Columbus (CMH) airport guide & terminal map

Airport details change — always confirm your terminal, gate, and fares on your boarding pass before you travel.

Everything you need before you fly from John Glenn Columbus International, including an interactive map, the main terminal, Concourses A, B and C, the three security checkpoints, parking, car rental, dining, lounges, accessibility, baggage claim and where each airline sits.

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)

An interactive CMH map plus everything you need before you fly, covering the single terminal, Concourses A, B and C, the separate checkpoints, parking, transport, car rental, dining, shopping, lounges, passenger services and where each airline sits.

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is central Ohio's main airport and one of the busiest mid-sized airports in the Midwest. It handles around 9 million passengers a year, and 2024 set a record with 9.2 million — up nearly 7% on the year before.

Named in 2016 for the Ohio-born astronaut and senator, CMH has a reputation for being clean, quick, and free of the sprawl that makes bigger airports tiring. Security waits are typically short, walking distances are minimal, and the whole place is genuinely easy to use.

But there is one quirk that matters more than anything else here, and most guides skip it.

CMH has three concourses — A, B, and C — and each one has its own separate security checkpoint. They do not connect behind security. If you clear the checkpoint for Concourse A and then need something in Concourse B, you have to walk back out and screen again.

That single fact shapes where you eat, whether you can use the lounge, and how much time you need. It is also about to change: CMH is building a brand-new terminal that will consolidate everything into one streamlined concourse with a single checkpoint.

In this guide, we walk you through the full Columbus airport map — the terminal, all three concourses, where each airline sits, security, parking, transport, dining, shopping, lounges, accessibility, and baggage claim. We also share travel tips from MyFlyYatra and detailed advice for flying from Columbus to India.

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) Overview

Airport Location and Layout

CMH sits about 6 miles east of downtown Columbus, off I-670 at International Gateway. The drive downtown normally takes 15 minutes.

CMH serves more than 50 destinations. The main carriers are Southwest, American, Delta, United, Spirit, Frontier, Alaska, Breeze, Sun Country, and Air Canada.

International service is limited but growing — Toronto and Cancún, with Montreal added in May 2026.

Understanding the CMH Airport Layout

CMH is one terminal on two levels, with three concourses branching off it.

Upper level — Departures. Ticketing, bag drop, and the three security checkpoints.

Lower level — Arrivals. Baggage claim and ground transportation.

The three concourses and their checkpoints:

Concourse A — south end of the terminal, with its own checkpoint

Concourse B — centre, directly ahead of the ticketing hall, with its own checkpoint

Concourse C — north side, with its own checkpoint

This is the part to understand. All three concourses connect landside, through the central ticketing area. They do not connect airside.

So:

Before security, you can walk freely between all three.

After security, you are locked into your concourse.

Changing concourses means exiting, walking through the ticketing hall, and clearing a second checkpoint.

Practically, that means your concourse determines your food, your shops, and whether the lounge is reachable. Check your concourse letter before you commit to a checkpoint.

The upside of CMH's compact size is that the walk from the terminal entrance to any checkpoint is short — no long treks, no shuttles, no trains.

Columbus Airport Map (CMH Map)

Interactive CMH Airport Map Overview

The Columbus airport map is one of the simplest in this series. On the CMH map you can see the single terminal with the ticketing hall across the upper level, the three checkpoints leading to Concourses A, B, and C, baggage claim below, the parking garage directly opposite the terminal, the Walking Lot to the north near Concourse C, the Red, Blue, and Green shuttle lots further out, and the Cell Phone Lot.

The official CMH terminal map is available above.

Because the airport is small, the map matters less for navigation and more for confirming your concourse before you pick a checkpoint — the one decision that actually costs time here.

How to Navigate CMH Efficiently

Here is the simple way to read the CMH gate map and move fast:

Find your concourse letter on your boarding pass first. A, B, or C.

Park in the garage, the Walking Lot, or one of the shuttle lots.

Check in on the upper level.

Do everything you want to do landside before you commit — eat, shop, use the restrooms.

Clear the checkpoint for your concourse.

Walk to your gate. It will be close.

The one mistake to avoid: clearing the wrong checkpoint. It is recoverable — you exit and screen again — but it can cost you 20 to 30 minutes at a busy hour.

CMH Terminal and Concourse Map Guide

Here is what sits in each part of the airport.

The Ticketing Hall and Landside Area

The upper level holds all the airline counters, bag drop, and the three checkpoints. Because the concourses only connect on this side of security, the landside area is more important at CMH than at most airports.

You will find shops and restaurants here, along with Guest Services desks on both the ticketing and baggage claim levels, ATMs, nursing rooms, and a quiet space.

