Cleveland Airport (CLE) Terminal Guide 2026
Cleveland Hopkins International is one of the few U.S. airports with direct light rail service to downtown. But the Red Line only goes to downtown — and Cleveland's most important destinations (Cleveland Clinic, Beachwood, University Circle, the eastern suburbs) are beyond the rail corridor. This guide covers CLE's concourses, the Red Line reality, and flat-rate car service for every Northeast Ohio destination.
IATA Code
CLE
Concourses
A, B, C, D
Red Line Rail
Yes (limited)
To Cleveland Clinic
$60 flat
CLE has RTA Red Line rail — but it only goes to downtown
The RTA Red Line connects CLE to downtown Cleveland's Tower City in 28 minutes for $2.50. This is great for solo travelers going to downtown hotels, the Convention Center, or Playhouse Square. However, the Red Line does NOT serve Cleveland Clinic (the city's largest employer and a primary reason for CLE arrivals), University Circle, Beachwood, Westlake, Strongsville, or Akron. For all of these destinations, car service is the only practical direct option.
CLE concourses: airlines and gates
CLE has a single terminal with four concourses radiating from the central terminal building. All concourses are post-security accessible, so passengers can walk between them. Delta operates CLE as a focus city with the most nonstop destinations; United provides Newark service critical for NYC connections.
Concourse A
Gates A1-A20
- United Airlines — Newark (EWR), Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), Denver, San Francisco
- Air Canada — Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL)
United Club in Concourse A
Concourse B
Gates B1-B22
- Delta Air Lines — Atlanta (ATL), JFK, LGA, Detroit, Minneapolis, Boston, LAX, Paris (CDG)
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines — Amsterdam (AMS) seasonal nonstop
Delta Sky Club in Concourse B
Concourse C
Gates C1-C19
- American Airlines — DFW, CLT, PHL, ORD, MIA, BOS
- Alaska Airlines — Seattle (SEA), Portland (PDX), Los Angeles (LAX)
Admirals Club in Concourse C
Concourse D
Gates D1-D12
- Southwest Airlines — MDW, Nashville, Orlando, Denver, Baltimore
- Spirit Airlines — Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas
- Frontier Airlines — Denver, Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte
CLE Red Line rail — key stops and limitations
| Station | From Airport | Key destinations nearby |
|---|---|---|
| CLE Airport | Start | Station on lower level of terminal |
| West Park | 7 min | West Side residential |
| West Boulevard | 12 min | Near Cleveland State Lakewood |
| Tower City / Public Square | 28 min | Downtown, Convention Center, Quicken Loans Arena |
| East 9th / Waterfront | 32 min | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, lakefront |
| East 55th | 38 min | Mid-East Side neighborhood |
Red Line is a good choice when:
- - Solo traveler with carry-on going to downtown Cleveland hotels
- - Attending a game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse or Progressive Field (downtown)
- - Budget-sensitive travel to the Convention Center area
- - $2.50 beats car service for a 5-mile downtown trip
Car service is better when:
- - Going to Cleveland Clinic, University Circle, or Case Western (not on Red Line)
- - Destination is Beachwood, Westlake, Strongsville, Akron, or any suburb
- - Traveling with checked luggage
- - Arriving after midnight (Red Line service ends ~midnight)
- - Time-critical medical appointment or corporate meeting
Car service rates from CLE — all Cleveland destinations
All rates are flat. Sedan rates shown; Cadillac Escalade ESV rates approximately 30% higher.
