DCA Airport Parking Price: 2026 Full Rate Guide

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DCA airport parking price is the daily rate you pay to store your vehicle at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, ranging from $25/day in the Economy Lot to $35/day in Parking 1 or Parking 2 on-airport, or from about $9/day at the two off-site hotel lots Triply sells near DCA. Both off-site lots include a free shuttle to the terminals, which makes them a practical choice for most travelers. Off-site rates in this guide are for a 7-day stay booked ahead and change by date.

• Cheapest on-airport option: Economy Lot at $25/day, but capacity is reduced about 40% during current construction.
• Cheapest off-site option: Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria at about $9/day with a complimentary shuttle (7 AM to 10:30 PM).
• On-airport garages: Parking 1 (Terminal 1) and Parking 2 (Terminal 2) both cost $35/day at the daily maximum.
• The first 60 minutes are free in both terminal garages, which is useful for passenger pickups.
• The Cell Phone Lot is closed during construction, so use the garage free period for pickups.
• Pre-booking is strongly recommended because Economy Lot space is limited right now.

Compare the two off-site DCA lots Triply sells, from about $9/day, with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in: search available DCA parking options on Triply. On-airport spaces are reserved through the airport at reserve.flyreagan.com.

How Much Does DCA Airport Parking Cost in 2026?

Reagan National Airport offers three on-airport parking options with fixed daily rates, plus two off-site hotel lots that Triply sells at a fraction of the on-airport price. Here is a side-by-side breakdown (on-airport rates checked on flyreagan.com in October 2026).

Per Reagan National's official parking page, the Economy Lot is $25 per 24-hour period and Parking 1 and Parking 2 are each $7/hour with a $35 daily maximum. Pre-booking is strongly recommended given the reduced capacity during construction. On-airport spaces are booked through the airport, not Triply.

What Are the On-Site Parking Options at Reagan National Airport?

Reagan National has three main on-site parking areas, each serving different needs and priced differently. The total on-site capacity is 8,500 vehicles across all facilities, per the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).

Parking 1 — Terminal 1 Garage

Parking 1 sits directly next to Terminal 1 (Gates A1–A9). It serves travelers on Air Canada Express, Frontier, and Southwest Airlines. The daily maximum is $35. Hourly rate is $7 after the first 60 minutes free. It costs the same as Parking 2, and it's the most convenient for Terminal 1 flyers.

Parking 2 — Terminal 2 Garage

Parking 2 is attached to Terminal 2, covering Concourses B, C, D, and E. That means Alaska, Delta, United, American, and JetBlue travelers all use this garage. The daily maximum is $35, with an hourly rate of $7, the same as Parking 1. If you're flying from Terminal 2, this is the most direct option, but it is no longer cheaper than Parking 1.

Economy Lot

The Economy Lot is the cheapest on-site choice at $25/day. A free shuttle connects it to both terminals. However, the lot is currently under significant construction — see the construction section below for what that means for your trip. Pre-book via reserve.flyreagan.com to guarantee a space.

Free 60-Minute Grace Period

Both Parking 1 and Parking 2 garages offer the first 60 minutes free. This is designed for passenger pickups and drop-offs, especially now that the Cell Phone Lot is temporarily closed during construction. Drive in, wait for your arriving passenger, and drive out — no charge if you're under 60 minutes.

How Do Off-Site DCA Parking Lots Compare on Price and Convenience?

The two off-site hotel lots Triply sells near DCA offer the best daily rates, starting at about $9/day at the Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria. That's about 74% less than the $35/day Parking 1 and Parking 2 rate and about 64% less than the $25 Economy Lot. Both lots include a free shuttle to Reagan National, and neither requires a hotel stay.

The closer of the two is the Westin Crystal City, listed 0.8 miles from DCA. It costs about $11/day and parks you in an underground garage with a free shuttle. No hotel reservation is required, since the parking is for airport customers. There is no extra charge for full-size vans, pickups and large SUVs. The Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria is listed 2.6 miles away, about a 10-minute drive, and parks you in a covered, underground garage.

Shuttle hours matter. Neither lot runs a 24/7 shuttle. The Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria shuttle runs hourly on the hour from 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM, with no shuttle from 11 PM to 7 AM. The Westin Crystal City 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. If your flight departs or lands outside those hours, you'll need your own ride, and the Metro is a backup.

For long-stay travelers, the savings really add up. A 7-day trip at the Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria costs about $62 total versus $245 at Parking 1 or Parking 2 and $175 in the Economy Lot. That's about $183 less than the terminal garages. For more on stretching your budget over extended stays, see our guide on Reagan airport long-term parking rates and lots.

How Can You Save Money on DCA Airport Parking?

