Skip to content

IAH · Houston, TX · Major Hub

George Bush Intercontinental Airport Guide

Terminals, minimum connection times, ground transport, parking, lounges, and layover advice for George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), sourced from the airport or the operator that runs each service, with minimums from OAG data.

ShareXFBPinRedditHN
On this page
  1. Map
  2. Terminals & connections
  3. Layover helper
  4. Security & TSA
  5. Lounges
  6. Amenities
  7. Ground transport
  8. Parking
  9. Can I leave?
  10. FAQ

Quick answer

  • Terminals: 5 terminals, airside-connected
  • Minimum connection time: 30 min domestic, 1 hr 30 min international to domestic
  • Arrive: 2 hr before domestic, 3 hr before international (airport's advice)
  • Free WiFi: Yes · Showers: Yes · Sleep pods: Yes

Map

Open in OpenStreetMap

Terminals & connections

George Bush Intercontinental Airport has 5 terminals. Its terminals are airside-connected. The above-ground Skyway train connects all terminals for connecting passengers. Note the separate below-ground Subway train is landside (outside security) and is for non-connecting/arriving passengers.

Terminal A

2 airlines: United Airlines, WestJet

United Express regional.

Terminal B

1 airline: United Airlines

United regional jets.

Terminal C

1 airline: United Airlines

United mainline domestic hub.

Terminal D

8 airlines: Lufthansa, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and more

International arrivals.

Terminal E

8 airlines: Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and more

Non-United carriers.

Minimum connection times

Domestic to domestic
30 min
Domestic to international
1 hr
International to domestic
1 hr 30 min
International to international
1 hr 30 min
Transfer system
Skyway train (above-ground, connects terminals A-E)
Airside connected
Yes
Check your connection time at IAH

Layover helper

Find how long to plan for a connection at IAH: the official minimum connection time, plus a comfortable time of 30 minutes more, or 60 more when you clear customs or go through security again after a terminal change. Adjust trip type, terminal change, and checked-bag assumptions to match your itinerary.

Minimum connection at IAH

30min

Comfortable

60+ min

The shortest connection airlines usually sell here. Includes the walk between gates. Source: OAG

Comfortable is our guidance, not a rule.

Flying United both ways?United is a hub carrier here, with its own same-airline minimums
Both flights on United?
ConnectionUnitedAirportvs airport
Domestic → Domestic40'30'+10'
Domestic → International40'60'-20'
International → Domestic85'90'-5'
International → International70'90'-20'

United's same-airline minimums (OAG). Mixed-airline connections use the airport standard.

Based on:
Connection times are estimates. Verify with your airline.Powered by Travel VientTerms

Writing about IAH? Embed this connection time calculator on your site

Security & TSA

Security waits at IAH vary by time of day and checkpoint. George Bush Intercontinental Airport recommends arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight. Check live IAH security wait times

TSA PreCheck
Available
CLEAR
Available
Global Entry
Available

Lounges

1 notable lounge at IAH, including airline-branded clubs and third-party options accessible via Priority Pass or day-pass. Check your credit card benefits (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) before paying a day-pass fee.

United Polaris Lounge

Terminal E

United / Star Alliance

Access: Polaris Business intl

Amenities: Showers, Sit-down dining

Amenities

6 of 7 core amenities available at IAH: showers, sleep pods, free WiFi, nursing rooms, chapel, pet relief. Free WiFi quality is rated good. Dining options span 1 terminal.

Showers

Available

United clubs, Polaris lounge

Sleep pods

Available

Minute Suites (Terminal C North, near Gate C15)

WiFi

Free (good)

Nursing rooms

Available

All terminals

Chapel

Available

Terminal C

Pet relief areas

Available

Pet relief areas

Dining highlights

Terminal C: Hugo's, Landry's Seafood

Ground transport to Houston

No official source we checked publishes a ride time from IAH to downtown Houston.

OptionCostTime
METRO Bus 102
Bus
Local bus to the Downtown Transit Center ($1.25) with frequent stops; the nonstop 500 Downtown Direct costs $4.50.
$1.25Varies
Uber/Lyft
Rideshare
VariesVaries

Sailing from Port of Galveston? Step-by-step: IAH to Port of Galveston

Parking

IAH parking ranges from $12/day economy to $25/day short-term. Official rates: terminal garages (A/B and C/D/E) $25 daily maximum including tax, hourly from $5; valet $30 per 24 hours; ecopark and ecopark 2 $12 per 24-hour period. IAH garages and ecopark lots require an online parking reservation. IAH publishes no separate long-term tier between the garages and ecopark, so no long-term rate is listed.

