse C: Gates C2 – C29
All three concourses service domestic arrivals and departures as well as international departures. Concourse A services all international arrivals and houses the airport's Federal Inspection Services (FIS) customs and border protection facility.
The ticketing counters are located on the upper level of the terminal.
View terminal information, including maps and a list of airport shops, restaurants and more.
Security at CLE
There are three security checkpoints at CLE:
- Central checkpoint: Open from 4:15 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- South checkpoint: Open from 3:15 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.
- North checkpoint: Open from 4:15 a.m. daily or on an "as needed" basis
Times are subject to change, so check the CLE website for the most up to date information.
Airport guidance recommends passengers arrive at the airport 2 hours prior to their scheduled domestic flight departure time and 3 hours prior for international flights.
During peak travel periods—such as holidays, spring break and summer—consider budgeting extra time for domestic flights. Passengers may want to arrive even earlier for early morning flights as that tends to be the airport's busiest travel time of the day.
Getting through airport security faster
Customs and 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 those lanes typically do not need to remove light jackets, shoes, belts or jewelry during screening.
Global Entry allows members to bypass the standard customs line and use a designated kiosk to scan their passport, provide fingerprints and complete a customs declaration. Global Entry members also receive TSA PreCheck benefits.
Some credit cards offer reimbursement for TTP application fees when the cardmember uses their eligible card to pay the fee.
Things to do at CLE
Concessions and shops at CLE have a mix of local, regional and national brands. Grab a quick bite or have a sit-down meal before hopping on your flight at one of dozens of eateries spread throughout the airport.
The airport also offers travelers a way to get their steps in before taking off. There are “Start! Walking Routes” located in all three airport concourses.
In a nod to one of Cleveland’s more well-known attractions (The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), GuitarMania® is a community public art project that seeks to raise money for its two benefiting charities—United Way of Greater Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s education programs. Travelers can see these 10-foot tall Fender® Stratocaster® guitars creatively transformed into works of art by local artists and national celebrities.
In summary
CLE offers more than a hundred domestic and international flights every day. The airport, which serves greater northeast Ohio, has several transportation options, including rail service that provides transport to downtown Cleveland in under 30 minutes.
There are five parking lots at the airport, and those driving to the airport can reserve parking ahead of time via CLE’s Smart Parking Garage. The airport is busiest during early morning hours, so airport officials recommend arriving more than 2.5 hours ahead of their departing flight during those times.
