Cleveland, December 18th, 2025 — Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) provides travelers with important tips to ensure a positive travel experience during the busy holiday season.
While holiday travel this time of year is more spread out than the Thanksgiving travel period, CLE is still reminding guests to arrive early to ensure they make their flight. CLE expects over 550,000 passengers during the nineteen-day travel period from December 18th through January 6th, which is a 4 percent increase over the same period last year. The airport will be bustling the weekend after Christmas! The busiest day will be December 28th, the Sunday after Christmas, followed by December 26th and 27th.
The team encourages airport-goers to plan ahead this busy travel season. Travelers should allow plenty of time to arrive at the airport, find parking, check in and pass through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security.
Travelers should be aware of the airport’s peak activity times which include early morning from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., midday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and late afternoon to early afternoon from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Holiday Cheer
There will be live music from December 17th through 19th. On the 17th a holiday horn ensemble will play carols on baggage claim from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. On the 18th a jazz band will play music in the food court from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. And on the 19th a classic rock band will play music in the food court from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fraport will host a vendor event in the food court on December 18th and 19th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring local vendors for our guests to grab last-minute gifts for friends and family. Carolers will sing in the terminal December 22nd and 23rd from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Travel Tips
Airport officials encourage travelers to arrive at least two hours before scheduled departures to allow time for inclement weather, traffic, parking, checking-in and going through security checkpoints. Travelers should look for signs, Airport Ambassadors and Landside Operation employees for assistance.
CLE’s web site is a one-stop shop for travelers looking for travel information. Visit the web site at www.clevelandairport.com to the following:
- Status of your flight
- Airline contact information
- Status of airport parking
- Status of the TSA Checkpoint wait times
Follow CLE on X at @GoingPlacesCLE and Facebook at facebook.com/CLEairport for airport tips and updates.
Consider using the airline’s website for advance check-in and to print your boarding pass up to 24-hours before departure.
Travelers have many parking options, including:
- CLE Curbside Valet, $37 per day
- The Smart Parking Garage, $25 per day
- The Red Lot, $23 per day
- The Blue Lot, $23 per day
- The Orange Lot, $20 per day
- The Brown Lot, $17 per day
Guests can make a reservation for parking in our Smart Parking Garage and Brown Lot up to 24 hours before their reservation time. For reservations head to www.clevelandairport.com/parking-transportation.
Picking up friends and family at the airport? Don’t circle the airport waiting for the call they have arrived. Park and wait in our CLE Cell Phone Lot located off State Route 237 South, or it can be accessed by Jackson Road, which is now a two-way street. This lot is for temporary idling or stopping and NOT for parking. Follow the blue directional signs to easily locate this lot.
Hopkins Hospitality
Access Cleveland Hopkins International Airport like never before. Hopkins Hospitality represents a guest experience initiative featuring five core programs, each designed to foster a more accessible and accommodating travel experience for all.
The Hopkins Hangout Pass is designed for non-ticketed guests to access the secure side of the airport to accompany a departing loved one or greet them upon arrival at their gate.
- Hopkins Hounds Therapy Dog program is designed to support the emotional well-being of travelers and airport staff through calming interactions with certified therapy dogs.
- Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program is part of a global initiative for individuals with non-visible disabilities to discreetly signal they may need additional support and understanding while traveling through the airport.
- Airport Ambassadors are volunteers who provide assistance to travelers and their families navigating the airport.
- Hopkins Flight School launched earlier this month is an opportunity for individuals with anxiety, special needs or just wanting to see what all the process of flying entails. Due to the success of our first event, we are planning on making this a bi-annual event.
For more information on any of these programs head to: https://www.clevelandairport.com/airport/hopkins-hospitality.
RTA Red Line to the airport
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) offers convenient service to and from CLE. RTA's Red Line provides regular service between CLE and downtown.
Cleveland via the Tower City Station. The trip takes less than 30 minutes and trains depart from CLE every 15 minutes for the majority of the day.
For more information, visit the RTA web site at www.riderta.com or call The RTAnswerline at 216-621-9500.
TSA Travel Tips
Always have a government-issued ID ready to present at the airline ticket counter and security checkpoint.
Be prepared for the screening process:
- Arrive at the airport two hours before your scheduled flight. More people are traveling this time of year and you'll need more time.
- Know what is in your carry-on bags and checked bags. Do not bring any prohibited items with you. Don't know if an item is allowed or prohibited? Here's how to find out:
- Send a tweet to @AskTSA
- Ask us via Facebook Messenger: http://www.tsa.gov/ has a feature in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage: Can I bring my? Click there and type in the item.
- Download the free myTSA app, which has the same "Can I bring my?" feature.
Many people travel with food during the holidays. Foods like cakes, pies and cookies are allowed through a checkpoint, but may be subject to additional screening. However, spreadable and pourable food items must go in checked bags (maple syrup, jams, jellies, preserves). Not sure? See the 2nd bullet point above on how to ask TSA.
Snow globes that are 3.4 ounces or smaller and fit into the 3-1-1 bag can go in a carry-on bag. If it's larger, pack it in a checked bag. Not sure? The basic rule of thumb is that if the snow globe is larger than a tennis ball, then it should go into a checked bag.
It's a good idea not to wrap gifts using tape. If the gift triggers an alarm, TSA will need to open it to find out what the item is to ensure it is not a prohibited item. Instead, it is recommended that you:
- Use a gift bag or unsealed gift box
- Wrap the gift upon arrival
TSA Pre✓™ is available at CLE. TSA Pre✓™ allows select frequent flyers of participating airlines and members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Trusted Traveler programs who are flying on participating airlines, to receive expedited screening benefits. Eligible participants use dedicated screening lanes for screening benefits which include leaving on shoes, light outerwear and belts, as well as leaving laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in carry-on bags. Central Checkpoint is exclusively a TSA Pre✓™ checkpoint. During peak hours, South Checkpoint will open a lane as well. For more information on TSA visit http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck.
CLEAR, the secure identity company using biometrics to build a frictionless and secure world, is also available for travelers at CLE. It is located in the Central Checkpoint for travelers with TSA Pre✓™ and in the South Checkpoint for those who don’t.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Northeast Ohio’s Gateway to the World. Ohio’s busiest airport serves over 10,000,000 passengers annually. Ten passenger airlines offer over 130 daily departures to more than 40 nonstop destinations. There are also four all-cargo airlines serving CLE.
The launch of CLEvolution: The Campaign to Transform Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, marks a major investment to modernize CLE over the next decade. The evolution of this critical regional asset will not only revolutionize the air travel experience for local residents and visitors alike but also position Northeast Ohio for future growth and greater economic prosperity.