The single biggest lever is choosing off-site parking over on-site. Beyond that, here are the most effective strategies for reducing your DCA airport parking price.

• Book in advance: Economy Lot spaces sell out faster than usual due to construction, so reserve on-airport spaces at reserve.flyreagan.com. Off-site bookings on Triply come with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.
• Compare the off-site lots: the Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria is about $9/day and the Westin Crystal City is about $11/day, both far below the $25 Economy Lot.
• Skip the garages on long stays: Parking 1 and Parking 2 are both $35/day, which is $245 for 7 days versus $175 in the Economy Lot.
• Pick the lot that fits your flight times: neither off-site shuttle runs overnight, so check the hours above for early morning or late night flights.
• Avoid peak travel dates or book early: holiday weekends and summer dates see high demand.
• TSA PreCheck: Not a parking discount, but TSA PreCheck cuts time at security. That means you can park farther out, take the shuttle, and still make your flight comfortably.

What Is the Best Long-Term Parking Option at DCA?

For trips lasting more than 3 days, the two off-site lots offer the best value by a wide margin. The Economy Lot at $25/day becomes expensive over a week, since a 7-day stay costs $175 before any additional fees. The same period at the Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria runs about $62.

The Westin Crystal City is the closer pick for longer stays, listed 0.8 miles from the airport. A 7-day trip costs about $76, versus $175 in the Economy Lot and $245 in the terminal garages. The garage is underground, the shuttle is free, and vans, pickups and large SUVs park at no extra charge. Booking comes with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.

Both lots park you in covered, underground garages. At the Sheraton Suites, park on Level P2 and put the tag from the front desk on your dashboard. At the Westin, park in any space not marked Reserved, then register your car at the front desk (name, plate, state) or the exit gate won't open. For a deeper look at multi-day strategy, visit our Reagan airport long-term parking guide.

How Does DCA Parking Compare to Taking Metro, Uber, or Lyft?

DCA is one of the easiest major airports to reach without a car. The Yellow Line Metro runs directly to Reagan National Airport — just 10 minutes from Crystal City, 4 stops to L'Enfant Plaza. A round-trip Metro fare typically runs $6–$10 depending on your starting point and time of day, per WMATA's fare schedule.

Here is how the options compare for a 5-day trip from Crystal City:

• Parking (Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria): about $45 total (5 × about $9/day)
• Parking (DCA Economy Lot): $125 total (5 × $25/day)
• Metro round-trip: ~$8–$12 total (much cheaper for solo travelers)
• Uber/Lyft round-trip (5 miles from DC): Typically $30–$60+ depending on surge pricing

For solo travelers, Metro wins on cost. For families or groups with heavy luggage, driving and parking at an off-site lot often makes more practical sense — especially when the shuttle is included. Rideshare can spike during rush hour and bad weather, making it the least predictable option cost-wise.

What Do DCA Parkers Need to Know About the Ongoing Construction?

The Economy Lot parking deck is currently under active construction as part of a $40 million expansion project. Up to 1,100 of the 2,680 Economy Lot spaces are unavailable during peak construction periods — a roughly 40% capacity reduction (per MWAA). This makes advance reservations critical for Economy Lot parking right now.

The new 3-story parking deck is being built directly on top of the existing Economy Lot. Phase 1 added 939 new spaces in February 2026. Phase 2 will add 1,230 more spaces by May 2026. Contractor Kiwi Newton is managing the build. Check the official Economy Lot construction page for current status before your trip.

The Cell Phone Lot is temporarily closed during construction. Use the first-60-minutes-free option in Parking 1 or Parking 2 instead — drive in, wait for your passenger, and exit within 60 minutes at no charge. The DCA Reimagined project is also ongoing throughout Terminal 2, adding new concessions and upgraded restrooms. Expect some interior signage and layout changes.

Traveler tip: Before driving to DCA, check real-time traffic on the Waze live traffic map. The George Washington Memorial Parkway and I-395 both experience significant congestion during rush hour and airport construction periods.

How Do You Reserve DCA Parking in Advance?

Reserving on-site parking at Reagan National is straightforward. Go to reserve.flyreagan.com, select your lot, enter your travel dates, and pay by credit or debit card. Pre-booking guarantees your space and protects you from the reduced Economy Lot availability during construction.

For off-site lots, Triply sells parking at the Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria and the Westin Crystal City. Neither requires a hotel stay, and bookings come with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in, so there's no risk in booking early. Availability during holidays and peak travel is not guaranteed, so book ahead.

If you're weighing a hotel stay with your parking, see our guide on DCA airport parking hotel options. Triply sells parking only at the two hotels above, not rooms or park-sleep-fly packages.

Ready to lock in your rate? Compare the two DCA off-site lots on Triply, from about $9/day, and book with free cancellation with 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.