The 4 Busiest Airports in Nevada, Ranked

Key Points:

• If you’re traveling a long distance, especially when the route crosses remote parts of the country, flying by airplane is often one of the fastest ways to reach your destination.
• Some airports are busier than others. This is especially true in a state like Nevada, which has a few large cities separated by more rural areas.
• Though many people chose to stay home or travel by car during the COVID-19 pandemic, most U.S. airports are back to their normal schedules.
• The busiest airport in Nevada is also one of the busiest airports in the United States. This busy airport is the Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport.
• There are three other commercial airports on the list of busiest airports in Las Vegas.

The Busiest Airports in Nevada

Have you been bitten by the travel bug? For many people, air travel is a routine part of life in the 21st century. Hopping on a plane to reach a faraway destination is a normal part of life. Traveling by plane can make a multi-day car ride into a brief trip through the sky. The wonders of modern air travel let travelers quickly get from point A to point B with minimal discomfort in a short period of time. If you fly a lot, you will notice that some airports are significantly busier than others. 

How busy an airport is can impact the time it takes to get through the security line. It may determine whether your plane takes off on time or waits on the tarmac before deboarding. The amount of traffic through an airport can even dictate the kind of food and shopping options available for travelers passing through. With that in mind, it may be helpful for you to know how busy a specific airport is before you embark on your trip.

For all you desert travelers, this article covers the busiest airports in Nevada: the Silver State. This unique western state has many natural wonders. Many visitors travel to Nevada to hike, climb, or just experience the national and state parks. However, Nevada is also famous for nightlife, gambling, elopements, and desert resorts. Whatever your reason for visiting, the airports in this article are your way to arrive in the state or experience the region by air. Let’s discover these top four busiest airports in Nevada now!

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

First on the list of busiest airports in Nevada is one of the busiest airports in the entire United States! The Harry Reid International Airport is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. This epicenter for casino nightlife, entertainment, gambling, and performance art attracts millions of visitors each year. Many come through the state’s busiest airport. In 2021 alone, 39.7 million travelers made their way through the Harry Reid International Airport. Many were likely on their way to Las Vegas’ famous resorts, casinos, and tourist attractions dotting the iconic Vegas Strip. Located in the town of Paradise, the LAS airport is about 5 miles south of downtown Las Vegas. This airport is one of four airports in Las Vegas. It is also by far the biggest and busiest. In fact, if you take off from Las Vegas, plan to arrive at least two hours before your plane is scheduled to depart!

This Las Vegas airport was recently rebranded in 2021 from its original name of “McCarran International Airport,” which it had held since 1968. Harry Reid International Airport allows travelers to reach about 150 different destinations. Included among these 150 destinations is all of the major U.S. cities. However, this airport also has flights that take off to smaller cities around the West Coast and other parts of the Western U.S. 

Those who fly into Las Vegas will find that this busy airport is their gateway to incredible sights. These include urban destinations such as the Vegas Strip. However, Las Vegas is also near many different state and national parks. These natural wonders include places such as Death Valley National Park, Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon, and Joshua Tree National Park. 

Reno: Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)

Next on the list is the Reno-Tahoe International Airport! Located about 3 miles southeast of downtown Reno, this airport is the second-busiest in the state of Nevada. Today, this airport has over 130 daily departures and takes travelers to more than 20 different destinations. You can go from Reno to most major U.S. cities and travel on one of 11 different airlines. 

Each year, about 4.7 million passengers pass through the Reno-Tahoe Airport. Whether they are vacationers visiting the pristine shores of Lake Tahoe, foodies looking for a growing food scene in Reno, or nightlife lovers coming to Reno for casino and nightlife experiences, all kinds of people make their way through the second biggest airport in Nevada. If you happen to find yourself at the Reno-Tahoie International Airport, be sure to look for the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains! Then take some time to enjoy all that the desert has to offer, from hiking to winter adventure. 15 million people visit the Lake Tahoe Basin each year. With so many people coming every year, having an airport is essential. Thankfully, the Reno-Tahoe Airport helps transport millions of people to both Reno and the Tahoe area every year.

Boulder City Municipal Airport (BLD)

Have you ever wanted to visit the famous Hoover Dam? While Boulder City may not be a top destination compared to its neighbor Las Vegas, the charming small town about 26 miles outside of Las Vegas has plenty to offer! This small city got its start with the construction of the Hoover Dam. It originally housed the workers constructing the dam. However, today the small town is only home to about 16,000 residents. However, the City of Boulder City does own and operate its very own airport about 5 minutes to the southwest of the town. 

Boulder City Municipal Airport is owned and operated by the city and has the accomplishment of being the third-busiest airport in the state. Visitors who want to see Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, or the Grand Canyon visit Boulder City and gain access to chartered flights and special air tours that operate out of this small airport. You will get to experience the region in a unique way when viewing the sights from the air!

Elko Regional Airport (EKO)

The Elko Regional Airport, formerly called Elko Municipal Airport, sits about a mile west of downtown Elko, Nevada. Elko is a city of about 20,000 people in the northeastern corner of Nevada. This town sits on the historic California Trail route and has a long history dating back to the building of the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S. This town has the nickname of “the heart of northeastern Nevada”  due to its population of 20,000 making it the biggest city in 130 miles in any direction!

This rural city boasts its own airport too, the Elko Regional Airport. This airport offers daily flights for tourists, business travelers, and miners, with charter medical air flights, general aviation, and fire-fighting missions. Every day there is one commercial flight operated by SkyWest Airlines by Delta, which has 50 seats and travels to Salt Lake City, Utah.