How Early Should I Leave Home for CMH?

Quick answer: Your departure time depends on your drive to John Glenn Columbus International Airport, traffic, whether you’re checking bags, and if you’re parking. As a general rule, leave home early enough to arrive at the terminal 2 hours before a domestic flight (3 hours for international flights), plus additional time for parking if needed.

How to Calculate Your Departure Time

The easiest way to determine when to leave home is to work backward from your scheduled departure time.

Start with your scheduled flight departure.
Subtract 2 hours for domestic flights or 3 hours for international flights.
Add your estimated drive time to the airport.
Add additional time if you plan to park, check luggage, or expect heavy traffic.

For example, if your domestic flight departs at 8:00 a.m. and your drive normally takes 35 minutes, you should plan to leave home around 5:40 a.m. If you are parking at the airport, consider leaving even earlier.

Factors That Can Affect Your Departure Time

Several factors can add time to your trip before you even reach your gate.

Rush-hour traffic.
Road construction or accidents.
Checking baggage.
Traveling with children or a large group.
Wheelchair or special assistance.
Holiday and peak travel periods.
Weather conditions.

Don’t Forget About Parking

If you plan to drive yourself to CMH, parking has become much more limited due to construction of the new terminal.

The airport parking garage is frequently full.
The Park & Walk lot has been permanently closed.
Several former long-term parking lots are now part of the new terminal construction project.

After finding a parking space, you’ll also need time to unload your luggage, wait for a shuttle bus, ride to the terminal, and walk to your airline’s check-in area.

Smart Ride recommends adding at least 45 extra minutes if you plan to park at CMH.

Using Private Airport Transportation

When you ride with Smart Ride Central Ohio, you don’t have to calculate parking time or worry about shuttle buses. We recommend the ideal pickup time based on your flight, pickup location, current traffic conditions, and airport activity.

You’ll be dropped off directly at your airline’s departure entrance, saving both time and stress.

Steve’s Local Tip

One of the biggest mistakes travelers make is only calculating the drive to the airport. You also have to consider parking, shuttle buses, check-in, and security. I always recommend building in a little extra time—it’s much less stressful than worrying about missing your flight.
Steve French, Owner of Smart Ride Central Ohio