DCA Airport Park: Every Parking Option at Reagan National

DCA airport parking is the system of on-site garages, an economy lot, and nearby off-site hotel lots that serve Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with daily rates ranging from about $9 to $35 depending on how close you park to the terminal. The airport sits just 5 miles south of downtown Washington D.C., which means off-airport options in Crystal City and Old Town Alexandria are close. Whether you want to drive straight into a garage or save money with a hotel lot and free shuttle, this guide covers every option with real prices.

• On-airport rates: Parking 1 (Terminal 1) and Parking 2 (Terminal 2) each cost up to $35/day; the Economy Lot costs $25/day
• Off-airport rates: the two hotel lots Triply sells near DCA run about $9 to $11/day, about 69% to 74% less than the $35 garages
• First 60 minutes free in both on-airport garages, useful for passenger pickup while the Cell Phone Lot is closed for construction
• Economy Lot capacity is reduced about 40% during construction, so reserve in advance
• Metro Yellow/Blue Line stops directly at Reagan National, a strong alternative to parking for many travelers
• Both off-airport lots on Triply, Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria and Westin Crystal City, include a free shuttle to DCA (neither runs 24/7)

Back to Complete DCA Airport Parking Guide

Ready to compare? Search DCA parking rates from about $9/day on Triply and book one of the two off-site hotel lots early.

How Much Does DCA Airport Parking Cost in 2026?

DCA parking costs range from $25/day at the Economy Lot up to $35/day at Parking 1 or Parking 2 on-airport. The two off-site hotel lots Triply sells near the airport run about $9 to $11/day. On-airport rates are from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), checked in October 2026. Off-site rates are for a 7-day stay booked ahead and change by date.

On-airport rates were checked on flyreagan.com in October 2026. You can reserve on-airport parking at reserve.flyreagan.com, the airport's own booking site (not Triply). Triply bookings for the two hotel lots come with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.

What Are the Parking Options at Reagan National Airport?

Reagan National Airport offers three on-airport parking facilities, and Triply sells two nearby off-airport hotel lots with a free shuttle to the terminals. The airport holds a total of 8,500 vehicles across all its facilities, per MWAA data.

On-Airport Parking

• Parking 1 (Terminal 1 Garage): Connected directly to Terminal 1, serving Southwest, Frontier, and Air Canada Express. Costs up to $35/day. First 60 minutes are free. Ideal for quick trips or Terminal 1 travelers.
• Parking 2 (Terminal 2 Garage): Connected to Terminal 2, serving Alaska, Delta, United, American, JetBlue, and American Eagle across Concourses B, C, D, and E. Costs up to $35/day, the same as Parking 1. First 60 minutes free.
• Economy Lot: The most affordable on-airport option at $25/day. A free shuttle runs to all terminals every 10 minutes. Note: capacity is currently reduced by about 40% during construction, see the section below.

For a detailed breakdown of each garage, see our guide to Reagan Airport parking garage rates, locations, and tips.

Off-Airport Hotel Parking

Triply sells parking-only reservations at two hotels near DCA, both with a free shuttle to the airport: Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria (801 N St Asaph St, Alexandria) and Westin Crystal City (1800 Richmond Highway, Arlington). Rates start at about $9/day, a significant savings over on-site parking for multi-day trips.

Where Is the Cheapest Parking Near DCA Airport?

The cheapest DCA parking option on Triply is the Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria at about $9/day, listed 2.6 miles from the airport (about a 10-minute drive). The next cheapest is the Westin Crystal City at about $11/day, listed 0.8 miles away, the closer of the two.

Both lots include a free shuttle with online purchase. For a 7-day trip, that's about $62 total at Sheraton Suites or about $76 at the Westin, vs. $175 at the Economy Lot and $245 at the terminal garages at their daily maximums. That's a savings of roughly $99 to $113 against the Economy Lot. For longer stays, the savings grow quickly. The cheapest DCA parking guide breaks down savings calculations by trip length in detail.

