DCA Airport Parking Daily Rate: 2026 Full Guide

Back to Reagan Airport Parking Cost: Full 2026 Rate Guide | Complete DCA Airport Parking Guide

The DCA airport parking daily rate is the maximum charge you pay per 24-hour period at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, ranging from $25/day at the Economy Lot to $35/day at Parking 1 and Parking 2 on-site. Off-site, Triply sells two hotel lots near DCA: Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria at about $9/day and Westin Crystal City at about $11/day. Both include a free shuttle and cost about 69% to 74% less per day than the $35 garages. Pre-booking is strongly recommended in 2026 due to construction reducing Economy Lot capacity by roughly 40%.

• Cheapest on-site option: Economy Lot at $25/day, but capacity is reduced about 40% during construction
• Most expensive on-site options: Parking 1 (Terminal 1 Garage) and Parking 2 (Terminal 2 Garage), both $35/day
• Cheapest off-site option: Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria at about $9/day, with a complimentary shuttle from 7 AM to 10:30 PM
• Closest off-site option: Westin Crystal City at about $11/day, listed 0.8 miles from DCA, with a free shuttle from 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM
• Free grace period: First 60 minutes free in Parking 1 and Parking 2 garages, useful for quick pickups
• Best money-saving move: Book off-site parking in advance to lock in the lowest daily rate
• Construction alert: The Economy Lot parking deck project reduces available spaces during construction

How Much Does Daily Parking at DCA Airport Cost in 2026?

Daily parking at DCA ranges from about $9 to $35 per day depending on where you park. On-airport lots are the most convenient but also the most expensive. The two off-site hotel lots Triply sells near DCA cost about $24 to $26 less per day than the $35 garages. Off-site rates in this guide are for a 7-day stay booked ahead and change by date.

Here is a quick summary of daily rates at Reagan National Airport and at the two off-site lots Triply sells nearby:

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) sets all on-airport rates, and on-airport parking is reserved through the airport's own site, not Triply. The off-site rates above are the daily rates listed on Triply for the two hotel lots it sells near DCA.

Want to lock in a low DCA daily rate right now? Compare DCA airport parking options from about $9/day on Triply and see both lots with prices and shuttle details.

What Are the On-Site DCA Parking Options and Daily Rates?

Reagan National Airport has three main on-site parking options: Parking 1, Parking 2, and the Economy Lot. Each serves different terminals and travelers differently. The total capacity across all DCA parking facilities is 8,500 vehicles, per MWAA.

Parking 1 — Terminal 1 Garage ($35/day)

Parking 1 is connected directly to Terminal 1, which serves Gates A1–A9. Airlines here include Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Air Canada Express. At $35/day, it ties with Parking 2 as the priciest on-airport option. The first 60 minutes are free, a useful feature for passenger drop-off or pickup.

Parking 2: Terminal 2 Garage ($35/day)

Parking 2 connects directly to Terminal 2, which covers Concourses B, C, D, and E. That means Alaska Airlines, Delta, United, American, JetBlue, and American Eagle all fly from this terminal. At $35/day, it now costs the same as Parking 1. If you're flying American Airlines, this is your closest option. The first 60 minutes are also free in this garage.

Economy Lot ($25/day)

The Economy Lot is the cheapest on-airport choice at $25/day (rate increase effective March 1, 2025, per MWAA). It's a surface lot with a free shuttle to both terminals. However, a $40M parking deck construction project is underway through at least May 2026. Up to 1,100 of 2,680 Economy Lot spaces may be unavailable during peak construction — a reduction of roughly 40%. Pre-booking is essential. You can reserve a spot at reserve.flyreagan.com.

How Daily Rates Are Calculated at DCA

DCA garages charge $7/hour at both Parking 1 and Parking 2 after the first free hour. The daily maximum of $35 kicks in after about 5 hours. If you plan to stay more than a few hours, you'll hit the daily maximum. For multi-day trips, the daily rate stacks, so a 5-day trip in either garage costs $175 total at the daily maximum. That's why off-site lots save so much on longer stays.

How Do Off-Site DCA Parking Lots Compare on Daily Rates and Shuttle Service?

Off-site hotel parking near DCA offers the best daily rates available, starting at about $9/day at Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria. Triply sells two off-site lots near DCA, and both include a free shuttle to Reagan National Airport. The trade-off is a short shuttle ride instead of a walk to the terminal.

Here are the key details to know about each lot's shuttle schedule:

• Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria: Complimentary shuttle with online purchase, hourly on the hour from 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM, with no shuttle from 11 PM to 7 AM. Parking is in a covered, underground garage (Level P2), and you pick up a tag at the front desk. To get picked up, call 703-836-4700 and tell the desk your airline.
• Westin Crystal City: Free shuttle with online purchase, every 30 minutes from 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM, with no shuttle from 10:30 PM to 4:30 AM. Boarding is first come, first served, with priority for registered hotel guests. No room reservation is needed to park, and you register your car at the front desk. On return, Terminal 1 pickup is at Curbside 2 and Terminal 2 pickup is at Curbside 1, Door 4 or Door 7.

Important: Neither shuttle runs 24/7. If you have a very early departure or late arrival, check shuttle hours carefully, because outside them you need your own ride. The Metro is a solid backup, and the Yellow Line runs direct to Reagan National in about 10 minutes.

For a deeper look at the cheapest options across all nearby lots, see our guide to cheap DCA airport parking near Reagan National.

