William P Hobby Airport (HOU)

William P. Hobby Airport (IATA: HOU) is an international airport in Houston, Texas, located 7 miles (11 km) from downtown Houston.

It is home to 4 commercial airlines and several others covering 83 destinations. In 2021, 5,535,651 passengers used this facility.

Houston Hobby Airport is the city's first commercial Airport. Before the opening of the Houston Intercontinental Airport, currently known as the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, in 1969, this Airport served as the city's primary Airport.

HOU closed shortly after the opening of Houston Intercontinental Airport. After a few years, Houston Hobby Airport reopened and became a secondary hub for domestic airlines and business and private aircraft.

Today, William P. Hobby Airport encompasses 1,304 acres and contains three runways. Its historic art deco terminal building, the first passenger airline terminal in Houston, now houses the 1940 Air Terminal Museum.

The Houston Airport System (HAS) connects the city of Houston and its surrounding areas to the rest of the world securely and efficiently.

It is a governmental agency in Houston that maintains city airports and helps the region's varied and increasing population to take advantage of the city's robust economy.

Houston's three airports—Bush, William P. Hobby, and Ellington—are under its management. The Houston Airport System headquarters is located near George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Houston Hobby became the first 5-Star Airport in North America by Skytrax in 2022.

Houston is the only U.S. city with two airports equipped with biometric boarding and arrivals for international travelers by 2020.

While the airport contributes considerably to Houston's and the neighboring areas' economy, they also serve as an enterprise fund.

Payments for operations, maintenance, and capital upgrades are not deducted from the local tax base.

The Houston Airport System is financially self-sufficient due to fees, rents, and other levies. The surpluses earned are re-invested in capital development and debt retirement.

According to the most recent economic impact analysis, the three airports contributed around $36.4 billion to the local economy in 2019. They were directly accountable for the creation of almost 190,00 employment.

Houston is the most populated city in Texas, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the Southern United States, and the sixth-most congested city in North America in 2020, with a population of 2,304,580.

Houston, located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, is the county seat and largest city of Harris County and the principal city of the Greater Houston metropolitan area, which is the fifth-most populous MSA in the United States and the second-most populous in Texas after Dallas–Fort Worth.

Its contemporary Chinatown and the Mahatma Gandhi District are two significant ethnic enclaves, reflecting Houston's varied character.

There are restaurants, bakeries, boutiques selling traditional attire, and specialty stores in both regions.

Houston has more than 300 parks, including Hermann Park, Terry Hershey Park, Lake Houston Park, Memorial Park, Tranquility Park, Sesquicentennial Park, Discovery Green, Buffalo Bayou Park, and Sam Houston Park.

Hermann Park is home to the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Houston Zoo. Sam Houston Park has restored and recreated structures from 1823 to 1905. Herman Brown Park has been proposed as the site of the city's first botanic garden.

In addition to the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, the city manages more than 200 other green areas, totaling more than 19,600 acres.

The Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark, owned and administered by the City of Houston, is one of the biggest skateparks in Texas. The Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park in the city's Uptown District is a popular tourist destination for weddings and other events.

According to a 2011 survey by Walk Score, Houston is one of the most walkable of the 50 biggest U.S. cities.

In Metropolitan Houston, the summers are sweltering and humid, the winters are cool, and it is consistently damp and partially gloomy. It rarely falls below 35°F or rises beyond 100°F. The average annual temperature ranges from 47°F to 95°F.

The best months to visit Houston for warm-weather activities are late March to mid-May and late September to early November, with a peak in the final week of April.

The warm season lasts for 3.6 months, from June 2 to September 22, with average maximum temperatures exceeding 89°F. August is the warmest month in Houston, with an average high temperature of 94°F and a low temperature of 77°F.

The chilly season spans 3.0 months, from November 27 to February 25, with average daily high temperatures below 70°F. January had the lowest average temperature in Houston, with a low of 47°F and a high of 64°F on average.

William P. Hobby Airport consists of a single terminal with two concourses (one domestic and one international) and 30 total gates.

The domestic concourse, which has a variety of retail stores and eateries, was inaugurated in 2003 and replaced the Airport's three old 1950s-era concourses.

In addition, an interfaith chapel is included. On October 15, 2015, the international concourse opened.

Hobby Airport was the first Airport in Texas to implement complete biometric entrance and departure for foreign passengers in February 2020.

Southwest announced in March 2022 a $250 million plan to expand seven gates to Hobby Airport's west concourse, with the city of Houston providing $20 million to the fund.

METRO, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, stop at Curbzone 13. Four bus services now serve the Airport.

Various hotels and motels in and around Houston run complimentary shuttle services. In the majority of hotels and motels, you may arrange for a pickup from the baggage claim area.

