How Flying Out of a Regional Airport Can Save You Money (and Stress)

In many parts of the U.S., flying out of a smaller regional airport can be a faster, smoother, and cheaper move.

Most travelers default to the biggest airports near them. After all, sprawling hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) tend to offer the most flight and airline options and, often, the best connections.

For years, I followed the same pattern: budgeting a few extra hours for the 70-mile drive north to Denver International Airport, paying for pricey parking, and joining the waves of travelers who funnel through snaking security lines.

More recently, however, I’ve become loyal to my regional option: Colorado Springs Airport (COS). It’s much closer to my home, I can breeze through security and get to my gate in about 30 minutes, and the ticket prices are often the same as they are flying out of the central hub. Sure, I sacrifice sampling the latest cocktail offering at Denver’s Capital One Lounge, but I’ll gladly trade that for shorter lines and less anxiety.

This experience isn’t unique to Colorado.

A May 2025 study conducted by Dollar Flight Club, an airfare deal tracking service, found that travelers can save up to 30 percent on total travel costs at a regional airline versus a major hub. Combine that with shorter security lines and less time idling in traffic, and the savings compound—not only in funds but also in stress. Here’s why you might consider opting for your regional airport on your next flight.

More affordable flights (and parking)

Sally French, travel expert at finance company NerdWallet and cohost of the Smart Travel podcast, says that “regional airports sometimes undercut major hubs because of lower operating costs,” adding that higher fees for gate leases and runway use at large airports are often passed on to travelers through higher ticket prices.

According to Katy Nastro, a travel expert at Going, a travel app and deals newsletter, because major hubs “come with higher landing fees and/or limited options for slots and gates, regional airports are often easier for carriers to break into,” including low-cost carriers, like JetBlue and Southwest.

She added that regional airports can be cheaper because they see more “leisure flights, or what the industry calls VFR flights (visiting friends and relatives), versus major hubs that see far more true business travel.”

One example Nastro pointed to is Michigan’s Flint Bishop International Airport (FNT). “It’s roughly an hour from Detroit, but if you look at the destinations served, especially by airlines like Allegiant, which are mainly leisure cities and better weather cities for snowbirds, you’ll find plenty of low fares.”

Between December 2025 and January 2026, flights from Flint, Michigan, to Tampa International Airport (TPA), for example, average $112, whereas the same dates from Detroit to Tampa on a legacy carrier are 30 percent more expensive compared to the base fares alone.

Parking is another area where travelers can save.

At New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), standard, uncovered parking can cost as much as $75 per day, while at New Jersey’s Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN), it’s a max of $10. Dollar Flight Club’s study noted that standard parking rates in economy lots at regional airports typically cost about $7 to $12 daily, whereas it’s closer to $25 to $40 at major airports.

Photo by EQRoy/Shutterstock

Fewer crowds and less stress

Security screening is often the point where travel anxiety peaks—but regional airports quietly offer a reprieve. A 2022 study conducted by the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University analyzed Transportation Security Administration wait times across airport categories and found clear differences: Peak wait times averaged 30 minutes at large hubs, 22 minutes at medium hubs, and 18 minutes at small hubs.

Similarly, airports in larger cities tend to be more crowded—something that doesn’t bode well for peace of mind. According to J.D. Power’s 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, traveler happiness drops as terminals get more crowded: Satisfaction scores average a healthy 736 out of 1,000 when airports feel uncrowded but nosedive to 429 when they feel packed. It’s no coincidence that medium-sized airports (such as options in Indianapolis and Jacksonville) consistently earn the highest marks in the study. With fewer passengers moving through more compact terminals, security is quicker, gates are easier to reach, and the entire experience is more relaxed.

Access to unique routes

Regional airports don’t just feed into big hubs anymore. They’re increasingly becoming gateways for leisure travel in their own right.

“Regional airports are more about point-to-point convenience and have more of an emphasis on leisure markets,” says French. “Regional airports can fill in gaps of routes you may not find elsewhere.”

As airlines increasingly see value in point-to-point service outside traditional hubs, they’ve added more routes to certain leisure destinations. In July, American Airlines, for example, announced new routes to Missoula, Montana; Sun Valley, Idaho; and Fort Myers, Florida. Similarly, in 2024, Delta added a slew of flights to beach and ski towns, such as Sacramento, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah.

These flights often exist precisely because smaller airports can attract airlines looking to diversify their route maps.

When it doesn’t add up

Still, the regional airport strategy has limits, and not every regional airport is a bargain. In smaller or more remote destinations—say, Aspen, Colorado, or Lanai, Hawai’i—limited service and little competition can drive fares higher than those at nearby hubs. Similarly, airports dominated by a single carrier can be more expensive.

Gary Leff, a travel expert and the founder of blog View from the Wing, pointed to Charlotte, North Carolina, where American Airlines has the lion’s share of flights and where “locals often pay high fares as a result of limited competition.”

Major hubs also tend to have more nonstop flight options, particularly to overseas destinations. That’s convenient and helpful during delays and cancellations, as there are often backup options to get you where you’re going. In contrast, regional airports might have fewer options, meaning delays can snowball.

Tools for comparing regional and major airports

The best way to determine if your regional airport is a good fit is to run the numbers before you book. Flight search engines—including Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak—let travelers compare fares across multiple departure points simultaneously. Plug in both your nearest major hub and the regional airports nearby to compare ticket prices.

French adds, “Also, weigh the total trip cost—not just the airfare. A cheaper ticket out of a regional airport might be offset by higher parking fees or fewer ground transportation options. On the other hand, if avoiding traffic saves you hours, that convenience might be worth a small fare premium.”

While regional airports may never replace big hubs, when the math works out—be that with faster commutes, shorter security lines, or more competitive fares—they can make an easier journey.