Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) Parking

If you need to pick up a passenger at the airport, use the free (up to one hour) Cell Phone Lot at Rudder Road/ Autopilot Drive. Follow signs to the Lot; drive past the economy parking entrance to your right, after the traffic light turn left into the Cell Phone Lot. When your party calls you, ask to walk up the arrival ramp and look for the door number designated outside. Once you get that number, check the terminal map posted inside your Lot and drive up to the Arrivals Ramp for pickup.

Other Parking options at Dulles Airport:
1. Daily Garage 2 is connected to the passenger terminal via a covered walkway on its level 3 to the Main terminal's ticketing level.
2. Daily Garage 1 has on its lower level an enclosed walkway with moving sidewalks to the Main terminal.
3. Hourly Parking Lot is across from the Main terminal - best used for under 2 hrs.
4. Econmy Parking Lots Blue, Green, Gold & Purple are connected to each other and are accessible from the aport entrance and Rudder Road.
5. Valet Parking is adjacent to the Main Terminal. (tel. 703-572-4540).

Free Shuttles serve the Daily Garages and Economy Lots. Call boxes are on all levels of the Garages, as well as at these Economy lot shuttle stops: Blue lot at 3, 5, 7, 9;  Green lot at 11, 14, 15, 16, 18;  Gold lot at 19, 21, 25, 26;  Purple lot at 1, 3, 4, 6 8.

Pay & Go machines are in the Main terminal and in Daily Garages 1 & 2.

4 Electric Vehicle charging stations for 2 cars each are in the Daily Garage 2, presently free - located near the Main Terminal walkway and clearly marked.

Parking Locator Cards are available from the bright yellow boxes in the Daily Garage elevator lobbies and Economy Lot shuttle stops. Each card is color-coded with information about nearby parking locations. Tear off the tabs and keep the card to find your car.

For parking information call (703) 572-4500. When approaching the airport, tune your radio to AM 530 for current parking rates, locations and availability.

As an alternative to on-site parking, there are off-airport parking at Washington Dulles airport options which may offer significant discounts. Most have shuttle vans or buses which operate from their facilities to the terminals, and feature secure facilities with security guards and cameras 24 hours.

Many local hotels offer up to 2 weeks free parking with one night stay. This can be especially convenient if you have an early flight and need to park at Washington Dulles airport. They provide shuttle service too. Check Stay and Park options for IAD Airport.

Nothing is more frustrating than circling an airport parking lot looking for space when you're already running late for a flight or paying an exorbitant amount for parking when you return from a trip. You can avoid these common predicaments by doing your homework before leaving to park your vehicle at the airport.

Most airports offer multiple parking lots at various rates (hourly, daily and economy). Some airports even offer costly, but convenient valet parking. Visit the airport website or call the airport to determine the location and rates for each type of parking garage or service. During peak travel times, it's also prudent to check the short-term and long-term parking lot availability before leaving for the airport, so you can make other arrangements if lots are full. Parking in a daily garage (short-term parking) instead of an economy (long-term parking) lot for multiple days will burn a big hole in your wallet.

You’ll find commercial off-site parking lots near most major airports. These parking lots are farther from the airport, but the distance is often compensated with lower prices, 24-hour security, car-to-terminal shuttle services and other perks like frequent parker programs. Aside from off-site commercial parking lots allow you to reserve a parking spot in advance, which can be a real timesaver during peak travel times. In addition, many airport hotels offer stay, park and fly deals in which you stay at the hotel the night before your flight and then you can park your car at the hotel for free or a low daily rate. Just make sure the hotel parking lot is secure as some aren’t monitored around-the-clock like airport and commercial lots.

It’s too easy to forget where you parked or where you put the parking ticket after an extended trip. Even if you’re running late, take the time to note where you parked in your cell phone, PDA or on the parking ticket if you take it with you. Just make sure you don’t lose the parking ticket, because most airports charge a hefty fee for missing tickets. For that reason, it may be safer to leave the ticket in your car.