William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) — Terminals, Lounges & Travel Tips

Houston, TX, United States · HOU

Terminal Guide

Terminal	Airlines
Terminals A, B, C (connected)	Southwest (dominant)
International Concourse (I)	Southwest international to Mexico & Caribbean

METRORail (Purple Line): METRORail Purple Line from Hobby Airport station to Downtown Houston in ~40–50 min for $1.25. An excellent value option.
Rideshare: Uber/Lyft pickup from the Ground Transportation Level. Expect $20–35 to downtown or the Medical Center.
Taxi: Available curbside. Expect $25–35 to downtown Houston.
Car Rental: On-site facility at the terminal.

METRORail to Hobby is one of Houston's best transit connections — much better than IAH for transit.
Southwest's open seating means checking in exactly at 24 hours is essential.
Hobby is about 10 miles from downtown Houston — significantly closer and faster than IAH.
The international terminal has service to popular Mexican beach destinations (Cancun, CDMX) at competitive fares.
Parking fills quickly at Hobby; book in advance, especially during holidays.
Security at Hobby is typically faster than IAH — another advantage for last-minute travelers.
Houston's thunderstorms (spring/summer) affect Hobby less than IAH due to different runway orientation.

Review these before your flight so you hit the ground running at Houston.

Confirm which terminal your airline uses — William P. Hobby Airport has 3 terminals and inter-terminal transfers may require re-clearing security.
Rail is available: METRORail Purple Line from Hobby Airport station to Downtown Houston in ~40–50 min for $1.25. An excellent value option.
Renting a car? On-site facility at the terminal.
Southwest Airlines hub: expect higher flight frequency and stronger upgrade/standby availability for Southwest Airlines elite members.
Parking fills quickly at Hobby; book in advance, especially during holidays.