CMH also has a genuine art programme. Look for Brushstrokes in Flight, the airport's best-known installation, along with the Veterans Monument and rotating exhibitions by Ohio artists.

Concourse A

Concourse A sits at the south end of the terminal and is the smallest of the three, with gates numbered from A2. It is Southwest Airlines' concourse and serves Southwest only.

If you are flying Southwest out of Columbus, this is your entire world for the day — so eat and shop before you clear the checkpoint.

Concourse B

Concourse B sits in the centre, straight ahead from the ticketing hall, and is the largest concourse with around 16 gates. It serves American Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada, and Spirit.

Concourse B holds the airport's only lounge, the Escape Lounge — see the lounges section below for why that matters.

It also has the widest selection of food and shops of the three concourses.

Concourse C

Concourse C is on the north side with around 11 gates, serving Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Breeze Airways, Frontier, and Sun Country.

Concourse C also houses the customs facilities for international flights that are not precleared.

The Jake Brewer USO Lounge is located near the Concourse C exit lane, offering snacks, Wi-Fi, and a children's area for military personnel and their families.

If you are flying Delta or Breeze, note that this concourse gets busy at peak times — arrive with a margin.

The New Terminal — Coming Around 2029

CMH is building a replacement for its current terminal, which dates to 1958. It is a $2 billion modernization, with construction ramping up from 2026 and opening targeted for around 2029 or 2030 — timed to the airport's 100th anniversary.

What it will deliver:

A single, streamlined concourse replacing the three separate ones

Consolidated security checkpoints, ending the split-checkpoint problem entirely

36 gates, seven more than today

A 5,000-car parking garage

Modernized food, retail, and passenger amenities

Capacity for more than 13 million passengers a year

CMH is also targeting carbon neutrality by 2035, with EV charging, LED lighting, and efficient building systems along the way.

What this means for you now: expect construction activity, changing roadways, and some services suspended during the build. Valet parking has already been paused as part of the project.

Columbus Airport Airlines by Concourse

This is the table that matters at CMH, because your concourse decides your checkpoint.

Southwest Airlines Concourse at CMH

Southwest is the sole airline in Concourse A.

American and United Concourses at CMH

Both use Concourse B, along with Air Canada and Spirit.

Delta Air Lines Concourse at CMH

Delta uses Concourse C, along with Alaska, Breeze, Frontier, and Sun Country.

International Flights at CMH

International arrivals that are not precleared are processed through the customs facilities in Concourse C. Air Canada's Toronto and Montreal services depart from Concourse B.

Confirm on your boarding pass before you choose a checkpoint. At CMH the cost of getting it wrong is a full re-screen.

Security and TSA Screening at CMH

CMH has three security checkpoints — one for each concourse. This is the defining feature of the airport and the thing to plan around.

Checkpoint A — southeast side, serving Concourse A

Checkpoint B — centre, serving Concourse B

Checkpoint C — southwest side of the ticketing hall, serving Concourse C

They are not interchangeable. Whichever one you use determines which concourse you end up in, and there is no airside walkway linking them.

TSA PreCheck is available. Because the checkpoints are separate, lane configurations and PreCheck availability can differ between them — check the signage on the day.

How long to allow. CMH's waits are usually short by national standards, but the morning bank can produce genuine queues, particularly at the Concourse C checkpoint when Delta and Breeze depart together. Standard advice applies: 2 hours before a domestic flight, 3 before an international one.

Water bottle refill stations are available in each concourse past security — bring an empty bottle.

The good news: the new terminal will consolidate all of this into streamlined central screening. Until then, treat your concourse letter as the single most important thing on your boarding pass.

Airport Lounges at CMH

CMH has one paid lounge and one military lounge, and the location of the paid one matters enormously.

Read this carefully. The Escape Lounge is in Concourse B only. Because the concourses do not connect after security, you can only use it if you are flying from Concourse B — that is American, United, Air Canada, or Spirit.

If you are flying Southwest from Concourse A or Delta, Alaska, Breeze, Frontier, or Sun Country from Concourse C, reaching the lounge means clearing security into Concourse B, using the lounge, exiting, and then clearing your own checkpoint a second time. Some travelers do it when they have hours to spare. Most should not bother.

The Escape Lounge itself is a Centurion Studio partner offering locally sourced chef-curated food, a full bar and coffee service, plush seating, power outlets, high-speed Wi-Fi, and printing. It is compact but rarely crowded.

There is no Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club, or United Club at CMH.

Columbus Airport Parking Map

CMH has a good spread of parking, from a garage directly across from the terminal to shuttle lots further out. The airport runs a reservation portal, and pre-booking is worth it during busy periods.

