Aviation in Minnesota
Minnesota is served by a network of 346 public-use airports recorded in the FAA's NASR Airport Master Record. The mix breaks down into 1 large hub, 13 medium hubs, and 332 small or regional fields. Together they form the on-the-ground network that connects Minnesota residents to the rest of the country and, in many cases, to international destinations through the connecting hubs profiled elsewhere in this directory.
Reading the table below as a planner: the large-hub entries are where you will find the broadest selection of carriers, the longest list of nonstop destinations, and the most amenities, and also the longest TSA queues. Medium hubs typically host scheduled service from three to ten carriers and are often the most efficient choice for travelers based outside the largest metropolitan areas. The small and regional entries cover everything from Essential Air Service routes to general-aviation strips that primarily serve charter, training and corporate traffic.
FAA region: Minnesota falls inside the FAA's Great Lakes Region, headquartered in Des Plaines, IL. The region oversees airport certification, safety inspections, and air-traffic-control coordination for every airport in this state.
All 346 airports in Minnesota
| Airport | City | IATA | ICAO | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field | Minneapolis | MSP |
KMSP |
Large hub |
| Baudette International Airport | Baudette | BDE |
KBDE |
Medium hub |
| Bemidji Regional Airport | Bemidji | BJI |
KBJI |
Medium hub |
| Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport | Brainerd | BRD |
KBRD |
Medium hub |
| Chandler Field | Alexandria | AXN |
KAXN |
Medium hub |
| Duluth International Airport | Duluth | DLH |
KDLH |
Medium hub |
| Ely Municipal Airport | Ely | LYU |
KELO |
Medium hub |
| Falls International Airport | International Falls | INL |
KINL |
Medium hub |
| Range Regional Airport | Hibbing | HIB |
KHIB |
Medium hub |
| Redwood Falls Municipal Airport | Redwood Falls | RWF |
KRWF |
Medium hub |
| Rochester International Airport | Rochester | RST |
KRST |
Medium hub |
| Saint Cloud Regional Airport | Saint Cloud | STC |
KSTC |
Medium hub |
| Saint Paul Downtown Holman Field | Saint Paul | STP |
KSTP |
Medium hub |
| Thief River Falls Regional Airport | Thief River Falls | TVF |
KTVF |
Medium hub |
| Aerovilla Airport | Perham | - | - | Regional |
| Ag Spray Inc Airport | Barnesville | - | - | Regional |
| Airlake Airport | Minneapolis | - | - | Regional |
| Aitkin Municipal Airport Steve Kurtz Field | Aitkin | - | - | Regional |
| Al's Due North Airport | North Branch | - | - | Regional |
| Albert Lea Municipal Airport | Albert Lea | AEL |
KAEL |
Regional |
| Anderson Field | Kennedy | - | - | Regional |
| Angen Field | Garfield | - | - | Regional |
| Anoka County-Blaine (Janes Field) Airport | Minneapolis | - | - | Regional |
| Appleton Municipal Airport | Appleton | - | - | Regional |
| Arthur Field | Gatzke | - | - | Regional |
| Aslesen Airport | Halstad | - | - | Regional |
| Austin Municipal Airport | Austin | AUM |
KAUM |
Regional |
| B & D Flyers International Airport | Minnesota Lake | - | - | Regional |
| B I R Airport | - | - | - | Regional |
| Backstrom Airport | New Trier | - | - | Regional |
| Backus Municipal Airport | Backus | - | - | Regional |
| Bagley Municipal Airport | Bagley | - | - | Regional |
| Bakko Aviation Airport | Glenwood | - | - | Regional |
| Barnes Airport | Lindstrom | - | - | Regional |
| Barnesville Municipal Airport | Barnesville | - | - | Regional |
| Barrett Airport | Brainerd | - | - | Regional |
| Battle Lake Municipal Airport | Battle Lake | - | - | Regional |
| Benson Airport | White Bear Township | - | - | Regional |
