Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is a strange beast. If you've ever flown through here, you know it feels like a weird mix of mid-century industrial grit and modern glass updates. It’s not the sprawling labyrinth of O'Hare, but honestly, if you don't have a solid handle on the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport map before you land or park, you’re going to end up walking way more than you planned. It’s a "hub-and-spoke" layout that actually makes sense once you see it from above, but on the ground? It’s a lot of long hallways and one-way security checkpoints.
The thing about Cleveland is that it’s the oldest municipal airport in the United States. That history is cool, but it means the layout is a bit "bolted together." You have four main concourses—A, B, C, and D—though D has been sitting like a ghost town for years ever since United pulled their hub status.
Why the Layout is Weirder Than You Think
Most people assume an airport map is just about finding the gate. At CLE, the map is really about surviving the security bottlenecks. There are three separate checkpoints. If you're looking at a Cleveland Hopkins International Airport map, you’ll notice that Central Security is usually the busiest. North and South checkpoints can be lifesavers, but they aren't always open at the same hours.
Getting from Concourse A to Concourse C isn't just a quick hop. You’re basically traversing the length of the main terminal. If you’re a United flyer, you’re almost certainly headed to Concourse 7 or C. Frontier and Spirit usually hog Concourse A. Delta and American? They’re tucked away in B. It’s a long walk. There are no moving walkways in the main terminal area, only once you get deep into the concourses. Bring comfortable shoes. Seriously.
Parking: The Great Cleveland Scramble
Don’t even get me started on the parking situation. If you look at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport map for parking, you'll see the Smart Parking Garage, the Red Lot, the Blue Lot, and the Orange Lot.
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The Smart Parking Garage is right there, connected by a skywalk on Level 3. It’s expensive. It’s also almost always full by Tuesday morning because of business travelers. The Red and Blue lots are economy. They require a shuttle. Here is the insider tip: the cell phone lot is located off Hotel Road. Most people miss it because the signage is, frankly, kind of garbage. If you’re picking someone up, don’t circle. Just sit in the cell phone lot. It’s a two-minute drive to the arrivals curb once your person actually has their bags.
Eating and Drinking Without Getting Lost
If you’re hungry, the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport map of concessions is... okay. It’s getting better. For a long time, it was just sad sandwiches. Now, you’ve got local spots like Bar Symon (Michael Symon’s place) in Concourse C. That’s where the "good" food is.
- Concourse A: Mostly fast stuff. Dunkin’ is the king here.
- Concourse B: Great Lakes Brewing Company. If you want a taste of Cleveland, this is the spot. Their Burning River Pale Ale is a classic.
- Concourse C: This is where the heavy hitters are. Potbelly, Chick-fil-A, and Bar Symon.
The weirdest thing? There is almost nothing to eat before you go through security. If you’re meeting someone and want to grab a meal, you’re basically stuck with a Hudson News granola bar or driving ten minutes away to Brook Park Road.
The Ghost of Concourse D
You’ll see it on every official Cleveland Hopkins International Airport map—that long arm stretching out past Concourse C. That’s Concourse D. It was built for United Express back in the late 90s. It’s beautiful, it has its own shops, and it’s completely empty. United stopped using it in 2014.
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Why does this matter to you? It doesn't, really, except that it explains why the airport feels "off-balance." You see this massive infrastructure that nobody is allowed to use. Every few years, there’s talk of reopening it for international flights or turning it into something else, but for now, it’s just a giant tax write-off on the map.
Ground Transportation and the RTA
Cleveland is one of the few cities where the train goes directly into the airport. Look at the lower level of the terminal on your Cleveland Hopkins International Airport map. You’ll see the RTA Red Line station.
It is $2.50. It takes 20-25 minutes to get to Tower City in the heart of downtown. Compared to a $40 Uber, it’s a steal. The entrance is near the baggage claim area. Just follow the signs for "Trains to Downtown." If you’re staying at the Hilton or the Hyatt downtown, there is zero reason to pay for a car.
Security Secrets
If you’re looking at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport map and trying to figure out which line is shorter, check the North Checkpoint first. It’s tucked away near the United ticket counters. People naturally flock to the Center Checkpoint because it’s big and obvious. The North Checkpoint often has half the wait time, though it doesn't always have a dedicated PreCheck lane—sometimes they just give you a little card that lets you keep your shoes on.
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The New Terminal Plan
The current Cleveland Hopkins International Airport map is actually about to change. The city is working on a multi-billion dollar master plan. They want to tear down the old piers and build a more consolidated terminal.
This means in about five to seven years, everything I just told you will be obsolete. They want to fix the "bottleneck" at security and make the walk from the garage less of a hike. But for now, we deal with the quirky, slightly confusing, 1950s-meets-1990s layout.
Practical Steps for Your Next Flight
- Check the North Checkpoint: Always. Even if you have PreCheck, look at the line at North before committing to the Center.
- Download the Map: The airport Wi-Fi is hit or miss. Have a screenshot of the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport map on your phone so you aren't wandering Concourse B looking for a bathroom that isn't under renovation.
- Use the Skywalk: If you’re parking in the garage, go to Level 3. It’s the only way to stay out of the rain or snow.
- Eat in Concourse C: Even if your flight is in A, if you have an hour, walk to C. The food quality is significantly higher.
- RTA over Uber: If it's between 6:00 AM and midnight, the Red Line is faster than waiting for an Uber driver to navigate the confusing "App-Based Rides" pickup zone.
The "App-Based Rides" zone is another thing people mess up. You have to go to the baggage claim level, walk out Door 7, and cross the street to the parking garage. You can’t just stand at the curb like you’re getting picked up by your grandma. The map clearly marks this, but the signs at the airport itself are easy to miss when you're tired.
Cleveland Hopkins isn't the hardest airport to navigate, but it rewards the people who actually pay attention to the layout. Don't be the person sprinting from Concourse A to C with three minutes until boarding. It’s a longer walk than it looks.