---
title: "Top 10 Largest US Ports: Major USA Cargo Hubs Guide"
url: "https://www.cowtownlogistics.com/blog/top-largest-us-ports-major-usa-cargo-hubs-guide/"
---


Table Of Contents

- [Five Busiest Cargo Water Ports in the US](#five-busiest-cargo-water-ports-in-the-us)
  
  - [#1. Port of Los Angeles, California](#1-port-of-los-angeles-california)
  - [#2. Newark Port, New Jersey](#2-newark-port-new-jersey)
  - [#3. The Port of Long Beach, California](#3-the-port-of-long-beach-california)
  - [#4. The Port of Savannah, California](#4-the-port-of-savannah-california)
  - [#5. The Port of Houston, Texas](#5-the-port-of-houston-texas)
- [Top 10 Busiest USA Cargo Ports](#top-10-busiest-usa-cargo-ports)
- [Frequently Asked Questions About U.S. Cargo Ports](#frequently-asked-questions-about-us-cargo-ports)
  
  - [Why are major U.S. cargo ports important to freight transportation?](#why-are-major-us-cargo-ports-important-to-freight-transportation)
  - [What does TEU mean in port statistics?](#what-does-teu-mean-in-port-statistics)
  - [How does cargo move inland from a U.S. port?](#how-does-cargo-move-inland-from-a-us-port)
- [Conclusion](#conclusion)

Major U.S. cargo ports connect ocean freight with inland rail and trucking networks. This guide compares ten high-volume ports, the regions they serve, and their importance to domestic and international supply chains.

The comparisons use TEU, or twenty-foot equivalent units, as a standard measure of container volume. [Freight trucking from ports](/freight-shipping/) moves those containers and other cargo from marine terminals to inland destinations.

## Five Busiest Cargo Water Ports in the US

Did you know that the United States is home to some of the busiest cargo ports in the world? In fact, most of the busiest container ports in North America are located in the US. Here’s a look at the top five cargo seaports in the USA.

### #1. Port of Los Angeles, California

![Sea ports in usa](/images/blog/top-largest-us-ports-major-usa-cargo-hubs-guide/sea-ports-in-usa_hu_193ae7398853aa24.webp "Sea ports in usa") The Port of Los Angeles is the busiest container port in North America and the #11 busiest port in the world, handling over $291 billion in cargo in 2021. The port is located in San Pedro Bay, just south of downtown Los Angeles.

What makes the [Port of Los Angeles so important for freight trucking](/united-states/california/) ? For starters, the port is a major gateway for Asian imports to the US. In addition, the port is also home to the largest car import facility in North America. The port of Los Angeles handled a whopping five million TEU in 2020.

### #2. Newark Port, New Jersey

The Newark Port is the second largest container port in the US. The port is located in Newark Bay, just east of New York City. As one of the biggest ports on the East Coast, the Newark Port handles a wide variety of cargo, including containers, automobiles, and bulk commodities.

[The Newark Port is important for freight trucking](/united-states/new-jersey/) because it is a major gateway for European imports to the US. In addition, the port also handles a significant amount of containerized freight from other ports on the East Coast of the United States. And because Newark has located just a short distance from New York City, it is also able to serve as a backup port for the city in the event of closure at the Port of New York and New Jersey. The Newark Port handled 4.6 million TEU in 2020.

### #3. The Port of Long Beach, California

The Port of Long Beach is the third largest container port in the US and the #15 busiest port in the world. The port is located in Long Beach, California, just south of Los Angeles.

The Port of Long Beach, one of the largest west coast ports, is important for freight trucking because it is a major gateway for Asian imports to the US. In addition, the port handles a significant amount of containerized freight from other ports on the West Coast of the United States. In terms of cargo volume, the Port of Long Beach is the second biggest harbor in the US, handling billions of dollars worth of cargo each year— even going through about 4.3 million TEU in 2020.

### #4. The Port of Savannah, California

![Usa sea ports](/images/blog/top-largest-us-ports-major-usa-cargo-hubs-guide/usa-sea-ports_hu_c5cd921bf46ccd22.webp "Usa sea ports") The Port of Savannah is the fourth largest port in North America and the #16 busiest port in the world. The port is located in Savannah, Georgia.

The Port of Savannah is important for freight trucking because it is a major gateway for imports from both Asia and Europe to the US. In addition, the port also handles a significant amount of containerized freight from other ports on the East Coast of the United States.

What makes this port unique is that it is one of the few deepwater ports on the East Coast of the United States that can accommodate large container ships. In 2020, the Port of Savannah shipped 2.4 million TEU.

### #5. The Port of Houston, Texas

The Port of Houston is the fifth busiest container port in North America and the #17 busiest port in the world. The port is located in Houston, Texas (one of the major port cities in the US).

The Port of Houston is important for freight trucking because it is a major gateway for both imports and exports from the US Gulf Coast. In addition, as one of the biggest seaports, it also handles a significant amount of containerized freight from other ports on the Gulf Coast of the United States.

Houston is also home to the largest petrochemical complex in the world, which is another reason why the port is so important for freight trucking (not to mention it handled roughly 2 million TEU in 2020).

## Top 10 Busiest USA Cargo Ports

Miami, Florida 6,847,177,300

```
6
Indianapolis International Airport
Indianapolis, Indiana
5,268,916,355

7
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles, California
4,199,375,809

8
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Cincinnati, Ohio
3,422,731,214

9
John F. Kennedy International Airport
New York, New York
3,372,770,377

10
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Fort Worth, Texas
3,062,528,160
```

## Frequently Asked Questions About U.S. Cargo Ports

### Why are major U.S. cargo ports important to freight transportation?

Major ports connect international ocean freight with domestic trucking and rail networks, making them essential gateways for imports, exports, and regional distribution.

### What does TEU mean in port statistics?

TEU means twenty-foot equivalent unit. It is a standard measure that represents the capacity of one 20-foot shipping container.

### How does cargo move inland from a U.S. port?

Cargo typically leaves a marine terminal by truck, rail, or an intermodal combination of both, depending on the destination, shipment type, and required delivery time.

## Conclusion

As you can see, there are a number of different ports located throughout the United States that play a vital role in freight trucking. These ports are important because they act as gateways for imports and exports from all over the world.

If you’re ever in need of shipping services, the top [freight trucking company](/) in the US is Cowtown Logistics. Since 1984, Cowtown Logistics has been providing world-class shipping services to businesses and individuals alike. Contact us today [for a free quote](/get-a-quote/) !