Stuck on a Layover? Secrets to Beat Boredom in 19 Major Airports

On the spectrum of fun, airport layovers fall somewhere between visiting the dentist and doing your taxes. They're an occasionally necessary, but often dreadfully boring, part of the travel experience. Although it doesn't have to all be that bad — if you know a few layover secrets and tricks. Many airports are striving to be more passenger-friendly. Here are some lesser known things to do when stuck in the biggest airports across the U.S. — from yoga rooms to athletic clubs to activities that don't involve working up a sweat — which will make your next airport layover far more bearable.

Traveling can be stressful even under the best of circumstances. So to help ease travel-related tension on your next layover in Denver International Airport, track down one of the airport's therapy dogs and spend some quality time hugging, petting or even taking a selfie with man's best friend. Members of the Canine Airport Therapy Squad (aka CATS) can be seen strolling around the airport wearing "Pet Me" vests. Not a dog person? There is one, and only one, therapy cat named Xeli, so you'll need a keen eye to spot her. But do try, because she's kind of famous.

As part of its art program, the Portland International Airport opened a 17-seat movie theater in early 2017 to show short films that tell stories specific to the Pacific Northwest. Located on Concourse C, the Hollywood Theater is free and allows travelers to drop in and watch a film while waiting for a flight. The films are all family-friendly and play repeatedly on a one-hour loop.

After being squeezed like sardines in an airplane, work out some of the kinks with a massage at Nashville International Airport. The Massage Bar has two kiosk locations — one in Terminal C near the food court, and the other in Terminal B. Seated and foot massages are offered at both locations. Prices start at $18.

Chicago O'Hare has the distinction of being home to the first aeroponic garden at any airport in the world. Located in the mezzanine level of the O'Hare Rotunda Building in Terminal 3, visitors can stroll through the garden and learn more about this unique and earth-friendly way of farming. The garden features plant roots suspended in 26 towers that provide more than 1,100 planting spots.

One can never have too many massages. And San Diego International Airport offers another opportunity to be pampered in between flights. There are two Be Relax Spas at the airport, both in Terminal 2, near gates 26 and 36. The spas take relaxation seriously, offering a full docket of services, including back, foot, chair, and table massages, as well as manicures, pedicures, and facials. 

Indulging in art is yet another way to unplug from the hassle of travel. And at San Francisco International Airport they take their art displays very seriously. Terminals 1, 2 and 3, as well as the International Terminal, feature a variety of impressive rotating exhibitions, from landscape photography to nature exhibits to animation. Each exhibit is labeled pre- or post-security to help airport visitors know which exhibits they'll be able to access. 

Located inside Terminal 4, and a little more than one-mile-long, the Sky Harbor Fitness Trail is part of FitPHX, a city of Phoenix program designed to keep travelers active in between flights. The trail runs from gate A30 to gate D8, and gives users a chance to exercise, while also providing views of a variety of landmarks including the downtown Phoenix skyline, Camelback Mountain, and more. Trail maps are available on the airport website.

If you have several hours to kill while passing through Orlando International Airport, consider booking a day use room at the Hyatt Regency hotel located inside the airport's main terminal. The hotel offers a large outdoor pool and sundeck, and a 24-hour fitness center, as well as the quiet of your own hotel room, all of which can make a layover much more bearable.

The exhibits of the Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum, inside Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport, detail southern Nevada's fascinating aviation history. The largest part of the museum's collection can be found in Terminal 1, above baggage claim. Covering about 3,000 square feet, the exhibit showcases aviation history from 1920 through the introduction of jets.

Located just across the street from Terminals 1, 2, and 3 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, the Hilton Athletic Club offers day memberships. For $20, visitors get access to a full fitness center, pool, sauna, and Jacuzzi. If relaxing, rather than exercising, is what you have in mind, the hotel also offers day use rooms for $89 on Saturdays and Sundays and $119 Monday through Friday.

