Inverness Airport is at Dalcross, about nine miles north-east of Inverness, just off the A96 towards Nairn. This page covers the roads in, the sat-nav postcode, dropping off and picking up, the train to Inverness Airport station and the bus link from it, the local buses and taxis, and then what there is to eat and buy once you are inside. It is a small, single-terminal airport, so most of this is short.
By car: the postcode and the last few miles
For sat-nav, use IV2 7JB. If you have booked parking away from the airport, use the postcode in your booking confirmation.
Every route ends on the A96. The airport has its own access road, Inverness Airport Way, which leaves the A96 between Inverness and Nairn and runs north to the terminal. Follow the airport signs from the A96 in either direction.
Routes from each direction
- From the south (Perth, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aviemore): take the A9 north to Inverness. At the Raigmore Interchange on the edge of the city, where the A96 begins, turn east onto the A96 towards Nairn and Aberdeen, then follow the signs for the airport.
- From the north (the Black Isle, Dingwall, Wick, Thurso): come south on the A9 over the Kessock Bridge to the Raigmore Interchange, then take the A96 east.
- From the east (Aberdeen, Elgin, Forres, Nairn): the A96 runs west from Aberdeen through Elgin and Nairn. The airport turn comes after Nairn, before you reach Inverness.
- From Inverness city centre: head east to the Raigmore Interchange and take the A96 towards Nairn. The airport says a taxi from the city centre takes about 20 minutes.
Much of the A96 is single carriageway, and journeys along it can be slow behind lorries and in poor weather. Traffic Scotland shows live roadworks and delays.
Dropping off and picking up
Follow the green signs to the free drop-off area, which is in one of the short stay car parks, about a five-minute walk from the terminal. You can stay there free for up to 15 minutes. After that the normal car park charges apply, and you cannot come back within an hour.
Blue Badge holders, and passengers using the airport's special assistance service, can park free for up to 20 minutes in the premium car park directly in front of the terminal.
By train: Inverness Airport station
Inverness Airport station opened in 2023 on the ScotRail line between Inverness and Aberdeen. The airport says the journey from Inverness station in the city centre takes about 11 minutes.
The station is not beside the terminal. You have two ways to cover the gap:
- Walk: about 20 minutes on a signed path around the edge of the airfield. It is lit but not covered, so take care in bad weather.
- Bus: Stagecoach buses 1 and 13 call at the station and then at the terminal, about six minutes later. Check that a bus is due before you rely on it, because they do not meet every train.
ScotRail's Passenger Assist service is available between Inverness and the airport station; book it at least two hours before you travel, or before 22:00 the day before an early journey.
By bus
Stagecoach runs the buses between the city and the terminal.
- 1: the most direct route. It runs roughly hourly through the day from Queensgate in the city centre, via Inverness Shopping Park, Culloden and Inverness Airport station, and takes about 45 minutes to the terminal. Some journeys continue to Ardersier and Nairn.
- 13: a few journeys a day, via Raigmore Hospital, Westhill and Croy, taking about an hour from the city centre.
- 10A: Stagecoach lists this as a direct link to the airport from Elgin and Nairn, aimed at early morning and late night flights.
The buses take contactless payment and have luggage racks. There is a reduced service on Sundays, and timetables can change on public holidays and in bad weather, so check the Stagecoach timetable before you travel. Some other Stagecoach buses stop at the railway station but do not go on to the terminal.
The airport does not list any long-distance coach services calling at the terminal. If you are coming by coach from elsewhere in Scotland, travel to Inverness and change to the 1 or 13 in the city centre.
By taxi
The airport's taxi partner is Inverness Taxis, with a taxi zone outside the terminal building.
Food, drink and shops
Checked against Inverness Airport's own website in October 2026; outlets change, so check the airport's site for opening hours.
The airport's website does not publish a list of its cafes, bars and shops. It says only that the terminal has shops and food and drink outlets, so we have not named any here. The terminal opens at 04:15, and security closes shortly after the last scheduled departure. Once you are through security you cannot come back out, and the departure lounge cannot be entered after your flight's scheduled departure time, even if it is delayed.
If you would like a quieter place to wait, the airport has an Aspire lounge with food and drink included. Aspire asks you to book ahead because the lounge is small; you can compare prices and book on our Inverness Airport lounges page.
To compare parking for your dates, see Inverness Airport parking.
Sorted before you fly.
