Traveling via plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else.
The whole navigating the airport part? Less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful. To help make your time at Orlando International Airport (MCO) as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on the airport’s 160+ nonstop flights.
Current airport updates
In 2022, the airport unveiled its 1.8 million-sqft Terminal C, which added 15 new gates, 11 retail locations, 23 restaurants, and more. Now, MCO is adding new concessions and gate updates in Terminals A + B, plus parking guidance system technology in its garages.
What to know
- Parking | Not everyone has a bestie who will drop them off at the terminal at 3 a.m., but thankfully, MCO has options. See rates for short-term, long-term, and valet parking.
- TSA | MCO can get busy, so the airport advises giving yourself enough time to be at security two hours before your departure time. Pro tip: Enroll in TSA PreCheck for lower wait times.
- Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, these maps of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
- Food and drink | Fuel up for your flight at one of MCO’s 300+ restaurants or shops. The modern comfort food at Cask & Larder changes the “airport food” game, and you can pick up theme park souvenirs for your family at the Disney + Universal shops.
- Reminder | As of May 7, 2025, flyers now need a REAL ID (or another acceptable form of ID, like a passport) to board commercial flights in the US.
- Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your respective airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch, or by downloading the MCO App.
Nonstop flights
MCO offers nonstop flights to 160 destinations — 113 US destinations, plus 55 international destinations in 28 countries. Here are a few nonstop flights to consider for your next vacation.
Bonus: Get lower fares by signing up for Going. You’ll get emailed when flights are 40-90% cheaper than usual. Get a two-week free trial of the Premium plan, which lets you set custom destination flight alerts (score).
Pro tip: Remember that flight times and schedules will often change — you should rely on your respective airline for exact timing and to stay updated on any changes.
- Atlanta, GA | Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
- Austin, TX | Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
- Chicago, IL | American, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, United
- Los Angeles, CA | American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United
- New York, NY | American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit
- London, UK | British Airways, Norse Atlantic, Virgin Atlantic
- Paris, France | Air France
