Flights to Mexico from the US

Quick answer: Cancun and Mexico City have nonstop flights from most large US airports, about four hours from New York and two to three from Texas. US citizens flying to Mexico need a US passport book, which must stay valid for the whole stay, and no visa for tourism. At Mexico's international airports immigration now issues a digital tourist form (FMMd) on arrival, and the officer sets how long you may stay.

Facts checked November 2026. Schedules and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline and the official government site before you travel.

Mexico flights at a glance

Where you can fly in Mexico

Each city links to every route guide we publish into that airport; each guide covers the airlines, connections and baggage rules, with live fares when the page loads.

• Flights to Cancun (CUN)13 route guides
• Flights to Mexico City (MEX)9 route guides

Entry rules for US citizens as of November 2026

US citizens do not need a visa to visit Mexico as tourists. To fly there you need a US passport book: the State Department notes that a passport card cannot be used to board a flight to Mexico. Mexico's consulates say there is no minimum validity rule, such as six months, but the passport must be valid for your whole stay. Officers may ask to see a return ticket or a hotel booking.

The tourist form is the Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM). For air arrivals, Mexican immigration (INM) now issues a digital version, the FMMd, during the immigration check at international airports, and some travellers go through e-gates that print a receipt with a QR code. The form can also be completed online through the official gob.mx link. Keep it: you may be asked for it when you leave.

The length of stay is set by the immigration officer on arrival and is not automatically the maximum. Make sure the date you are given covers your trip, because overstaying can bring fines. The tourist fee for air travellers is generally collected in the airline ticket; check the current amount with INM if your ticket does not show it.

Nonstop routes from the US

Cancun is the busiest Mexican airport for US travellers, with nonstops from most large US cities and many smaller ones, especially in winter. New York to Cancun takes about four hours on recent schedules from JFK and Newark, and flights from Houston, Dallas and other Texas cities are typically two to three hours.

Mexico City is the business and connection hub. Los Angeles to Mexico City runs about three and three-quarter hours southbound as of recent schedules, and the flight back is longer, and Aeromexico, Volaris and the big US airlines fly there from their hubs. Check with the airline for current schedules.

Aeromexico is Mexico's SkyTeam airline and Delta's main partner, so Delta and Aeromexico flights connect on one ticket. Volaris and Viva Aerobus are Mexico's low-cost airlines; their base fares leave out bags and seat choice, so compare the full trip.

Gateway airports and connecting onward

Cancun has several separate terminal buildings that are not connected airside, and different US airlines use different terminals. Check the terminal on your airline's app before you go, especially when someone is meeting you or you are booking a transfer to the Riviera Maya.

At Mexico City's main airport (MEX), Aeromexico and Delta use Terminal 2 with their SkyTeam partners, and most other airlines use Terminal 1, as of recent airport listings. The terminals are linked by an inter-terminal bus, which Metrobús has run since August 2026, so allow extra time if your connection changes terminal. Mexico City also has a second airport, Felipe Ángeles (NLU), well north of the city, so check which one your ticket uses.

For destinations beyond the gateways, such as Oaxaca, Mérida or Puerto Vallarta, you usually connect through Mexico City on Aeromexico or Volaris, unless your US city has a seasonal nonstop. Your first Mexican airport is where you clear immigration and customs, so collect your bag there and recheck it for the domestic flight.

Best and quietest months to fly

Winter is peak season on the Caribbean coast. From mid-December through spring break, Cancun and the Riviera Maya draw the most US visitors, and holiday dates fill early.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the most activity usually from August to October. Those months, outside US summer holidays, are typically the quieter and cheaper window for Cancun, but check the forecast and choose a flexible ticket or travel insurance.

Mexico City sits at high altitude and is mild most of the year. The rainy season brings afternoon storms from about June to September; the dry months from November to April are the most popular.

Booking tips for Mexico

Mexico does not use daylight saving time in most of the country. Cancun stays on Eastern Standard Time all year and Mexico City on Central Standard Time, so in the US summer the time difference with your home city can change by an hour. Check arrival times carefully when booking a hotel transfer.

For the Riviera Maya, compare Cancun with Tulum's newer airport if your hotel is far south, and check that the flight runs on your dates. For the Pacific coast, look for seasonal nonstops to Puerto Vallarta or Los Cabos before connecting through Mexico City.

On the way home, US Customs has no preclearance in Mexico, so you clear US immigration and customs at your first US airport. On a connecting trip, leave enough time for that and for rechecking your bag.

Getting from the airport to your hotel

At Cancun, ADO runs scheduled buses from the terminals to downtown Cancun and to Playa del Carmen, and most hotels in the Hotel Zone and the Riviera Maya are reached by pre-booked shuttle or taxi. Book transfers with a company you have checked in advance, and ignore offers in the arrivals hall between customs and the exit doors.

At Mexico City, the Metrobús Line 4 serves both terminals, and the Metro has a Terminal Aérea station next to Terminal 1. Authorized airport taxis are sold at booths inside the terminal; pay there rather than taking a cab offered at the curb.

Mexico City sits about 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level. Take the first day slowly, drink water and go easy on alcohol, especially if you are flying straight in from sea level.

Route guides to Mexico

Frequently asked questions