BWI Long Term Parking Minimum Days: 2026 Rates & Guide

BWI Long Term Parking is an open-air, self-park facility at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport where travelers can leave their vehicle for any length of time — there is no minimum stay requirement. You can park for just one day or for several weeks. The rate is a flat $11 per day (verified June 2026), per the Maryland Aviation Administration. For those searching for BWI long term parking minimum days, the short answer is: there are none. Park for as little or as long as you need.

• No minimum days required: BWI Long Term Lots A and B accept stays of any length, from one day to several weeks.
• $11/day flat rate: the cheapest on-airport option, effective July 1, 2024 (first increase since 2009).
• Free shuttle runs every 10-15 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (every 25 minutes between 1 and 5 AM).
• No advance reservation required: walk-up parking is accepted, though reserving ahead is smart during peak travel periods.
• The five off-site lots Triply sells near BWI run about $6 to $8/day, roughly 24% to 44% less than Long Term. Rates are for a 7-day stay booked ahead and change by date.
• BWI has ~22,000 total parking spaces across all on-airport facilities, per official airport data.

Back to BWI Long Term Parking A: 2026 Rates, Lots & Tips | Complete BWI Airport Parking Guide

Is There a Minimum Stay Requirement for BWI Long Term Parking?

No, BWI Long Term Parking has no minimum stay requirement. You can park in Long Term Lot A or Lot B for a single day or for multiple weeks — the billing is daily and starts from the moment you enter. According to BWI's official long term parking page, the rate is simply $11 per day, applied for each calendar day your vehicle is in the lot.

This is one of the most common questions travelers ask before a trip — and the answer makes things simple. You are not locked into a minimum booking window. If your flight gets canceled and you leave after one night, you pay for one day. If your trip runs long, you pay for the extra days at the same $11 rate.

Some off-site third-party lots do impose minimum stay requirements. For example, certain hotel parking packages require a two-night stay. Always read the terms before booking off-airport. BWI's on-airport lots have no such restriction.

Compare BWI off-site parking from about $6/day on Triply, with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.

How Much Does BWI Long Term Parking Cost Per Day and Per Trip?

BWI Long Term Parking costs $11 per day, as of the July 1, 2024 rate update — the first increase since 2009, per the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). There is no hourly billing in the long term lots; charges are applied daily.

Here is what that looks like across common trip lengths:

Based on current rates, the off-site lots Triply sells cost about 24% to 44% less per day than BWI Long Term Parking. On a two-week trip, the gap is about $68 at Doubletree Baltimore and about $37 at Clarion Hotel BWI North. The table shows the daily rate times the days; a real 7-night checkout bills 8 days and runs $49.27 to $66.78 across the five lots, still below a week in Long Term at $77. For quick reference on all on-airport options, see our guide to Baltimore Washington Airport parking rates for 2026.

If you want the lowest price with a 24-hour shuttle, Doubletree Baltimore (890 Elkridge Landing Rd, listed 2.2 miles from the airport) is about $6/day, with a shuttle every 15 minutes from 5 AM to midnight and every 30 minutes overnight. It's the cheapest lot Triply sells near BWI, which makes it a strong choice for longer trips.

What Is the Difference Between BWI Long Term Lot A and Lot B?

Both Long Term Lot A and Lot B charge $11/day and use the same free shuttle system. The two lots sit side by side near the terminal and share the same entrance road off MD Route 170 (Aviation Boulevard). In practical terms, the experience is nearly identical for most travelers.

The main difference is capacity and location within the complex. Lot A is the larger of the two. Both are open-air, uncovered surface lots, meaning your car is exposed to weather. This matters more in winter months when ice and snow are possible in the Baltimore area. None of the lots Triply sells near BWI lists covered parking, so if a roof is your top priority, the on-airport Daily and Hourly Garages are covered.

Both lots have surveillance cameras and lighting throughout. Accessible parking spaces are available in both lots, though the BWI official parking page notes that the closest accessible spaces are in the Hourly and Daily Garages near the terminal entrance.

How Does the BWI Long Term Parking Shuttle Work?

The free BWI shuttle runs every 10-15 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Between 1–5 AM, service slows to approximately every 25 minutes. You don't need to call or flag it down — just walk to the marked shuttle stop in the lot and the bus will arrive on schedule.

The shuttle connects Long Term Lots A and B directly to the terminal. The ride itself takes just a few minutes. Allow extra time during morning rush hours (typically 5–9 AM) when multiple flights depart and the lot fills quickly. During peak holiday travel, the Maryland Aviation Administration typically adds extra shuttle capacity.

