Are you looking for the best airports in Destin and the surrounding areas? Ensuring a smooth arrival can get your vacation started on the right foot.
Miramar Beach and Destin, Florida are becoming more popular destinations every year as tourists seek to escape to the emerald coast. With its stunning white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, it’s no wonder everyone flocks here year-round.
If you’re planning a trip to Destin, one of the first things you’ll need to consider is transportation. While driving is an option, flying is often the more convenient choice.
Fortunately, several airports are close to Destin, including the Destin Executive Airport, which offers direct flights to major cities across the United States.
As someone who shares my time between the Texas Hill Country and the Emerald Coast, I have spent my fair share of time flying into the Destin area.
In this post, I will share with you, each of the 5 options you have when traveling to Destin, beginning with the nearest airport and finishing with one that you may not have considered but it definitely has its perks. I will also share pro tips and tricks that I have learned through the years.
See also: Best Destin Campgrounds on the Beach
The Best Airports in Destin and Surrounding Areas
Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport – VPS Airport
1701 State Road 85 N Eglin Air Force Base, FL
16 miles to Destin
Approximate Uber Price: $40-$60
Airlines:
- Allegiant
- American Airlines
- Delta
- Southwest Airlines
- Sun Country Airlines
Providing Nonstop Service to:
Allegiant Nonstop Service to Destin: (Seasonal Service)
Asheville, NC, Belleville, Il, Bentonville/Nw Arkansas, Boston, Ma, Chicago, Il, Cincinnati, OH Clarksburg, WV, Columbus, OH, Des Moines, IA, Evansville, IN, Grand Rapids, MI, Huntington, WV, Indianapolis, IN, Kansas City, MO, Knoxville, TN, Las Vegas, NV, Lexington, KY, Little Rock, AR, Louisville, KY, Memphis, TN, Minneapolis, MN, New York City / Newark NJ, Oklahoma City, OK, Omaha, NE, Peoria, IL, Pittsburgh, PA, Shreveport, LA, Springfield, LA, Tulsa, OK, Washington D.C./Baltimore, MD, Wichita, KS
American Airlines Nonstop Service to Destin:
Austin, Tx, Charlotte, NC, Chicago, IL, Dallas, Tx, Philadelphia, PA, Washington D.C.
Delta Nonstop Services to Destin:
Atlanta, GA, Minneapolis, MN
Southwest Nonstop Services to Destin:
Austin, TX, Baltimore, MD, Dallas, TX, Houston, TX, Kansas City, MO, Nashville, TN, St. Louis, MO,
Sun Country Airlines Nonstop Service to Destin:
Minneapolis, MN
See Also: Best Restaurants in Destin
Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport Information:
This is probably your most convent airport if you are staying in Destin or the Fort Walton Beach area, being only 16 miles from Destin Harbor.
The airport itself is fairly small and outdated but serves its purpose nicely.
Car rental is very easy, with a reservation counter inside the terminal and car pick-up right outside the terminal. It really doesn’t get much easier than that.
See Also: The Best Places to Shop on 30A
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport- ECP Airport
6300 West Bay Parkway, Panama City, FL
52 Miles to Destin via US 98 E bout 1 hour and 10 minutes
Approximate Uber Price: $100 – $125
See Also: Destin Rainy Day Activities
Airlines:
- American Airlines
- Delta
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
Providing Nonstop Service to:
Atlanta GA, Austin, TX, Baltimore, MD, Charlotte NC, Chicago IL, Dallas TX, Denver CO, Houston TX, Kansas City MO, Nashville TN, Philadelphia PA, Washington DC,
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport Information:
This is probably our favorite airport to fly into. It has great connections with Southwest, which is who we fly most of the time.
It’s in a remote location about 15 minutes outside of Panama City Beach so there really isn’t any traffic to speak of.
Rental Car pickup is very easy and similar to the Destin airport with the reservation counter inside the terminal and car pickup just outside.
There are always plenty of taxis and Ubers available. We have had delayed flights that landed around 11:30 pm and had no problem getting an Uber.
See Also: Best Restaurants in Destin
Pensacola International Airport – PNS Airport
2430 Airport Blvd. Pensacola, FL
51 miles from Destin – about an hour and 15-minute drive
Approximate Uber Price: $120 – $150 Depending on time and location
Airlines:
- American Airlines
- Boutique Air
- Delta
- Frontier
- Silver Airways
- Southwest
- Spirit
- United Airlines
Providing Nonstop Service to:
American Airlines:
Charlotte NC, Washington DC, Dallas TX, Miami FL, Boston MA, NY LaGuardia, Chicago IL, Philadelphia PA
Delta Airlines:
Atlanta GA
Frontier Airlines:
Denver CO
Silver Airways:
Orlando FL, Tampa FL,
Southwest Airlines:
Nashville TN, Dallas TX, Houston TX, Denver CO, Kansas City MO, Chicago IL, St. Louis MO
Spirit:
Ft. Lauderdale FL, Orlando FL
United:
Houston TX, Chicago IL, Denver Co
Pensacola International Airport Information:
This airport is a little larger than the other two but still on the small side as far as airports go. Rates are typically cheaper to fly into Pensacola but it is a little bit further away.