| Benson Municipal Airport | Benson | BBB |
KBBB |
Regional |
| Bergemann Airport | Garden City | - | - | Regional |
| Big Falls Municipal Airport | Big Falls | - | - | Regional |
| Bigfork Municipal Airport | Bigfork | - | - | Regional |
| Bishman Private Airport | Princeton | - | - | Regional |
| Blue Earth Municipal Airport | Blue Earth | - | - | Regional |
| Blue Sky Airport | Sabin | - | - | Regional |
| Bosch Farm Airport | Montevideo | - | - | Regional |
| Bowstring Airport | Bowstring | - | - | Regional |
| Brandt Airport | Delano | - | - | Regional |
| Breezy Point Airport | Pequot Lakes | - | - | Regional |
| Brooten Municipal Airport | Brooten | - | - | Regional |
| Brutlag Farms Airport | Wendell | - | - | Regional |
| Buffalo Municipal Airport | Buffalo | - | - | Regional |
| Bush Field | Hinckley | - | - | Regional |
| Caldbeck Field | Spring Valley | - | - | Regional |
| Cambridge Municipal Airport | Cambridge | - | - | Regional |
| Cameron's Airport | Princeton | - | - | Regional |
| Carlson Agricultural Airport | Wendell | - | - | Regional |
| Chanlin Field | Middle River | - | - | Regional |
| Christianson Field | Halstad | - | - | Regional |
| Christison Airport | Plainview | - | - | Regional |
| Clarissa Municipal Airport | Browerville | - | - | Regional |
| Cloquet Carlton County Airport | Cloquet | - | - | Regional |
| Cloverleaf-East Bemidji Airport | Bemidji | - | - | Regional |
| Conley Field | Mora | - | - | Regional |
| Cook Municipal Airport | Cook | - | - | Regional |
| Cooks Landing Airport | Ham Lake | - | - | Regional |
| Cornfield Canyon Airport | Blue Earth | - | - | Regional |
| Country Haven Airport | Cloquet | - | - | Regional |
| Cox-Coyour Memorial Field | Roosevelt | - | - | Regional |
| Crookston Municipal Kirkwood Field | Crookston | CKN |
KCKN |
Regional |
| Crystal Airport | Minneapolis | MIC |
KMIC |
Regional |
| Dairyview Airport | Hadley | - | - | Regional |
| Damneara Airport | Elilzabeth | - | - | Regional |
| Demmers Field | Jordan | - | - | Regional |
| Deters Farms Airport | Spring Grove | - | - | Regional |
| Detroit Lakes Airport | Detroit Lakes | DTL |
KDTL |
Regional |
| Dodge Center Airport | Dodge Center | - | - | Regional |
| Don's Landing Field | Watkins | - | - | Regional |
| Donner Airport | Belview | - | - | Regional |
| Dreamcatcher Airport | Jacobson | - | - | Regional |
| Dykstra Acreage Airport | Trosky | - | - | Regional |
| Eagles Nest Aerodrome | Eagle Lake | - | - | Regional |
| East Gull Lake Airport | East Gull Lake | - | - | Regional |
| Edberg Airport | Cannon Falls | - | - | Regional |
| Elbow Lake Municipal - Pride of the Prairie Airport | Elbow Lake | - | - | Regional |
| Empire Valley Airport | Paynesville | - | - | Regional |
| Erickson Airport | Roosevelt | - | - | Regional |
| Eveleth–Virginia Municipal Airport | Eveleth | EVM |
KEVM |
Regional |
| Ewen Landing Field | Jeffers | - | - | Regional |
| Eyota Airport | Eyota | - | - | Regional |
| F. Dillenburg Airport | Foley | - | - | Regional |
| Fagen Field | Granite Falls | - | - | Regional |
| Fairmont Municipal Airport | Fairmont | FRM |
KFRM |
Regional |
| Falk Private Airport | Park Rapids | - | - | Regional |
| Faribault Municipal Airport-Liz Wall Strohfus Field | Faribault | FBL |
KFBL |
Regional |
| Fedor Airport | Holdingford | - | - | Regional |
| Fergus Falls Municipal Airport - Einar Mickelson Field | Fergus Falls | FFM |
KFFM |
Regional |
| Fertile Municipal Airport | Fertile | - | - | Regional |
| Field of Dreams Airport | Hinckley | - | - | Regional |
| Fillmore County Airport | Preston | - | - | Regional |
| Flying A Airport | Chatfield | - | - | Regional |
| Flying Cloud Airport | Minneapolis | FCM |
KFCM |
Regional |
