Yes, you can smoke at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in the designated outdoor areas on the curbside of the main terminal building. These marked areas with ashtrays sit on both the upper departures level and the lower arrivals level, set back from the entrance doors. The terminal interior and all three gate concourses are smoke-free, with no indoor smoking rooms, cabins, or lounges anywhere in the facility.
How Southwest Florida Airport Is Laid Out
RSW is a single-terminal airport. The main terminal building handles ticketing, security screening and baggage claim, and three gate concourses — B, C and D — branch off it around a central atrium. Everything is on foot: there is no train, tram or shuttle between the concourses, and the two farthest gates are only about a six-to-ten-minute walk apart.
The detail that matters for a smoke break is that the concourses are not connected to each other airside, and each is reached through its own screening checkpoint. So if you step outside for a cigarette, come back through the checkpoint that serves your own concourse — crossing to a different concourse airside is not possible.
RSW is also in the middle of a large terminal expansion. A temporary Concourse C checkpoint opened in February 2026 while the airport works towards a single consolidated checkpoint, and a new Concourse E is due to open at the end of 2027. Checkpoint locations and curbside lanes can move during the works, so give yourself a little extra time on the way back in.
Concourse B
Smoking areas: Outdoors only — the curbside areas at the main terminal. After security: Concourse B is smoke-free throughout.
Concourse B holds gates B1 to B9 and is reached from the main terminal through its own checkpoint. It is completely enclosed with no outdoor access, so if your flight departs from Concourse B, a smoke break means walking back out to the main terminal and stepping outside to the curb.
Concourse C
Smoking areas: Outdoors only — the curbside areas at the main terminal. After security: Concourse C is smoke-free throughout.
Concourse C holds gates C1 to C9 and is similar in layout to Concourse B. It is the concourse most affected by the expansion works: a temporary checkpoint for Concourse C opened in February 2026, so check the signage on your way back in after a cigarette.
Concourse D
Smoking areas: Outdoors only — the curbside areas at the main terminal. After security: Concourse D is smoke-free throughout.
Concourse D handles additional domestic flights and is the last of the three gate concourses at RSW. Same story here: your smoking area is the curbside outside the main terminal, a short walk back from the gates.
Outside the Terminal
The designated outdoor smoking areas at RSW are on the curbside of the main terminal building. You will find them on both the upper departures level and the lower arrivals level. The lower level near baggage claim and ground transportation tends to be a bit less hectic and is a good choice for a smoke break.
Fort Myers has a subtropical climate, meaning it is hot and humid for much of the year with afternoon thunderstorms common from June through September. Winters are mild and dry, which is why so many snowbirds fly into RSW during peak season. The smoking areas are not covered, so summer storms and afternoon heat are something to be prepared for.
E-Cigarettes and Vaping
Vaping and e-cigarettes are welcome in the same designated outdoor areas as cigarettes at RSW, on the curbside of the main terminal. Indoors they follow the same rules as tobacco, in the main terminal and in all three concourses alike. TSA allows e-cigarettes and vape devices in carry-on bags; they are prohibited in checked luggage.
Summary
| Area | Smoking Allowed | Location Details |
|---|---|---|
| Main terminal (inside) | No | Entire building smoke-free |
| Concourses B, C, D | No | All three gate concourses are smoke-free |
| Upper level curbside | Yes | Designated areas outside departures at main terminal |
| Lower level curbside | Yes | Designated areas near baggage claim at main terminal |
| Restaurants and lounges | No | All indoor dining is smoke-free |
For USA airport smoking rules, state vape rules, lighter rules at TSA, and other federal/state info, see our USA smoking guide.