AUS Airport Parking Garage: 2026 Rates, Tips & Options

Back to Austin Airport Short-Term Parking | Complete AUS Airport Parking Guide

An AUS airport parking garage is a covered, multi-level structure on the grounds of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport that lets you park close to the Barbara Jordan Terminal and walk directly to check-in. Austin-Bergstrom currently operates two main garages: the Red Garage at $35/day ($7/hr) and the Blue Garage at $26/day ($5/hr). A third garage, the Yellow Garage, is opening in 2026 as part of the airport's $4+ billion Journey With AUS expansion. If you want the cheapest covered option on airport property, the Blue Garage saves you 26% per day compared to the Red Garage.

• Red Garage: $7/hr, max $35/day — closest covered parking to the terminal, best for short trips.
• Blue Garage: $5/hr, max $26/day — covered long-term parking, also serves rental car returns.
• Economy Lot: $12/day flat rate — no garage cover, but a free shuttle runs every 10–15 minutes.
• Yellow Garage: Opening 2026, north of Blue Garage, pricing not yet announced — adds 3,000 new spaces in Phase 1.
• Off-site lots start at $13.99/day with free shuttle service — cheaper than either on-airport garage.
• Pre-book any AUS garage online at austintexas.gov/airport to lock in your rate.

Ready to compare all AUS options side by side? Search AUS airport parking garages and off-site lots on Triply — rates from $12/day.

What Are the Parking Garage Options at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport?

Austin-Bergstrom has three named garages on airport property, each serving a different traveler need. Here's how they break down (verified June 2026):

The Red Garage sits directly adjacent to the Barbara Jordan Terminal departures level. It is the most convenient covered option for short trips or drop-offs that run long. The Blue Garage is attached to the terminal complex and also handles all rental car returns — so if you're returning a rental, this is your garage. According to official airport data from the City of Austin Department of Aviation, total on-airport parking capacity is currently around 7,000 vehicles. That number will nearly double to 14,000 spaces when the Yellow Garage reaches full completion in 2027.

The Yellow Garage Phase 1 is a seven-story smart parking structure located north of the Blue Garage. Phase 1 delivers 3,000 new spaces and is expected to open in 2026. Pricing has not yet been announced by the airport authority, but based on current garage pricing tiers, it will likely fall between $26 and $35 per day. Watch the official AUS construction updates page for the latest announcements.

For a deep dive on the Blue Garage specifically — including its smart parking guidance system and height restrictions — see our guide on Austin Airport Parking Blue Garage rates and tips.

How Much Does AUS Airport Garage Parking Cost? (Blue Garage vs Red Garage Rates)

The Red Garage costs $7 per hour with a daily maximum of $35. The Blue Garage costs $5 per hour with a daily maximum of $26. Per official published rates from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, choosing the Blue Garage over the Red Garage saves you $9 per day — that's roughly $63 in savings on a week-long trip.

Both garages charge by the hour until you hit the daily cap. So if you park for just 2 hours in the Red Garage, you pay $14. For a quick 90-minute errand, the Blue Garage costs you $7.50. For anything over 5 hours, you'll hit the daily max either way, so the difference becomes purely about the cap rate — and the Blue Garage wins every time for multi-day stays.

The Economy Lot charges a flat $12/day with no hourly component. It is the cheapest on-airport option by far, saving you 54% per day vs the Red Garage. The tradeoff is that the Economy Lot is uncovered and requires a free shuttle to reach the terminal. For full Economy Lot details including shuttle pickup locations, see our complete guide to AUS airport economy parking rates and shuttle tips.

For context on how these rates stack up against off-site options, skip ahead to the comparison section below.

Which AUS Parking Garage Is Closest to the Terminal?

The Red Garage is the closest covered parking option to the Barbara Jordan Terminal. You can walk from a Red Garage space to the terminal check-in area in under 5 minutes. The garage connects directly to the departures level via a covered walkway — no outdoor exposure, no shuttle needed.

The Blue Garage is also a short walk. It sits slightly further than the Red Garage but still connects directly to the terminal complex. Expect a walk of around 5–10 minutes depending on your floor level. Both garages are attached to the terminal, which is a major advantage over Economy Lot and off-site options.

The Economy Lot requires a free shuttle. The shuttle runs every 10–15 minutes, 24/7, and the ride takes approximately 5–7 minutes. Add in wait time, and you're looking at a total of around 15–25 minutes from your car to the gate. Plan accordingly, especially on early-morning flights.

Security wait times also affect how early you need to arrive. Checkpoint 3 reopened in early 2026 with expanded TSA lanes, and the new Checkpoint 4 opened in February 2026. Still, AUS gets busy — especially during Formula 1, SXSW, and ACL Festival weekends. Follow TSA PreCheck to speed through security regardless of which garage you use.

How Do You Reserve a Spot in an AUS Airport Parking Garage?

You can pre-book AUS garage parking online at austintexas.gov/airport. Reservations guarantee your rate, even if drive-up prices increase during peak periods like spring break or F1 weekends.

