Columbus Airport: How to Actually Navigate It

Navigating airports has gotten complicated with all the conflicting advice flying around. As someone who has spent more time than I care to admit wandering terminals with a coffee in one hand and a boarding pass in the other, I learned everything there is to know about Columbus’s John Glenn International Airport. Today, I will share it all with you.

CMH — that’s the code us frequent flyers use — is one of those airports that looks intimidating on paper but is honestly a breeze once you step inside. I remember my first time there, expecting the worst after connecting through O’Hare earlier that day. What a relief it was.

The Basic Layout

One terminal building, three concourses. That’s the whole deal. Compared to the labyrinthine nightmare of some airports I’ve stumbled through (looking at you, ATL), Columbus keeps it refreshingly simple. The concourses are labeled A, B, and C — not exactly creative, but hey, I’ll take easy to remember over clever any day of the week.

Concourse A

Southwest calls this one home. Hang a left after you clear security and you’re there. Gates are numbered clearly, bathrooms are right where you’d expect them, and there are a handful of food spots near the gates. Nothing that’s going to end up on your Instagram, but you definitely won’t go hungry. I grabbed a surprisingly good sandwich here last November before a flight to Denver.

Concourse B

This is Delta and United territory. Head straight after security and you’ll find yourself in what I consider the best part of CMH. More dining options, more seating, and if you’ve got a two-hour layover to burn, this is where you want to be. The restaurant selection is genuinely decent — not just “decent for an airport,” but actually decent.

Concourse C

American Airlines mostly hangs out here. Go right after security. The retail options are a step up from the other concourses, and the food choices are solid too. Probably should have led with this section, honestly. If you need to grab something specific — a phone charger, a last-minute gift, or just a decent meal before boarding — Concourse C is your best bet.

Check-In and Security

The airline counters are grouped in a way that actually makes sense:

• Delta and United: Center of the ticketing area
• Southwest: Far left when facing security
• American: Far right, near Concourse C entrance

Here’s my real talk for you: arrive early during peak times. I know, I know — everyone and their grandmother says that. But I once showed up at CMH on the Sunday after Thanksgiving thinking I was clever by arriving “just” 90 minutes early. Spent nearly 40 minutes in the security line and barely made my gate. Holiday weekends at CMH can genuinely get backed up. TSA PreCheck lines exist and they move fast if you’re enrolled. Regular lines typically run 20-30 minutes during the morning rush, but I’ve seen them stretch longer.

Food and Shopping

The dining scene ranges from grab-and-go to actual sit-down restaurants where you can pretend you’re not in an airport for a few minutes. Concourse B has the best variety in my experience — I’ve tried most of what’s on offer over the years. Coffee shops are scattered everywhere, so finding caffeine is never a problem. I’m the kind of person who needs coffee before I can function at 6 AM gates, and CMH has never let me down there.

The shops carry the usual airport fare: books, snacks, Ohio-themed souvenirs (the buckeye candy is actually pretty good if you haven’t tried it), and travel essentials. Duty-free is available past security for international travelers. Vending machines are tucked away in various spots for last-minute water bottles or snacks when everything else is closed.

Lounges

Delta Sky Club is in Concourse B, and it’s worth visiting if you’re a member or can swing a day pass. Quiet space, complimentary drinks and snacks, decent Wi-Fi for getting some work done. That’s what makes Columbus endearing to us frequent travelers — little pockets of calm in an otherwise hectic travel day. There’s also a general-use lounge for international travelers or those with airline invitations.

Accessibility

They’ve done a solid job on this front. Wheelchairs are available through the airlines, there’s Braille signage throughout the terminal, wide pathways everywhere, and elevators in all the right places. I traveled with my dad after his knee surgery last year, and the staff at CMH were incredibly helpful arranging wheelchair assistance from the curb to the gate. Made a stressful situation a lot easier.

Getting To and From

Rental cars are on-site with a free shuttle running to the rental center. Hertz, Enterprise, Budget — all the usual suspects are represented. Uber and Lyft pickup zones are clearly marked outside baggage claim, and I’ve never waited more than about eight minutes for a ride. COTA buses also run to the airport if you’re watching your budget — takes longer, obviously, but the savings are real.

Parking breaks down like this: short-term is right next to the terminal (convenient but pricier), long-term is further out (cheaper with a shuttle), and the economy lots are the way to go for longer trips when you don’t want to come back to a parking bill that rivals your airfare.

Look, CMH isn’t going to win any awards for excitement or architectural innovation. But it’s efficient, it’s clean, and it gets you where you’re going without unnecessary hassle. After years of flying through airports that seem designed to test your patience, sometimes that straightforward reliability is exactly what you want. Columbus gets that, and I respect it.