Terminal Garage — Short-Term and Long-Term

The parking garage sits directly opposite the main terminal, with both short-term and long-term sections.

Short-term is on the upper garage level, priced hourly with a daily cap — the right choice for drop-offs, pickups, and stays under a few hours.

Long-term in the garage is covered and gives you the shortest walk of any multi-day option, with a connecting route into the terminal.

Walking Lot

The Walking Lot is a surface lot on the north side of the terminal, next to Concourse C, within walking distance and requiring no shuttle. It sits between the garage rate and the shuttle lots on price, and it is a sensible middle option if you do not want to wait for a bus.

Red, Blue and Green Shuttle Lots

Three shuttle lots serve longer stays:

Blue Lot — offers both covered and uncovered spaces

Red Lot — uncovered

Green Lot — generally the cheapest on-airport option

All three run free shuttle buses to the terminal. The Green Lot is furthest out, so allow the most time there.

Valet

Valet parking is currently suspended as part of the terminal modernization work. Check flycolumbus.com before you count on it.

Cell Phone Lot

Free, close to the terminal. Wait there until your passenger is at the curb rather than circling.

CMH Parking at a Glance

Rates change, and they have moved recently during the modernization. Check current pricing and reserve at flycolumbus.com or the airport's ezpark reservation portal before you travel — pre-booking also guarantees a space on busy Friday afternoons when the surface lots tighten up.

Free EV charging is available in the garage, the Walking Lot, and for valet customers when that service resumes.

Accessible parking is available in the garages and in the Blue, Red, and Green shuttle lots. All shuttle buses are fitted with lift equipment for wheelchairs and scooters.

On-demand car care — CMH offers services you can book while your car sits parked, which is a nice touch on a long trip.

Columbus Airport Car Rental Map

Rental Car Counters

Rental car counters are located in the terminal complex, with Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Sixt, and Thrifty all serving CMH. Follow the signs from baggage claim on the lower level.

Because CMH is compact, collecting a car here is faster than at most airports — there is no lengthy shuttle ride to an off-site facility.

Rental Car Return

Follow the rental car return signs on the approach and allow a little extra time for construction-related detours as the new terminal project progresses.

A Practical Note on Cars in Columbus

Columbus is one of the largest cities in America with no rail transit at all. There is no light rail, no subway, and no train to the airport. COTA operates buses across the metro, but service to CMH is not practical for most travelers with luggage.

That makes Columbus one of the airports in this series where a rental car is genuinely the default, not just an option — especially if you are heading to Dublin, Westerville, Easton, or anywhere in the wider metro.

Ground Transportation

Ground transportation is on the lower level, outside baggage claim: taxis, rideshare pickup, hotel shuttles, and parking lot shuttles.

Getting To and From Columbus Airport

Driving. Downtown is about 6 miles via I-670, typically 15 minutes. The Ohio State campus, Easton, and Dublin are all straightforward drives.

Taxi and rideshare. Both pick up on the lower level outside baggage claim. Uber and Lyft are widely available and, for trips of three days or fewer, often work out cheaper than parking.

Hotel shuttles. Many airport-area hotels run courtesy shuttles from the lower level.

Public transit. COTA buses serve the Columbus metro, but there is no frequent direct service between downtown and CMH, and no rail option at all. If you are relying on transit, check COTA's current routes carefully before you travel — most visitors will find a rideshare or rental car far more practical.

Columbus Airport Food Map

CMH mixes national names with Ohio and Columbus brands. The best-known local presence is Donatos Pizza, founded in Columbus in 1963 and something of a hometown institution.

The Rule That Governs Everything

Eat in the concourse you are flying from, or eat before security.

Because the three concourses do not connect airside, you cannot wander to a better option once you are through. That is the opposite of most airports, where walking to another concourse for food is easy.

So:

Concourse B has the widest selection, being the largest concourse.

Concourses A and C have solid but more limited options.

The landside area, before security, serves everyone — including anyone meeting or seeing off a passenger.

If you are flying from Concourse A on Southwest and want more choice, do it before you clear the checkpoint.

Practical Notes

There are no 24-hour dining options at CMH, so if you have a very early departure or an overnight wait, plan ahead.

Water bottle filling stations are in each concourse past security.

Restaurant and shop hours vary — CMH publishes current hours on flycolumbus.com, worth a look if your flight is early or late.

Shopping at Columbus Airport

Shops are spread across the ticketing level and all three concourses. You will find news and convenience stores, Ohio and Columbus gift items, Ohio State merchandise, travel essentials, and books.

