George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is one of the three main airports serving the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Navigating George Bush Intercontinental Airport is a huge challenge for any passenger, from security checks to final boarding. But don’t worry—this guide covers every detail.
About George Bush Intercontinental Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport was opened in 1969 and is operated by the Houston Airport System. The airport is 23 miles north of Downtown Houston and is the hub of United Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Mesa Airlines, Republic Airways, CommuteAir, and United Express.
IAH Airport History
George Bush Intercontinental Airport was originally named Houston Intercontinental Airport. A team of local business executives and civic leaders, recognizing the need for a new airport, bought more than 3,100 acres north of the Houston city limits. In 1997, it was renamed in honor of former president George H. W. Bush, who was a resident of Houston.
Where Is IAH Airport?
IAH Airport is at 2800 N Terminal Rd, Houston, TX 77032, USA, and serves the Greater Houston metropolitan area in Texas.
Houston Airport Map
The Houston airport map will help you locate the terminals and gates.
IAH Parking & Transportation
The George Bush Intercontinental Airport provides long-term and short-term parking. However, your chances of getting a spot depend on the airport’s traffic.
Additionally, there are offsite parking lots close to the airport that provide budget-friendly and safe parking. Global Airport Parking provides Houston airport parking at affordable rates.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, or METRO, offers bus services available at the south side of Terminal C.
Other modes of transportation are:
- Lyft/Uber
- Taxi
- Limousine
- Shuttle
You can also use the Skyway Automated People Mover or the Subway Train for inter-terminal transportation.
METRO
Local bus route 102 Bush / IAH Express will take you directly to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport from downtown Houston along I-45 and Beltway 8.
The Red Line connects to Preston Station, and the Green and Purple Lines connect to Central Station. The frequency of the METRO rail is between 6-18 minutes.
If you are looking to avoid traffic, METRORail could be the best option as it will take around 26 minutes.
The regular fare is $1.25, and the discounted fare is $0.60. Under certain conditions, discounted fares apply to students, senior citizens, or people with disabilities.
The following individuals ride free on all services:
- Children five years or younger accompanied by an adult
- Seniors 70 years or older who have a discounted METRO Q® Fare Card
- Qualified veterans who have a METRO Veterans Pass
Lyft/Uber
You can use Lyft/Uber to get to and from the airport. Lyft/Uber can drop off in any one of the terminals at the IAH Airport Departures or Arrival levels. Uber rides cost somewhere between $38 to $41. For Lyft rides, the minimum cost starts at $2.12, depending on your pick-up location.
Taxi
The taxi fare from Downtown Houston to IAH is between $55 and $70, and the pickup zones are Outside Baggage Claim/Arrivals Level, Terminals A, B, C, and E.
- Terminal A: south side, Door A-115
- Terminal B: south side, B-103
- Terminal C: south side, Door C-105
- Terminal E: south side, Door E-103 B
Limousine Services
Limousine service should be pre-arranged with the service operator. The pick-up points are Terminal A, Terminal B, Terminal C, and Terminal E.
Other public transit options
- Buses to Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas
- Buses to College Station, Texas
Car Rental Services
The car ride companies at IAH Airport are below:
- Alto
- RideTEGO
- Wingz
IAH Airport Hotels
These are some of the hotels near the Houston Airport:
Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental
Address📍: 18700 John F Kennedy Blvd, Houston, TX 77032, United States.
