Flight trips involve a lot of policies and procedures when compared to other modes of transport. It can be tiring and eats up a lot of your time, especially if you are unaware of the procedures pertaining to the particular airport. It is always advisable to prepare yourself with all the important information and the latest updates about the airport you are traveling to or from. If you are traveling from Hobby Airport, read more to understand all about the airport, from the services and amenities available to the TSA prechecks, global entry, CLEAR, and much more!
About Hobby Airport
Hobby Airport was opened in June 1927 and is run by the City of Houston Department of Aviation. It has a total of two concourses for domestic and international flights with a total of 30 gates. Hobby Airport is Houston’s second busiest airport, after Bush Intercontinental Airport. It served a total of 14 million passengers in 2023 and is ranked 34th in passenger traffic.
Hobby Airport History
Hobby Airport was initially opened as a private landing field called W.T. Cartner Field. The site was acquired by the city of Houston in 1937. The name of the airport was changed from Houston Municipal Airport to Howard R. Hughes Airport in 1938. It was changed back again to Houston Airport, as the regulations didn’t allow it to be named after a living person, even though Hughes initiated several improvements for the airport. The airport was the primary airport for Houston until the George Bush Intercontinental Airport was opened in 1969.
Where Is Hobby Airport?
Hobby Airport’s address is 7800 Airport Blvd, Houston, TX 77061, USA. It is located in Harris County and serves the Greater Houston area. The airport is approximately 7 miles southeast of downtown Houston. It is one of the busiest airports in Texas, covering over 1,300 acres of land.
Hobby Airport Map
Refer to the HOU Airport Map below to gain insight into its gates and terminals:
Hobby Airport Parking & Transportation
When it comes to parking, Hobby Airport provides both onsite and offsite parking options. The onsite parking is conveniently located directly next to all HOU terminals. The parking near the gates can be reserved in advance. The parking facilities have EV charging stations, accessible parking, and an automatic parking guidance system. There are offsite parking lots near the airport offering secure and convenient parking. Off-airport options can provide affordable rates and additional services for travelers.
There are 4 main onsite parking lots at HOU Airport:
- Terminal Red Garage
- Terminal Blue Garage
- Valet Parking
- Ecopark
When it comes to transportation, HOU Airport offers several options, including Metro Bus, rideshare services like Lyft/Uber, taxis, and shuttle services.
Car Rental Services
Several car rental services are available for travelers who arrive at the Hobby Airport (HOU) and they can book a vehicle upon arrival. The car rental facilities are conveniently located in the parking garage adjacent to the terminal.
Available Car Rental Agencies:
- Alamo Rent A Car
- Avis Car Rental
- Budget Rent A Car
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- Hertz
- National Car Rental
- Sixt Rent A Car
Hobby Airport Hotels
Here’s the list of hobby airport restaurants:
Buffalo Wild Wings
Location: Gate 23
Phone: 713-643-1326
Cuisines: American Restaurant & Bar
Hours: Sun-Fri: 5 AM to 10 PM & Sat: 5 AM to 9:30 PM
Hubcap Grill
Location: Gate 46
Cuisines: Burger Shop & Bar
Hours: 6:30 AM to 10 PM
Pink’s Pizza
Location: Gate 21
Phone: 281-230-3498
Cuisines: Pizzeria
Hours: Sun to Fri: 7 AM to 10 PM & Sat: 7:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Gastrohub
Location: Gate 41
Phone: 800-483-8990
Cuisines: Bar
Hours: 4 AM to 9 PM
Fat Cat Creamery
Location: Gate 27
Phone: 713-641-7761
Cuisines: Ice cream
Hours: 4 AM to 10 PM, & Sat: 4 AM to 9:30 PM
Velvet Taco
Location: Gate 46
Phone: 713-641-7759
Cuisine: Tacos
Hours: Sun-Fri 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM & Sat 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM
LaTrelle’s Tex-Mex Kitchen
Location: Gate 46
Phone: 281-729-7644
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Hours: Sun-Fri 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM & Sat 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Other Hobby Airport Restaurants:
Chick-fil-A: Fast Food chain at Gate 1
Dunkin: Fast Food chain for Donuts at Gate 27
Peet’s Coffee & Tea: Coffee Shop at Gate 40
Pick Up Stix: Asian Chain Restaurant at Gate 41
Spot Restaurant: Tex-Mex at Gate 1
The Spot Bar: Restobar at Gate 4
Starbucks: Coffee Shop at Gate 45
Wendy’s: American Food Chain
The Rustic: Texas Cuisine & Bar at Gate 46
Pei Wei: Asian Chain Food
Throughgood Coffee: Coffee Shop
Hobby Airport Lounges
While HOU Airport may not have as many lounges as larger international airports, there are still a few options for travelers to have a relaxing experience.
