This Upstate NY airport is officially one of the best in the U.S., ranking finds

Rochester, N.Y. — Any traveler stuck navigating a chaotic crush at a crowded, mammoth airport knows bigger isn’t necessarily better.
Opting to fly out of a smaller airport, where open parking spots and terminal seats are plentiful, makes traveling much more pleasant. And Upstate New Yorkers don’t have to go far to get to one of the top small airports in the United States.
The Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport in Rochester, New York has been named one of the best small airports in the nation by USA Today’s 10Best. The Rochester airport was voted No. 7 in this year’s ranking — jumping up three spots from 10Best’s 2023 contest, where it ranked No. 10.
“Whether you’re headed into the heart of the Finger Lakes or the sprawling Lake Ontario coast, Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) is the perfect jumping-off point for an Upstate New York vacation,” 10Best wrote.
The airport was one of two small New York airports to make the list. Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma was voted No. 3 on the annual ranking.
While the Rochester airport is much smaller than giants like JFK and LAX, it is still well-used. More than 2.6 million people traveled through ROC in 2023 — the highest number of passengers to use the airport in over 15 years, Monroe County reported in a news release.
Just a 10-minute drive from downtown Rochester, the airport now boasts nonstop flights to Las Vegas, Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina. ROC also offers a free video arcade and a children’s play area, thanks to a partnership with the Strong National Museum of Play.
10Best also highlighted the airport’s Frederick Douglass Legacy Mural, which depicts the famous abolitionist (and the airport’s namesake) and his family in Rochester. The Rochester airport was renamed after Douglass in 2020 after a Flower City resident started a petition.
“It’s no surprise that the ROC Airport has received this national recognition for the second consecutive year,” Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said of ROC’s inclusion on the list of best airports. “From the unique local partnerships with the Strong Museum of Play and Greenlight Networks, to hearing loops for deaf and hard of hearing passengers, a modernized terminal, and so much more — the ROC Airport is among the best in the nation.”
The airports in the ranking were picked by an expert panel and voted on by readers. Each “excel with their commercial flight offerings, easy access, and amenities,” 10Best wrote.
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