You’re squinting through the scratched plexiglass of an Embraer 175, watching the gray expanse of Lake Erie give way to the industrial patchwork of Northeast Ohio. Landing at CLE isn't exactly like touching down at Heathrow or JFK. It’s smaller. Sprawlier in weird ways. If you're looking for Cleveland Hopkins international arrivals, you aren't just looking for a gate number; you’re looking for a specific dance through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that happens in a very particular corner of the airfield.
Most people think "International Airport" means a massive terminal with flags from fifty different countries. Honestly? Hopkins is a bit more modest. While it holds that "International" title with pride, the reality of arriving here from abroad—whether you’re coming in from Cancun, Punta Cana, or Toronto—is a unique experience that requires a little bit of insider knowledge to navigate without losing your mind.
Where do you actually land?
The geography of CLE is a bit of a trip. Most of the action for international travelers happens at Concourse A. This is where the Federal Inspection Station (FIS) lives. If you are on a flight from a destination that doesn't have "Pre-clearance"—think Mexico or the Dominican Republic—this is your final destination before you can actually "be" in Cleveland.
It's a sterile process. You get off the plane and you're immediately funneled into a series of hallways that feel a world away from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame posters in the main terminal. You can't stop at the bathroom in the terminal yet. You can't grab a snack. You are legally in a sort of "no man's land" until that CBP officer stamps your passport or nods you through the Global Entry kiosk.
The Toronto and Dublin Exception
Here is where people get confused. If you are flying in from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) or certain other Canadian hubs, you’ve likely already cleared U.S. Customs in Canada. In that case, your Cleveland Hopkins international arrivals experience is basically the same as flying in from Columbus or Chicago. You walk off the plane, head to the baggage claim in the main terminal, and you're out. No extra lines. No secondary screening. It’s a massive time-saver that most frequent border-crossers swear by.
Surviving the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Gauntlet
Let's talk about the FIS. It's located on the lower level of Concourse A. If you're arriving during a "peak" window—usually mid-afternoon when the Caribbean flights start trickling back in—it can get a little tight.
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Global Entry is your best friend. Seriously. If you travel out of the country even once a year, the $100 for five years is the best money you’ll ever spend. At CLE, the Global Entry kiosks are usually tucked to the side. While the main line is sweating through their customs declarations, you're scanning your face and walking toward the exit in under two minutes.
The Baggage Recheck Shuffle. If Cleveland is your final destination, you grab your bags in the FIS area, walk them past the customs officer, and then you're out into the public greeting area. But if you’re connecting? You have to drop those bags back onto a transit belt immediately after clearing customs. Don't forget this. If you walk out the double doors with your checked bags, you aren't getting back in without going through TSA security all over again.
Mobile Passport Control (MPC). If you don't have Global Entry, download the MPC app. It's free. It’s authorized by CBP. You put your info in while the plane is taxiing, and you get to stand in a much shorter line than the general public.
The Ground Transportation Reality Check
Once you’ve cleared the Cleveland Hopkins international arrivals process and you've got your bags, you’ll find yourself in the belly of the terminal. Cleveland isn't a city where you just "wing it" with transport unless you like waiting in the cold.
The layout here is vertical.
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Baggage claim is on the lower level. To get a rideshare (Uber or Lyft), you actually have to go up. Use the elevators or the escalators to get to the third level, which is the departures level. Cross the bridge to the parking garage. That's where the rideshare zone is. It’s a bit of a hike, especially if you’re dragging three suitcases full of souvenirs.
If you’re taking the RTA (the "Rapid"), head to the very lowest level. The Red Line will take you straight to Tower City in downtown Cleveland for less than three bucks. It's probably the most efficient thing about the airport, though it can feel a little desolate late at night.