| Forest Lake Airport | Forest Lake | - | - | Regional |
| Fort Ripley Agricultural Airport | Fort Ripley | - | - | Regional |
| Fosston Municipal Airport-Anderson Field | Fosston | - | - | Regional |
| Frontenac Airport | Lake City | - | - | Regional |
| Fuhr Flying Svc Airport | Seaforth | - | - | Regional |
| Fussy Airport | North Prairie | - | - | Regional |
| Galler's Airport | Elysian | - | - | Regional |
| Gasper Airport | Euclid | - | - | Regional |
| Gilgenbach's Airport | Taopi | - | - | Regional |
| Glencoe Municipal Airport | Glencoe | - | - | Regional |
| Glenwood Municipal Airport | Glenwood | - | - | Regional |
| Gospel Ranch Airport | Hibbing | - | - | Regional |
| Grand Marais Cook County Airport | Grand Marais | GRM |
KCKC |
Regional |
| Grand Rapids Itasca Co-Gordon Newstrom field | Grand Rapids | GPZ |
KGPZ |
Regional |
| Granite Falls Municipal Airport / Lenzen-Roe Memorial Field | Granite Falls | - | - | Regional |
| Gregory Airport | Cambridge | - | - | Regional |
| Grohnke Field | Braham | - | - | Regional |
| Grygla Municipal Airport - Mel Wilkens Field | Grygla | - | - | Regional |
| Guggenberger Airport | Sartell | - | - | Regional |
| Hagen Airport | Richville | - | - | Regional |
| Hagens Private Airport | Gatzke | - | - | Regional |
| Hall Airport | Farmington | - | - | Regional |
| Hallock Municipal Airport | Hallock | - | - | Regional |
| Hammars Farm Airport | Ada | - | - | Regional |
| Haven Airport | Saint Cloud | - | - | Regional |
| Hawley Municipal Airport | Hawley | - | - | Regional |
| Hay Acres Airport | Akiey | - | - | Regional |
| Hay Shakers Airport | Nicollet | - | - | Regional |
| Hector Municipal Airport | Hector | - | - | Regional |
| Helblad Airport | Kelliher | - | - | Regional |
| Hemmingsen Private Airport | Erskine | - | - | Regional |
| Hendrickson Airport | Duquette | - | - | Regional |
| Henning Municipal Airport | Henning | - | - | Regional |
| Henning/Boldt Airport | Rushmore | - | - | Regional |
| Herman Municipal Airport | Herman | - | - | Regional |
| High Grove Airport | Preston | - | - | Regional |
| Hill City-Quadna Mountain Airport | Hill City | - | - | Regional |
| Hines Farm Airport | Motley | - | - | Regional |
| Hintzman Private Airport | New York Mills | - | - | Regional |
| Hoiland Field | Bagley | - | - | Regional |
| Home-Base Airport | Holloway | - | - | Regional |
| Hoppe Sky Ranch Airport | Mankato | - | - | Regional |
| Houston County Airport | Caledonia | - | - | Regional |
| Howard's Airport | Clara City | - | - | Regional |
| Hutchinson Municipal Butler Field | Hutchinson | - | - | Regional |
| Ingleside Airport | Loretto | - | - | Regional |
| Isedor Iverson Airport | Mc Gregor | - | - | Regional |
| Isle Private Airport | Isle | - | - | Regional |
| J J and T Airport | East Grand Forks | - | - | Regional |
| Jackson Field | Brainerd | - | - | Regional |
| Jackson Municipal Airport | Jackson | MJQ |
KMJQ |
Regional |
| Janssen Airport | Barnesville | - | - | Regional |
| Jennrich Field | Farmington | - | - | Regional |
| Jerger's Field | Moorhead | - | - | Regional |
| Johnson Airport | Argyle | - | - | Regional |
| Johnson Private Airport | Sacred Heart | - | - | Regional |
| Johnsons Aero Repair Airport | Wheaton | - | - | Regional |
| Johnston Airport | Hawley | - | - | Regional |
| Joyner Airport | Monticello | - | - | Regional |
| Kaiser's Airstrip | Lake Park | - | - | Regional |
| Kaml Airstrip | Euclid | - | - | Regional |
| Kapaun-Wilson Field | Graceville | - | - | Regional |
| Karlstad Municipal Airport | Karlstad | - | - | Regional |
| Kastanek Airport | Pierz | - | - | Regional |
| Klamar Field | Gatzke | - | - | Regional |
| Klamar Field Number 2 | Gatzke | - | - | Regional |