When returning to your car, board the shuttle on the lower level of the terminal at the designated ground transportation area. Look for signs marked "Long Term Parking." For a full breakdown of shuttle timing and boarding tips, see our dedicated guide on BWI Long Term Parking bus hours.

How Do You Get to BWI Long Term Parking from I-195 and MD Route 170?

From Interstate 195, take the exit for MD Route 170 (Aviation Boulevard) and follow signs for Long Term Parking. The lots are clearly marked from the main airport road. Interstate 195 is the primary access road for Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, connecting directly from Interstate 95.

Here are the most common routes by direction:

• From Baltimore (north): Take I-95 South to I-195 West, then follow signs for Long Term Parking on MD Route 170.
• From Washington, D.C. (south): Take the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD-295) north, then connect to I-195 East toward the airport.
• From Annapolis (east): Take I-97 North to I-695, then I-195 West to the airport.
• From Columbia or Jessup (west): Use US Route 1 north to MD Route 176 (Dorsey Road), then connect to MD Route 170.

Traffic on I-95 near Baltimore can back up significantly during morning and evening rush hours. Before you leave, check real-time traffic on Waze to find the fastest route to the long term lots. Budget extra time if you're traveling during summer peak season or major holidays.

Should You Book BWI Long Term Parking in Advance or Pay on Arrival?

BWI Long Term Lots A and B accept walk-up parking with no reservation required. You drive in, take a ticket, and pay when you exit. However, during busy travel periods such as Thanksgiving, summer and spring break, lots can fill to capacity. Booking an off-site lot ahead holds your space.

The Maryland Aviation Administration has introduced smart parking guidance systems that display availability percentages at lot entrances. If you see a lot showing limited availability, the system directs you to the next available area. Still, arriving during a holiday weekend without a reservation is a gamble.

Booking ahead lets you hold a space at an off-site lot, and Triply bookings come with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in. Walk-up pricing at BWI's own lots is always the standard published rate. For more on deals, see our guide to BWI long term parking coupons and deals.

Payment at the exit accepts cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and contactless payments (verified June 2026). No coins are needed — all lanes accept card and tap-to-pay options.

How Does BWI Long Term Parking Compare to Off-Airport Parking Options?

Off-airport lots Triply sells near BWI run about $6 to $8/day, roughly 24% to 44% cheaper than the on-airport Long Term rate of $11/day. For a 7-day trip, that is about $19 to $34 saved (about $43 to $58 versus $77). For a 14-day trip, it grows to about $37 to $68.

Here is a quick side-by-side comparison of the top options near BWI:

The on-airport advantage is simplicity: no separate lot, and the shuttle is part of the same airport system. But every lot Triply sells near BWI costs less per day than Long Term, and for trips of five days or more the savings are hard to ignore. Doubletree Baltimore combines the lowest price with a 24-hour shuttle. Check shuttle hours before you book, since Country Inn & Suites and Clarion Hotel BWI North have gaps in service.

Hotel lots like Doubletree Baltimore, about $6/day, keep things simple: register your car at the front desk for a dashboard tag, and parking guests can use the hotel's Wi-Fi, restrooms and waiting lounge. The hotel is monitored with staff on site 24 hours a day. For a detailed breakdown, see our guide to DoubleTree BWI Airport hotel parking.

Also worth knowing: BWI sits 9 miles south of downtown Baltimore and 30 miles northeast of Washington, D.C., per official airport data. The off-site lots Triply sells are listed 1.7 to 3 miles from the airport, so they are genuinely close, not out in the suburbs.

For travelers heading to the BWI Rail Station after parking, the on-airport BWI Rail Station Garage charges $12/day. From there, MARC Penn Line trains reach D.C. in about 45 minutes for $8, or MTA Light Rail connects to downtown Baltimore in roughly 30 minutes for $2.

One more thing to keep in mind: the $520 million Concourse A/B Connector opened on January 9, 2026 — the largest capital project in BWI's history. It added 142,000 square feet of new space and a new baggage handling system that processes 3,500 bags per hour (up from 2,100). While this doesn't affect parking directly, it does mean smoother and faster connections once you're inside the terminal. Allow the same amount of time to clear TSA security screening as you normally would — the new concourse has not changed checkpoint locations.

Ready to lock in your rate? Compare BWI off-site parking from about $6/day on Triply and reserve your spot today, with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.

Compare BWI parking rates. Doubletree Baltimore, the cheapest lot Triply sells near Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, costs about 62% less per day than the airport's $16/day Daily Garage.