Guide To DFW International Airport
Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport
Address: 3200 East Airfield Drive, Dallas, TX 75261
Phone: 972-973-8888
http://directory.dfw.cbslocal.com/directory/listing/100/133274-Dallas-Fort-Worth-International-Dfw
Getting There
The airport entrance is off State Highway 183 on the south, or State Highway 114 or Interstate 635 on the north. International Parkway is the main road in which the airport is off of and it runs the entire length of the airport. If you are looking to get a parking area, terminal or hotel on the premises, they can be accessed from this road.
While State Highways 114 and 121 are undergoing improvements through year 2014, access to DFW airport via the north entrance may be tricky. Always allow yourself plenty of time to get to the airport, but add in an extra cushion if this is the route you'll use to arrive. To keep up with expected traffic and detours caused by the improvements, check in at:
http://www.dfwconnector.com/dfw_airport
Parking
Whether you're planning to leave your car in one of the parking lots or you're dropping a passenger off, it's wise to have cash with you. You'll have to pay at least $2 just to drop someone off, unless you have a TollTag, which will cut that charge down to $1 for the first 8 minutes you're inside the tollbooths.
There are 4 different ways to park at DFW- Valet, Terminal, Express and Remote. The Valet option is the most expensive; Remote Parking is the least expensive. If you're about to miss your flight and don't have time to find a parking spot yourself, consider Valet Parking a worthwhile investment over paying to rebook your flight ($22/day + tax). You don't have to make a reservation, making this a great option if you're in a time crunch and decide to use it last minute, but if you'd like to plan in advance, check out the DFW Airport Valet iPhone app. Better yet, go ahead and download the app and create your user profile now (it's free!), just in case you have to use it next time.
Don't discount Remote Parking as too much of a hassle, though. The busses that take you to and from the airport stop by frequently, and for only $8/day, it's an economical option. In the middle of the price range, Terminal Parking costs $19/day ($18 with TollTag) and Express Parking costs $10-$12/day, depending on if the spot is covered or not.
From Terminal to Gate
You'll want to confirm what terminal you're flying out of before arriving at the airport, or at least pay attention to the signs as you drive in that tell you what airlines fly out of each terminal. The easiest way to speed up your trip is arrive at the right place. That said, if for some reason you need to get from one terminal to another, you could take either Terminal Link outside of security (blue and green vans that arrive every 10 minutes) or Sky Link inside security (bi-directional train that arrives every 2 minutes). Both services are free.
As with all airports, give yourself plenty of time to get through security, be efficient, courteous and follow the rules.
When you finally make it past security and have a few minutes to relax or reply to emails, you'll find great options for meals, drinks and recharging your portable devices.
Here are some final tips:
If you're flying out of Terminal C, there are several Starbucks locations. If the first one you see after security has a long line, move on. There are a few more, and chances are the line is much shorter.
In Terminal B and C, you'll find the Pepsi Junior Flyer's Club, a play area for small children.
Urban Taco in Terminal C gets rave reviews from those I've polled, as does much of the dining in Terminal D.
Jill Krause is a blogger, product ambassador and mother to 2 young children. You can find her humorous take on life as a parent at www.BabyRabies.com.