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2026 Report: U.S. Airports With the Longest and Shortest Walking Distances

Here’s how far you’ll walk from airport entrance to the farthest gate

By: KURU Footwear
Travelers walking through a busy airport terminal check-in area.

With Labor Day around the corner, airports are preparing for one of fall’s first major travel surges. Labor Day travel has risen steadily year after year, and another busy holiday weekend is expected as travelers squeeze in one more getaway before summer winds down.

Then comes Thanksgiving, when airport crowds reach another level. In 2025, Thanksgiving travel was reported as the busiest in 15 years, even with concerns about possible air travel disruptions tied to the government shutdown. 

Whether this year sets another record or not, one thing is certain: Thanksgiving brings a massive surge of people through U.S. airports, with the Christmas travel rush close behind.

With more people on the move, getting to your gate can mean plenty of standing, walking, and waiting along the way. At the biggest airports, that journey can add up to a surprisingly long trek before you ever board your flight.

So which airports could have you covering the most ground before takeoff this fall?

2026 Travel Survey

In July 2026, we ran a survey of 1,000 Americans about their travel habits for the remainder of the year. We wanted to know how long TSA lines, airline delays, and overseas conflict could potentially impact Americans’ travel plans. Here’s what we found:

✈️ 2026 Holiday Travel Plans

  • 55% of Americans expect to fly at least once during the remainder of 2026.
  • Upcoming travel plans include:
    • Christmas/Hanukkah — 41%
    • Thanksgiving — 40%
    • Other vacation/sightseeing — 34%
    • Labor Day weekend — 18%
  • 26% have changed their air travel plans in 2026, including postponing, canceling, changing destinations, or shortening a trip.

💸 What’s Changing Travel Plans?

The top reasons Americans changed their air travel plans:

  1. Overall cost of travel — 42%
  2. Rising cost of living — 36%
  3. Expensive airfare — 30%
  4. Safety concerns — 23%
  5. Personal schedule changes — 22%
  6. Airline delays/cancellations — 20%

🛫 How Americans Choose an Airport

  • 55% prioritize direct flights when choosing an airport.
  • 50% look for the lowest airfare.
  • 33% prioritize being close to home.
  • 30% look for an airport that’s easy to navigate.
  • 28% have chosen a flight or airport specifically to reduce how much walking they’d have to do.

🚶 Airport Walking Matters

  • 41% have changed their footwear because they knew they’d be walking through a large airport.
  • 49% consider airport walking at least sometimes before a flight.
  • More than 1 in 4 (28%) have chosen an airport or flight to reduce walking.

👟 What Americans Wear to Fly

  • 82% prioritize comfort when choosing shoes for air travel.
  • 34% consider how easy shoes are to remove at TSA.
  • 30% prioritize support.
  • Sneakers dominate:
    • 56% wear casual sneakers.
    • 52% wear athletic sneakers.
    • 32% wear slip-ons.
KURU Airport Walking Report showing travel and comfort footwear trends for Fall and Winter 2026.

Foot Traffic Findings

The team at KURU Footwear analyzed the longest and shortest airport walks in the U.S., measuring the distance from entrance to gate so travelers know what to expect before takeoff. 

Before you book your next flight, see which airports could put your walking stamina to the test and which ones can get you from curb to gate with a little less effort.

This year, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) takes the top spot for the longest airport walk in the US. On the other end of the list, Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) ranks as the shortest, offering a much quicker trip from curb to gate.

For major airport hubs, extra walking is often part of the deal. With multiple terminals, busy concourses, and connections happening all day long, travelers can end up covering more ground than expected. Checking airport maps and services in advance can make those long travel days feel a little more manageable.

Chart comparing the top three U.S. airports with the longest and shortest walking distances to gates.

Top 3: Longest Airport Walks in 2026

  1. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) - Texas
  • Walking distance: 1.50 miles
  • Land Size: Approximately 26.9 square miles
  • Terminals/Gates: Five terminals with a total of 171 gates
  • *To make the journey easier, travelers can use Skylink, a free train that connects all five terminals, arrives every two minutes, and runs 24/7.
    • KURU Footwear product image featured in article.