Rental Cars: The Shuttle Struggle
Rental cars aren't on-site. I repeat: they are not in the terminal. You have to walk out of the baggage claim area (Door 4 or 7 usually) and wait for the generic rental car shuttle. It’s a five-to-seven-minute drive to the consolidated rental car facility on Maplewood Avenue. If you’re arriving on a late-night international flight, be prepared for the shuttle frequency to drop off a bit.
What most people get wrong about CLE arrivals
There's a common misconception that Cleveland is a major hub like it was in the Continental Airlines days. It isn't. United pulled the hub status years ago. Today, Frontier and Spirit have a massive presence here, alongside the "Big Three" (Delta, United, American).
What does this mean for your arrival? It means staffing levels at the FIS can be inconsistent. If three flights land at once, the wait times spike because the airport isn't staffed for a constant flow of 500 people per hour. It’s a "pulse" airport. Everything is quiet, then everything happens at once.
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Also, don't expect 24-hour food options. If your international flight is delayed and you land at 11:00 PM, your dining options are basically a vending machine or a very sad, lonely Hudson News. The Starbucks near the terminal entrance closes earlier than you'd think.
Real-world tips for a smoother arrival
- Check the Flight Stats: Use an app like FlightAware to see if your plane is arriving at Gate A1 or A14. The walk from the far end of Concourse A to the FIS can be surprisingly long for an airport of this size.
- The "Secret" Cell Phone Lot: If someone is picking you up, tell them to wait in the Cell Phone Lot on 150th Street. The airport police are notoriously aggressive about "looping." If your ride circles the arrival terminal more than twice, they might get a talking-to.
- Park Place or Fast Park: If you left your car at an off-site lot, the shuttles for these private companies usually pick up at a different door than the rental car shuttles. Look for the signs near the baggage carousels carefully.
- Wi-Fi Woes: The free Wi-Fi at CLE is... okay. But in the basement levels of the FIS, cell signal can be spotty. Make sure you have your hotel address or your Uber app ready before you descend into the customs area.
The renovation projects at CLE are ongoing. The airport is currently undergoing a multi-year "Master Plan" update to modernize the aging infrastructure. You might see construction walls. You might see redirected walkways. It’s all part of the charm of a mid-century airport trying to exist in a 2026 world.
Navigating the Meet-and-Greet
If you are the one picking someone up from an international flight, don't stand at the regular domestic baggage claim. You want to be near the "International Arrivals" exit, which is located at the north end of the baggage claim level. You'll know you're in the right place when you see the silver doors that don't have handles on the outside. That's where the travelers emerge after their bags have been scanned.
Moving Forward: Your CLE Arrival Checklist
Instead of stressing about the logistics when you're jet-lagged, take these specific steps to make the transition from the plane to the Cleveland streets as painless as possible.
- Pre-download the Mobile Passport Control app and create your profile before you even board your flight to Cleveland.
- Confirm your "Pre-clearance" status. If you are flying from Dublin, Shannon, Nassau, or any major Canadian airport, you won't need to go through the FIS at Cleveland. You'll just walk out like a domestic passenger.
- Verify your ground transport. If you're using a car service (like a limo or scheduled van), they usually meet you at the "Limo Lot" which is a specific walk from the baggage claim.
- Check the weather. Cleveland weather is moody. You can leave a tropical 85-degree beach and land in a 20-degree lake-effect snowstorm. The walk to the rideshare parking garage is outdoors/covered, but it is not climate-controlled. Have your coat accessible in your carry-on.
- Pack your patience for the shuttle. If you're heading to the rental car center, remember that it's off-site. Factor in an extra 20 minutes from the moment you clear customs to the moment you actually sit in your rental car.
By keeping the layout of Concourse A in mind and leveraging tools like Global Entry or MPC, you turn a potentially chaotic arrival into a routine walk in the park. Cleveland might not be the biggest international gateway in the country, but once you understand the rhythm of the FIS and the vertical layout of the terminal, it’s one of the easier airports to navigate.
Welcome to the 216. Grab a Polish Boy sandwich on your way into the city—you’ve earned it.