DCA Airport Parking Daily: Rates, Lots & Best Deals

DCA airport parking daily rates range from $25/day at the on-airport Economy Lot to $35/day at Parking 1 and Parking 2 (the terminal garages). The two off-site hotel lots Triply sells near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport start at about $9/day, which is about 74% less than the $35 terminal garages and about 64% less than the Economy Lot. With the Economy Lot running at reduced capacity due to active construction, knowing your options before you drive is more important than ever.

• Cheapest on-airport daily rate: Economy Lot at $25/day (free shuttle to all terminals)
• Most expensive on-airport options: Parking 1 and Parking 2 (terminal garages) at $35/day
• Cheapest off-site daily rate: Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria at about $9/day; Westin Crystal City is about $11/day
• Economy Lot capacity: Reduced ~40% during 2026 parking deck construction, so reserve in advance
• First 60 minutes free in both on-airport garages (Parking 1 and Parking 2)
• Metro alternative: Yellow Line reaches DCA in about 10 minutes; sometimes cheaper than parking for short trips

Back to Complete DCA Airport Parking Guide

How Much Does DCA Airport Parking Cost Per Day?

Daily parking at Reagan National Airport is priced by lot, and each lot serves a different terminal. On-airport rates are per the official MWAA parking page (checked October 2026). Off-site rates are for a 7-day stay booked ahead and change by date.

For a 5-day trip, the difference between Parking 1 ($175 total) and the Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria (about $45 total) is about $130. That's real money. Compare the two off-site DCA lots on Triply, from about $9/day.

What Are the DCA Parking Options? (On-Site vs Off-Airport)

DCA has three on-airport parking facilities, and Triply sells two off-site hotel lots listed within 2.6 miles of the terminal. Each type has trade-offs on price, convenience, and availability.

On-Airport Parking

• Parking 1 (Terminal 1 Garage): $35/day. Directly connected to Terminal 1 (Gates A1–A9). Best if you're flying Southwest, Frontier, or Air Canada Express and want zero walking.
• Parking 2 (Terminal 2 Garage): $35/day. Serves Terminal 2 (Concourses B, C, D, E). Covers American Airlines, Delta, United, Alaska, and JetBlue.
• Economy Lot: $25/day. Free shuttle to all terminals, with a vehicle every 10 minutes. Cheapest on-airport rate, but capacity is reduced right now. Reserve before you go.

Off-Airport Hotel Lots

• Triply sells two off-site hotel lots near DCA: Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria in Alexandria and Westin Crystal City in Arlington, at about $9 to $11/day.
• Both include a free shuttle to DCA with online purchase: the Sheraton's runs hourly on the hour, the Westin's every 30 minutes.
• The Westin is listed 0.8 miles from the airport; the Sheraton is listed 2.6 miles, about a 10-minute drive.
• Neither shuttle is 24/7: the Sheraton's runs 7 AM to 10:30 PM and the Westin's 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM, so check hours if your flight is early or late.
• Both lots offer free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.

For deeper detail on the terminal garages, see our guides to Reagan Airport Parking Garage 1 and Reagan Airport Parking Garage 2.

Which DCA Parking Lot Is Closest to the Terminal?

The closest parking to your departure gate depends on your airline. Here's how to match your airline to the right lot.

• Southwest, Frontier, Air Canada Express → Parking 1. This garage connects directly to Terminal 1 (Gates A1–A9). No shuttle needed.
• American Airlines, Delta, United, Alaska, JetBlue → Parking 2. This garage serves Terminal 2 (Concourses B through E). Walk or take the terminal connector.
• Economy Lot → Either terminal. The Economy Lot shuttle stops at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Budget extra time for the ride.
• Off-site lots → Free shuttle with online purchase. The Westin Crystal City is listed 0.8 miles from DCA, the closer of the two lots Triply sells. Its shuttle picks up at Terminal 1 Curbside 2, or Terminal 2 Curbside 1 at Door 4 or Door 7.

If you're flying Southwest and want the fastest possible walk from your car to your gate, Parking 1 is your best bet. For full details on parking for Southwest travelers, see our guide on Reagan Airport parking for Southwest flights.

Is the DCA Economy Lot Open? (Construction Update 2026)

The Economy Lot is open, but at reduced capacity. A $40 million, 3-story parking deck is being built directly on top of the existing lot. During construction, up to 1,100 of the lot's 2,680 spaces are unavailable — roughly a 40% capacity reduction, per the MWAA Economy Lot construction page.

Here's what's happening on the construction timeline:

• Phase 1: 939 new spaces added (February 2026)
• Phase 2: 1,230 more spaces added (expected May 2026)
• Cell Phone Lot: Temporarily closed during construction — use Parking 1 or Parking 2 for pickups (first 60 minutes are free)

The practical impact: the Economy Lot fills faster than usual. If you plan to use it, reserve your spot online at reserve.flyreagan.com before you arrive. Walk-up availability is not guaranteed during peak travel periods.

How Do You Reserve DCA Airport Parking in Advance?

Reserving DCA parking in advance is straightforward. Here's the step-by-step process for both on-airport and off-airport options.

Reserving On-Airport Parking

1. Go to reserve.flyreagan.com.
2. Enter your arrival and departure dates.
3. Select your lot — Parking 1, Parking 2, or Economy Lot.
4. Pay by credit or debit card at checkout.
5. Print or save your reservation confirmation.
6. On travel day, scan your confirmation at the lot entrance.