In addition, numerous carriers operate scheduled bus and shuttle services from HOU to destinations outside the Houston metropolitan region and Galveston and College Station.

All rental car counters at HOU are on-site.

Taxis are accessible in Curb Zone 3. Lyft and Uber are accessible from Curb Zone 5.

William P. Hobby Airport Contact Information

• Customer Service: +1 281-230-3100
• Parking Services: +1 281-233-1730
• Lost and Found: +1 833-274-7020

Visitor information centers at airports are staffed by volunteers and open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

• Level 1, Houston Interactive Center
• Level 2, pre-security, near the security checkpoint
• Level 2, post-security, near the dome.

William P. Hobby Airport sits 14 meters above sea level 29°38′44″N and 95°16′44″W in Houston, Texas, USA.

Wi-Fi at William P. Hobby Airport

Select "Free Airport WIFI" from the list of SSID network options

Transfer Services at William P. Hobby Airport

Planning a trip to William P. Hobby Airport, you must know about the various transfer services available. Transfers can be pricey, but there are many options you can consider.

Rental cars, taxis, ridesharing services, shuttles, and public buses are good ways to get to and from HOU.

Another option is the light rail, connecting the Airport with Downtown Portland.

Regardless of which transfer service you choose, it's essential to plan. The terminals at William P. Hobby Airport can take some time to navigate.

Car Rental Services at William P. Hobby Airport

Follow the signs from the baggage claim area to the rental vehicle facility to reach the automobile rental area.

All rental automobiles are available on-site at HOU. See and compare all rental car companies at William P. Hobby Airport.

Curb Zone 1 outside Level of Baggage Claim/Arrivals for pickup.

Rideshares at William P. Hobby Airport

This Airport is served by many ridesharing companies, including Get Me, GreenLight (GLT), Lyft, Uber, and Wingz.

Once you have your stuff and are ready to travel, follow the baggage claim guidelines, call a taxi, and exit the baggage claim area immediately.

Taxis at William P. Hobby Airport

Before gratuity, the average taxi fare from the Airport to downtown is around $30.

Taxis are situated in Curb Zone 2 outside the Baggage Claim/Arrivals Level at HOU. The drop-off location is located on the level of departure. See more information about taxis at William P. Hobby Airport.

The airport staff is ready to help you hail a taxi at the taxi stands.

Trains at William P. Hobby Airport

Take a Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) bus from the Airport to the Fannin South Transit Center, where the Red Line of the Metro Rail is located.

The everyday frequency of METRO Bus 73 Bellfort between HOU and Fannin South Transit Center is up to 10 minutes; it connects to the Metro Rail Red Line. More information about train services near William P. Hobby Airport.

The METRORail offers train service to several Houston, Texas, neighborhoods. All train stations provide $1.25 one-way tickets and $3.00 all-day passes, which may be bought with cash or credit card. Qualified passengers are eligible for discounted rates.

Buses at William P. Hobby Airport

METRO operates buses between Houston Hobby Airport, downtown Houston, and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). More information about buses to and from William P. Hobby Airport.

Curb Zone 3 outside the Baggage Claim/Arrivals Level is the designated pickup and drop-off area.

Hotel Shuttles at William P. Hobby Airport

There are several hotels in the city that provide shuttle services to their visitors. Please contact your hotel for further information on this service.

To arrange a hotel shuttle from HOU, phones and interactive visitor kiosks are accessible at baggage claim.

We highly recommend that you make transportation arrangements before you arrive in Houston.

Curb Zone 3 is located outside the Baggage Claim/Arrivals Level. Departure-Departure Level

Parking at William P. Hobby Airport

Two self-parking facilities at William P. Hobby Airport, the Red Garage, and the Blue Garage, are temporarily reduced to $24 per day. See more information about short and long term parking at William P. Hobby Airport.

Additionally, HOU provides Valet Parking at $28 per day and Ecopark for $9.24 per day.

Cash, debit cards, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa, are accepted.

Please call the parking garage at + 1 281-233-1777 for further information.

Hotels

Houston is one of the most diverse cities in America, with people from all over the world living and working in Houston.

Houston is a large city and can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. However, with some planning, you can make the most of your visit to Houston.

Houstonians are proud of their city and its many attractions, so we've put together a list of our top three hotels and accommodation recommendations to help you get the most out of your trip to Houston.

Attractions

Houston is one of the largest and most diverse metropolitan areas in the United States and has something for everyone.

The city is rich in history and culture, with a thriving arts and entertainment scene. There are also plenty of natural attractions to enjoy.

Whether you're a sports fan or just want to explore some new neighborhoods, Houston has something for you.

For more information on what to see and do in Houston, please visit our Attractions Page for more details.