How Can You Save Money on DCA Airport Daily Parking Rates?

Saving money on DCA daily parking comes down to three things: choosing off-site parking, booking in advance, and using available promo codes. Travelers who park off-site can save up to about 74% per day compared to the $35 on-airport garages.

Book Off-Site Hotel Parking

The biggest savings come from the two hotel lots Triply sells near DCA, Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria and Westin Crystal City. At about $9 to $11/day, they cost about 69% to 74% less than the $35/day garages. For a 7-day trip, that's about $62 to $76 versus $245 in Parking 1 or Parking 2, a difference of roughly $169 to $183.

Pre-Book Your Spot Online

Booking ahead is the way to secure a spot at either off-site lot on Triply, with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in. The Economy Lot's capacity reduction means spots fill up faster than in prior years. The airport says its lowest rates come from reserving ahead at reserve.flyreagan.com, the airport's own site, which is separate from Triply.

Use Discount Codes and Coupons

Promo codes come and go, so check before you book. For an updated list of working codes, see our Reagan Airport parking coupon guide. The off-site rates in this guide are the daily rates listed on Triply for Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria and Westin Crystal City.

Use the Metro Instead

For shorter trips, the WMATA Yellow Line reaches Reagan National in about 10 minutes from Crystal City. A round-trip Metro fare runs well under $10. If you're parking for just one or two days, check whether Metro plus a rideshare from your neighborhood beats the daily parking cost entirely.

Pro tip: Before you drive to DCA, check real-time traffic on Waze. George Washington Memorial Parkway and I-395 both experience heavy congestion during peak hours, especially on weekday mornings and Friday afternoons.

What Is the Best DCA Parking Option for Your Trip Length?

The right parking option depends on how long you'll be gone and how much convenience matters to you. Here's how to think about it by trip length:

• Under 2 hours (quick pickup/drop-off): Use Parking 1 or Parking 2, where the first 60 minutes are free. The Cell Phone Lot is temporarily closed during construction, so garages are the official alternative.
• 2 to 8 hours (short visit): The garages charge $7/hour and hit the $35/day cap after about 5 hours. Hourly beats daily for very short stays.
• 1 to 3 days (short trip): Economy Lot at $25/day is a solid balance of price and convenience if you can get a spot. The off-site lots at about $9 to $11/day cost less than the Economy Lot.
• 4 to 7 days (week-long trip): Off-site hotel lots save the most. A week at Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria (about $9/day) costs about $62 total and a week at Westin Crystal City (about $11/day) about $76, versus $175 at the Economy Lot and $245 in Parking 1 or Parking 2.
• 8+ days (extended trip): Off-site is the clear winner. Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria is about $9/day versus $35/day at Parking 1 or Parking 2, which adds up to $490 for 14 days at the garage daily maximum, so check the total for your dates. For long-term options and tips, see our guide on Reagan Airport long-term parking.

If you're planning a park-and-stay trip and arriving the night before your flight, note that Triply sells parking only at Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria and Westin Crystal City, not rooms or packages. Our DCA park-sleep-fly guide covers hotel stay options.

How Does DCA's Economy Lot Construction Affect Daily Parking Availability?

The Economy Lot is DCA's most affordable on-airport option at $25/day — but it's operating at reduced capacity through at least May 2026. A $40M parking deck project is being built on top of the lot in two phases. Phase 1 added 939 spaces in February 2026. Phase 2 adds 1,230 more spaces, expected by May 2026. During construction, up to 1,100 of 2,680 spaces are unavailable at any time.

This means the Economy Lot fills up much faster than in prior years — especially on busy travel days. Travelers who show up without a reservation risk finding no space available. The airport strongly recommends pre-booking through the official Economy Lot page.

The Cell Phone Lot is also temporarily closed during this construction period. Drivers picking up passengers should use Parking 1 or Parking 2 instead — the first 60 minutes are free in both garages. Keep an eye on DCA construction advisories for the latest updates before your trip.

Is There a Difference Between Weekday and Weekend DCA Parking Rates?

The published daily rates at DCA do not vary by day of the week — the listed maximums apply Monday through Sunday. However, availability differs significantly between weekdays and weekends. Business travel peaks Monday through Thursday, which often means higher demand for Parking 1 and Parking 2. Weekend leisure travelers tend to fill the Economy Lot faster.

During peak travel periods, such as holiday weekends, major DC events, and spring and fall tourist seasons, all lots fill more quickly. Pre-booking is especially important around Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and December holidays. Booking one of the two off-site lots Triply sells near DCA is a smart hedge: book early to secure the rate, and cancel free with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in if plans change.

Travelers with TSA PreCheck can cut their airport arrival buffer by 15–20 minutes, which slightly reduces the time cost of off-site parking with a shuttle. That makes off-site options even more competitive on busy travel days.

Find the Best DCA Airport Parking Daily Rate for Your Trip

The DCA airport parking daily rate ranges from about $9/day at Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria to $35/day at Parking 1 and Parking 2 on-site. For most travelers, the two off-site hotel lots Triply sells near DCA offer the best combination of price and convenience, especially for trips of two days or longer. The key is to book early, confirm your shuttle schedule, and check lot availability given ongoing Economy Lot construction.

Don't pay walk-up rates when you don't have to. Compare DCA daily parking rates from about $9/day on Triply, see availability and shuttle details, and lock in your spot before the lot fills up.

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.