A few things to keep in mind with budget lots:

• Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria: the shuttle runs hourly from 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM, with no shuttle from 11 PM to 7 AM, so very early flights and late arrivals need your own ride. Park on garage Level P2 and put the tag from the front desk on your dashboard.
• Westin Crystal City: the shuttle runs every 30 minutes from 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM, with no shuttle from 10:30 PM to 4:30 AM, and registered hotel guests board first. Register your car at the front desk or the exit gate won't open.
• Both lots offer free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in
• Neither lot requires a hotel room to park

How Do You Reserve Parking at DCA Airport in Advance?

Reserving on-airport parking is straightforward. Visit reserve.flyreagan.com, select your parking facility, enter your arrival and departure dates, and pay by credit or debit card. Pre-booking guarantees your space and can help you avoid last-minute stress, especially during peak travel periods.

For the two off-airport hotel lots Triply sells near DCA, you book through Triply. Here's the general process:

1. Search for your dates on Triply's DCA parking search
2. Compare both lots, their shuttle times, and amenities side by side
3. Select your lot and complete your reservation (most accept credit and debit cards)
4. Save your confirmation, you'll need it at the hotel front desk
5. On travel day, drive to the hotel garage and check in at the front desk (Sheraton Suites: park on Level P2 and put the tag on your dashboard; Westin: register your car so the exit gate opens), then take the shuttle to the terminal

Advance booking is especially important right now. The Economy Lot is under active construction and its capacity is reduced by about 40%, so reserving ahead, on-airport at reserve.flyreagan.com or off-airport on Triply, takes the guesswork out of travel day.

Is There Off-Airport Parking Near DCA with Free Shuttles?

Yes. Both off-airport parking lots Triply sells near DCA include a free shuttle to the airport with online purchase. Shuttle frequency and hours differ by hotel, and neither runs 24/7, so matching shuttle timing to your flight is important.

• Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria: Complimentary, every hour on the hour, 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM (last shuttle 10:30 PM). No shuttle 11 PM to 7 AM. On return, call 703-836-4700 and tell the desk your airline, since pickup zones vary.
• Westin Crystal City: Free, every 30 minutes, 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM. No shuttle 10:30 PM to 4:30 AM, and registered hotel guests board first. On return, Terminal 1 pickup is Curbside 2; Terminal 2 pickup is Curbside 1 at Door 4 or Door 7.

Important: Neither of these shuttles operates 24/7. For very early morning or late-night flights, you'll need your own ride, and the Metro is a reliable backup. Reagan National has its own station on the WMATA Yellow and Blue Lines, and the ride from Crystal City station takes about 10 minutes.

The Westin Crystal City is worth a mention for convenience. It's listed just 0.8 miles from the airport, parks you in an underground garage, and needs no hotel stay. At about $11/day, it's a solid option for travelers who want covered parking close to DCA. The free shuttle runs every 30 minutes from 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM, with registered hotel guests boarding first.

How Does the DCA Economy Lot Construction Affect Parking in 2026?

The Economy Lot is currently under a $40 million parking deck construction project. Up to 1,100 of its 2,680 spaces are unavailable during peak construction phases — a reduction of roughly 40%. The project is being built by contractor Kiwi Newton and is phased over 2026.

Here's the current construction timeline, based on MWAA's Economy Lot page:

• Phase 1: 939 new spaces opened February 2026
• Phase 2: 1,230 additional spaces expected May 2026
• Cell Phone Lot is temporarily closed during construction — use the first-60-minutes-free option in Parking 1 or 2 for passenger pickup

The bottom line: do not assume Economy Lot availability on a busy travel day. Reserve in advance at reserve.flyreagan.com or book an off-airport hotel lot as a backup. For more detail on how construction affects your options, the Reagan Airport parking availability guide covers current lot status and what to do when the Economy Lot is full.

Can You Take the Metro Instead of Parking at Reagan National Airport?

