If you’re looking for a fantastic way to spend a fun-filled day out, we’ve got just the spot for you: the overlook and playground at Charlotte Douglas International Airport! We checked out all the fun aviation-themed playground equipment and loved the view of the airport with all the planes landing and taking off at one of the world’s busiest airports.
Watch! Our Visit to the CLT Airport Overlook
A Special Airport Park: Charlotte
We’ve visited several airport playgrounds at smaller municipal airports, like Greenville, South Carolina’s Runway Park, or Spartanburg’s Airport Park. But we’ve never been to an airport park at a large, busy airport like CLT, and what a view you get from the park. You can see everything including the huge jets that you don’t get to see at the smaller airport parks. They were so cool to watch!
The park is set up high above the airport tarmac and runways. It was so fun watching the large jets land and take off. No matter which direction you look you’ll see runways, parked planes, taxiing planes, and planes landing and taking off.
Aviation Playground: CLT Airport Overlook, Charlotte NC
The new airport overlook includes a really lovely airport-themed playground space. Designed with the spirit of aviation in mind, it features everything from airplane-themed climbing structures to slides and even a mock runway with a mini baggage cart and fuel truck to explore.
Little pilots can navigate through jet bridges and the control tower, climb, slide, and take a break to watch the planes coming in.
Things to Know: The Quick Details About the Charlotte Airport Overlook Park
- Bathrooms are on site
- Shade is limited! Wear sunscreen and bring lots of water to drink.
- A picnic shelter is adjacent to the park.
- There are 2 playgrounds, one for kids under 12 and one for kids under 5. They are side by side and both are aviation-themed. Playgrounds are NOT fenced in but parents can keep an eye on both playgrounds at the same time.
- The playground is on a rubber solid surface, with artificial turf extending out into the open areas of the park.
Paved Path, Memorial, and Educational Signage
The park also features a nice paved path around the overlook’s perimeter allowing you to see all angles of the tarmac and runways. This is lined with signs about the types of planes that fly in and out of CLT, plus how runways operate. Along the path there is also a memorial to USAir Flight 1016 that crashed at CLT 1994.
F4 Phantom II
The airport overlook park in Charlotte also has a real F-4 Phantom II located beside the picnic shelter near the playgrounds. The F-4 Phantom II is a retired military jet that saw extensive service in the United States Air Force (USAF), Navy (USN), and Marine Corps (USMC) as well as with many other air forces around the world.
This plane was used in the Vietnam War and the Cold War. It was a versatile aircraft known for its speed, maneuverability, and ability to carry a wide range of weapons.
The plane is a static display allowing visitors to get up close to the aircraft. There are several signs and plaques that will tell you more about this plane and its history. In our opinion, this is one of the special highlights of this park and something both kids and adults will enjoy.
Plus, imagine being a little kid playing on an aviation-themed playground with a real fighter jet sitting just across your pretend runway. It really doesn’t get much better than that.
Picnics and food trucks
The Overlook park has plenty of space to enjoy a picnic while playing and watching the planes. Or, if you’re lucky enough to visit the park when one of Charlotte’s local food trucks is on-site, you can enjoy something delicious. Find the schedule of food trucks at the CLT Overlook.
Visit the CLT Airport Overlook
The overlook has lots of paved parking.
The overlook is open 8 am to 10 pm daily and it is FREE to visit.
CLT Airport Overlook
5130 Airport Overlook Drive, Charlotte
More Planes Nearby
Make the day complete with a visit to the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, just 10 minutes down the road, where you’ll see 40+ planes and learn all about aviation history, planes, flight, and more!
The parks and playgrounds in Charlotte are super fun!
Check out the Kidding Around® Guide to Parks in Charlotte, NC.
Find more fun things to do in Charlotte, NC!
