Yes, you can smoke at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) at one of 10 designated outdoor smoking areas spread across the three terminals, all before security and at least 25 feet from entrances. The terminal interiors are smoke-free under New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act, so smoke landside before you screen.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is one of the busiest airports in the United States and a major gateway to the New York metropolitan area. Located in Newark, New Jersey, EWR handles roughly 48 million passengers a year across three terminals. Smoking is at the 10 designated outdoor smoking areas spread across those terminals, all of them landside, before security. Under New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act, the terminal buildings themselves are smoke-free, so plan your cigarette around the checkpoint rather than after it.
Smoking Policy at Newark Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport enforces a strict no-smoking policy inside all buildings. This covers every terminal, gate area, lounge, restaurant, restroom, corridor, and parking garage. The policy is mandated by the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act, which bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces statewide. E-cigarettes and vaping devices fall under the same rules, and fines apply for smoking indoors — the details are in our USA guide linked below. All designated outdoor smoking areas must be at least 25 feet from any entrance, exit, or air intake.
How Newark Airport Is Laid Out
EWR has three separate terminal buildings connected by the AirTrain, a free monorail system that also links to the NJ Transit and Amtrak rail station. Each terminal operates somewhat independently with its own check-in counters, TSA checkpoints, and gate areas. Moving between terminals requires riding the AirTrain, which takes roughly 5 to 10 minutes depending on your start and end point. This layout matters for smokers because once you exit security at one terminal, you will need to re-clear TSA at the same terminal to get back to your gate.
Terminal A
Terminal A is the newest building at Newark — a 33-gate terminal that opened in January 2023, replacing the 1973 original. It is now the airport’s main domestic terminal, handling Air Canada, American, Delta, JetBlue and some United flights.
Smoking areas: Outdoor designated areas are available at both the arrivals level (ground floor) and the departures level (upper floor). Look for marked smoking areas at least 25 feet from the entrance doors. There are roughly 3 designated spots around Terminal A.
Post-security smoking: None. There is no way to smoke after clearing TSA in Terminal A. You must exit to the landside outdoor areas.
Terminal B
Terminal B is the largest terminal at Newark by airline count and the airport’s main international building. Most foreign carriers work out of it — British Airways, Lufthansa, SWISS, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, TAP Portugal, Air France and Icelandair among them — alongside domestic operators such as Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, Frontier, Breeze and Sun Country. Because of the number of carriers, Terminal B tends to be the most crowded terminal at EWR, especially during morning and evening peak hours.
Smoking areas: Outdoor designated areas are located at both the arrivals and departures levels. Terminal B has the most smoking areas of the three terminals, with approximately 4 designated spots spread around the building. Signage directs you to approved locations.
Post-security smoking: None. No smoking or vaping is allowed anywhere past the TSA checkpoint. You must exit the secure area entirely.
Terminal C
Terminal C is the United Airlines hub at Newark and one of the busiest United facilities in the country. It handles both domestic and international United flights across three concourses: C1, C2, and C3. International departures and arrivals are concentrated in C3, which also houses the United Polaris Lounge and a United Club. None of the lounges permit smoking.
Smoking areas: Outdoor designated areas at the arrivals and departures levels, with roughly 3 designated spots around the terminal exterior. The smoking areas near the departures level are accessible before entering the building.
Post-security smoking: None. Concourses C1, C2, and C3 are entirely smoke-free. There are no smoking rooms, balconies, or outdoor terraces past security in any concourse.
Smoking During a Layover or Connection
This is the single most important piece of timing at Newark: every smoking area is landside, so a cigarette between flights means exiting the secure area, using an outdoor designated area, and then going back through TSA screening.
During off-peak hours, this round trip might take 20 to 30 minutes. During peak travel times, especially mornings (6 AM to 9 AM) and late afternoons (4 PM to 7 PM), TSA lines at EWR can stretch to 30 to 60+ minutes. Terminal C in particular is known for long security queues due to the volume of United flights. If you have a tight connection, smoking between flights is not realistic.
If you are arriving from abroad, you will already be landside once you clear the Federal Inspection Services area in your terminal. You can step outside to smoke before re-entering security for a connecting flight.
E-Cigarettes and Vaping
E-cigarettes, vape pens, and all electronic nicotine delivery devices are treated identically to traditional cigarettes at Newark Airport. They cannot be used inside any terminal building, and you must use the same designated outdoor smoking areas. This applies to heated tobacco products as well.
Summary
| Area | Smoking Areas | Location | Post-Security Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal A | ~3 outdoor areas | Arrivals and departures levels, 25 ft from doors | None |
| Terminal B | ~4 outdoor areas | Arrivals and departures levels, 25 ft from doors | None |
| Terminal C (C1/C2/C3) | ~3 outdoor areas | Arrivals and departures levels, 25 ft from doors | None |
| United Polaris Lounge | None | Terminal C3 | No smoking |
| All Indoor Areas | None | Entire airport | No smoking |
| E-Cigarettes/Vaping | Same rules as cigarettes | Outdoor areas only | None |
For USA airport smoking rules, state vape rules, lighter rules at TSA, and other federal/state info, see our USA smoking guide.