Yes, Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) has designated outdoor smoking areas. They sit curbside along the single terminal building, on both the upper ticketing level and the lower baggage-claim level, plus near the international concourse entrance, all before the TSA checkpoint.
Houston Hobby Airport Layout
Hobby is a compact, single-terminal airport and the main hub for Southwest Airlines in Houston. From the central ticketing hall, gates fan out along the concourse, with a dedicated five-gate international concourse (opened October 2015) at the west end of the building. Because everything sits under one roof, the walk from any gate back out to a curbside smoking area and through security again is short compared with larger hubs.
The gate areas and concourses are smoke-free. All smoking and vaping is at the outdoor curbside zones, so plan to step out and re-screen.
Terminal Curbside — Departures Level (Upper)
The upper level handles ticketing and departures. Designated outdoor smoking areas are along the curb outside the ticketing doors, where taxis and ride-shares drop off. Stand at least 25 feet from any entrance and use the marked spots with ash receptacles. This is the most convenient option if you want a cigarette before checking a bag and heading to security.
Terminal Curbside — Arrivals Level (Lower)
The lower level serves baggage claim and ground transportation. After collecting your bags, step outside near the arrivals doors to the curbside smoking areas by the ground-transportation lanes. If you have just landed and are waiting on a ride, this is the quickest place to light up.
International Concourse Entrance
The west-end international concourse, which opened in 2015 for Southwest’s international flights, has outdoor smoking areas near its entrance at street level. Arriving international passengers who have cleared customs can step outside here; departing passengers can use the same curbside zones before checking in.
Summary
| Area | Location | Smoking Allowed | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departures curbside | Upper level, outside ticketing doors | Outdoor only | Before security |
| Arrivals curbside | Lower level, outside baggage claim | Outdoor only | Before security |
| International concourse | Outside the west-end entrance | Outdoor only | Before security |
| Gate concourses | Past the TSA checkpoint | No smoking | Airside — no smoking |
For another Houston option, see our guide to smoking at George Bush Intercontinental (IAH).
For USA airport smoking rules, state vape rules, lighter rules at TSA, and other federal/state info, see our USA smoking guide.