Yes indeed – Greenville has a very convenient airport that connects us to the world! In fact, we sort of have two airports, but one is the major commercial airport that most people use:

• Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP): This is our primary airport for commercial flights, and it’s a good one. Despite the name including Spartanburg, the airport is actually located in Greer, SC, which is between Greenville and Spartanburg (about a 15–20 minute drive from downtown Greenville via the highway). GSP is a mid-sized international airport that has been growing rapidly. It offers numerous nonstop flights to major cities and airline hubs. As of 2025, around 7 different airlines fly out of GSP to roughly 42 different airports across the country and a couple of international destinationsflightsfrom.com. You can catch nonstop flights from GSP to places like New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Miami, Denver, Detroit and more. We even have low-cost carriers (like Southwest and Breeze Airways) that have added routes – for instance, new nonstops to Los Angeles (LAX) and some Northeast cities were recently announced for 2025foxcarolina.com. So, GSP’s route map is pretty impressive for a region our size.

  • The airport itself is modern and easy to navigate. A big renovation was completed a few years ago, so the terminal is shiny and updated. Security lines are usually short (a perk of not being a mega-airport). Baggage claim is quick, and car rentals are on-site. Parking at GSP is also relatively inexpensive and plentiful, and you can literally walk from the parking garage into the terminal in a couple of minutes. For those getting picked up/dropped off, it’s a breeze – no crazy traffic congestion like you’d find at larger airports.

  • Passenger traffic: GSP has been breaking records for passenger numbers. In 2023, over 2.56 million passengers traveled through GSPgspairport.com, which was a big jump (17% increase) from the previous year. In 2024 it surpassed its pre-pandemic record and was on track for nearly 3 million passengersaol.com. This growth is thanks to the Upstate’s economic expansion and more flight options coming online. Despite the growth, the airport rarely feels crowded except maybe early Monday mornings or holiday rush.

  • Amenities: GSP has a pretty terminal with large windows (you can often see the Blue Ridge Mountains on the horizon as you wait for your flight). There are several dining and shopping options inside, including a local BBQ restaurant and a brewpub. Free Wi-Fi, of course. One unique feature: there’s an outdoor airside patio called “Escape Lounge” where you can watch planes take off (weather permitting). GSP also has U.S. Customs facilities, so it does handle some international flights (currently mostly to vacation spots in Mexico/Caribbean seasonally, and cargo flights).

  • Transportation to/from: If you’re heading to downtown Greenville from GSP, it’s an easy drive down Interstate 85 or the parallel Parkway. There are shuttles, rideshares (Uber/Lyft), and taxis available. Some hotels also offer airport shuttles. Since GSP is not far out, a lot of locals happily volunteer to pick up friends/family from the airport – it’s a quick trip.

• Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU): This is a smaller, general aviation airport actually within the city limits of Greenville. It does not have commercial airline service, but it’s notable if you’re a private pilot or someone looking to charter a small plane. GMU is one of the busiest general aviation airports in SC. It’s where corporate jets, private planes, and flight training operations are based. There’s a cool restaurant there called the Runway Cafe that families visit to watch small planes take off and land. Occasionally, organizations host events or air shows at GMU. But again, for any airline travel, you’ll use GSP.

• Proximity to Other Major Airports: In case you need an alternative, Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is about 1.5 hours away and offers tons of flights as a major hub (sometimes Greenvillians will drive to CLT for a specific international flight or a cheaper fare). Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) is about 2.5 hours away (world’s busiest airport, all the flights you could want). But honestly, GSP covers the bases so well now that most people here fly out of GSP 95% of the time. It’s a huge convenience to have a growing international airport right at our doorstep.

So yes, Greenville not only has an airport, it has a darn good one. For a newcomer, this means weekend trips or business travel are easy to manage. And for locals, it means our region stays connected – whether it’s an hour flight to DC or a direct shot to Dallas, GSP keeps us linked to the rest of the country. Travel is one less thing to worry about when you’re in Greenville. As we like to joke, the only issue with GSP is that the ride home from the airport is so short, you barely finish listening to a couple of songs in the car! ✈️