Short-term
$25/day
Long-term
Varies
Economy
$12/day
Valet
$30/day

Can I leave IAH during a layover?

With a 3-hour layover, stay inside IAH. Even 6-hour layovers can be tight at IAH given traffic and re-screening.

Downtown Houston is a long ride from IAH, and no official page we checked publishes the ride time. Most IAH layovers stay inside the airport.

Overnight layover hotels

  • Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush
    On-airport
    $$$

Frequently asked questions

How early should I arrive at IAH?

George Bush Intercontinental Airport recommends arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint, so add buffer at busy times.

What is the minimum connection time at IAH?

IAH requires at least 30 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 90 minutes for international-to-domestic connections. All terminals at IAH are airside-connected for domestic connections. An international arrival clears customs at IAH before connecting.

How long does it take to get between terminals at IAH?

We have no officially published terminal-to-terminal transfer time for IAH, so plan around the minimum connection time and add time for the terminal change.

Can I leave IAH during a 6-hour layover?

With 3 hours you should stay inside IAH. Even 6-hour layovers are tight at IAH. Downtown Houston is a long ride from IAH, and no official page we checked publishes the ride time. Most IAH layovers stay inside the airport.

Does IAH have showers?

Yes, IAH has showers at United clubs, Polaris lounge.

Does IAH have sleep pods?

Yes. Minute Suites (Terminal C North, near Gate C15) offers private sleep rooms.

Is WiFi free at IAH?

Yes. IAH offers free WiFi throughout the airport.

What is the cheapest way to get from IAH to Houston?

The cheapest option is typically METRO Bus 102 at $1.25, taking a variable amount of time. Local bus to the Downtown Transit Center ($1.25) with frequent stops; the nonstop 500 Downtown Direct costs $4.50.

Is there TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at IAH?

IAH supports TSA PreCheck and has CLEAR lanes. Global Entry kiosks are available for returning international travelers. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint, and IAH posts live wait times on its website.

Where should I eat at IAH during a layover?

Notable dining at IAH includes Hugo's (Terminal C), Landry's Seafood (Terminal C).

How much does parking cost at IAH?

IAH parking rates: $25/day short-term, $12/day economy, $30/day valet. Official rates: terminal garages (A/B and C/D/E) $25 daily maximum including tax, hourly from $5; valet $30 per 24 hours; ecopark and ecopark 2 $12 per 24-hour period. IAH garages and ecopark lots require an online parking reservation. IAH publishes no separate long-term tier between the garages and ecopark, so no long-term rate is listed.

Is there a hotel at IAH for overnight layovers?

Yes. Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush is on-airport (On-airport) in the $$$ price band. This is the easiest option for overnight layovers or early-morning departures since you can reach the terminal on foot without a shuttle or rideshare.

Which terminal does my airline use at IAH?

IAH has 5 terminals. Major airline assignments: Terminal A: United Airlines, WestJet; Terminal B: United Airlines; Terminal C: United Airlines; Terminal D: Lufthansa, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Confirm with your boarding pass before arrival since a few airlines operate from multiple terminals depending on route.

Are there pet relief areas at IAH?

Yes. Pet relief areas.

Can I cruise from Houston?

Yes. Cruise ports within 100 miles of IAH: Port of Galveston (57 mi). See our cruise port guides for sailing lines, parking, and embarkation details.

Is there a chapel or prayer room at IAH?

Yes. Terminal C.

Compare IAH to other airports

See how IAH ranks against the other 111 airports in our dataset.

Best for layoversIAH is one of the harder airports to leaveWith sleep podsIAH has Minute Suites (Terminal C North, near Gate C15)Shortest MCTIAH dom-to-dom: 30 min · intl-to-dom: 1 hr 30 min

More on Houston and IAH

Go deeper on connecting through IAH and on visiting Houston.

Airlines operating at IAH

Look up baggage policies for any airline flying out of IAH.

Cruise ports near IAH

Cruise terminals within 100 miles of George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Compare other airports

Sources & verification

Connection times, security, ground transport, parking and sleep pods verified Oct 2026 against the sources above. Amenities, lounges and nearby hotels without a listed source are not yet verified. Always confirm with George Bush Intercontinental Airport before flying.

If a figure looks wrong, email hello@vient.org, see how we handle corrections, or browse past fixes in our public changelog.