CHARLOTTE, NC βΒ Charlotte Douglas International Airport is preparing for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend, which is expected to draw a steady flow of travelers taking advantage of the Friday holiday.Β While passenger volumes are forecasted to be slightly lower than last year, CLT encourages travelers to plan ahead and use all available travel tools to help ensure a smooth and stress-free experience.
From Thursday, July 3 through Tuesday, July 8, CLT expects 925,000 passengers to travel through the Airportβa 2.5% decrease compared to the same period last year. The busiest travel days are projected to be Thursday, July 3; Sunday, July 6; and Monday, July 7. Nationwide, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) isΒ expecting to screen over 18.5 million passengersΒ during the holiday.
Summer travel kicked off over Memorial Day weekend, spanning Thursday, May 22, through Tuesday, May 27. During that period, CLT saw 993,700 arriving and departing passengersβa 7% decrease compared to the same time last year. The busiest travel days at TSA checkpoints were Thursday, May 22, and Friday, May 23, with more than 40,000 people screened.
For the first five months of 2025, CLTβs total passenger count was 22.2 million, an 8.4% decrease from last yearβs record-setting numbers.
To help passengers prepare, CLT offers the following travel tips:
- Passengers should reserve parking online in advance. Of the Airportβs 25,000 parking spots, 15,000 are available for online booking. TheΒ Royalty ProgramΒ allows travelers to earn rewards with points earned by booking CLT Airport parking online atΒ parkCLT.comΒ or on the CLT Airport app.
- Consider alternate routes in case of traffic congestion. Use a navigation app to avoid trouble spots.
- Plan to reach your parking space thirty minutes before your desired arrival time at the terminal.
- BeΒ inside the terminal at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.
- REAL IDΒ enforcement began May 7 β VisitΒ tsa.govΒ for up-to-date guidance on prohibited items and screening procedures. All concourses and aircraft gates are accessible from any security checkpoint.
Updates with any significant traffic and passenger impacts will be posted in real-time to the Airportβs social media accounts (@cltairport).