Rental car accessibility is easy here as well. I haven’t personally taken an Uber or taxi from here but I do see that they are readily available each time we are there. The parking area is partially covered which can be quite nice when those famous Florida afternoon showers hit.
If you take Highway 98, it is a shorter route but there are a lot of stoplights along the way, You could opt to drive on I10, which is a longer route but you won’t have as many stoplights. Each way typically takes about the same amount of time.
Personally, I like taking 98 because I enjoy driving along the Gulf Coast and seeing all the different beach towns. It’s what you might call the scenic route.
There is a 3rd option, which is to take the toll road, we don’t typically choose this option because it really doesn’t end up saving much time considering the charge.
See Also: The Best Happy Hours in Destin
Destin Executive Airport _ DTS Airport Airports in Destin
Destin Executive Airport also referred to as Coleman Kelly Field, is a publicly accessible airport situated in Okaloosa County, Florida. It is located just one nautical mile east of the central business district of Destin. The airport spans an area of 395 acres and is positioned at an elevation of 22 feet above mean sea level.
It boasts a single asphalt runway that measures 5,001 by 100 ft in size. It is just one of 2 airports in Destin.
Even though this airport is closest to Destin – just behind Fudpuckers, I didn’t put it first because it is a private airport. This means that you must have your own private jet in order to land here. Commercial flights do not use this airport.
Since we don’t have a private plane I have never actually been to this airport.
Louis Armstrong International Airport – MSY Airport Airports in Destin
1 Terminal Drive, Kenner, LA
260 Miles 4 hour 5 minute drive
Approximate Uber Price: I would not recommend taking an Uber, you will definitely want to rent a car.
Airlines:
- Alaska Airlines
- Allegiant Air
- American Airlines
- Breeze Airways
- British Airways
- Delta Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
- JetBlue
- Silver Airways
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Sun Country Airlines
- United Airlines
- Vacation Express
Providing Non-stop Service to:
Akron OH, Atlanta GA, Austin TX, Baltimore MD, Bentonville AR, Boston MA, Cancun Mexico, Charleston, SC, Charlotte NC, Chicago IL, Cincinnati OH, Columbus OH, Dallas TX, Denver CO, Detroit MI, Ft Lauderdale FL, Harford CT, Houston TX, Jacksonville FL, Kansas City MO, Las Vegas NV, London England, Long Beach California, Miami FL, Minneapolis MN, Montreal QC, Nashville TN, New York NY, Newark NJ, Norfolk VA, Orlando FL, Philadelphia PA, Pittsburg, PA, Phoenix AZ, Raleigh Durham NC, Richmond VA, Salt Lake City, UT, San Antonio TX, San Diego CA, San Francisco CA, San Pedro Sula Honduras, Savannah GA, Seattle WA, St. Louis MO, Tampa FL, Toronto ON, Washington DC
Louis Armstrong International Airport Information:
One last alternative airport is the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans. This is the furthest airport from Destin, but hear me out before you scroll on,
Two of the most important things we look at when we are booking our flights are 1) We prefer direct flights and 2) Price.
New Orleans has more direct flights than any of the other airports. I will do pretty much anything to avoid a layover. Delayed, or canceled flights and lost bags can really put a damper on your vacation.
Typically, we are in Destin when driving from New Orleans before we would have been after a couple of hour layover at another airport and then taking a second flight for 2 more hours.
With more flights available to choose from, you are typically able to get a better price on your flight. And if you are flying an entire family, that can go a long way in saving money for other activities during your trip.
They also have some great gift shops that offer some delicious New Orleans-style treats.
They offer a few international direct flights from London and Cancun, Mexico.
Tips and Tricks for Flying to Destin, Florida:
You may not know, but when you fly Southwest Airlines, you can cancel your flight up to 15 minutes before departure and get a credit that lasts up to one year per ticket.
Reserve your Uber as soon as the plane lands. If you wait til everyone is off the plane and on their way to baggage claim the demand will have gone up as well as the price. If you are the first one to reserve you will get a better price. And I have seen people who had to wait 30 extra minutes for an Uber to arrive because the ones that were there waiting were already reserved. So, bottom line, reserve first!
Think about which direction you are flying from, if you sit on the correct side of the plane, you may be able to see the crystal clear green waters and the white sugar sand beaches of the Florida Panhandle. And if you’re lucky, maybe even a few palm trees.
Panama City Beach and Pensacola have more flights than Destin therefore you have more flights to choose from and the rates are typically better.
One of the best nuggets I have learned over the years of flying is that, while you are not allowed to take liquids on a flight if you freeze those liquids, they will make it through security. For example, you can’t take water but you can take a tumbler or Yeti full of ice. Then fill it with water once you get through security. We take an ice chest filled with food and frozen water bottles all the time.
This Post was all about the Best Airports in Destin and the Surrounding Areas.
When you are planning your Destin vacation you can choose from any of these airports. If you are traveling during spring break or the busier months, you will want to plan ahead to ensure the best price and the best options.
