Our 1 year old is infatuated with airplanes. We will be in Houston next week. Where would be a good location to watch planes from our car? Hobby will be closer to where we will be staying (area near the zoo).

Hobby actually has a parking lot specifically for airplane watching. Planes fly over you. I fogot the street right now but let me check the maps.

The lot is on the south side of the airport. Take Monroe south from 45. Heading south on Monroe, turn right on Braniff Ave. The parking lot is on the right hand side.

Wrong part of town, but the confederate Airforce has open houses at west houston airport every other weekend.

Took the kids out a few weeks ago and they loved it, plus got a learnin on whooping nazis and the Japanese from the vets.

They'll let the kids get up in the cockpits of the Lodestar and have 5 or 6 fully functional vintage WWII aircraft

I think I found the parking lot:

https://goo.gl/maps/twWCQ

The 1940s Air Terminal museum at Hobby is also a good option. The museum itself won't interest him but they have a fenced off area in back where you can go out on the ramp and watch planes go by. They're next to some of the bigger FBOs so you'll see some business jets cruise by, plus all the Southwest Airlines flights.

If you've got the time, a trip down to Galveston to see the Lone Star Flight Museum would be good too.

IAH is a better airport for variety of jet types, though for a 1 year old it wouldn't make much of a difference.

This is is a good site for plane spotting in Houston:

Houston Spotters

The best spot in Houston to watch airplanes is at this spot, right at the end of the runway at IAH. I'm the same way and could spend hours at that spot watching planes fly in.

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I think I found the parking lot:

https://goo.gl/maps/twWCQ

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Thanks. Can't wait to see his face light up!

Your post indicates you aren't from Houston. But if you can arrange another trip back, try to plan it around the Wings Over Houston airshow. It's amazing and your son would just love it. It's usually held towards the end of October. Just google Wings Over Houston and you'll find the info.

I live in the flight path of IAH and love walking the neighborhood on a clear day and looking up to see the planes coming in, especially the 747s.

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Your post indicates you aren't from Houston. But if you can arrange another trip back, try to plan it around the Wings Over Houston airshow. It's amazing and your son would just love it. It's usually held towards the end of October. Just google Wings Over Houston and you'll find the info.

I live in the flight path of IAH and love walking the neighborhood on a clear day and looking up to see the planes coming in, especially the 747s.

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Same here. I'd flip out when the occasional Antonov would visit.

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The best spot in Houston to watch airplanes is at this spot, right at the end of the runway at IAH. I'm the same way and could spend hours at that spot watching planes fly in.

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I used to park there with my girlfriend.
Even in the mid/late '90s the cops would run you off.
How much more in this post 9/11 world?

Austin also has a public viewing area with picnic tables. You turn off 71 at the TxDOT Flight services exit.

Not sure about in the past but the parking lot he posted is intended for airplane watching now. I've gone out there after meetings at IAH and it is marked as such. The Houston spotter forum has a list of places where you're allowed to sit, and others (like top of parking garages) where they'll ask you to move.

This doesn't at all answer your question but I want to thank the poster on this board that recommended the little airport in Brenham. Good food, a couple of beers and cool planes for the kiddos.

Beer and planes for children?

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Beer and planes for children?

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That's how I was raised

It won't be as close as in the Carribean.

I was driving along Ferrell Rd. when the Lufthansa A380 came right over head and landed. Still can't wrap my head around the size of that plane. Haven't seen an Antonov in person yet.

The Antonov is here now. It's been here quite a bit recently. I'm tired of seeing the An-124 though. I want the An-225 to come back through.

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The Antonov is here now. It's been here quite a bit recently. I'm tired of seeing the An-124 though. I want the An-225 to come back through.

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At IAH? What's the best way to see it? I'd love to see a 225 - when does it come around?

I was taking a car service home from IAH once, and when we got on the Hardy, an A380 was taking off and flew right at us/overhead. I rolled the window down and stuck my head out the window. I think my driver thought I was nuts.

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South Side - Pearland Regional (KLVJ) - Drive in and park near the FBO. Get out and walk up on the apron to watch all sorts of action. Banner towing facility on site, so you might catch them dive-bombing the airport to pick up a Moody Gardens banner

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Clover field or GTFO
My parents live about 1/2 a mile from there. My 2yo boy loves seeing all of the planes when we visit. They also have life flight helicopters based there

What ball chain said. Bug mashers galore at Weiser with the flight schools. You can sit at a picnic table 10 feet from the runway. West houston has some better variety and a nice fbo And viewing area. Stay away from brookshire houston exec. It's usually a ghost town But you will get the occasional fokker or citation Coming through.

Hey OP...Just be fully aware that you've been added to every FBI watchlist. Don't be surprised if you're 'randomly' searched next time you fly.

Is he old enough to appreciate a plane ride? I have my PPL and need to go up again as it's been a month.

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At IAH? What's the best way to see it? I'd love to see a 225 - when does it come around?

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Yes, the An-124 arrived yesterday afternoon. If you want to see it, I recommend the parking lot on North Rd. that I've linked below. That parking lot is also a good place to watch planes coming when they're landing on 26R and taxiing to the cargo area or passenger terminal.

Parking lot on North Rd.

For the An-225, I'm on a FB group that posts where it is and where it's traveling to. If I see it coming to IAH, I'll try to post here.

Here's another good spot I go to, usually on the weekends when DHL is less busy.

Spot by DHL

Here's where you can watch landings on 26R with the planes coming right over your head.

Spot on 1960

This is a good place at IAH to watch takeoffs on 33R & 33L. I've seen the Lufthansa A380 take off here several times, including the first time it took off from IAH. Of all the times I've been there, I've never seen anyone go through this gate.

The gate no one uses

A parking lot on Greens Rd to watch southerly take offs on 33L & 33R.

Greens Rd

You can take your laser pointer to highlight the cockpit, wings, and plane ID to your kid.


(just kidding...don't do that. Its frowned upon)

Thanks for all the suggestions. We ended up at Hobby and the little guy loved watching all the planes.

Did you end up in the parking lot that was suggested at the beginning of this thread next to Hobby?

How was it? Our 17 month old daughter loves planes and we live next to a tiny airport so she sees lots of small planes but I think this would be a good idea to get a closer look at the big planes coming in/out. How loud was it?

Yes. It was great. Wasnt too loud. Even if it is you can stay in your car and keep the windows up.

Looks like the An-225 will be making a visit to Houston arriving around 9am on Friday morning.

At DFW they had a spot where they would pipe the radio between the flight towers and the pilots through speakers that was pretty neat. Wonder if they do the same at IAH or HOU?

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Looks like the An-225 will be making a visit to Houston arriving around 9am on Friday morning.

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Which runway is it likely to come in on? Can this flight be tracked via FlightAware?

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Looks like the An-225 will be making a visit to Houston arriving around 9am on Friday morning.

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Which runway is it likely to come in on? Can this flight be tracked via FlightAware?

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Very cool! Same questions as above and how long does it usually stay? I've got to be home all day Friday for a home repair, but I'd love to take my son down there Friday night, if the plane is still here.