MDT airport code: Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown
MDT is the three-letter passenger airport code for Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania. The airport serves the Harrisburg and Central Pennsylvania region but is physically located in the Middletown area, which is where the letters MDT come from.
What airport is MDT?
MDT is Harrisburg International Airport, the commercial airport serving Harrisburg and much of Central Pennsylvania. For normal passenger travel, MDT is the code you enter in airline booking websites, flight-status searches, travel apps and airport pickup information.
The airport is associated with Harrisburg because it serves the state-capital region, but it is located near Middletown rather than in downtown Harrisburg. Harrisburg International Airport itself explains that the letters MDT refer to Middletown.
Airport live checks & travel tools
Use current local conditions, official live-status links and planning calculators before you travel. Airline gate, terminal and flight times can change; your carrier remains the final source for flight-specific details.
Live flight center
Check the airport's official flight board, then confirm any last-minute gate or timing change with the airline.
Current airport-area weather
Useful for planning your trip to the airport. This is model-based local weather, not an aviation METAR or an airline operational forecast.
Quick official checks
Open the source that matches the decision you are making right now.
When should I reach the airport?
A planning estimate based on flight type and common time buffers. Always increase the buffer for severe weather, major holidays, unusual airport alerts or airline instructions.
Connection-risk checker
This is a planning heuristic, not an airline minimum-connection-time rule. International arrivals that require U.S. entry processing, baggage claim and security can need substantially more time.
Parking cost estimator
Uses the airport-specific rates stored in this article's configuration. Rates can change; verify availability and final pricing on the official parking page before driving in.
Passenger pickup readiness
Landing time is not curb-ready time. Add time for taxiing, deplaning, baggage claim, customs when applicable and walking to the correct pickup zone.
MDT vs KMDT vs HIA: which one should you use?
Travelers can encounter three different abbreviations for the same airport. They are related, but they serve different purposes.
MDT
Use MDT for airline reservations, baggage tags, boarding information, flight-status searches, hotel shuttle instructions and most consumer travel tools.
KMDT
KMDT is the four-letter ICAO identifier used in aviation systems, charts, weather products and flight-planning references. FAA terminal-procedure records display the airport as MDT (KMDT).
HIA
HIA is the airport’s common local abbreviation for Harrisburg International Airport. You will see it on the official FlyHIA website, but it is not the code normally entered in airline booking fields.
| Identifier | Meaning | Best use | Passenger booking? |
|---|---|---|---|
| MDT | Harrisburg International Airport passenger/FAA identifier | Tickets, baggage, airline apps, flight status | Yes |
| KMDT | ICAO location identifier | Charts, aviation weather and flight planning | Normally no |
| HIA | Airport-name abbreviation | Local airport branding and conversation | No |
Where is MDT airport?
Harrisburg International Airport serves Harrisburg, Hershey, Lancaster and the wider Central Pennsylvania region, but the terminal is near Middletown in Dauphin County. This distinction matters when using GPS or arranging a ride because searching only for “Harrisburg airport” can produce several aviation-related results.
Use this for GPS
The airport’s official directions page tells drivers to use 510 Airport Drive, Middletown, PA 17057 for GPS navigation.
Administrative mailing address
SARAA also uses One Terminal Drive, Suite 300, Middletown, PA 17057 for administrative and mailing purposes. That is different from the GPS address published for passenger directions.
Road access is available from the Harrisburg-area interstate network, including I-83 and I-283, along with the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Route 230. On the airport campus, follow signs for your specific parking or terminal destination rather than relying solely on the final instruction from a mapping app.
How early should you arrive at MDT?
Harrisburg International Airport’s current passenger guidance recommends planning to arrive about two hours before scheduled departure. This is especially useful during the airport’s busier early-morning and afternoon periods.
Your airline’s check-in and checked-bag deadlines remain controlling. HIA’s travel guidance says checked luggage should be in airline possession at least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, but individual carriers can impose stricter requirements.
Confirm the flight before leaving home
Check your airline app and the official airport flight-status page. A static airport guide cannot reliably confirm a same-day gate, delay, aircraft change or cancellation.
Allow for your parking method
Garage users can reach the terminal through the connected Skybridge. Long-term parking requires an additional shuttle ride, so build that transfer into your arrival time.
Complete airline tasks before security
Check bags, resolve ticketing problems and obtain any required boarding documents before joining the screening line.
