Is Los Cabos Airport Traffic Improving Yet? Here’s What You Need To Know

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We’ve been hearing this question nonstop, and as we at The Cabo Sun found out on our own airport run this morning, the honest answer is: it’s getting more predictable—but construction is still very real.

We left about 3.5 hours before our flight and the new roundabout work added roughly 10 minutes. If you cut it close, that cushion can quickly balloon to 25–30 minutes, especially when queues build through the work zone.

The corridor is partially dirt and lane-shifted in spots, so you’ll slow down even when traffic isn’t heavy.

Why there’s construction in the first place

The choke point in question is the FONATUR roundabout near SJD, where a grade-separated fix is underway to send through-traffic beneath the circle and finally eliminate the stop-and-go bottleneck that snarls airport transfers in high season.

We’ve covered the scope before—a 1.5-kilometer sunken roadway with four travel lanes designed to flow under the roundabout—plus the funding and timeline.

For more background and visuals, see our explainer on what’s being built and why it matters, and our deeper dive on how the underpass should ease the worst headaches once complete.

Is it improving right now?

Compared with the early weeks of the dig, yes, day-to-day operations are more orderly and detours better signed. Officials also say the project is tracking ahead of schedule relative to early milestones, which is encouraging for travelers who’ll be here this winter.

That said, the big picture remains the same: peak-hour runs can still back up, especially on departures toward the airport when flights bunch together. The public guidance continues to point to a mid-2026 finish for the full fix, which aligns with what we’ve reported previously and with government briefings about the roundabout’s benefits for airport connectivity.

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What our on-the-ground drive revealed today

• Departing to SJD: We saw about a 10-minute construction hit leaving early. If you depart with less buffer or hit a bank of morning departures, expect that to stretch to 25–30 minutes.
• Arriving from SJD toward Cabo San Lucas: It was quicker for us because the flow toward Cabo dodges the worst merge points. Your mileage may vary based on time of day and lane closures.
• Road surface: Short stretches of dirt and gravel plus narrowed lanes—drive defensively and watch for flaggers.

Practical tips to make your ride smoother

• Leave earlier than you think. In high season, we still recommend 3 to 3.5 hours before departure from resorts in the corridor. Our own 3.5-hour buffer felt right.
• Use the signed detours and follow lane control. Crews are actively managing merges; last-second lane changes are what create mini-jams. Our earlier advisory on day-of driving tips and alternate routes still holds up well.
• Track peak times. Bunched departures (late mornings/early afternoons) = more pressure on the approach.
• Headed to San José del Cabo hotels? Your inbound may pass closer to the work zone; headed to Cabo San Lucas, you often blend into corridor flow sooner with fewer slowdowns.
• Apps help, but trust cones over maps. Waze/Google Maps won’t always reflect minute-by-minute closures inside the construction footprint—obey the marshals.
• Book reliable transfers. Local operators are dialed into the latest detours and can reroute on short notice.

Bigger picture: airport expansion & demand

Separate from the road fix, SJD itself is in the midst of a major multi-year expansion—a roughly US $370 million master plan to add terminal space, gates, and ultimately handle more travelers with less friction. That won’t fix today’s detours, but it does mean more capacity (and potentially better flow curbside) as pieces come online.

Meanwhile, GAP’s most recent traffic updates show modest, mixed passenger trends across its airports this year, with Los Cabos fluctuating month to month—another reason ground operations can feel busier or lighter depending on your travel week.

Bottom line

Is airport traffic improving yet? Incrementally, yes—more consistent, better signed, and occasionally faster than the earliest weeks.

But until the underpass opens, plan for construction time. If you budget a smart buffer, you’ll likely arrive with time to spare and far less stress. We’ll keep driving it ourselves and updating you as milestones hit.