Quick answer: Port Everglades and San Diego are the closest to an airport, with drives of about 10 minutes or less. PortMiami, Tampa, Boston, Honolulu and San Juan are all a short ride away, while Port Canaveral is about 45 miles from Orlando International, and Galveston is 42 miles from Houston Hobby. Seward and Whittier in Alaska are the long ones, at roughly 125 and 60 miles from Anchorage.
The question comes up before almost every fly and cruise trip: which airport do I fly into, and how long will it take to get to the ship? The answer can be 10 minutes or two and a half hours. This guide puts the numbers for the major ports in one place so you can compare at a glance. For a wider look at where ships sail from, see our cruise departure ports guide.
Quick Facts
- Closest: San Diego (about 2.5 miles) and Port Everglades (under 3 miles), both about 10 minutes or less.
- Farthest in the lower 48: Galveston, at 42 miles from Houston Hobby and 72 miles from Houston Intercontinental.
- Port Canaveral: about 45 miles from Orlando International (MCO), roughly 45 to 60 minutes.
- Alaska: Seward is about 125 miles from Anchorage, and Whittier is about 60 miles.
- Rule of thumb: fly in the day before, because a delay on embarkation day can mean missing the ship.
How to Read the Tables
- Distance and drive time are for normal traffic. Rush hour and embarkation mornings can add a lot of time at big ports.
- Figures are approximate and come from the sources linked below. Confirm with a maps app for your exact terminal.
- Closest does not always mean best. Some ports have a nearer airport with few flights and a farther one with many more.
- Ride prices are not listed. Rideshare, taxi and shuttle prices change with demand, tolls and fees, so check a current estimate in the app before you fly.
Closest Airport to Major US Cruise Ports
| Cruise port | Closest major airport | Approx. distance | Approx. drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| PortMiami, FL | Miami International (MIA) | About 8 miles | 20 to 35 minutes |
| Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), FL | Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International (FLL) | Under 3 miles | About 10 minutes |
| Port Canaveral, FL | Orlando International (MCO) | About 45 miles | 45 to 60 minutes |
| Tampa, FL | Tampa International (TPA) | About 9 miles | About 20 minutes |
| Galveston, TX | Houston Hobby (HOU) | About 42 miles | An hour or more |
| New Orleans, LA | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) | About 17 miles | About 30 minutes by taxi |
| Boston, MA | Boston Logan (BOS) | Under 4 miles | Short ride |
| Seattle, WA (Pier 66) | Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) | About 14 miles | About 25 minutes |
| Seattle, WA (Pier 91) | Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) | About 19 miles | 30 to 35 minutes |
| San Diego, CA | San Diego International (SAN) | About 2.5 miles | Under 10 minutes |
| Los Angeles (San Pedro), CA | Los Angeles International (LAX) | About 18 miles | Varies with traffic |
| Honolulu, HI | Daniel K. Inouye International (HNL) | About 6 miles | 20 to 30 minutes |
| San Juan, PR | Luis Muñoz Marín International (SJU) | Short drive | About 10 minutes to Pan American Piers, about 15 to Old San Juan piers |
These figures come from Cruise Critic's port to airport comparison, the Port Canaveral authority's airport guide, the Port of Los Angeles cruise FAQ and the San Juan cruise port FAQ, with Seattle, New Orleans and Honolulu figures from Cruise Hive guides. For terminal specifics at some of these ports, see which terminal your cruise line uses.
Closest Airport to Major Canadian and Alaskan Ports
| Cruise port | Closest major airport | Approx. distance | Approx. drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver (Canada Place), BC | Vancouver International (YVR) | About 8 miles | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Seward, AK | Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC) | About 125 miles | About 2.5 hours |
| Whittier, AK | Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC) | About 60 miles | About 1 hour 15 minutes |
Seward and Whittier are the exceptions. They are not rideshare ports, and most passengers use cruise line transfers, a bus shuttle or the Alaska Railroad. Whittier is reached through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, about 2.5 miles long, which shares a single lane with trains and runs on a fixed schedule. According to Alaska.org's tunnel guide, the summer schedule sends cars toward Whittier on the half hour from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and you should plan 20 to 30 minutes to get through. Check the current schedule before you travel. Our Alaska cruise ports guide covers the ports themselves.
A Note on New York
New York has two cruise areas, Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey and the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, and both are served by Newark, JFK and LaGuardia. At Cape Liberty, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity run airport shuttles only to Newark, according to Cruise Critic, so Newark is usually the simplest choice for those sailings. Check your cruise line for your terminal and shuttle options.
Ports Where the Closest Airport Is Not the Best Airport
- Port Canaveral: Orlando International (MCO) is the real choice. Melbourne (MLB) is closer at about 27.5 miles but has far fewer flights, and the port notes that heavy traffic can make the trip from Melbourne longer than expected. Orlando Sanford is about 60 miles away.
- Galveston: Houston Hobby (HOU) is closer at 42 miles, and George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) is 72 miles away but has more flights. Compare fares for both.
- Los Angeles and Long Beach: they are separate ports. LAX is about 18 miles from the San Pedro terminal, and the Long Beach terminal is in Long Beach itself, so check which port your ship uses.
- Seward: most people fly into Anchorage and take a shuttle or train, not a car.
Tips for Getting From the Airport to the Ship
- Fly in the day before if you can. Same day flights leave almost no room for delays. Our guide to what happens if you miss your cruise ship explains the stakes.
- Compare ride options. Rideshare, a taxi, a hotel shuttle or a cruise line transfer can each be cheapest depending on the port.
- Know your terminal before you leave the airport, so you can tell the driver exactly where to go.
- Allow extra time on embarkation morning. Several ships sailing the same day mean heavy traffic around the port. See how early to arrive at the cruise port.
- Plan your bag handling. Many ports let porters take your bags at the curb, so keep documents and medications in a carry on. Our packing checklist helps.
Plan the Rest of Your Embarkation Day
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cruise port is closest to an airport?
San Diego and Fort Lauderdale are among the closest. San Diego's cruise terminals are about 2.5 miles from the airport, a drive of under 10 minutes, and Port Everglades is under 3 miles from Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International.
Which airport should I fly into for Port Canaveral?
Orlando International (MCO). It is about 45 miles away, roughly 45 to 60 minutes by car, and it has far more flights than the smaller airports nearer the coast.
How far is the airport from the Galveston cruise terminal?
Houston Hobby is about 42 miles away and takes an hour or more, and Houston Intercontinental is about 72 miles away and takes at least an hour and a half. Compare fares for both.
How far is Seward from the Anchorage airport?
About 125 miles, or roughly 2.5 hours. Whittier is about 60 miles away, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes, but you pass through a single lane tunnel with a fixed schedule.
Should I fly in the day before my cruise?
Yes, if you can. A flight delay on embarkation day can mean missing the ship.
