DSM Airport Parking: Rates From $7/Day, Garage, Economy Lots and Pick-Up (2026)
As of October 2026, the cheapest DSM airport parking is the Red Economy Lot at $7/day, then the Grey Lot at $8/day, with free 24/7 shuttles. The Blue Lot is $14/day and the garage next to the terminal is $21/day. Picking someone up is free for up to 2 hours.
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As of October 2026, the cheapest DSM airport parking is the Red Economy Lot at $7/day, followed by the Grey Economy Lot at $8/day, both with free shuttles that run 24/7. The Blue Economy Lot is $14/day, and the garage next to the terminal is $21/day for long stays. If you are only picking someone up, you can wait free for up to 2 hours.
This guide covers every lot at Des Moines International Airport (DSM), how the shuttles work, pick-up rules during terminal construction, and how an off-site hotel lot compares. Rates are from the airport's official DSM parking and rates page.
DSM Airport Parking Rates at a Glance
Every official lot charges by the hour up to a daily maximum, which ranges from $7 to $48.
| Facility | Hourly | Daily max | Weekly (7 x daily) | Getting to the terminal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garage Hourly | First 2 hours free, then $2/hour | $48 | Not for long stays | Walk |
| Garage Daily (Long Term) | $2/hour (posted) | $21 | $147 | Walk |
| Blue Economy Lot | $2/hour | $14 | $98 | Free shuttle, every 10 min or less |
| Grey Economy Lot | $2/hour | $8 | $56 | Free shuttle, every 10 min or less |
| Red Economy Lot | $2/hour | $7 | $49 | Free shuttle, every 15 min |
| Clarion Inn Des Moines Airport (Triply) | n/a | about $9.40 | $66.00 sample | Free on-demand shuttle, 24/7 |
Weekly figures are seven times the daily maximum; the airport does not publish weekly or monthly rates. For Garage Daily, the airport's rate list shows $2/hour, but the lot data behind its parking page lists $1 per 20 minutes, so a short Garage Daily stay could be billed at up to $3/hour; the $21 daily maximum is the same either way. The three economy lots take card payment only. You can park for up to 60 consecutive days in any airport lot; for longer stays, call the SP+ parking office at 515-256-5038.
For a lot-by-lot cost breakdown with trip-length examples, see our Des Moines airport parking rates guide.
Which DSM Parking Lot Should You Use?
For trips longer than a day, the Red or Grey Lot is the cheapest choice; for short visits, the Hourly garage wins.
- Lowest price: Red Lot ($7/day) or Grey Lot ($8/day), with a shuttle ride to the terminal.
- Shorter shuttle wait: Grey and Blue shuttles run every 10 minutes or less; Red runs every 15 minutes.
- Walk to the terminal: the garage. Daily (Long Term) parking is $21/day; Hourly parking is $2/hour up to $48/day.
- A booked space ahead of time: the airport sells garage parking online, or you can reserve an off-site hotel lot.
- Picking someone up: EZ-PICKUP in the garage or the Cell Phone Lot, both free.
Economy Parking: Red, Grey and Blue Lots
DSM has three economy lots, all served by free shuttles that run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Red Lot ($7/day) sits east of Fleur Drive at Leland Avenue. The Grey Lot ($8/day) is south-west of the terminal, next to employee parking and the new Rental Car Center. The Blue Lot ($14/day) runs along Fleur Drive between the main entrance and Leland Avenue. Shuttles run on two routes: the Grey Route, and the Blue-Red Route, which stops at the Blue Lot and then the Red Lot. The airport's live DSM shuttle tracker shows where each bus is.
Our DSM economy parking guide explains how to reach each lot, which shuttle to take back, and how the colors compare for long trips.
The Parking Garage: Hourly and Daily
The garage is connected to the terminal by a skywalk, so you can walk in without a shuttle.