Reserving Off-Airport Parking

1. Search the two off-site lots on Triply's DCA parking page.
2. Compare daily rates, shuttle hours, and cancellation terms.
3. Book your preferred lot with free cancellation and a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.
4. On arrival, follow the lot's check-in steps: at the Sheraton Suites, get the tag at the front desk and park on Level P2; at the Westin, park in any space not marked Reserved and register your car at the front desk.
5. Allow extra time if your flight is early morning or late night: neither shuttle runs overnight.

Pro tip: Match the lot to your flight time. The Westin Crystal City shuttle starts at 4:30 AM and runs every 30 minutes until 10:30 PM, while the Sheraton Suites shuttle runs hourly from 7 AM to 10:30 PM. If your flight leaves before the first shuttle, plan your own ride to the airport.

How Does DCA Parking Compare to Taking the Metro?

The Metro is often the cheapest option for a short trip to DCA — and the fastest way to avoid parking hassles entirely. The WMATA Yellow Line connects Crystal City and central DC to the Reagan National Airport station in about 10 minutes. The Blue Line also serves the airport, with more stops.

Here's a quick cost comparison for a 3-day trip (round trip, one traveler):

• Economy Lot (3 days): $75 total
• Parking 2 (3 days): $105 total
• Off-site (Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria, 3 days): about $27 total
• Metro round trip (2 rides): ~$7–$10 total depending on origin station (per WMATA fares)

The Metro wins on price for solo travelers making short trips. But if you're traveling with luggage, a family, or returning late at night, parking often makes more practical sense. The DCA Metro station has an elevator and is directly accessible from Terminal 2 — a genuine convenience for light packers.

Also factor in TSA PreCheck — if you have it, security is faster and you may not need to arrive as early, making a quick Metro trip even more viable.

What Are the Best Off-Airport Parking Options Near Reagan National Airport?

Off-site parking near DCA offers the best daily rates, about $9 to $11/day at the two hotel lots Triply sells. Both include a free shuttle with online purchase. Here are the two options:

• Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria (801 N St Asaph St, Alexandria), about $9/day: The lowest rate Triply sells near DCA, listed 2.6 miles away, about a 10-minute drive. Parking is in a covered, underground garage: get the tag at the front desk, park on Level P2 and put the tag on your dashboard. The complimentary shuttle runs hourly on the hour, 7 AM to 10:30 PM, with no shuttle 11 PM to 7 AM. On return, call 703-836-4700 and tell the desk your airline, since pickup zones vary. EV charging is available on site (first 4 hours complimentary, then $2.50/hour). No hotel stay required.
• Westin Crystal City (1800 Richmond Highway, Arlington), about $11/day: Listed 0.8 miles from DCA, the closer of the two. Underground garage parking, and no hotel stay required. The free shuttle runs every 30 minutes, 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM, with no shuttle overnight; registered hotel guests board first. Park in any space not marked Reserved, then register your car at the front desk (name, plate and state) or the exit gate won't open. There's no extra charge for full-size vans, pickups and large SUVs.

If you want a hotel stay before an early flight, our DCA airport parking hotel guide covers that option. Triply sells parking only at the two hotels above, not rooms.

Important shuttle note: Neither shuttle runs 24/7. The Sheraton Suites shuttle runs 7 AM to 10:30 PM (none from 11 PM to 7 AM), and the Westin Crystal City shuttle runs 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM (none from 10:30 PM to 4:30 AM). If your flight departs before the first shuttle or you land after the last one, arrange your own ride or use the Metro as a backup. Yellow Line trains run until just after midnight on weekdays.

DCA Airport Parking Tips: How to Save Money and Guarantee a Spot

These tips are based on current conditions at Reagan National — including the 2026 construction that's changing availability across the airport's 8,500-space parking system.

• Book off-site to save the most. The two off-site hotel lots run about $9 to $11/day versus $25 to $35/day on-airport. For a week-long trip (about $62 to $76), that saves roughly $100 versus the Economy Lot and more than $165 versus the terminal garages.
• Reserve Economy Lot in advance. With capacity down ~40%, walk-up spots disappear fast during peak travel. Pre-book at reserve.flyreagan.com.
• Use the garage free window smartly. Picking someone up from DCA? Both Parking 1 and Parking 2 are free for the first 60 minutes. The Cell Phone Lot is closed, so this is your best option for pickups.
• Check shuttle hours before you book. The Sheraton Suites shuttle runs 7 AM to 10:30 PM and the Westin Crystal City shuttle 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Verify hours match your flight time.
• Follow each lot's check-in steps. At the Sheraton Suites, park on Level P2 and display the tag from the front desk; at the Westin, register your car at the front desk so the exit gate opens.
• Use free cancellation. Both off-site lots offer free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in. Book ahead, then cancel if plans change.
• Check Waze before you drive. DCA sits near I-395 and the George Washington Memorial Parkway, and both can back up during rush hour. Check the Waze live traffic map before you leave to avoid missing your shuttle or check-in window.

For even more ways to cut costs, see our full breakdown of cheap DCA airport parking options near Reagan National.

Ready to lock in your rate? Compare the two DCA off-site lots on Triply, from about $9/day with free cancellation and a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.

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