The Metro is one of the best alternatives to parking at DCA. Reagan National Airport has its own Metrorail station served by both the WMATA Yellow Line and WMATA Blue Line. The Yellow Line reaches L'Enfant Plaza in just 4 stops; the Blue Line takes 12 stops to the same destination. Travel time is about 10 minutes to Crystal City and roughly 20-25 minutes to downtown D.C.

Here's why the Metro option makes financial sense for many trips:

• A round-trip Metro fare is typically a few dollars — compared to $25–$35/day for on-airport parking
• No need to find a space, no shuttle wait, and no construction-related delays
• WMATA also runs Metrobus routes 13F and 13G connecting Arlington, Pentagon, and downtown D.C.
• The airport has a Capital Bikeshare station — the first dock-based bikeshare at a major U.S. airport
• The Mount Vernon Trail connects DCA to Alexandria and D.C. for cyclists and pedestrians

If you're commuting into D.C. or staying somewhere near a Metro station, skipping parking entirely is worth serious consideration. For Metro fares and schedules, visit the WMATA fares page. Before you drive at all, it's worth checking the Waze live traffic map — traffic on I-395 and the GW Parkway can significantly affect drive time.

What Are the Best Park-Stay-Fly Hotel Deals Near DCA?

Park-stay-fly packages combine hotel nights with airport parking. Triply doesn't sell rooms or packages: at Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria and Westin Crystal City it sells parking only, and no room reservation is needed. If you want a room before an early flight, that is a separate booking.

The two hotel lots Triply sells near DCA:

• Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria: about $9/day, 801 N St Asaph St, Alexandria, listed 2.6 miles away. Covered, underground garage with a complimentary shuttle from 7 AM to 10:30 PM, hourly. EV charging on site (first 4 hours complimentary, then $2.50/hour).
• Westin Crystal City: about $11/day, 1800 Richmond Highway, Arlington, listed 0.8 miles away. Underground garage with a free shuttle every 30 minutes from 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM. No extra charge for full-size vans, pickups and large SUVs.

For more on hotel parking near DCA, see our DCA airport parking hotel guide. Because neither shuttle runs overnight, plan your own ride if you need to leave for the airport before the first shuttle (7 AM from the Sheraton lot, 4:30 AM from the Westin lot) or return after shuttle hours end.

Plan to arrive rested? Make sure your TSA PreCheck is enrolled before your trip. With faster security lines, you won't need as much buffer time — and that means your hotel shuttle schedule becomes less stressful.

Tips for First-Time DCA Parkers

A few practical details that catch first-time DCA travelers off guard:

• Cell Phone Lot is closed: Don't drive to 2401 Smith Blvd expecting a free wait area. It's temporarily closed. Use the Parking 1 or 2 garages for the first 60 free minutes instead.
• Parking 1 and Parking 2 cost the same: Both top out at $35/day, so choose by terminal. Terminal 2 serves American, Delta, Alaska, United and JetBlue.
• Pre-booking saves your spot: The Economy Lot is running at reduced capacity. Driving in and hoping for space is risky, especially on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings.
• Off-airport shuttles are not 24/7: Always confirm shuttle hours match your flight time before booking a hotel lot. The Metro is your backup.
• Payment: On-airport lots accept credit and debit cards. The two hotel lots on Triply are pre-paid online.
• Traffic varies: DCA is accessible via Interstate 395, the George Washington Memorial Parkway, and VA-233 (Airport Access Road). Rush hour on I-395 can add 20+ minutes, so plan accordingly.

Find DCA Parking That Fits Your Trip

DCA airport parking ranges from about $9 to $35 per day across five options: two on-airport garages, an economy lot, and the two off-site hotel lots Triply sells, both with free shuttles. The right choice depends on your terminal, trip length, and how much you value convenience vs. savings. With Economy Lot capacity reduced about 40% during construction, booking ahead is more important than ever.

Compare off-site DCA parking from about $9/day on Triply and see distance and shuttle details for both lots before you drive to Reagan National.

Compare DCA parking rates. The off-airport lots Triply sells near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport cost about 69% to 74% less per day than the $35/day terminal garages.