You've probably looked at a map of the United States and seen those little airplane icons scattered around. Most people think they know what's up—you’ve got your big hubs like JFK, LAX, and O'Hare, and then maybe some tiny strips where crop dusters land.
Honestly? It is way more complicated than that.
When you start digging into a list of all airports in the us, you aren't just looking at a few hundred places with Cinnabon outlets and TSA lines. We are talking about a massive, interconnected web of over 19,000 landing facilities. That includes everything from the massive Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, which handles over 100 million passengers in a good year, to private grass strips in Nebraska that don't even have a paved runway.
If you're trying to make sense of the American sky, you have to realize that "airport" is a very loose term in the eyes of the FAA.
Why the Total Number of US Airports is Actually a Moving Target
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) keeps the official tally, but the number changes almost weekly. As of early 2026, the count for total landing facilities—which covers airports, heliports, seaplane bases, and "STOLports" (Short Take-Off and Landing)—hovers around 19,500.
But here is the kicker. Only about 5,000 of those are "public-use."
The rest? Private. Most are strictly off-limits unless you have a very specific reason to be there or an emergency. You might have a neighbor with a "backyard airport" (lucky them), but that won't show up on your Delta or United booking app.
The NPIAS Breakdown
To really understand the list of all airports in the us, you have to look at the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, or NPIAS. This is the FAA’s "VIP list." If an airport is on this list, it’s considered significant to national air transportation and is eligible for federal grants.
📖 Related: Novotel Perth Adelaide Terrace: What Most People Get Wrong
There are currently about 3,287 airports in the NPIAS.
- Primary Airports: These are the big ones. They have scheduled flights and at least 10,000 people boarding every year. There are roughly 380 of these in the country.
- Nonprimary Airports: These handle mostly private planes or very small commercial "puddle jumpers."
- Relievers: These are fascinating. They exist specifically to take the "small plane" pressure off the massive hubs. Think of Teterboro (TEB) in New Jersey. It’s technically a reliever for Newark and JFK, but it’s one of the busiest private jet hubs in the world.
The Big Players: Primary Commercial Service Hubs
If you’re a traveler, this is the part of the list of all airports in the us you actually care about. The FAA breaks these down by "hub" size based on how much of the national passenger traffic they handle.
Large Hubs
These are the heavy hitters. To be a Large Hub, an airport has to handle at least 1% of all annual U.S. passenger boardings. There are usually around 30 of these.
Atlanta (ATL) is basically the king of this mountain. It’s held the title of "world's busiest airport" for the better part of two decades, mostly because of its geography. If you’re flying anywhere in the Southeast, you’re probably stopping in Georgia first.
Then you have Denver (DEN). It’s massive. Literally. It’s the largest airport in North America by total land area, covering 53 square miles. To put that in perspective, you could fit the entire island of Manhattan inside Denver's airport property twice.
Medium and Small Hubs
These are airports like Austin-Bergstrom (AUS) or Nashville (BNA). They are growing faster than the "Large" hubs right now. Nashville has seen an explosion in traffic lately because, well, everyone is moving to Tennessee.
Then you get into the "Non-hub" primary airports. These have the 10,000+ passengers required to be "Primary," but they don't even reach 0.05% of the national total. Think of places like Bangor, Maine (BGR) or Casper, Wyoming (CPR). Essential? Yes. Huge? Not even close.
👉 See also: Magnolia Fort Worth Texas: Why This Street Still Defines the Near Southside
Sorting the Chaos by State
It’s easy to assume California or New York has the most airports because they have the most people.
You'd be wrong.
Texas usually tops the list for the sheer number of landing facilities. When you have that much land and that many cattle ranches, people start building their own runways. Alaska is another outlier. In the Alaskan bush, an "airport" might just be a flat spot on a gravel riverbed, but for the people living there, it’s the only way to get groceries or mail.
Here is a quick look at how states stack up in terms of sheer facility volume:
- Texas: Well over 2,000 facilities.
- California: Around 900+ facilities.
- Florida: Roughly 800+ facilities.
- Alaska: About 700+ facilities.
Alaska actually has the highest number of airports per capita. If you live in Anchorage, you’re basically born with a pilot’s license.
The Mystery of the "General Aviation" Airport
Most of the list of all airports in the us is made up of General Aviation (GA) airports.
If you aren't a pilot, you probably ignore these. That's a mistake. These airports are the backbone of the economy. They handle organ transplants, emergency medevac flights, and flight training.
✨ Don't miss: Why Molly Butler Lodge & Restaurant is Still the Heart of Greer After a Century
Van Nuys (VNY) in California is a prime example. You can’t buy a ticket on a 737 to go there. But it’s one of the busiest airports in the world in terms of takeoffs and landings because of the sheer volume of private and corporate jets.
Finding Your Way Around the Codes
Ever wonder why your luggage tag says ORD for Chicago O'Hare? It’s because the airport used to be called Orchard Field. Or why Orlando is MCO? It was formerly McCoy Air Force Base.
The three-letter codes (IATA) are what we see on tickets.
The four-letter codes (ICAO) start with a "K" in the lower 48 states (like KLAX) and a "P" or "P" in Alaska and Hawaii (like PANC for Anchorage).
If you are looking at a list of all airports in the us, pay attention to these codes. Sometimes two airports have very similar names but are hundreds of miles apart. Don't be the person who books a flight to Charleston, West Virginia (CRW) when you meant to go to Charleston, South Carolina (CHS). It happens more than you’d think.
The Future of the US Airport Infrastructure
We are currently seeing a massive shift in how airports are funded and built. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act poured billions into the system, and by 2026, we are finally seeing the results.
Terminals are getting bigger. Security is getting (slightly) faster with biometric tech. Even the tiny airports are getting runway upgrades to handle the new generation of electric "air taxis" or eVTOLs.
If you're trying to keep track of every single landing strip in America, you’re chasing a ghost. But if you want to know where the planes are actually flying, stick to the NPIAS list.
Actionable Next Steps for Travelers and Pilots
If you need to find a specific airport or check the status of a facility, don't just rely on a static list.
- For Travelers: Use the FAA’s Airport Data & Information Portal (ADIP) for the most current public data.
- For Private Flyers: Check SkyVector or ForeFlight. These are the "Google Maps" for pilots and will show you every private grass strip and heliport that doesn't show up on a standard travel site.
- Watch the Hubs: If you are planning a trip, check the "Hub" status. Smaller hubs often have cheaper parking and shorter security lines, even if the flight itself costs $20 more. It’s usually worth the trade-off.
The American sky is crowded, but it's organized. Whether it's a massive international gateway or a lonely runway in the Mojave desert, every entry on the list of all airports in the us serves a purpose. Just make sure you check the IATA code twice before you buy that non-refundable ticket.