Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Named Most Stressful in U.S.
A new analysis identifies DFW as the top airport for traveler stress based on flight disruptions and travel time.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has been identified as the most stressful airport in the United States, according to a recent analysis by Rightway Parking, an airport parking reservation company. The study evaluated 55 U.S. airports using federal flight data and Google Maps estimates, considering factors such as flight delays, cancellations, changes in delay patterns, and travel time from downtown areas.
DFW recorded nearly 28% of its flights as delayed and had a 2.76% cancellation rate, according to flight data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics for 2025. The analysis also noted a 33.67% increase in delays at DFW since 2021. The airport's proximity to downtown Dallas, approximately 20 miles away, also contributed to its ranking.
Travelers at DFW experienced significant disruptions on October 1, when the airport recorded 390 delays and 155 cancellations, the highest for any U.S. airport on that date, according to NJ.com.
Following DFW, Chicago O'Hare International Airport ranked second, with 24.68% of its flights delayed and a 42.77% increase in delays since 2021. The travel time from downtown Chicago to O'Hare was estimated at around 50 minutes.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, secured the third position. It reported a 3.86% cancellation rate and a 73.92% increase in delays since 2021.
Rounding out the top five were John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City and Philadelphia International Airport.
In contrast, Salt Lake City International Airport was named the least stressful airport. It was followed by San Jose International Airport in California and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii. These airports reported cancellation rates below 1% and generally shorter travel times from their respective downtown areas.