No Mississippi Airport in Top 100. New Orleans Is the Best Nearby Deal.

Mississippi has no commercial airports among the 100 included in the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' national airfare rankings, according to data analyzed by Only In Your State. For Mississippi travelers, that means looking to neighboring states for departure options—and some of those options are meaningfully better than average.

The two closest major airports to most of Mississippi's population centers are Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) and Memphis International Airport (MEM), and they present very different fare profiles.

New Orleans: One of the Country's Best-Value Airports

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) ranked 16th most affordable nationally in 2025, averaging $333.40 per domestic ticket. That's $53.60 below the national average—a meaningful savings for any traveler, and one of the better departure points in the entire South.

For Mississippi residents in the southern part of the state, New Orleans is the natural airport choice, and the data confirms it's a good one. The tourism-driven fare competition at MSY benefits everyone departing from there, regardless of their final destination.

Memphis: A Higher Cost but More Accessible Option

Memphis International Airport (MEM) averaged $415.81 in 2025, ranking 71st nationally—$28.81 above the national average. It's not cheap, but it's more centrally located for many Mississippi residents, particularly those in the northern and central parts of the state.

For a trip where New Orleans isn't a realistic drive, Memphis is the practical alternative. At $415.81, it's not dramatically expensive by national standards, but it does cost more than the national average.

For residents in coastal or southern Mississippi towns like Gulfport, Biloxi, and Hattiesburg, driving across state lines to New Orleans is often quicker and cheaper than flying out of smaller regional hubs within state lines. While regional airports offer convenience and shorter security lines, the limited carrier competition frequently drives up base ticket prices. Expanding your search to include a larger hub like MSY can quickly offset the extra driving time, particularly when booking travel for whole families or groups where savings multiply across multiple tickets.

Similarly, travelers in northern Mississippi near Tupelo, Oxford, or Southaven often find Memphis International Airport their most seamless gateway, despite its slightly higher cost profile. Memphis offers robust regional connectivity and a wider variety of direct routes that save precious travel time compared to layover-heavy itineraries from local airfields. Weighing the trade-off between driving distance, parking rates, and flight costs allows Mississippi residents to make the most cost-effective choice for every trip.

This data reflects 2025 averages from the Department of Transportation, released in May 2026. For Mississippi travelers, the clearest takeaway is that New Orleans is the region's best airfare value, and the drive to MSY is often worth it for trips where saving $80 or more per ticket makes a difference. Smart booking habits and knowing how to find cheap flights can help at either airport.

To get the most from your next departure, explore how to find cheap flights and unexpected ways to cut travel costs to help stretch your budget further once you've already got a head start.

To see how every major airport in the country compares—plus the full methodology behind the data—explore the complete U.S. Airport Cost Rankings for 2026.