Buffalo Airport Map & Terminal Guide 2026

Buffalo Airport Map

The Buffalo Airport map below shows the full layout of Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF/KBUF). Located in Cheektowaga, New York, BUF is the busiest airport in Upstate New York, surpassing five million passengers in 2024. It serves the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metro area and attracts a large number of Canadian travellers from Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe region, just 10 miles from the Peace Bridge border crossing.

As you can see on the Buffalo Airport map, the layout is simple: one terminal building with 24 gates, a single security checkpoint on the upper level, and baggage claim on the lower level. Seven airlines — Southwest, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Frontier and Sun Country — serve up to 100 nonstop flights per day to 29+ destinations. Study the BUF airport map before your trip to know your gate area and parking lot.

Buffalo Airport Location Map

Buffalo Niagara International Airport is located about 11 miles (18 km) east of downtown Buffalo in the town of Cheektowaga, New York. The Buffalo Airport location map below shows BUF’s position relative to the city, Niagara Falls and the Canadian border. The airport is accessed via Genesee Street, connecting to I-90 (New York State Thruway), I-290 (to Niagara Falls) and I-190 (to downtown and the Peace Bridge to Canada).

Buffalo Airport Terminal

Buffalo Niagara International Airport has a single terminal building spanning approximately 462,000 square feet. The Buffalo airport terminal is divided into two levels: the upper level for ticketing, check-in, security and departure gates, and the lower level for baggage claim, ground transportation and arrivals. The terminal was built in 1997 and expanded to 24 gates in 2001, with an $80 million renovation completed in 2021 that modernised baggage claim and added new passenger walkways.

Terminal Levels

Buffalo Airport Security Checkpoint

Buffalo Airport has one central security checkpoint on the upper level of the terminal. TSA PreCheck lanes are available for enrolled travellers. CLEAR is not offered at BUF. After clearing security, passengers proceed directly to their departure gate — no train or shuttle required, as all 24 gates are within the same terminal building.

Buffalo Airport Gates & Airlines

All 24 gates at Buffalo Airport are within the single terminal, making connections and navigation straightforward. As shown on the Buffalo Airport map, gates are numbered 1 through 26 (some numbers are not in use). Seven airlines serve BUF with nonstop flights to destinations across the eastern US, Florida, the Midwest and beyond.

Nonstop Destinations

From BUF, you can fly nonstop to 29+ destinations including New York (JFK and LaGuardia), Chicago (O’Hare and Midway), Atlanta, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Denver, Dallas, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Boston, Tampa, Nashville, Los Angeles and San Juan (Puerto Rico). Many Florida and sun destinations are seasonal. Check buffaloairport.com for current route information.

Buffalo Airport Baggage Claim

Baggage claim is on the lower level of the terminal. After landing, follow signs down to one of three carousel areas. Monitors display carousel assignments by flight number.

Getting to Buffalo Airport

All ground transportation departs from the lower level (arrivals) of the terminal. The NFTA bus stop, ride-share zones, taxi stands and rental car counters are all accessible from the baggage claim area.

Buffalo Airport Parking

BUF offers four on-site parking options plus a free cell phone waiting lot. Follow the colour-coded signs: red for the garage, green for preferred, orange for long-term, and blue for economy. Pre-book at parking.buffaloairport.com to reserve a garage spot.

Buffalo Airport Map — Arrivals

If you are arriving at Buffalo Airport or meeting a passenger, the arrivals area is on the lower level. After landing, passengers walk from their gate to the lower-level escalators or elevators, then proceed to their assigned baggage claim area (A, B or C). International arrivals clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the terminal before proceeding to baggage claim.

Ground Transportation from Arrivals

From the lower level, exit the terminal to find the NFTA bus stop (to the left), ride-share/taxi zones (outside baggage claim), and rental car counters (inside the terminal). Hotel shuttles and commercial shuttles also pick up from the lower-level kerb. If someone is collecting you by car, direct them to the free Cell Phone Lot on Holtz Road.

Buffalo Airport Map — Departures

Departing passengers should enter the terminal on the upper level via curbside drop-off or the parking garage walkway. Check in at your airline’s ticket counter, then proceed to the single central security checkpoint. After clearing security, walk directly to your gate — all 24 gates are on the same level with no shuttle or train required. Moving walkways help speed up the walk to farther gates.

Recommended Arrival Times

Arrive at least 90 minutes before domestic flights and two hours before any flights with connections. BUF is a compact airport with generally short security wait times, but early-morning flights and holiday periods can see longer queues. Check-in counters typically close 45 minutes before departure.

Insider Tips

Buffalo weather can be unpredictable — winter snowstorms and lake-effect snow can cause delays, so always check your flight status before heading to the airport. BUF was ranked number one in customer satisfaction among medium-hub airports in North America by J.D. Power — it’s a small, friendly airport where you can get from the kerb to your gate quickly. Grab authentic Buffalo wings at the Anchor Bar outlet inside the terminal. If you’re heading to Niagara Falls, the drive is about 35 minutes north via I-190. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal. Refer to the Buffalo Airport map above to plan your route.