Yes, some airports have designated smoking areas, although their accessibility and location depend on the airport’s policy and state law.
Influenced by increasing public health concerns and dedication to traveler’s well-being, numerous airports have implemented a 100% smoke-free policy.
Smoking is banned throughout the airport, including terminals, lounges, bars, and other indoor places within the terminal’s building.
However, all airports have some designated areas for smokers to use tobacco, cigarettes, vaping products, and other smoking devices.
We have compiled a list of 100% smoke-free airports, along with their smoking policies, designated smoking locations, and e-cigarette guidelines, to help you plan your next trip with confidence.
Airports with Smoking Policies & Restrictions
As of 2024, nearly all US airports, including Chicago O’Hare Airport, Salt Lake City Airport, Denver Airport, John F. Kennedy Airport, and Newark Airport, are smoke-free indoors. However, some airports, such as Indianapolis Airport, do not allow smoking even in outdoor areas.
Many airports, both large and small, have repurposed old smoking areas into more useful spaces, such as seating areas, retail outlets, and charging stations. This not only helps keep harmful smoke away from indoor spaces but also reduces secondhand smoke exposure for passengers, contributing to a healthier environment.
List of USA Airports with Smoking Areas
Here is a detailed analysis of the airports that allow smoking throughout the airport. The following tables give you the location of the smoking area, the e-cigarette policy, and more information:
| Airport Name | 100% smoke-free | Designated Smoking Location | Smoking Lounge | E-Cigarette Policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) | Yes | Concourse B and F have smoking areas | No | E-cigarettes can be used in smoking areas. |
| Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) | Yes | Outside terminals, No indoor smoking facility, | No | Allowed outdoors |
| Denver International Airport (DIA) | Yes | Outdoor areas near Jeppesen Terminal. | No | Allowed in smoking zones only |
| Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) | No | Outside the terminals and in 1 lounge | Yes, Graycliff Lounges (Gate 11) | E-cigarettes can be used in smoking areas. |
| Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | Yes | Designated outdoor areas outside terminals. | No | Acceptable in outdoor places |
| John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) | Yes | Outdoor smoking areas | No | Allow only outside. |
| Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) | Yes | Outdoor areas at the terminal curbside | No | Permitted in approved outdoor spaces. |
| Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW) | Yes | Designated areas outside terminals | No | Smoking inside the terminal is strictly prohibited. |
| Las Vegas Airport (LAS) | No | Terminals have enclosed smoking lounges. | Yes (Budweiser Racing Track) Lounge) | Available in lounges and outside terminals. |
| Miami International Airport (MIA) | No | Arrivals/Departures across from Concourses D, E, F, H, and J. | No (Allowed in concourses) | Not allowed indoors |
| San Francisco International (SFO) | Yes | Outside smoking places only | No | E-cigarettes are considered the same as regular cigarettes. |
| Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) | Yes | Outdoor smoking areas at the terminal curbside. | No | Indoor smoking is prohibited. |
| Geneva Airport (GVA) | No | Allowed in the lounge (after security) | Yes (Transit Area, Terminal 1) | Banned the use of e-cigarettes inside the airport except for the smoking lounge. |
| Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) | No | Outdoor smoking area on the third level | No | Cigarettes and e-cigarettes are banned inside the terminals. |
| Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) | Yes | Allowed outside, 100 feet away from the terminal’s doorway. | No | e-cigarettes are not permitted indoors |
| Orlando International Airport (MCO) | Yes | Outdoor smoking locations near terminal doors. | No | Smoking and vaping are banned indoors. |
| Hamad International Airport (DOH) | No | Smoking rooms and lounges available | Yes (Available near the arrival and departure levels) | Use e-cigarettes only in permitted areas. |
| Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) | Yes | Outside smoking places only | No | A no-smoking policy exists all over the terminal. |
| George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston | Yes | Outdoor smoking locations near terminal doors. | No | Permitted in approved outdoor spaces. |
| Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) | Yes | Designated outside places only. | No | Indoor smoking and Vaping is banned. |
| Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) | Yes | Outside of the terminals, at least 25 feet from the entrance | No | Smoking and vaping are banned indoors. |
| Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP) | Yes | Designated outdoor smoking locations | No | Permitted in approved outdoor spaces. |
| Nashville International Airport (BNA) | No | Smoking lounge and Smoking zones outside terminals | Yes, Travelers Post Smoking Lounge (Concourse B) | Authorized in approved locations. |
| Metropolitan Oakland International (OAK) | Yes | Outside Terminals 1 and 2 | No | Use e-cigarettes only in permitted areas. |
| Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) | Yes | Outside areas near terminal gates. | No | Permitted only in outdoor zones. |
| Memphis International Airport (MEM) | Yes | Designated outdoor smoking locations | No | Smoking and e-cigarettes are banned indoors. |
| Kansas City International Airport (MCI) | Yes | Outside areas near terminal gates. | No | Available in outdoors |
| Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) | Yes | Designated outdoor smoking locations | No | Authorized in approved outdoor locations. |
| Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) | Yes | Reserved smoking locations outside the terminals. | No | Not permitted in indoors |
| Logan International Airport (BOS) | Yes | Outside of the terminals | No | No specific guidelines for e-cigarette use |
| William P. Hobby Airport in Houston (HOU) | Yes | Outside Levels 1 and 2 at least 25 feet away from the terminal doors | No | Vaping is not allowed indoors |
| Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT) | No | Smoking room & outside the terminals. | Yes, smoking room post-security near Gate 1. | Allowed in specific smoking rooms indoors and designated areas outdoors |
| Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) | Yes | The outside curb area of the upper and lower level roads in front of the terminal. | No | Not permitted indoors |
| Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) | Yes | outside the terminals in Concourse B, C, and D. | No | Use e-cigarettes only in Concourse B, C, and D. |
| La Guardia Airport in New York (LGA) | Yes | Departures Area (Terminal C) | No | E-cigarette use is banned in Terminal B. |
| Portland (OR) International Airport (PDX) | Yes | Two authorized smoking spots are outside the terminals. | No | Use e-cigarettes in authorized smoking places. |
| Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) | No | Within the terminal building, after security | Yes (Espace Fumeurs) | Allow e-cigarettes in after-security areas |
| Tampa International Airport (TPA) | Yes | Outside of the terminals on levels 1 and 2. | No | Authorized in approved outdoor locations. |
| Indianapolis International Airport (IND) | Yes | No smoking area inside the airport. | No | The use of e-cigarettes is banned on airport grounds. |
| Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) | Yes | Ground level, on the west side of the building | No | Permitted in designated areas in front of the terminal. |
| Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) | Yes | Outside of the terminals | No | Not allowed indoors |
| Reagan-Washington National Airport (DCA) | Yes | Outside the Terminal buildings, at least 10 feet from the entrance doors | No | E-cigarettes are not permitted indoors |
| San Diego International Airport (SAN) | Yes | Outside Terminal 2 (Gate 211) & Terminal 4 (Gate 402) | No | Allow e-cigarettes in designated smoking areas only. |
| Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Yes | Designated outdoor smoking locations | No | Authorized in approved outdoor locations. |
Implementing and enforcing airport smoke-free standards reduces secondhand smoke exposure for travelers and staff. While many airports prohibit smoking indoors, several provide designated outdoor spaces or dedicated smoking lounges for tourists. These authorized smoking areas or rooms are located approximately 25 feet from the terminal entrances, preserving a better atmosphere for everyone.
These areas usually have things like ashtrays and matches for their convenience. Moreover, some airports even have smoking areas in bars and restaurants so that smokers have choices while they’re traveling.
FAQs
Most airports are now non-smoking facilities. Nevertheless, some airports have smoking areas outside the terminal building, around 20–25 feet from the entrances and exit doors.
Most airports are smoke-free premises. However, some airports, such as Las Vegas Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) have designated smoking areas or lounges after security checkpoints.
Airports do not have smoking areas due to passenger’s health worries. This keeps workers and customers safe from secondhand smoke and makes the workplace healthy for everyone.
Airplanes have not allowed smoking for a long time. Despite this, there are still ashtrays in the seats of many passenger planes.
Some international airlines, like Iran Air, Cubana, and Air Algeria, still permit smoking in specific areas of their aircraft.