- USO Lounge: Located in the central concourse, this lounge is accessible to U.S. military members and their families. It offers complimentary snacks, comfortable seating, and computer systems. Hours: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM every day.
- Gameway Lounge: Located near gate one, this lounge is accessible to all passengers. It is the first airport to feature luxury gaming stations, which include plush Razor Iskur gaming chairs, sanitized Kraken headsets, large high-definition LED screens, and high-speed internet. It includes 6 Xbox stations, 5 PlayStation stations, and 4 PC stations. Hours: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM every day.
Hobby Airport Food and Dining
Hobby Airport offers a variety of dining options to suit different tastes and budgets. Here are some popular choices for Houston hobby airport food:
Casual Dining:
Chick-fil-A: Enjoy classic chicken sandwiches and nuggets.
Starbucks: Grab a coffee or a snack.
Subway: Customize your own sandwich or salad.
Wendy’s: Enjoy burgers, fries, and other fast-food favorites.
Local Favorites:
Rudy’s Country Store: Try Texas-style barbecue.
Taqueria Jalisco: Savor authentic Mexican cuisine.
The Salt Lick: Enjoy barbecue and Tex-Mex dishes.
Additional Options:
Newsstands and convenience stores: Grab snacks, drinks, and travel essentials.
Vending machines: Find a variety of snacks and drinks.
Hobby Airport Amenities
HOU Airport offers a range of essential amenities from AED, ATMs, interactive visitor kiosks, lost and found, mothers’ rooms, service animal relief, water bottle filling stations, and wheelchairs. It offers the basic amenities that are present in all airports, like airport information booths, baggage carts, USO, courtesy phones, and vending machines. Apart from these, travelers have access to the Little Library, Shoeshine, smoking area, and MailSafe Express.
Hobby Airport Art and Sculptures
HOU Airport features a large collection of art installations and sculptures throughout its terminal. Here are some of the notable art pieces at Hobby Airport:
- Air Ships by Lance Letscher (Texas)
Location: Near Gates 1-5 - Almost by Lee Alice H. Pablo (Local)
Location: Near Gates 1-5 - Cloud Room Field by Christian Eckart (Local)
Location: Security Checkpoint - It Helps to Think We’re Sleeping Underneath the Same Big Sky by JooYoung Choi (Local)
Location: Near Gates 1-5 - Illuminated Icon #8 by Jay Shinn (Texas)
Location: Level 1, Baggage Claim, Near Carousel 4
Things to See near Hobby Airport
- Space Center Houston: This official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center is only a short drive from Hobby Airport. Travelers from HOU Airport can explore exhibits on original spacecraft and meet astronauts.
- 1940 Air Terminal Museum: A 1.6-mile drive from Hobby Airport, this is where visitors can explore Houston’s aviation history.
- Houston Museum District: Approximately 10 miles away, it is a hub for 21 museums, including the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Museum of Fine Arts.
- Buffalo Bayou Park: About 9 miles from the airport, it features beautiful walking and biking trails, a dog park, and recreational areas along the bayou.
- East End Cultural District: Known for its vibrant arts scene, it is close to Hobby. Visitors can explore local art galleries, theaters, and restaurants that showcase Houston’s rich culture.
- Historic Heights Neighborhood: About 7 miles from Hobby Airport, it features vintage shops, restaurants, and beautiful homes.
Fun Areas for Kids
HOU Airport has a designated children’s play area where children can play and explore while families wait for their flights. These spaces are designed to keep young travelers engaged while their parents can relax. The area features a wing slide, interactive smart screens, and a parachute structure. It is constantly deep-cleaned to ensure that it is safe for children.
Locations:
- Near Gate 4.
- Near Gate 40.
