Connecting at Dallas Fort Worth: changing terminals and how much time you need

At Dallas Fort Worth, changing terminals is normal, and you can do it without leaving security. An elevated train inside security links all five terminals (A, B, C, D and E). It runs 24 hours a day, every two minutes, and the airport says the average ride is five minutes, nine at most between the farthest points. So on a domestic connection, the time you need depends mainly on your first flight arriving on time and how far your next gate is. International arrivals clear customs in Terminal D first, which takes longer.

How much time does the airport say you need?

DFW doesn't publish a minimum connection time. Two numbers help you judge:

• Train ride: about 5 minutes on average, 9 minutes at most, with a train every two minutes.
• Construction: during overnight train work in February 2026, the airport asked passengers to allow additional time when connecting between terminals. Check for current notices before you fly.

If both flights are on one ticket, the airline sold you a connection that meets its minimum for DFW and must rebook you if you miss it. Read is a 1-hour layover enough?

Changing terminals

• The train inside security stops twice in each terminal. Use the stop closest to your gate.
• Walking is possible inside security between Terminals A, B, C and D. Terminal E can only be reached airside by train.
• Don't take the outside shuttle on a connection. The orange shuttle buses run outside security, take 10 to 20 minutes, and mean going through security again.
• Check your terminal and gate on your boarding pass or in your airline's app before you land.

Arriving from another country

International arrivals clear US Customs and Border Protection on the lower level of Terminal D. Color-coded signs send you to the right line:

• Orange: US and Canadian citizens and US permanent residents
• Purple: Visa Waiver Program and B1/B2 visitors, to the passport kiosks
• Gray: other visitors, to the officer booths
• Blue: trusted traveler members, to their kiosks

After passport control you collect your checked bags, clear customs, recheck them and go through TSA security again before your next flight. Read international to domestic connections. On selected flights from London Heathrow, a federal pilot lets connecting passengers skip TSA rescreening.

What's changing in 2026 and 2027

• Terminal C is being rebuilt in phases. Nine new and rebuilt gates opened on June 8, 2026. The C30 check-in area and checkpoint are closed for construction, while both Terminal C train stations stay open.
• A sixth terminal, Terminal F, is expected to open its first 15 gates in 2027, with its own train station.

Gates can move during construction, so check your gate on the day.

Follow the first flight

Add both flights to FlyingOver before you travel. You'll follow the first flight offline and see its estimated arrival, and with Premium, connection guidance shows whether your layover looks comfortable, whether you need to keep moving or whether you should go directly to the gate.