| Kohlmeyer Airport | Fountain | - | - | Regional |
| Kral's Personal Use Landing Field | Corcoran | - | - | Regional |
| Kruger Aviation Ultralight Flightpark | Pine Island | - | - | Regional |
| L & M Aerodrome | Litchfield | - | - | Regional |
| Lac Qui Parle County Airport | Louisburg | - | - | Regional |
| Lake Bronson Airport | Lake Bronson | - | - | Regional |
| Lake Elmo Airport | St Paul | - | - | Regional |
| Landeplatz Airport | Searles | - | - | Regional |
| Le Sueur Municipal Airport | Le Sueur | - | - | Regional |
| Leaders Clear Lake Airport | Clear Lake | - | - | Regional |
| Lennartson Airport | Proctor | - | - | Regional |
| Lightfoot Farms Airport | Vesta | - | - | Regional |
| Lindey's Landing Airport | Deerwood | - | - | Regional |
| Lino Air Park | Lino Lakes | - | - | Regional |
| Litchfield Municipal Airport | Litchfield | - | - | Regional |
| Little Falls-Morrison County-Lindbergh field | Little Falls | - | - | Regional |
| Littlefork Muni/Hanover Airport | Littlefork | - | - | Regional |
| Longville Municipal Airport | Longville | - | - | Regional |
| Lorenz Airport | Benson | - | - | Regional |
| Lothert's Farm Strip | Morton | - | - | Regional |
| Lux Strip | Cosmos | - | - | Regional |
| Mahnomen County Airport | Waubun | - | - | Regional |
| Mankato Regional Airport | Mankato | MKT |
KMKT |
Regional |
| Maple Airport | Maple Plain | - | - | Regional |
| Maple Lake Municipal Airport | Maple Lake | - | - | Regional |
| Meadowvale Airport | Elk River | - | - | Regional |
| Merill L Harris Field | Jordan | - | - | Regional |
| Michels Farms Airport | North Mankato | - | - | Regional |
| Mikes Aerodrome | Albany | - | - | Regional |
| Milaca Municipal Airport | Milaca | - | - | Regional |
| Mille Lacs Lake Resort Airport | Garrison | - | - | Regional |
| Miller Airport | Clear Lake | - | - | Regional |
| Minglewood Airport | Alexandria | - | - | Regional |
| Minske Field | Princeton | - | - | Regional |
| Moberg Air Base | Bemidji | - | - | Regional |
| Molnau Airpark | Waconia | - | - | Regional |
| Montevideo Chippewa County Airport | Montevideo | MVE |
KMVE |
Regional |
| Moorhead Municipal Airport | Moorhead | - | - | Regional |
| Moose Lake Carlton County Airport | Moose Lake | - | - | Regional |
| Mora Municipal Airport | Mora | - | - | Regional |
| Morris Municipal Airport Charlie Schmidt Field | Morris | MOX |
KMOX |
Regional |
| Moyer Airport | Holloway | - | - | Regional |
| Myers Field Airport | Canby | - | - | Regional |
| Nary National Shefland Field | Nary | - | - | Regional |
| Nauerth Land Ranch Airport | Lakefield | - | - | Regional |
| New Ulm Municipal Airport | New Ulm | ULM |
KULM |
Regional |
| Nielsen's Airport | Farmington | - | - | Regional |
| Nielsville Airport | Nielsville | - | - | Regional |
| Nietz Airstrip | Oronoco | - | - | Regional |
| Nord Field | Wolverton | - | - | Regional |
| Norman County Ada/Twin Valley Airport | Twin Valley | - | - | Regional |
| North Lake Landing Airport | Lindstrom | - | - | Regional |
| North Star Ranch Airport | Onamia | - | - | Regional |
| Northome Municipal Airport | Northome | - | - | Regional |
| Northwest Angle Airport | Warroad | - | - | Regional |
| Oak Lake Air Strip | Erskine | - | - | Regional |
| Olivia Regional Airport | Olivia | - | - | Regional |
| Orr Regional Airport | Orr | - | - | Regional |
| Ortonville Municipal Airport/Martinson Field | Ortonville | - | - | Regional |
| Owatonna Degner Regional Airport | Owatonna | OWA |
KOWA |
Regional |
| Pagel's Field | Atwater | - | - | Regional |
| Pake Airport | Felton | - | - | Regional |
| Park Rapids Municipal Airport Konshok Field | Park Rapids | PKD |
KPKD |
Regional |
| Paul Field | Gatzke | - | - | Regional |