Check current TSA rules
HIA offers TSA PreCheck lanes during selected hours, but the airport does not operate a TSA PreCheck enrollment office. Screening availability and requirements should be checked close to travel time.
MDT terminal layout and traveler essentials
Harrisburg International Airport uses a relatively compact passenger terminal with A, B and C concourse areas. The airport publishes current terminal, campus and parking-garage maps, which are more reliable than older third-party diagrams when a restaurant, gate or service location has changed.
Terminal access
The parking garage connects to the terminal by a climate-controlled Skybridge, which also serves as the main path between parking, ground transportation and the terminal.
Free Wi-Fi
The airport provides free wireless internet throughout the terminal. The official network is listed as HIA FREE WIFI.
Dining and shopping
Food, coffee, snacks and shopping are available in the terminal. Some dining and retail services are beyond security and therefore available only to ticketed passengers.
A private Mamava nursing and pumping pod is listed at Gate B2. Travelers who depend on a particular restaurant, lounge, service counter or concession should check the airport’s current amenities pages because operating hours can change with flight schedules.
Parking at Harrisburg International Airport
HIA currently publishes two primary paid passenger parking choices: the terminal garage and the long-term lot. Both are open 24 hours a day, but their price and terminal access are different.
Parking garage
Current published garage pricing starts at $3 for the first 30 minutes, $5 through the first hour and $2 for each additional hour, up to the daily maximum.
The garage connects to the terminal through covered routes and the climate-controlled Skybridge.
Long-term parking
The long-term lot is about one mile east of the terminal on Airport Drive. Complimentary airport shuttles operate around the clock and the airport says they normally depart about every 15 minutes.
Cell phone waiting lot
Drivers meeting an arriving passenger can use the free cell phone lot for a short wait. The airport’s passenger guidance allows up to 30 minutes, and the vehicle must remain attended.
Parking assistance
HIA says parking staff can help with a dead battery, locating a vehicle or changing a flat tire. Oversize vehicles and stays longer than 60 consecutive days should be arranged with airport parking staff in advance.
Ground transportation from MDT
HIA’s main ground-transportation center is on the first floor of the parking garage. Rental cars, taxis, bus information and several other services are organized around this area, while rideshare pickup uses a different garage level.
Rental cars
Rental-car counters and vehicle access are centered in the transportation center on the first floor of the garage. Rental-company hours and late-return procedures can differ, so confirm them with the company handling your reservation.
Uber, Lyft and GoVysh
The airport directs app-based rideshare passengers to the designated pickup area on the third floor of the parking garage. Rideshare curbside pickups at the terminal are not permitted.
rabbittransit Route 7
HIA lists rabbittransit Route 7 for service to and from the airport. The airport currently describes service as operating Monday through Saturday with no Sunday service, but travelers should verify the current timetable and fare directly with rabbittransit before depending on it.
Amtrak access
The airport states that Middletown’s Amtrak station is approximately one mile from HIA. Downtown Harrisburg also has an Amtrak station, so confirm which station fits your itinerary before arranging the airport transfer.
MDT pickup and drop-off: where should you go?
Drivers may drop off or pick up passengers at the terminal curb while actively loading or unloading. Vehicles cannot be left unattended at the terminal curb.
Check the arriving flight first
Do not leave solely because the scheduled arrival time has passed. Confirm the flight’s latest status and allow time for taxiing, deplaning and checked baggage.
Wait in the cell phone lot if needed
The airport’s free waiting lot is intended for drivers waiting for an arriving traveler. Stay with the vehicle and have the passenger contact you after reaching the pickup stage of the trip.
Use the terminal curb for active pickup
Once your traveler is ready, drive to the appropriate terminal pickup area. Do not park or wait unattended at the curb.
If you prefer to walk inside, the airport identifies a meet-and-greet area on the second floor between the food-court entrance and the security checkpoint, marked by the large floor mosaic.
Airlines serving MDT
HIA’s current airline-information page lists Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Route schedules and seasonal destinations change, so use the airport’s current airline page or the operating carrier’s website rather than relying on an old destination list.
Before booking
Search for MDT and confirm that the reservation identifies Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania. This is especially important when a destination name resembles Harrisburg or when a travel site suggests several regional airports.
Delayed or missing baggage
The airline—not the airport authority—handles delayed and missing checked bags. File the claim with the carrier’s baggage office, ticket counter, website or baggage-service channel as instructed by your airline.