The same rule applies as with food: whatever is in your concourse is what you have. The landside shops on the ticketing level are open to everyone, ticketed or not.

Passenger Services and Amenities

Accessibility at Columbus Airport

CMH's small size is a real advantage for travelers with accessibility needs. Walking distances from the terminal entrance to any checkpoint are short, there are no trains or shuttles between concourses, and the building is only two levels.

Wheelchair assistance. Arrange this with your airline when you book, or ask at the ticket counter on the upper level. Airlines provide service from check-in through security to the gate, and from arrival to baggage claim.

Accessible parking is available in the garages and in the Blue, Red, and Green shuttle lots. All shuttle buses are equipped with lift gear for wheelchairs and electric scooters.

The garage is the better choice if walking distance or shuttle boarding is a concern, since it sits directly opposite the terminal.

The concourse point matters here too. Because you cannot move between concourses after security, anyone who finds walking or re-screening difficult should be especially careful to confirm their concourse before choosing a checkpoint. A wrong turn at CMH means going back out and starting over.

Quiet spaces and nursing rooms are available in the terminal, and Guest Services desks on both levels can direct you.

Looking ahead: the new terminal is being designed with consolidated screening and modern accessibility standards throughout, which should remove the current re-screening risk entirely.

Columbus Airport Baggage Claim Map

Baggage claim at CMH is on the lower level of the terminal. Follow the signs down from your concourse and check the screens for your carousel.

Ground transportation — taxis, rideshare, hotel shuttles, and parking lot shuttles — is right outside on the same level.

Domestic Arrivals

Walk from your gate down to the lower level. Because CMH has one terminal, anyone meeting you comes to a single building regardless of which concourse you arrived in.

Guest Services has a desk on this level if you need directions.

International Arrivals

International flights that are not precleared are processed through the customs facilities in Concourse C. You clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection, collect your bags, and continue out to the arrivals level.

Flights arriving from preclearance airports — including Toronto — arrive as domestic flights, with customs already handled before departure.

If you are connecting onward, remember the CMH rule: re-check your bags and clear the checkpoint for your onward concourse, which may not be the one you arrived through. Allow at least three hours.

Lost and Found

For items left on the plane, contact your airline directly. For items left at a security checkpoint, file a claim with TSA. Anything else lost in the terminal is held at the airport's Information Desk for up to 90 days.

Travel Tips from MyFlyYatra

Check Your Concourse Before You Check Your Bag

The single most useful piece of CMH knowledge. Concourse A is Southwest. Concourse B is American, United, Air Canada, and Spirit. Concourse C is Delta, Alaska, Breeze, Frontier, and Sun Country.

Each has its own checkpoint, and they do not connect once you are through. Get it right the first time.

Do Your Business Landside

Because your concourse is a sealed box, handle everything before you screen: eat, shop, use a proper restroom, refill your bottle. This is the reverse of the advice at most airports, and it is the right call at CMH.

The Escape Lounge Is Concourse B Only

If you hold Amex Platinum or a similar card and were planning to use the Escape Lounge, check your concourse first. Flying Southwest or Delta out of Columbus means the lounge is effectively out of reach unless you are willing to clear security twice.

How Early to Arrive

Arrive 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one. CMH's queues are usually short, but the Concourse C checkpoint can back up when Delta and Breeze depart together in the morning.

Add 20 minutes if you are using the Green, Red, or Blue shuttle lots.

Plan for a Car

Columbus has no rail transit and limited practical bus service to the airport. Unless someone is collecting you, budget for a rental car or a rideshare — and for trips of three days or fewer, a rideshare is often cheaper than parking.

Bring an Empty Water Bottle

Each concourse has filling stations past security. Small thing, but it saves you $4 and a queue.

What's Changing at CMH

The airport is in the early stages of the largest project in its history.

A brand-new terminal, replacing the 1958 building, as part of a $2 billion modernization

Construction ramping up from 2026, with opening targeted around 2029 or 2030 — the airport's centenary

One streamlined concourse with consolidated security, ending the three-checkpoint split

36 gates, seven more than today, and capacity for over 13 million passengers a year

A 5,000-car parking garage

Valet parking suspended during the works

Carbon neutrality target of 2035, with EV charging and efficiency upgrades along the way

Expect roadway changes and periodic service adjustments.

Flying from Columbus (CMH) to India

There are no nonstop flights between Columbus and India, so every journey involves at least one connection — and in practice, usually two.