Escape the airport noise and crowds by checking into a Minute Suite when passing through Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Located in Terminal D and Terminal A, Minute Suites offer 17 private suites, and at the Terminal D location there's also showers. Each suite includes a daybed sofa, a sound-masking system, and a computer equipped with a 32-inch screen and DirectTV. Suites cost $42 per hour.

The 39-foot wide, elliptical shaped water fountain at the center of Detroit International Airport's McNamara Terminal in Concourse A is both mesmerizing and relaxing for travelers. Inspired by the lines of a flight map, the fountain is made up of 45 leapfrog devices that shoot streams of water. Making this space even more inviting, the fountain is surrounded by a peaceful lounge that offers floor-to-ceiling views of the aircraft outside.

Xpress Spas are popping up at airports across the country and at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta there are three locations — in terminals A, C, and D. The spas offer everything from manicures and pedicures to massages and facials. Some even have showers.

Seattle-Tacoma Airport offers live concerts seven days a week. Introduced in 2012, the program is part of an effort to showcase the diverse music of the Northwest while also enhancing the experience of travelers. The concerts take place throughout the airport.

Those traveling through Boston with young children will find a small slice of peace visiting the Kidport play areas located in Logan International Airport terminals A, B, and C. The play spaces include climbing structures, slides, replicas of the airport's control tower, and replicas of vintage planes. Parents can unwind while kids play in a safe space.

Another popular pastime at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is perusing the $8 million art collection. The airport regularly displays works on loan from the Nasher Sculpture Center. To see some of this stunning art, visit the sculpture garden located outside Terminal D, between the terminal and the parking structure.

San Francisco International Airport gets rave reviews from parents traveling with children, and the Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum are a large part of the reason why. Located in the International Terminal, the library and museum offer exhibitions and educational programs free of charge. The exhibits are focused on the history of commercial air transport and the airline industry.

If you have enough time to spare, stretch your legs on the 12.5-mile hiking and biking trail at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Many sections of the trail are said to be surprisingly peaceful despite being so close to airport runways. The trail wraps around the entire airport and includes a children's playground. If you're feeling even more ambitious, bikes are available for rent just outside the international terminal.

Featuring mock airplanes, air traffic control towers, and slides, the children's play areas at Minneapolis St. Paul Airport offer a welcome break for both children and their parents. The play spaces, which are free, are located in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. An added bonus, the play space in Terminal 1 features a life size statue of Snoopy, whose creator was a Minnesota native.

Practice your downward dog in between flights at one of San Francisco International Airport's yoga rooms. The rooms, devoted to relaxation and self reflection, are located in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. There is no charge to use the yoga rooms.

Spend a few blissful moments relaxing in a massage chair at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Located throughout terminals A through E, the chairs provide five-minute, deep tissue massages.

San Francisco isn't the only airport in the country that understands the benefits of yoga between flights. Dallas-Fort Worth is home to two free yoga studios. Located in Terminal B and Terminal E, the studios include practice mats, exercise balls, stretch bands, and a 20-minute instructional yoga video.

Another airport that hasn't forgotten that kids also need to unwind while traveling, the Philadelphia International Airport has play space in Terminal A-East. The educational space includes a jumbo jet, control tower, and more. There are even radios in the jet and tower, allowing them to transmit to each other.

One of the best ways to pass time at Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is to explore the various sculptured gardens. Designed to display the influence of the Hawaiian, Chinese, and Japanese heritage upon island living, the gardens surround the airport's main terminal lobby and Y Concourse. Connected by pathways, bridges, and stepping stones, there are also waterways flowing among the gardens. Some also include sculptures.

If neither yoga nor sculpture interests you, Dallas-Fort Worth offers yet another option for weary travelers — Founders Plaza. The outdoor space has become a favorite of families, aviation fans, and airport employees. There's an observation area that offers views of the aircraft as they take off and land, picnic tables, telescopes, and historic information.