For a small airport, Akron-Canton is genuinely family-friendly: a Step2-built play area past security where young children can burn off energy before boarding, a Mother’s Lounge for feeding and changing, and a Sensory Room for kids who need a calm space. Add a Guest Pass Program that lets grandparents meet you at the gate, and CAK may be one of the easiest airports in Ohio to fly with kids. Here is what is where.
Step2 Play Area (Post-Security)
The Kid’s Play Area is a jumbo-sized activity area built by Step2, the Northeast Ohio toy company, where young children can run, slide, and burn off energy before flights. It sits post-security, so it is the perfect first stop after clearing the checkpoint if you have time before boarding. The airport describes it loosely for “young children” and does not publish a specific age range, so we will not assert one: it is built for little travelers with energy to spend.
A children’s play area inside an airport terminal (illustrative photo). Photo: Thomas Nugent, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Mother’s Lounge Between Gates 7 and 8
The Mother’s Lounge is located between Gates 7 and 8, sponsored by AultCare Health Plans. It is a dedicated space for feeding, changing, or relaxing with little ones, away from the bustle of the gate seating. See our CAK terminal map and layout guide for the gate layout.
A mother with a young daughter on a suitcase while waiting for a flight (illustrative photo). Photo: Gustavo Fring, Pexels License, via Pexels.
Sensory Room Before Gate 5
The Sensory Room in the expanded concourse just before Gate 5 offers items to lessen sensory overload for travelers with sensory needs. It was modernized in 2025 and is sponsored by Wolff & Phan Autism Center. If your child needs a quieter moment, this is the room to look for. Our CAK accessibility guide also covers the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, which pairs well with the Sensory Room for families.
Bring Family to the Gate: The Guest Pass Program
CAK’s Guest Pass Program lets non-flying family members, like grandparents, go through security to the post-security side to meet you, see the play area, or simply wait at the gate together. It is limited to 50 visitors per week, runs Tuesday through Friday only, and you must apply 24 hours in advance, with screening between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Guest pass holders also get 10 percent off concessions. Our CAK arrivals and pickup guide covers meeting people inside the terminal in more detail.
Plan Your Trip with AirportGo
AirportGo is built for the whole airport journey, before, during, and after your flight. While in-terminal maps for Akron-Canton are still on the way, you can use AirportGo today to prepare for travel day: build a packing checklist, keep your trip tasks in one place, and check TSA checkpoint times before you head out.
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