How Your Route Will Work

Two stops is the norm from Columbus. CMH is overwhelmingly a domestic airport, so most itineraries connect first through a larger U.S. gateway — Chicago, Newark, New York JFK, Atlanta, Detroit, Washington Dulles, or Toronto — and then through a European or Middle Eastern hub before reaching India. Expect 26 to 34 hours of total travel.

Toronto is worth considering. Air Canada's service from Columbus connects into a large network of onward flights to India, and it can sometimes produce a cleaner routing than an extra U.S. domestic leg.

If you fly this route regularly, it is also worth pricing departures from Chicago O'Hare — about five to six hours' drive, but with far deeper service to India and often materially cheaper fares.

Recommended Arrival Time at CMH

Arrive at least 3 hours before your first departure, even if that first leg is a short domestic hop, because you will be checking bags all the way through to India and international check-in takes longer.

And confirm your concourse. With three separate checkpoints, this matters more at CMH than at most airports — a wrong checkpoint on a day when you are carrying a full international itinerary is a genuinely expensive mistake.

Add 20 minutes if you are using a shuttle lot, and make it 3.5 hours during the winter holidays or a major Columbus event weekend.

Most airlines close international check-in 60 minutes before departure. Missing that window costs you the entire itinerary.

Baggage Transfer

Book the whole journey on one ticket wherever possible. On a single ticket your bags are normally checked straight through from Columbus to your final Indian city — which matters enormously on a two-stop route, where handling your own bags twice would be draining.

Two things to confirm at the CMH counter before you walk away:

Look at the bag tag yourself. It should show your final destination — BOM, DEL, MAA, BLR, HYD, and so on — not just your first connecting airport.

Ask whether you need to collect and re-check anywhere. On two-stop routes with an airline change, you often will.

If you booked separate tickets, assume you will collect and re-check at every connection point and clear security again each time. On a Columbus-to-India routing that can mean doing it twice. Leave at least four hours per connection.

A Toronto note: if you route through Toronto, be aware that Canada does not offer the same through-tagging simplicity in every case, and you may need to collect and re-check bags there depending on your carriers. Ask specifically at check-in in Columbus.

Baggage allowance on India routes is often more generous than U.S. domestic rules. The allowance that applies is set by the airline operating your long-haul leg — check that carrier's rules, not the one flying you out of Columbus.

TSA Screening and What to Expect

You clear TSA security in Columbus at the checkpoint for your concourse. A few things regularly catch out travelers heading to India:

Liquids in carry-on follow the 3-1-1 rule — containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, in a single quart-sized bag. Anything larger goes in checked luggage.

Food gifts are common on India trips. Solid items are generally fine in carry-on, but anything spreadable or pourable — pickles, ghee, chutneys, syrups — counts as a liquid and belongs in a checked bag.

Powders over 12 ounces may trigger additional screening. Spices, protein powders, and supplements are easier checked.

Medication should stay in your carry-on in original labelled packaging, with a copy of the prescription for anything unusual.

TSA PreCheck is available at CMH and helps with the Columbus leg. It does not apply at your international connecting airports.

International Travel Advice

Passport validity. Most airlines will not board you for India unless your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with two or more blank pages.

Visa. Nearly all U.S. travelers need a visa or e-Visa for India. Apply well in advance — the airline checks at the Columbus counter, and without one you will not be boarded.

OCI cardholders should carry both the OCI card and the passport it is linked to.

Layover length matters more on a two-stop route. Aim for 2.5 to 3 hours minimum at each international connecting hub. With two connections, one early delay unravels everything downstream — so build the slack into your first leg out of Columbus.

Ohio winters. Snow and ice from December through March can produce delays and de-icing queues at CMH. A cancelled first leg takes the whole itinerary with it, so book a comfortable connection window at your U.S. hub if you are travelling in winter, and consider insurance that covers weather disruption.

Summer storms. Midwest thunderstorms are common on summer afternoons. A morning departure from Columbus is more reliable than an afternoon one.

Arrival in India. Have your visa, your address in India, and your return ticket details ready for immigration.

Columbus (CMH) to India Flights

If you are looking for the best USA to India flights, the table below shows popular routes from Columbus. Prices move with season and demand, so check current rates before you book.

Want to fly in more comfort? MyFlyYatra also helps you find business class flights to India with extra legroom, better meals, and lie-flat seats on long routes. Whether you want a low-cost economy seat or a premium business class flight deal, our team finds the best deals that fit your budget.

Ready to book your flight to India? MyFlyYatra brings you the best deals on flights to India from Columbus and across the USA, with friendly support at every step. Compare fares and reserve your seat today.

Note: Airline and terminal assignments at CMH can change, including during ongoing airport upgrades. Always confirm your terminal and gate with your airline or your boarding pass before you travel.