2. Denver International Airport (DEN) - Colorado

  • Walking distance: 1.14 miles
  • Land Size: Approximately 52.4 square miles
  • Terminals/Gates: One main terminal with three concourses, totaling 143 gates

3. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) - Virginia

  • Walking distance: 0.97 miles
  • Land Size: Approximately 20.3 square miles
  • Terminals/Gates: One main terminal with two concourses and a total of 123 gates

Top 3: Shortest Airport Walks in 2026

1. Trenton–Mercer Airport (TTN) - New Jersey

  • Walking distance: 0.03 miles
  • Land Size: Approximately 2.1 square miles
  • Terminals/Gates: One terminal with four gates

2. Paine Field (PAE) - Washington

  • Walking distance: 0.04 miles
  • Land Size: Approximately 2.05 square miles
  • Terminals/Gates: One terminal with two gates

3. Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) - Connecticut

  • Walking distance: 0.05 miles
  • Land Size: Approximately 0.62 square miles
  • Terminals/Gates: One terminal with two gates

Airport Navigation Tips

Before you head to your gate, keep these simple tips in mind to make airport walking a little easier:

  • Skip the busiest restroom. The restroom closest to your gate is usually the one everyone else rushes to. If you have a few extra minutes, walking a bit farther down the concourse can often mean a shorter line and a quicker stop.
  • Set up assistance early. If you or someone you’re traveling with needs a wheelchair, terminal escort, or other accessibility support, try to arrange it in advance. Many airports offer helpful services, but availability can be limited during busy travel periods.
  • Make security screening easier. A little prep goes a long way in the TSA line. Keep your ID and boarding pass handy, place 3.4 oz. liquids inside a clear quart-sized bag, and make sure electronics are easy to grab if needed. Wearing socks is also a smart move, since you may have to remove your shoes at screening.
  • Use signs and screens to stay on track. Large airports can be a lot to take in, especially when you are short on time. Check overhead signs for terminal, gate, and baggage claim directions, and keep an eye on departure boards for updates so you do not end up doubling back.
  • Keep your must-haves within reach. Store essentials like your phone, wallet, ID, medications, snacks, and headphones in your personal item instead of burying them in your larger carry-on. It makes the trip through the airport smoother and keeps what you need close by.
  • Help your feet go the distance. Between long terminals, gate changes, layovers, and security lines, airport travel can mean more time on your feet than expected. Supportive shoes can help make all that walking, standing, and waiting feel a lot more manageable.

Methodology and Sources

Methodology

To put this ranking together, the team at KURU Footwear started by identifying the 10 largest and 10 smallest airports in the US based on land area. From there, we measured the walking distance from each airport’s main entrance to its farthest gate using Google Maps. When available, we also referenced interactive maps provided on official airport websites to help verify routes.

To keep the results focused on airports that serve a broad range of travelers, we narrowed the list down to the three longest and three shortest airport walks. We only included airports located within 60 miles of a major metropolitan area, which means smaller regional and rural airports were left out of the final rankings.

We surveyed 1,000 adults (ages 18 and older) across the United States in July 2026 to gather insights into their travel habits and perceptions.

Sources

  • Busiest Day Ever at Airports: Thanksgiving 2025 Was a Record Breaker, After All. The Points Guy (December 2025)
  • Labor Day 2026 Calls for Busy Travel. How To Check TSA Wait Times. The Daytona Beach News-Journal (July 2026)

About Us

At KURU, we’re on a mission to help you Heel Better™ with footwear technology designed to relieve foot pain, so you can live a life you love. Since launching our innovative technology in 2008, we’ve sold over 3 million pairs and received more than 50,000 five-star reviews from thousands of customers who tell us their KURU shoes helped them with foot pain conditions (such as plantar fasciitis) and got them back to doing what they love.

For all media inquiries, please contact us at pr@kurufootwear.com.

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