Accessibility and mobility assistance at MDT
Travelers who need a wheelchair or airline assistance should request it through their airline, preferably before travel. HIA says wheelchairs are supplied by the airlines and can also be requested at the ticket counter.
Skycaps
Skycaps are normally stationed near the ticket counters on the first floor and can assist with luggage and physical movement through the terminal.
Garage assistance
Passengers who need a Skycap in the parking garage can request assistance through airport police dispatch. Plan extra time rather than waiting until the airline’s check-in deadline is close.
TDD/TTY
The airport lists a TDD/TTY phone in baggage claim for contacting hotel shuttles and rental-car providers.
Common MDT airport code mistakes
Entering HIA in a booking engine
Fix: use MDT for commercial passenger flight searches.
Using KMDT for a normal reservation
Fix: KMDT is the ICAO identifier. Most airline passengers need MDT.
Driving to the administrative address
Fix: for passenger GPS directions, the airport publishes 510 Airport Drive, Middletown, PA 17057.
Confusing Harrisburg with Harrisonburg
Fix: MDT is Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Harrisonburg, Virginia is a different destination and airport market.
Arriving two hours early but forgetting parking time
Fix: if using the long-term lot, include the shuttle ride before your terminal arrival buffer.
Waiting curbside for a rideshare
Fix: app-based rideshare pickup is in the designated third-floor garage area, not at the normal passenger curb.
Compare MDT with other U.S. airport codes
MDT is one of several commercial passenger airport codes used in Pennsylvania. If you are comparing airports for a trip, look beyond the airfare and include driving time, parking, ground transportation and the actual schedule you can book.
MDT airport code FAQs
What airport code is MDT?
MDT is the passenger airport code for Harrisburg International Airport in the Middletown area of Pennsylvania.
What is the IATA code for Harrisburg International Airport?
The three-letter IATA passenger code is MDT. It is the code normally used for airline reservations, boarding information and checked baggage.
What is the ICAO code for MDT?
The ICAO identifier for Harrisburg International Airport is KMDT. FAA aviation procedure records show the airport as MDT (KMDT).
Why is Harrisburg Airport code MDT?
Harrisburg International Airport explains that MDT refers to Middletown, the community where the airport is located outside Harrisburg.
Is HIA the same airport as MDT?
Yes. HIA is a common abbreviation and brand name for Harrisburg International Airport, while MDT is the code passengers normally use to book flights.
Where is MDT airport located?
MDT is near Middletown in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, serving Harrisburg and the wider Central Pennsylvania region. The airport recommends 510 Airport Drive, Middletown, PA 17057 for GPS directions.
How early should I arrive at Harrisburg International Airport?
The airport recommends planning to arrive about two hours before scheduled departure. Add more buffer when using long-term parking, checking baggage or traveling during difficult weather or road conditions.
How much is parking at MDT?
At the time this guide was researched, HIA published a $20 maximum per 24 hours for the garage and a $10 flat 24-hour rate for long-term parking. Check the official airport parking page before travel because rates can change.
Where do Uber and Lyft pick up at MDT?
The airport directs Uber, Lyft and GoVysh passengers to the designated rideshare pickup area on the third floor of the parking garage. Rideshare curbside pickups are not permitted.
Is there public transportation from MDT?
Yes. HIA lists rabbittransit Route 7 for airport bus service, and the Middletown Amtrak station is approximately one mile from the airport. Verify current bus and train schedules before travel.
Official sources for current MDT information
The airport code itself is stable, but flights, parking availability, transportation schedules, security procedures, airline routes and terminal services can change. Use these primary sources for the part of your trip that depends on current information.
Airport overview, flights, traveler information and current HIA services.
MDT code meaning, arrival guidance, passenger meeting information and airport operating details.
Garage and long-term rates, cell phone lot, payment methods, shuttle service and parking assistance.
Rental cars, taxis, rideshare pickup, bus service, rail connections and hotel transportation.
Official terminal, campus and parking-garage layouts.
Airport-specific security guidance and TSA PreCheck information.
Wheelchairs, Skycaps, parking-garage assistance and TDD/TTY information.
Authoritative aviation-reference material identifying Harrisburg International as MDT (KMDT).
Before you leave for MDT
Confirm that your reservation says MDT — Harrisburg International Airport, check your airline for the latest flight status, choose your parking or transportation method, and verify any schedule-sensitive service before starting the trip. For GPS driving directions, use the passenger address published by HIA rather than assuming the airport is in downtown Harrisburg.