Is CLEAR at RIC?
No — Richmond (RIC) does not have a CLEAR lane right now. CLEAR operates at more than 60 U.S. airports, but RIC is not one of them, so a CLEAR Plus membership will not speed you up here. The lane that does cut your RIC wait is TSA PreCheck — here is how to use it, and how the three programs compare.
Is CLEAR at RIC right now?
No — there is no CLEAR lane at RIC today. CLEAR runs at 60-plus U.S. airports, and Richmondis not on that list, so a CLEAR Plus membership earns you nothing here. Don’t pay for it on RIC’s account alone. We update this page if CLEAR opens a lane at RIC — the current airport list is at clearme.com.
The nearest airports with a CLEAR lane
If you already carry CLEAR Plus — or you are deciding whether to — these are the closest airports to Richmond where the membership actually works:
| Airport | From RIC |
|---|---|
| CLEAR at DCA — Arlington, VA | 94 mi |
| CLEAR at IAD — Dulles, VA | 100 mi |
| CLEAR at BWI — Baltimore, MD | 121 mi |
Straight-line distances. A CLEAR Plus membership works at every CLEAR airport, so it can still pay off if your trips route through one of these.
What gets you through RIC security faster instead
The lane that actually cuts your RIC wait is TSA PreCheck at RIC — the lighter screening where you keep your shoes, belt, and laptop packed. See how big the gap is on the live RIC TSA wait times board, where the standard wait is about 33 minutes and the PreCheck wait is about 12 minutes right now.
CLEAR, PreCheck, or Global Entry at RIC?
Three programs speed you up in different ways — and the first two stack. Here is the quick version:
| Program | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| TSA PreCheck | $76.75–$855 years | Most U.S. domestic flyers |
| Global Entry | $1205 years | International travelers (best value — it includes PreCheck) |
| CLEAR Plus | $209per year | Frequent flyers at CLEAR airports |
Want the deep dive? Read TSA PreCheck vs CLEAR and Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck. Flying internationally from RIC? Check Global Entry at RIC — it bundles PreCheck for not much more.
How CLEAR changes your Leave-By Time
A faster ID check only helps if it shortens the line you are actually in. Rather than guess, set your Leave-By Time: it folds the live RIC security wait, your drive with traffic, and the walk to your gate into one exact time to leave home — so you know when to leave today, not a rule of thumb.
Driving to RIC? Compare RIC airport parking and fold the lot and shuttle into the same Leave-By Time.
See also: is PreCheck open at RIC and how early to arrive at the airport.
Common questions about CLEAR at RIC
Is CLEAR at RIC?
No — RIC does not have a CLEAR lane right now. CLEAR runs at more than 60 U.S. airports, but Richmond is not one of them, so a CLEAR Plus membership will not speed you up here. The nearest airports with CLEAR lanes are DCA (94 miles away), IAD (100 miles away), BWI (121 miles away).
What gets me through RIC security faster instead?
TSA PreCheck is the one to get at RIC: it is the lighter screening lane where you keep your shoes, belt, and laptop packed. Check the live RIC wait to see the PreCheck-vs-standard gap before you leave.
Will CLEAR come to RIC?
CLEAR keeps adding airports, so RIC could get a lane later — but plan around what is there today. We update this page when CLEAR opens at RIC.
Is a CLEAR membership still useful if I fly through RIC?
Only if you also fly through CLEAR airports. A CLEAR Plus membership works network-wide, so it can still pay off if RIC is just one stop on trips that also touch CLEAR hubs.