(The Houston Airport Marriott is the only hotel on the airport property, located between Terminals B & C)
Distance from the airport🚗 : 0.2 miles
Address📍: 15400 John F Kennedy Boulevard, Houston, TX 77032
Distance from the airport🚗 : Approx 2.8 miles
Address📍: 15840 John F Kennedy Blvd, Houston, TX 77032
Distance from the airport🚗 : Approx 2 miles
Address📍: 16500 Hedgecroft Dr, Houston, TX 77060
Distance from the airport🚗 : Approx 6.5 miles
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Houston
Address📍: 15747 John F Kennedy Blvd, Houston, TX 77032
Distance from the airport🚗 : Approx 2 miles
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham
Address📍: 18201 Kenswick Dr, Humble, TX 77338
Distance from the airport🚗 : Approx 1.5 miles
Address📍: 15838 John F Kennedy Blvd, Houston, TX 77032
Distance from the airport🚗 : Approx 2 miles
Address📍: 15700 John F Kennedy Blvd, Houston, TX 77032
Distance from the airport🚗 : Approx 2.1 miles
Address📍: 18555 Kenswick Dr, Humble, TX 77338
Distance from the airport🚗 : Approx 1.8 miles
Address📍: 6115 Will Clayton Pkwy, Humble, TX 77338
Distance from the airport🚗 : Approx 1 mile
Americas Best Value Inn & Suites
Address📍: 18031 McKay Dr, Humble, TX 77338
Distance from the airport🚗 : Approx 2.6 miles
Address📍: 7700 Will Clayton Pkwy, Humble, TX 77396
Distance from the airport🚗 : Approx 3 mile
Address📍: 18150 McKay Dr, Humble, TX 77338
Distance from the airport🚗 : Approx 3.6 mile
Address📍: 15675 John F Kennedy Blvd, Houston, TX 77032
Distance from the airport🚗 : Approx 2.5 mile
IAH Airport Lounges
If you have a long layover, you can go check out some of the Houston Bush Intercontinental lounges.
| Lounge | Location |
| Admirals Club | Terminal A Near Gate A25 |
| Air France Lounge | Terminal D Near Gate D18 |
| United Club | Terminal A Near Gate A9 |
| KLM Crown Lounge | Terminal D Near Gate D15 |
| United Club | Terminal B Mezzanine level, near checkpoint |
| Executive Club | Terminal D Near Gate D10 |
| United Club | Terminal C Near Gate C1 |
| The Centurion Lounge by American Express | Terminal D Mezzanine Level – Duty-Free Shop near Gate D12 |
| United Club | Terminal C Near Gate C33 |
| USO | Terminal D Near Gate D8 |
| United Club | Terminal E Near Gates E11 and E12 |
| United Polaris Lounge | Near Gate E12 |
IAH Airport Food and Dining
There are plenty of food options at the IAH Airport, including restaurants and cafes.
| Restaurant | Location |
| Agave Taqueria | Near Gate C33 |
| Alchemy Craft Cocktail | Near Gate C42 |
| Auntie Anne’s | Near Gate E12 |
| Bam Bam | Near Gate C5 |
| Bayou City Bar | Terminal D |
| Beerhive East | Terminal E Near Gate E24 |
| Blaze Pizza | Near Gate A7 |
| Burritos | Near Gate B1 |
| Byte: Fresh Grab and Go Meals | Terminal D |
| Chick-fil-A | Near Gates A17-24 |
| Custom Burgers | Near Gate E2 |
| El Premio | Near Gate E5 |
| Ciao Gourmet Market | Terminal D |
| Cinnabon | Near Gate E12 |
| Dunkin’ Donuts | Near Gate E11 |
For the complete list of shops and restaurants, visit the official website of IAH Airport.
IAH Airport Amenities
These are the amenities at the airport:
- MailSafe Express
- AED
- Nursery
- Information Booths
- Service Animal Relief
- ATM
- Showers
- Baggage Wraps
- Skycaps
- Chapel
- Vending Machine
IAH Airport Art and Sculptures
The George Bush Intercontinental Airport has one of the largest collections of public art in the US. From the terminals to the grounds, 137 pieces of artwork and sculptures by local and Texas-based artists can be found.
The artwork is open and free to the public. The oldest is “West of the Pecos,” created in 1975.
Things to See near IAH Airport
- Cypress Trails Ranch
- National Museum of Funeral History
- Mercer Botanic Gardens
- Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Reserve
- Topgolf
- Escape Artist Kingwood
- Cypresswood Golf Club
- Houston Interactive Aquarium and Animal Preserve
- The Humble Museum
IAH Airport Fun Areas for Kids
Kids’ play areas can be found in Terminal A near gate A7 and Terminal D near gate D6.