| Destination | Distance | Drive time | Flat-rate (sedan) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Cleveland | 12 mi | 16-22 min | $55 | Convention Center, Playhouse Square, Rocket Mortgage |
| Cleveland Clinic (Main Campus) | 14 mi | 18-26 min | $60 | World's top-ranked cardiac hospital |
| University Circle / Case Western | 15 mi | 20-28 min | $62 | Case Western, Cleveland Museum of Art |
| Beachwood | 20 mi | 25-35 min | $72 | KeyBank, major professional services hub |
| Mayfield Village (Progressive Insurance HQ) | 22 mi | 25-35 min | $75 | Progressive Corporation campus |
| Westlake | 10 mi | 14-20 min | $52 | Nordson, NACCO Industries, west suburban office parks |
| Independence (Corporate Pkwy) | 16 mi | 20-28 min | $65 | Sherwin-Williams HQ nearby, I-77 corridor offices |
| Akron | 40 mi | 45-55 min | $110 | Goodyear HQ, Bridgestone Americas, FirstEnergy |
| Strongsville | 18 mi | 22-30 min | $65 | Southwest suburb, I-71 South corridor |
Cleveland corporate destinations
| Company | Location | From CLE | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Clinic | University Circle area | 14 mi / 22 min | Healthcare, #1 cardiac hospital in the US |
| Progressive Corporation | Mayfield Village | 22 mi / 28 min | Insurance, Fortune 89 company |
| KeyCorp (KeyBank) | Downtown / Beachwood | 12-20 mi / 18-28 min | Banking / financial services |
| Sherwin-Williams HQ | Downtown Cleveland | 12 mi / 18 min | Paints / coatings, Fortune 177 |
| NASA Glenn Research Center | Brook Park (near CLE) | 3 mi / 6 min | Federal aerospace research, adjacent to airport |
| Eaton Corporation HQ | Beachwood | 20 mi / 28 min | Power management, Fortune 175 |
| Goodyear Tire & Rubber (Akron) | Akron | 40 mi / 50 min | Tire manufacturing, Fortune 225 |
CLE airport frequently asked questions
Does Cleveland Hopkins Airport (CLE) have light rail to downtown?+
Yes. The RTA Red Line connects CLE to downtown Cleveland's Tower City in 28 minutes for $2.50. Trains run every 15 minutes at peak and every 30 minutes off-peak. However, the Red Line does not serve Cleveland Clinic, University Circle, Beachwood, Westlake, or any eastern or western suburban destinations.
How many terminals does CLE Cleveland Hopkins Airport have?+
CLE has a single terminal building with four concourses: Concourse A (United, Air Canada), Concourse B (Delta, KLM international), Concourse C (American, Alaska), and Concourse D (Southwest, Spirit, Frontier). All concourses are connected post-security.
How far is CLE from Cleveland Clinic Main Campus?+
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus is 14 miles from CLE, typically 18-26 minutes via I-71 East. Cleveland Clinic is Ohio's largest employer and the country's top-ranked cardiac hospital, drawing thousands of patients and medical executives annually. Flat-rate car service from CLE to Cleveland Clinic is $60.
When is car service better than RTA Red Line from CLE?+
Car service is better when going to Cleveland Clinic, University Circle, Case Western, Beachwood, Westlake, Strongsville, Akron, or any destination not on the Red Line corridor. Also choose car service with luggage, when arriving after midnight, when traveling in a group, or when you need time-certain arrival for a medical appointment or corporate meeting.
How far is CLE from Beachwood and the eastern suburbs?+
Beachwood is 20 miles from CLE, typically 25-35 minutes via I-71 East and I-480 East. Beachwood and Mayfield Village host major corporate offices including Progressive Insurance and KeyBank. Car service to Beachwood from CLE runs $72-75 flat rate.
Where does Detailed Drivers pick up at CLE Airport?+
Detailed Drivers meets passengers at the ground transportation pickup area at the lower level of CLE's terminal. Your chauffeur holds a name sign and assists with luggage. All reservations include real-time flight tracking and 60 minutes of free wait time. Call (888) 420-0177 to book.
Book your CLE car service today
Flat-rate transfers to Cleveland Clinic, downtown, Beachwood, Progressive, and all Northeast Ohio destinations. Flight tracking included. 24/7 availability.