The United States has some of the largest and busiest airports in the world. These airports are important because they connect different cities, help people travel for business or holidays, and transport goods across the country. In this article, we will look at the top 10 largest airports in the U.S. based on their total area.
Largest Airport in the United States in terms of Area
Denver International Airport, often called DEN, is the largest airport in the United States by land area and one of the busiest in the world. Located in the western part of the country, it serves the city of Denver, Colorado, and the nearby Front Range Urban Corridor. Let’s take a closer look at what makes DEN stand out.
Key Facts Largest Airport of the United States
- Name: Denver International Airport
- Location: Northeast Denver, Colorado, U.S.
- Opened: February 28, 1995
- Owner: City & Country of Denver
- Area: 137.26 square kilometers
- Annual Passengers: 58.8 million
Location and Accessibility of Denver International Airport, US Largest Airport
The airport is located about 25 miles northeast of Downtown Denver. Interestingly, it’s closer to the City of Aurora than central Denver. Many hotels and airport services are found in Aurora because of this. DEN is situated on the western edge of the Great Plains, giving travelers a beautiful view of the nearby Rocky Mountains.
Largest Airport of United States is also the Busiest Airport in Colorado
DEN is not just big in size but also in activity. It employs over 40,000 people, making it the largest employer in Colorado. The airport has consistently been one of the busiest in the world, ranking third in passenger traffic in 2021 and 2022, and sixth in 2023. In 2023 alone, DEN served around 77.8 million passengers, a 12% increase from the previous year.
Top-10 Largest Airports of the United States by Area as of 2024
Denver International Airport, located in Denver, Colorado, holds the title of the largest airport of the United States by area with the area of 137.26 square kilometers, followed by Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Orlando International Airport.
Here is the list of top-10 largest airports of the United States by area as of 2024:
Top-10 Largest Airports of the United States by Area as of 2024 | |||
Rank | Airport | Location | Area (in square kilometers) |
1. | Denver International Airport | Denver, Colorado | 137.26 |
2. | Dalla/Fort Worth International Airport | Dallas, Texas | 69.63 |
3. | Orlando International Airport | Orlando, Florida | 53.83 |
4. | Washington Dulles International Airport | Dulles, Virigina | 52.6 |
5. | George Bush International Airport | Houston, Texas | 40.5 |
6. | Salt Lake City International Airport | Salt Lake City, Utah | 31.1 |
7. | O’Hare International Airport | Chicago, Illinois | 30.9 |
8. | San Francisco International Airport | San Francisco, California | 21.07 |
9. | John F. Kennedy International Airport | New York | 21 |
10. | Detroit Metropolitan Airport | Detroit, Michigan | 19.6 |