Traveling is always stressful, but there is just something about a well-run airport that eases tensions as voyages kick off.
Unfortunately, at least according to a new report by StressFeeCarRental.com, our own Chicago O'Hare International Airport just doesn't fit that bill.
The company just released its 2024 stressful airport index, crowning O'Hare as the most nerve-racking travel hub in the nation, followed by JFK in New York and Dallas/Forth Worth International in Texas.
To come up with its ranking, the website looked at five stress-inducing factors: passenger numbers, distance from the city center, number of flight destinations, car parking charges and overall airport satisfaction score.
According to the analyzed metrics, O'Hare suffers from high car parking charge and a relatively high number of flight destination options—factors that contributed to its dubious honor.
"With over 33 million passengers, 249 flight destinations and the second most expensive car parking charge for a week at over $283, it ranks almost 10 points higher than any other airport," the rankings explained.
Perhaps, though, the installation of a beautiful new satellite concourse might change things for the better in the upcoming years. Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Aviation have just unveiled new renderings of the space, the first new building set to go up as part of the Terminal Area Program, and it's certainly looking great.
Alas, despite the newly released survey, O'Hare is the largest international airport that Chicagoans are stuck with—so you might as well browse through our list of the best things to do and the best things to eat and drink there while passing through. It doesn't have to be all doom and gloom.
Below, find the list of the 15 most stressful airports in America according to StressFreeCarRental.com:
1. Chicago O’Hare International in Chicago, Illinois
2. New York JFK International in New York
3. Dallas/Fort Worth International in Dallas, Texas
4. Denver International in Denver, Colorado
5. Los Angeles International in Los Angeles, California
6. Miami International in Miami, Florida
7. Orlando International in Orlando, Florida
8. Newark International in New York
9. Atlanta International in Atlanta, Georgia
10. Las Vegas International in Las Vegas, Nevada
11. Seattle International in Seattle, Washington
12. Charlotte Doyglas International in Charlotte, North Carolina
13. George Bush International Airport in Houston, Texas
14. San Francisco International in San Francisco, California
15. Phoenix International in Phoenix, Arizona