The Guide to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW)

DFW is enormous — five terminals, 168 gates, its own zip code — and it's easy to get overwhelmed the first time you land here. But once you know how it's laid out, DFW might become one of your favorite airports to fly through. Here's what to know before you go.

Why DFW is actually a great airport to get stuck in

Long layovers get a bad reputation, but DFW is one of the best U.S. airports to have one in, for two reasons.

First, all five terminals are connected post-security by Skylink, the airport's free train. That means once you clear security, you can lounge-hop, browse shops or just walk to a different terminal to kill time — you're never stuck sitting at your original gate for four hours.

Second, DFW has three major bank-branded lounges: an American Express Centurion Lounge, a Capital One lounge and a Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club. That's a rare concentration for one airport. If you've got a long connection, this is the airport where it's actually worth planning your layover around a lounge visit instead of just enduring it.

DFW is also in the middle of another major expansion, adding capacity as passenger numbers keep climbing. Expect construction in and around some terminals over the next few years — build extra time into your connection if you're navigating an unfamiliar gate area.

Dallas-Fort Worth airport quick facts

• Terminals: Five terminals (A, B, C, D and E) and 168 gates.

• Airlines: American Airlines hub; serves more than two dozen different airlines.

• Airport address: 2400 Aviation Dr., DFW Airport, TX 75261.

• Website: dfwairport.com.

• Phone number: (972) 973-3112.

• Distance from Dallas: 18.5 miles.

• Distance from Fort Worth: 21.6 miles.

• Ground transportation options: Rental cars, taxis, rideshare, DART, TEXRail and TRE.

DFW airport map

The airport opened in 1974 and has grown to more than 26.9 square miles with seven runways. It has its own police department and medical, fire and emergency services. The five terminals are arranged in two semi-circular columns, with parking in between.

Use the DFW interactive map to search for dining, shops and lounges in any terminal.

DFW airport terminals

Most airlines cluster in one terminal, which makes connections easier if you're staying on the same airline. American Airlines is the exception — it has a presence pretty much everywhere.

DFW Terminal A

One of the primary American Airlines terminals at DFW is Terminal A, with gates A8 through A39 reserved for the airline.

Terminal A lounges

• American Airlines Admirals Club, near Gate A24.

• The Bubble presented by Coca-Cola, near Gate A13.

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DFW Terminal B

Terminal B is also dominated by American Airlines, with its passengers using gates B1 through B49.

Terminal B lounges

• American Airlines Admirals Club, near Gate B3.

• Be Relax Spa (Priority Pass), near Gate B28.

• Gameway (Priority Pass), near Gate B42.

• USO Center, near Gate B47.

» Learn more: The basics on American Airlines loyalty point rewards

DFW Terminal C

Terminal C at DFW is also heavily used by American Airlines and its passengers. Gates C2 through C39 are reserved for the airline.

Terminal C lounges

• American Airlines Admirals Club, near Gate C20.

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DFW Terminal D

Although American Airlines uses some gates in Terminal D, this terminal also hosts a variety of international airlines, including AeroMexico, Air France, Avianca, British Airways, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Qantas and Qatar Airways.

Terminal D also features a 0.7-mile walking path and a collection of 30 pieces of art from local, national and international artists.

Terminal D's lounges include:

• American Express Centurion Lounge.

• Capital One lounge.

• Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club.

DFW Terminal E

American Airlines shares DFW Terminal E with a variety of North American airlines, including Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways and United Airlines.

» Learn more: The credit cards that offer airport lounge access

Getting around DFW

Travelers flying in or out of DFW have numerous transportation choices, which include renting a car, using public transportation or ordering a taxi or rideshare. We’ll go over each of these in detail, as well as how transportation works inside the airport and what self-parking options are available.

Skylink and Terminal Link

Skylink connects all five terminals inside security. It's free, arrives every two minutes, and the longest ride between terminals takes nine minutes. This is the fastest way to lounge-hop or make a tight connection.

Terminal Link is a free shuttle outside security that stops at every terminal, running every 10 minutes from 5 a.m. to midnight. Look for the orange vans — upper level in Terminals A, B, C and E, lower level in Terminal D.

Parking at DFW

DFW has five parking options depending on budget and how much walking you want to do. Both Remote North and Remote South lots are currently open.