Child-friendly features include:
- Airplane Seating: An airplane structure where children can sit and play.
- Car Crawl-Through: An interactive car designed for children to crawl through.
- Suitcase Stack: A stack of suitcases that doubles as a climbing structure, offering a unique play experience.
- Airport Runway Carpet: Specially designed carpet mimicking an airport runway, providing an immersive and engaging environment for children.
Accessibility at IAH Airport
IAH Airport offers accessible facilities. Passengers who need wheelchair assistance or special service requests have to inform the airline prior to their arrival to make arrangements. Once you arrive at IAH, you may contact the airline representative for assistance.
Security at IAH Airport
There are multiple security checkpoints at the IAH Airport. The following are the locations of them:
- Terminal A North – 3:30 am to 7:30 pm
- Terminal A South – 3:30 am to 12:30 am
- Terminal B – 5:00 am to 9:00 pm
- Terminal C North – 4:00 am to 12:00 am
- Terminal C South – 4:00 am to 7:30 pm
- Terminal D – 4:00 am to 12:30 am
- Terminal E – Temporarily Closed
- Federal Inspection Services (FIS) – 5:00 am to 9:00 pm
TSA PreCheck
Expedited screening is available at all IAH security checkpoints for passengers who are members of the DoD, senior citizens, children 12 and under, and those who have the TSA PreCheck logo on their boarding pass.
Global Entry
IAH is one of five airports selected by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to offer Enrollment on Arrival. The program reduces enrollment wait time for global entry by speeding up the interview process.
This facility is for those who have applied for global entry online and have received conditional approval. The enrollment centers are at Terminal E: Arrivals level (public access area) and Terminal E: Secure area (next to Ruby’s Diner)
Mobile Passport
IAH Airport offers a mobile passport facility that allows guests to submit passport and customs declarations. All you have to do is download the Mobile Passport App from Google Play or the App Store. After answering a few questions, you can submit a form to US Customs and Border Protection via the app.
CLEAR
The following are the CLEAR Plus Lanes locations:
| Terminal | Location | Time |
| Terminal A North | CLEAR Lane for standard security & TSA PreCheck® travelers | Sun – Fri: 4:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sat: 4:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Terminal A South | CLEAR Lane for both standard security & TSA PreCheck® travelers | Sun – Fri: 4:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sat: 4:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Terminal B | CLEAR Lane for both standard security & TSA PreCheck® travelers | Sun – Fri: 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sat: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Terminal C | CLEAR Lane for both standard security & TSA PreCheck® travelers | Sun – Fri: 4:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sat: 4:00 am – 6:00 pm |
Wi-Fi and Charging Stations at IAH
Free Wi-Fi is available at all terminals in the airport. Select “Free Airport WIFI” from the list of SSID network options. Then, the airport’s Wi-Fi splash page will open automatically. After agreeing to the terms, click on “submit.”
Free power stations are available in all terminals. Additionally, there are Rapid Charger Machines, which provide charging outlets for most electronic devices.
Some Commonly Asked Questions about George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Where is George Bush Intercontinental Airport?
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is in Houston, TX 77032, and serves the Greater Houston metropolitan area in Texas.
How early should you arrive before a flight from IAH?
You should arrive at least two hours before your flight from IAH Airport.
How big is the George Bush Intercontinental Airport?
IAH covers 10,000 acres of land and it is the largest airport in Houston.
Does IAH Airport have a hotel attached?
The IAH Airport has a hotel called the Houston Airport Marriott located between Terminals B & C. Complimentary underground train service is also available.
What does IAH stand for?
IAH stands for Intercontinental Airport of Houston, and it is the airport's IATA code.
Does Houston have two airports?
There are three major airports in Houston: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Ellington Field Airport (EFD), and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
Is IAH a large airport?
IAH airport spans 10,000 acres of land and is the seventh-largest airport in the world.
