Hobby vs Bush (IAH): which Houston airport should you fly?
Houston has two commercial airports. Hobby (HOU) is smaller, closer to downtown, and dominated by Southwest. Bush (IAH) is larger, further north, and the Houston hub for United. Here is how to choose.
- Author
- The Hobby Airport Parking Team
- Read time
- 7 min read
- Published
Hobby or Bush -- which one should I fly?
Short answer: fly Hobby if Southwest serves your destination, you live south of I-10, and you want a smaller airport. Fly Bush if you need an international long-haul, a United connection, or live north of the loop. Both airports are operated by the Houston Airport System; carrier mix and geography are the deciding factors, not amenities.
Which airlines fly out of Hobby vs Bush?
| Carrier | Hobby (HOU) | Bush (IAH) |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest | Hub (~85% of HOU traffic) | Not served |
| United | Not served | Hub |
| American | Not served | Yes |
| Delta | Yes | Yes |
| Spirit | Yes | Yes |
| Frontier | Yes | Yes |
| JetBlue | Yes | Yes |
| Alaska | Not served | Yes |
| International long-haul | Limited (Mexico, Caribbean) | Yes |
If you are flying United, American, or any long-haul international (Europe, Asia, South America), Bush is the only Houston option. If you are flying Southwest, you are at Hobby unless you are connecting through a Southwest network elsewhere -- Southwest does not operate at Bush at all.
Which airport is closer to where I live?
Hobby is on the south side of the city near I-45 South; Bush is in the far north near Beltway 8 and I-69. The cutover line is roughly downtown.
| Neighborhood | To Hobby | To Bush |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | 20 min / 11 mi | 30 min / 22 mi |
| Midtown | 20 min / 11 mi | 30 min / 23 mi |
| The Heights | 30 min / 16 mi | 25 min / 19 mi |
| Bellaire | 25 min / 14 mi | 35 min / 28 mi |
| Pearland | 20 min / 13 mi | 45 min / 35 mi |
| Clear Lake | 30 min / 20 mi | 55 min / 45 mi |
| The Woodlands | 55 min / 45 mi | 25 min / 18 mi |
| Sugar Land | 35 min / 25 mi | 50 min / 38 mi |
| Katy | 45 min / 35 mi | 45 min / 33 mi |
Houston traffic adds 15-25 minutes to any of these during morning rush (7-9 AM) or evening rush (4-6 PM). The drive to Bush is more sensitive to rush hour because it goes through the I-69 / 610 interchange, one of the most congested in the city.
Which airport has cheaper parking?
Hobby is the cheaper airport for parking, both on-airport and off. The on-airport economy lots at IAH run roughly the same as the on-airport economy lots at HOU, but the off-airport options near Hobby are dense and competitive -- the lot density around HOU is one of the reasons we built our facility there.
- Off-airport near Hobby: $6/day - $8/day (our rate)
- On-airport economy at HOU: ~$10-12/day
- On-airport covered/garage at HOU: ~$24/day
- Off-airport near Bush: $7-12/day depending on the lot
- On-airport economy at IAH: ~$10/day
- On-airport covered/garage at IAH: ~$23/day
For a 7-day trip, that is a difference of $42-126 just on parking depending on which lot you pick. See our rates page for current daily and monthly pricing.
What is the airport experience like at each one?
- Hobby has one terminal, one TSA checkpoint, and walks under 10 minutes from any gate to baggage claim.
- Bush has five terminals (A, B, C, D, E), an inter-terminal Skyway, and gates 25-40 minutes apart for tight connections.
- Hobby is faster to clear from car to gate when nothing goes wrong.
- Bush has more food, lounges, and shopping if you want to arrive early and graze.
- Both have CLEAR and TSA PreCheck lanes.
- Both have premium lounges -- Bush has more (United Club, Centurion, KLM, Air France, etc.).
When should I pick Hobby? When should I pick Bush?
Pick Hobby when:
- You are flying Southwest -- it is the only Houston option.
- You live south of I-10.
- Your priority is end-to-end speed (small terminal, fast TSA).
- Cost is the deciding factor and you can flex on the carrier.
- You are doing a quick domestic round trip.
Pick Bush when:
- You are flying United, American, or any long-haul international.
- You live north of I-10 (Heights, Spring, The Woodlands, Cypress).
- You need a Star Alliance or Oneworld connection.
- You want lounge access (United Club is at Bush).
- You are going to Europe, Asia, or South America.
Flying out of Hobby? Lock in your parking.
When you are ready, lock in a rate for your dates -- the price you see online is the price at the gate.