Accessibility at Hobby Airport
HOU Airport is committed to accessibility for travelers with disabilities, offering services such as wheelchair assistance, accessible restrooms, and designated parking spaces. The airport provides these resources upon request by the airline or at the ticket counter.
Security at Hobby Airport
Expedited screening in Houston airport is available through TSA and CLEAR lanes. The TSA operates security checkpoints at Hobby Airport, with enhanced screening processes in place. Travelers are advised to arrive early and familiarize themselves with the 3-1-1 liquids rule.
TSA PreCheck
TSA PreCheck conducts random screenings as well as offering private screenings. Children 12 and under receive a modified pat-down if needed. TSA PreCheck is available for expedited screening at Hobby Airport from 3:45 AM to 8:45 PM.
Hobby Airport TSA Wait Times
The average wait time at Hobby airport is 0 minutes. Check the Hobby airport TSA wait times below:
| AM Timings | PM Timings | ||
| 4 am – 5 am | 28.1 mins | 11 am – 12 pm | 15.4 mins |
| 5 am – 6 am | 21.5 mins | 12 pm – 1 pm | 17.1 mins |
| 6 am – 7 am | 27.1 mins | 1 pm – 2 pm | 6.1 mins |
| 7 am – 8 am | 6.1 mins | 2 pm – 3 pm | 19 mins |
| 8 am – 9 am | 19.8 mins | 3 pm – 4 pm | 34.1 mins |
| 9 am – 10 am | 15.4 mins | 4 pm – 5 pm | 14.3 mins |
| 10 am – 11 am | 11.6 mins | 5 pm – 6 pm | 34.1 mins |
| 11 pm – 12 am | 17.1 mins | 6 pm – 7 pm | 20 mins |
| 7 pm – 8 pm | 6.1 mins | ||
| 8 pm – 9 pm | 6.1 mins | ||
| 9 pm – 10 pm | 6.1 mins | ||
| 10 pm – 11 pm | 0.0 mins | ||
Main Terminal
Located in front of the main security checkpoint entrance.
Sun, Mon, Wed – Fri: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tue: 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sat: 6:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Global Entry
HOU is one of five airports selected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers is available at the Hobby airport upon arrival. CBP Program members present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingerprints on the scanner, and finish a customs declaration. The kiosk issues an exit with a receipt. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allows selected Global Entry applicants to complete security upon arrival through the Enrollment on Arrival program, eliminating prior scheduling.
Location: Federal Inspection Services (FIS) on the West concourse.
Mobile Passport
Mobile Passport Control (MPC) makes the entry process simpler for eligible travelers. Travelers can download the free app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, answer a few questions, submit the form, and gain entry.
Location: West concourse
CLEAR
Hobby Airport offers CLEAR enrollment for expedited entry for travelers at the Main Terminal. Dedicated CLEAR lines help passengers gain faster entry to the gates instead of the long entry process and wait times.
- CLEAR Enrollment at Hobby Airport:
Located in front of the main security checkpoint entrance
Sun, Mon, Wed – Fri: 4:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Tue: 4:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Sat: 4:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- CLEAR Lane for both standard security & TSA PreCheck-eligible travelers:
Sun, Mon, Wed – Fri: 4:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Tue: 4:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Sat: 4:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Wi-Fi and Charging Stations at HOU
William P. Hobby Airport HOU Airport offers free Wi-Fi. Connect to “Free Airport WIFI” on your phone. You can agree to the terms, click “submit,” and get connected. For charging stations, HOU features seating areas equipped with power outlets for travelers to charge their personal devices. These charging stations are conveniently located throughout the gate areas.
Hobby Airport FAQs
Is it better to fly into Hobby or Bush Airport?
It depends on your destination in Houston, as Hobby is closer to downtown and offers more domestic flights, while Bush Intercontinental serves a larger number of international flights.
Does Hobby Airport have charging areas?
Yes, Hobby Airport has electricity available, including power outlets in seating areas for charging personal devices.
Which airlines fly out of Hobby Airport?
Airlines operating at Hobby Airport include Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Spirit Airlines, among others.
Why is Houston airport called Hobby?
Houston’s Hobby Airport is named after William P. Hobby, a former governor of Texas and a prominent figure in the state’s history.