Book through the DFW app to lock in Express parking for as little as $10 a day (with pre-booking discounts up to 50% off) and adjust your reservation on the fly.

Renting a car at DFW

The 24-hour rental car center has 11 companies and sits near the south entrance, closest to Terminal E — but you can't walk there. A shuttle runs every 10 to 15 minutes, 24 hours a day.

» Learn more: What is the best car rental company?

Public transportation options

• Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is rail service that connects the airport to Dallas. It is located near Gate A10 in Terminal A. If you're traveling through a different terminal, take the Terminal Link Shuttle. DART is $2 for a mid-day pass or $6 for the entire day.

• The TEXRail connects Fort Worth with the airport. It is located in Terminal B near Gate B30. Tickets are $2 for a single ride or $4 for the whole day.

• The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) travels between Dallas and Fort Worth and makes stops along the way. TRE LINK shuttles take passengers between DFW Airport Terminal B (lower level) and TRE CentrePort station, operating every 30 minutes on weekdays during peak periods and every 60 minutes off-peak; the service does not run on Sundays.

Taxis and rideshare at DFW

Taxis pick up on the lower level of every terminal, with 16 companies to choose from. Rideshare pickup is upper-level curbside; drop-off works the same way for departures.

» Learn more: Safety tips for taking taxis when traveling

Airport hotels at DFW

Three hotels sit directly on airport property:

• Grand Hyatt DFW — inside Terminal D, reachable from any terminal via Skylink or Terminal Link

• Hyatt Regency DFW — adjacent to Terminal C, with a 24-hour complimentary shuttle to all gates

• Hyatt Place DFW — near the rental car center, with an indoor pool and complimentary airport shuttle

Minute Suites, located in Terminals A (Gate A38) and D (Gate D23), rents private suites and shower rooms by the hour — useful for a long layover nap or a work call away from gate noise.

Where to stay near DFW: Grapevine and beyond

If you've got a red-eye landing or an early-morning flight, staying on airport property isn't your only option — and it might not even be your best one. Grapevine, just a few minutes from the airport, is worth considering instead.

Many Grapevine hotels run free shuttles to and from DFW, so you skip the "airport hotel island" feeling without adding real travel time. And Grapevine itself gives you somewhere worth going if you land with a few hours to spare — Historic Main Street, Grapevine Mills mall and Lake Grapevine for a walk are all nearby.

Hotel Vin Grapevine in downtown Grapevine doesn't run its own airport shuttle, but it sits right next to Grapevine Main Station, which puts you on TEXRail with a direct line to DFW's Terminal B. For getting around town without a car, the city-run Grapevine Visitors Shuttle stops at Hotel Vin Grapevine and connects to Historic Main Street, local restaurants and Grapevine Mills. Harvest Hall, a food hall in the historic downtown, is an easy walk from there.

Airport security at DFW

DFW's interactive airport map shows real-time security wait times, broken down by general screening, priority screening and TSA PreCheck, color-coded so you can spot delays before you commit to a line:

• Gray: Closed.

• Green: 0 to 10 minute wait.

• Yellow: 11 to 30 minute wait.

• Red: 31+ minute wait.

TSA PreCheck is available in all five terminals. However, Clear is only available in Terminal E, near gate E18. DFW airport also features Automated Screening Lanes at checkpoints A21, D18, D22, D30 and E18. This system increases efficiency while enhancing airport security.

Travelers can also enroll in TSA PreCheck in Terminal D next to the D30 checkpoint.

Customs at DFW

Arriving internationally? DFW sorts travelers into color-coded customs lines:

• Orange: U.S. or Canadian citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents.

• Purple: Visa waiver/ESTA and B1/B2 visas.

• Gray: Foreign visitors with non-qualifying visas.

• Blue: Global Entry program members.

Global Entry members scan a passport or use fingerprint/facial recognition, make a declaration, and hand their receipt to an officer on the way out.

Navigate DFW like a pro

DFW's size can be intimidating, but the post-security connectivity and lounge lineup make it one of the more enjoyable airports to have a long layover in — especially if your card gets you into one of its three bank lounges. If you're flying in the night before or catching an early departure, don't default to an on-site hotel out of convenience; Grapevine puts you closer to actual food and things to do, often for a similar shuttle-to-gate experience.