Here's how the process works, step by step:

1. Visit the official AUS parking reservation page at austintexas.gov/airport.
2. Select your garage (Red or Blue), enter your arrival and departure dates.
3. Pay online with Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
4. You'll receive a confirmation code or QR code by email.
5. At the garage entrance, scan your code or use a credit card — the gate opens automatically.
6. On exit, present your confirmation or tap your card to close out the reservation.

Walk-up parking is also available — just pull in and take a ticket. Cash is accepted at exit lanes for walk-ups, but pre-booking is strongly recommended during holidays and major Austin events. The AUS garages operate 24/7, so there's no closed window to worry about for red-eye arrivals or late-night returns.

How Does the AUS Smart Parking Guidance System and Park Assist App Work?

The AUS parking garages use a smart parking guidance system that displays real-time space counts at each garage entrance and on overhead signs as you enter. Green indicators above individual spaces mean the spot is open. Red means it's taken. This helps you find a space faster without circling multiple floors.

The official FlyAustin mobile app and the airport's interactive parking map show real-time availability by garage before you leave home. This is especially useful during high-demand periods. Check availability before you drive to avoid arriving at a full garage and needing to reroute. You can also check real-time traffic on Waze on your way in — construction along Burleson Road and Emma Browning Avenue is causing intermittent lane closures through December 2026.

For current parking availability status by lot, our guide to Austin Airport Parking Status in 2026 walks through how to check live availability before you head to the airport.

What Is the AUS Frequent Parker Program and How Do You Earn Free Parking?

The AUS Frequent Parker Program rewards regular travelers who park at on-airport garages and lots. You earn points on paid parking transactions at the Red Garage, Blue Garage, and Economy Lot. Accumulated points can be redeemed for free parking days at the same facilities.

Sign up through the official AUS parking portal at austintexas.gov/airport. Link your credit card or use a Frequent Parker barcode at the entrance gate to start earning. The program is free to join — there's no annual fee or minimum stay requirement.

Specific points-per-dollar earning rates are not publicly disclosed on the official airport website as of June 2026. However, the program is most valuable for travelers who park at AUS multiple times per month. If you fly infrequently, the off-site lots below may still offer better day-to-day value even without a loyalty benefit.

AUS Airport Garage Parking vs Off-Site Parking: Which Is the Better Value?

Off-site lots cost $13.99–$18/day, compared to $26–$35/day at the on-airport garages. For a 5-day trip, that's a potential saving of $40–$105 by choosing an off-site lot. Here's how the main options compare (verified June 2026):

The key tradeoff is convenience vs cost. On-airport garages mean zero shuttle time and a direct walk to check-in. Off-site lots require a shuttle but cost significantly less. FastPark & Relax is the cheapest covered off-site option at $13.99/day — that's 46% less than the Blue Garage. For a 7-day trip, FastPark saves you around $84 vs the Blue Garage, and $147 vs the Red Garage.

If you're taking a short trip (1–2 days) and value walking directly to the gate, the Blue Garage at $26/day makes sense. For trips of 3 days or more, the math strongly favors an off-site lot — especially a covered one like FastPark or Park & Zoom. For the full breakdown of off-site options near AUS, see our guide to Austin Airport off-site parking lots and rates.

Tips for Stress-Free Parking at AUS During Busy Travel Seasons

Austin-Bergstrom gets packed during SXSW (March), F1 United States Grand Prix (October), ACL Music Festival (October), and major holidays. During these periods, the Red and Blue garages fill fast. Here's how to stay ahead:

• Pre-book at least 2 weeks early during F1, SXSW, and ACL weekends — on-airport garages sell out.
• Check live availability at the airport's interactive parking map before you leave.
• Allow extra time for construction: Lane closures on Burleson Road and Emma Browning Avenue are active through December 2026.
• Arrive 2.5–3 hours early for international flights; 2 hours for domestic during peak events.
• Use the Blue Garage for long trips — it's $9/day cheaper than Red and still a short walk to the terminal.
• Consider off-site covered parking like FastPark or Park & Zoom if on-airport garages are sold out.
• Have TSA PreCheck — TSA PreCheck enrollment speeds up security, which matters most when garages are packed and security lines are long.
• ADA-accessible spaces are available on the ground level of both the Red and Blue Garages, and near the Economy Lot shuttle pickup. A valid disabled parking permit is required.

The South Terminal permanently closed on March 31, 2026. All Allegiant and Frontier flights now operate from the Barbara Jordan Terminal. This increases foot traffic at security checkpoints and near the garages, so extra lead time really does matter in 2026.

The aus airport parking garage system is growing fast. The Yellow Garage Phase 1 alone adds 3,000 spaces in 2026, and the full 7,100-space Yellow Garage completes in 2027. Once it opens, capacity pressure at the existing Red and Blue Garages will ease considerably.

For extended stays of a week or more, also consider Austin Airport long-term parking options, which covers every multi-day strategy at AUS including weekly rates and the best lots for month-long trips.

Ready to lock in your AUS parking spot? Compare all AUS airport parking garage and off-site options on Triply — rates start at $12/day and you can cancel for free.