- A Tennessee airport takes the top spot, while airports across the U.S. make it on the list.
- The study looked at available play areas, breastfeeding stations, restaurants, family-friendly security line options, and more.
When it comes to airport designs, the comfort of children—and the adults charged with looking after them—barely feels like it was a consideration. There are never enough breast feeding stations or play areas, and getting through security can feel like a nightmare. But not all airports are created equal, and a new study from iCandy identified one family-friendly southern airport that came out above the rest in the United States.
Memphis International Airport (MEM) took the top spot in the U.S. thanks to its nine restaurants, five nursing rooms, and security assistance. And while the airport doesn’t offer rentable strollers and features just one play area, it stood at the top of the list for American airports. (The airport clocked in at No. 23 worldwide.)
To create its Little Flyers Index, the company evaluated more than 100 international airports, looking at the number of play areas, breastfeeding stations, restaurants, family-friendly security line options, availability of rentable strollers, and the total number of annual passengers.
The next best airport in the U.S. for families was Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), which tied for No. 26 on the list and also features nine restaurants and one play area, and (like Memphis), offers security options. However, Palm Springs only offers one breast feeding station.
That was followed by Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) by Washington D.C., which offers 43 restaurants to choose from, one play area, five breastfeeding stations, and rentable strollers. However, there are no options for family-friendly security so families with young children must navigate the lines alone.
These are the top 10 family-friendly airports in the US, according to the Little Flyer Index.
1. Memphis International, Memphis, Tennessee (No. 23 worldwide)
2. Palm Springs International Airport, Palm Springs, California (No. 26 worldwide)
3. Ronald Reagan Washington National, Washington, D.C., Virginia (No. 27 worldwide)
4. San Diego International Airport, San Diego, California (No. 29 worldwide)
5. John Glenn Columbus International, Columbus, Ohio (No. 37 worldwide)
6. Charleston International, Charleston, South Carolina (No. 38 worldwide)
7. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International, Minneapolis, Minnesota (No. 39 worldwide)
8. Logan International, Boston, Massachusetts (No. 43 worldwide)
9. John F. Kennedy International, New York, New York (No. 45 worldwide)
10. O’Hare International, Chicago, Illinois (No. 46 worldwide)
Traveling with young children? Travel + Leisure has you covered with more family-friendly travel tips, including resort recommendations, beach suggestions, and top campground ideas.