| Pavek Personal Airport | Pine City | - | - | Regional |
| Paynesville Municipal Airport | Paynesville | - | - | Regional |
| Pelican Rapids Muni-Lyon's Field | Pelican Rapids | - | - | Regional |
| Perham Municipal Airport | Perham | - | - | Regional |
| Petes Airport | Dexter | - | - | Regional |
| Pfau Airstrip | Princeton | - | - | Regional |
| Pietenpol Field | Cherry Grove | - | - | Regional |
| Pine Ridge Air Spray Airport | Kelliher | - | - | Regional |
| Pine River Regional Airport | Pine River | - | - | Regional |
| Pinetree Airpark | Harris | - | - | Regional |
| Piney Pinecreek Border Airport | Pinecreek | - | - | Regional |
| Pipestone Municipal Airport | Pipestone | - | - | Regional |
| Pribbs Field | East Grand Forks | - | - | Regional |
| Princeton Municipal Airport | Princeton | - | - | Regional |
| Pulkrabek Landing Field | Angus | - | - | Regional |
| Quast Airport | Hutchinson | - | - | Regional |
| Quentin Aanenson Airfield - Luverne Municipal Airport | Luverne | - | - | Regional |
| Radke Airport | Hastings | - | - | Regional |
| Radloff's Cedar View Farms Airport | Lyle | - | - | Regional |
| Ramerth Airport | Fulda | - | - | Regional |
| Ray S Miller Army Air Field | Fort Ripley | - | - | Regional |
| Red Lake Falls Municipal Airport | Red Lake Falls | - | - | Regional |
| Red Wing Regional Airport | Red Wing | - | - | Regional |
| Remer Municipal Airport | Remer | - | - | Regional |
| Reynolds Field | Princeton | - | - | Regional |
| Richard B Helgeson Airport | Two Harbors | - | - | Regional |
| Ricks Field | Wendell | - | - | Regional |
| Ries Farms Runway | Hastings | - | - | Regional |
| Roan Airport | Warren | - | - | Regional |
| Robco Airport | Laporte | - | - | Regional |
| Robertson Field | Hibbing | - | - | Regional |
| Rolling Hills Airport | Westbrook | - | - | Regional |
| Roseau Municipal Rudy Billberg Field | Roseau | ROX |
KROX |
Regional |
| Rosenberg Airport | Ceylon | - | - | Regional |
| Rush City Regional Airport | Rush City | - | - | Regional |
| Rushford Municipal Airport - Robert W Bunke Field | Rushford | - | - | Regional |
| Sad Valley UAS Strip | Cushing Township | - | - | Regional |
| Sauk Centre Municipal Airport | Sauk Centre | - | - | Regional |
| Schjeldrup Airport | Felton | - | - | Regional |
| Schumacher Airport | Oster | - | - | Regional |
| Schwenk Airport | Murdock | - | - | Regional |
| Scrabeck Airport | Stewartville | - | - | Regional |
| Serenity Airport | Lester Prairie | - | - | Regional |
| Sevcik Farms Airport | Faribault | - | - | Regional |
| Sieg's Farm Airport | Truman | - | - | Regional |
| Silver Creek Meadow Airport | Princeton | - | - | Regional |
| Sky Blue Airfield | Ponsford | - | - | Regional |
| Sky Harbor Airport | Duluth | - | - | Regional |
| Sky Harbor Residential Airpark | Webster | - | - | Regional |
| Sky Manor Aero Estates Airport | Park Rapids | - | - | Regional |
| Sky Meadow Airport | Hastings | - | - | Regional |
| Sky Park Airport | Jordan | - | - | Regional |
| Slayton Municipal Airport | Slayton | NSL |
KDVP |
Regional |
| Sleepy Eye Municipal Airport | Sleepy Eye | - | - | Regional |
| Smith Field | Elko | - | - | Regional |
| Sodbuster Strip | Goodhue | - | - | Regional |
| Sons Private-Commercial Airport | Norwood Young America | - | - | Regional |
| South St Paul Municipal Airport/Richard E Fleming Field | South St Paul | - | - | Regional |
| Southwest Minnesota Regional Airport - Marshall/Ryan Field | Marshall | MML |
KMML |
Regional |
| Springfield Municipal Airport | Springfield | - | - | Regional |
| St James Municipal Airport | St James | - | - | Regional |
| Stanton Airfield | Dennison | SYN |
KSYN |
Regional |
| Stanton Hill Aerodrome | Atwater | - | - | Regional |
