Sleeping in Philadelphia Airport

Whether your situation calls for a short nap or an overnight slumber, this sleep guide will give you the essential information needed to prepare you for sleeping in Philadelphia Airport.

Our guide is updated with the help of airport sleepers who tell us about their experiences at Philadelphia Airport. If you have a tip to share, write a review to help us keep this sleep guide up-to-date!

Read the latest traveller reviews.

Sleeping in Philadelphia Airport Overnight

While the Philadelphia Airport is technically open 24-hours, some terminals may close overnight when Security checkpoints close. If you’re inside Security, you may have to relocate to the public side.

Locations & Seating

Of 7 terminals, the best sleeping spots are reportedly located in Terminal C. Seating is plentiful, and some seating options are armrest-free, so grab one if it’s open!

Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:

Cots may be available in the hallway connecting Terminals A and B.
Terminal B is quiet overnight, with few flights and little foot traffic.
Pre-Security, head to the International Arrivals Hall in Terminal A.
Pre-Security walkways tend to be a little quieter.

Rest Zones

At the time of this update, there are no designated rest zones within the airport.

Temperature

Expect cold nighttime temps, as air conditioning continues to run and fewer people are inside. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.

Lighting

Lighting is reportedly on and bright at all hours of the night. Come prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.

Noise

One of the biggest complaints here is the noise factor. Announcements and TVs blare non-stop, both day and night. Plan ahead: pack your earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.

Airport Staff

Airport staff seem to have no issue with sleepers and overnight campers – with some staff going out of their way to provide toiletries and sleep essentials! Swing by the information desks to see if the airport staff can give you a free sleep kit with a blanket and pillow and maybe even a toiletry kit. (Travellers have been successful in Terminals B, C, and F.)

Weather Delays

Philadelphia Airport sees more than its fair share of flight cancellations due to bad weather (summer thunderstorms and winter snow), but this means they are more prepared than other airports. When mass cancellations happen at Philadelphia Airport, the Hospitality Program provides passengers with snacks, pillows, and blankets, plus info on nearby hotels. To find them, ask an airline or airport employee or use a courtesy phone to reach someone who has access to this information.

Showers

Unfortunately, there are no showers available to freshen up.

Food & Drink

The airport offers plenty of options when it comes to restaurants/cafes, all at the same price in the city, thanks to an airport police of no-price-gouging. Unfortunately, it appears that none operate 24 hours. Plan ahead.

Hotels

Prefer some privacy and comfort? If you would like a good solid sleep between flights without the stress of leaving the airport altogether, you have a couple options. Minute Suites is located inside the airport, with 13 private suites available on an hourly or overnight basis. The rates aren’t cheap, but, when the suites are booked, they do rent out air mattresses for $40 and no time limit. For a more traditional hotel, check out the Philadelphia Airport Marriott, located across the sky bridge from Terminal B. Shuttle service also runs regularly. A few more hotels are located within a 6-minute drive of the airport. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations or visit Tripadvisor to find hotels deals at Philadelphia Airport.

Lounges

While Philadelphia Airport has a few lounges, none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you just want to relax in a comfortable seat, check out this list of lounges in our Philadelphia Airport Guide that you can pay to access.

Security & Safety

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Philadelphia Airport. As a precaution, here are a few tips to ensure you have a safe airport sleeping experience:

Know Where Security is Located. Whether you are sleeping in the airport by yourself or with friends, it is good to know where security is. Know where their office is located and look for video cameras in the spot you decide to stay the night. Ask security where it is safe to spend the night. They’ve probably seen many airport sleepers before you and they will direct you to a safe spot.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you are travelling alone we recommend that you sleep near other travellers or close to security.
Hide Your Valuables. Don’t leave all your mobile devices out in plain view. We have received reports from people who woke up with earphones and no ipod and a laptop bag strap and no laptop bag (or laptop). Same goes with important documents and money. Keep these secure on your body, so that no one can get them without waking you up.
Secure Your Bags. If you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something. If your bags have zippers turn the bag upside down (zippers to the floor) or sleep with your bag up against the wall, so that it would be hard for someone to access.
Choose to Stay Alert. If you don’t feel safe, drink coffee and stay awake and be alert. You can always sleep on the plane!

Pro-tip: If you are sleeping in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds waking people up as travellers begin to arrive for morning flights.