It has two products. Garage Daily (Long Term) is $21/day, on Garage A levels 2 to 5, in Garage B and in the North Garage (Garage C). Garage Hourly is on level 1, with the first 2 hours free and then $2/hour up to $48/day. The North Garage expansion opened on 1 July 2025 and added 1,100 spaces, many of them covered.
Read more in our guide to garage daily parking at DSM, including how online garage booking works.
Can You Book DSM Parking in Advance?
Yes, for the garage: the airport's online booking system sells prepaid garage parking with touchless entry and exit.
Bookings must be made at least 6 hours before arrival and cover at least 24 hours. The quoted price includes a $1.99 booking fee and can vary with the time of booking and availability. You can cancel for a full refund up to 2 hours before your start time, but there are no refunds for leaving early, according to the DSM parking reservation FAQ. The booking site sells garage parking only, so the economy lots are drive-up. The airport says its own parking does not offer or accept coupons.
Does DSM Have Free Parking?
Only for pick-ups: there is no free parking for travelers, but drivers meeting a flight can wait free.
EZ-PICKUP gives you up to 2 hours free in marked stalls inside the garage, as long as you stay with your car. The Cell Phone Lot, south of the terminal near the Blue Lot, lets you wait free for up to 60 minutes at a time. Parking in the Hourly garage to meet someone inside is also free for the first 2 hours.
As of October 2026, waiting at the front curb is not allowed while terminal construction continues, and EZ-PICKUP stays in place until the new terminal opens, expected in January 2027. Check current status on flydsm.com before you go. Our Des Moines airport cell phone lot and pick-up guide walks through each option.
Off-Airport Parking Near DSM
One off-site hotel lot near DSM is bookable on Triply, and it costs more than the Red and Grey Lots but less than the Blue Lot and the garage.
Clarion Inn Des Moines Airport is at 1810 Army Post Road, 1.3 miles from the airport, with a free on-demand shuttle 24/7. A sample stay came to $66.00, about $9.40/day. Triply prices are for a sample stay (check-in 10 AM on 13 November, check-out 2 PM on 19 November 2026, billed as 7 days), include fees, and change by date.
| Option | Sample stay total | About per day |
|---|---|---|
| Red Economy Lot | $42 to $49 | $7 |
| Grey Economy Lot | $48 to $56 | $8 |
| Clarion Inn Des Moines Airport | $66.00 | $9.40 |
| Blue Economy Lot | $84 to $98 | $14 |
| Garage Daily | $126 to $147 | $21 |
Airport totals are shown for 6 and 7 daily charges because the sample stay is 6 days and 4 hours and the airport does not publish how a partial day is billed. The hotel lot gives you a reserved space, a shuttle you call when you are ready, and a 100% refund if you cancel up to the day of arrival. Our Des Moines airport hotels park and fly guide covers check-in and the shuttle, or you can compare DSM parking on Triply.
Construction and the New Terminal
DSM is building a new terminal that the airport says will open in January 2027, and the work has changed how pick-up works.
The new terminal adds seven gates to the existing 12, with entry from the skywalk, a crosswalk from the parking garage, or the front curb. As of October 2026, the front curb is for active loading only until it opens, and unattended vehicles may be ticketed or towed. Roads and curbs may change when the new terminal opens, so check current status on flydsm.com. The new Rental Car Center is already open, next to the Grey Lot.
Tips for Parking at DSM
- Check live availability before you leave. The airport's parking page shows open spaces for each lot.
- Use Leland Avenue for the Blue and Grey Lots. It avoids traffic in front of the terminal; turn right at the T intersection for Blue, left for Grey.
- Bring a card. The economy lots are card payment only.
- Ride the same shuttle route back. Note whether you boarded the Grey or Blue-Red route.
- Allow time. The airport recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before departure if you are parking and checking bags, and the TSA checkpoint opens at 3:45 a.m.
- Car trouble? Courtesy help is available at (515) 256-5038, but there are no jump-starts for hybrid or electric vehicles.
More DSM parking guides
Frequently Asked Questions
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