| Staples Municipal Airport | Staples | - | - | Regional |
| Starbuck Municipal Airport | Starbuck | - | - | Regional |
| Stephen Municipal Airport | Stephen | - | - | Regional |
| Stocker Private Airport | Jordan | - | - | Regional |
| Superior Aero Estates Airport | Saginaw | - | - | Regional |
| Superior Aero Estates Airport | Saginaw | - | - | Regional |
| Surfside Airport | Circle Pines | - | - | Regional |
| Swanson Field | Crown | - | - | Regional |
| Swiderski Field | Onamia | - | - | Regional |
| Taylors Falls Airport | Taylors Falls | - | - | Regional |
| Timmers Landing Field | Silver Lake | - | - | Regional |
| Todd Field | Long Prairie | - | - | Regional |
| Tower Municipal Airport | Tower | - | - | Regional |
| Tracy Municipal Airport | Tracy | - | - | Regional |
| Troll Farm Airport | Cambridge | - | - | Regional |
| Trygstad Airport | Rochester | - | - | Regional |
| Tuma Private Airport | Montgomery | - | - | Regional |
| Turner Field | Bingham Lake | - | - | Regional |
| Tyler Farms Airport | Watkins | - | - | Regional |
| Tyler Municipal Airport | Tyler | - | - | Regional |
| Ultraflyte, Inc Ultralightport | Jenkins | - | - | Regional |
| Underland Airstrip | Medford | - | - | Regional |
| Up Yonder Airport | Laporte | - | - | Regional |
| Van Norman's Airport | St Charles | - | - | Regional |
| Velo Airstrip | Rothsay | - | - | Regional |
| Wadena Municipal Airport | Wadena | - | - | Regional |
| Walker Field | Afton | - | - | Regional |
| Walker Municipal Airport | Walker | - | - | Regional |
| Warren Municipal Airport | Warren | - | - | Regional |
| Warroad International Memorial Airport | Warroad | RRT |
KRRT |
Regional |
| Waseca Municipal Airport | Waseca | - | - | Regional |
| Waskish Municipal Airport | Waskish | - | - | Regional |
| Webb Lake Airport | Hackensack | - | - | Regional |
| Weideman International Airport | Two Harbors | - | - | Regional |
| Wells Municipal Airport | Wells | - | - | Regional |
| West Wind Airport | Littlefork | - | - | Regional |
| Wetenkamp Airport | Tintah | - | - | Regional |
| Wetherbee Farm Airport | Tenney | - | - | Regional |
| Wheaton Municipal Airport | Lake Valley Township | - | - | Regional |
| Willis Airport | Thief River Falls | - | - | Regional |
| Willmar Municipal Airport John L Rice Field (2006) | Willmar | ILL |
KBDH |
Regional |
| Willow Ridge Airport | Hastings | - | - | Regional |
| Windom Municipal Airport | Windom | MWM |
KMWM |
Regional |
| Winona Municipal Airport Max Conrad Field | Winona | ONA |
KONA |
Regional |
| Winsted Municipal Airport | Winsted | - | - | Regional |
| Winter Strip | Gluek | - | - | Regional |
| Wipline Airport | Inver Grove Heights | - | - | Regional |
| Worthington Municipal Airport | Worthington | OTG |
KOTG |
Regional |
| Yaggie Private Airport | Breckenridge | - | - | Regional |
| Zarn Airport | Amboy | - | - | Regional |
| Zenith Landing Airport | Hinckley | - | - | Regional |
Travel context
Travelers comparing flight options inside Minnesota should look beyond the obvious large-hub entry. Many travelers reflexively book through the biggest airport in their state, but for short-haul itineraries a closer medium or regional airport can shave an hour off the total door-to-door time even when its ticket price is slightly higher. The opposite is also true for long-haul or international travel, where the broader carrier selection at the large hub typically wins on both price and routing.
For multi-airport metropolitan areas, and several states have them, pay attention to which carrier alliance dominates each airport. A traveler with frequent-flyer status on one alliance will usually find the better experience at the alliance's home airport, even at the cost of a slightly longer drive.