Reagan Airport Parking Cost: Full 2026 Rate Guide

Reagan airport parking cost ranges from $25/day at the Economy Lot to $35/day in the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 garages. Those are the on-airport rates managed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). The off-site hotel lots Triply sells near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) start at about $9/day, which is about 74% less per day than the $35 garages and about 64% less than the Economy Lot. This guide breaks down every current rate, lot, and money-saving option so you can pick the right parking before your trip.

• Cheapest on-airport option: Economy Lot at $25/day, with a free shuttle to all terminals every 10 minutes (rates checked October 2026)
• Most expensive on-airport options: Parking 1 (Terminal 1 Garage) and Parking 2 (Terminal 2 Garage) at $35/day maximum each
• Cheapest off-site option on Triply: Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria at about $9/day with a complimentary shuttle (7 AM to 10:30 PM)
• First 60 minutes are FREE in both on-airport garages, useful for quick pickups
• Economy Lot capacity is reduced about 40% during ongoing construction, so book early
• The Cell Phone Lot is closed, so use the garages (first 60 min free) for pickups instead

For the full picture on all DCA parking options, start with the Complete DCA Airport Parking Guide, then use this article to go deep on the exact costs.

How Much Does Reagan Airport Parking Cost in 2026?

Reagan National Airport parking costs depend on which lot you choose and how long you stay. On-airport rates run from $25/day to $35/day, while the two off-site lots Triply sells near DCA run about $9 to $11/day. Off-site rates are for a 7-day stay booked ahead and change by date. Here's a full breakdown of the rates at DCA. For a detailed look at how these figures break down, see our Reagan Airport Parking Fees: 2026 Complete Rate Guide.

Official On-Airport Parking Rates (MWAA)

All on-airport rates above are per MWAA's official DCA parking page (checked October 2026) and are drive-up rates. DCA holds a total of 8,500 vehicles across all on-airport parking facilities, but that number is lower right now due to the Economy Lot construction project.

The first 60 minutes are free in both the Parking 1 and Parking 2 garages. This makes them useful for quick drop-offs and pickups while the Cell Phone Lot remains closed. After the free hour, the garages charge $7 per hour up to the $35 daily maximum, so they get expensive fast for longer stays. For a full breakdown of what you'll pay per day across every lot, see our DCA Airport Parking Daily Rate: 2026 Full Guide.

Looking to pay as little as possible at DCA? Compare off-site DCA parking rates from about $9/day on Triply and book your spot ahead of your trip.

What Are the Official Parking Lots and Garages at Reagan National Airport?

DCA has three main on-airport parking options — two garages attached to the terminals and one remote Economy Lot with shuttle service. Each serves a different type of traveler.

Parking 1 — Terminal 1 Garage

Parking 1 sits directly next to Terminal 1 (Gates A1-A9). It's the most convenient option if you're flying Southwest, Frontier, or Air Canada Express. The daily maximum is $35, making it the priciest on-airport choice. Hourly parking runs $7/hour after the free 60-minute window. Reserve in advance at reserve.flyreagan.com.

Parking 2 — Terminal 2 Garage

Parking 2 connects directly to Terminal 2, which covers Concourses B through E. If you're flying American, Delta, Alaska, United, or JetBlue, this is your closest garage. It now costs the same as Parking 1: $35/day maximum and $7/hour after the first free hour. For a complete look at what each facility charges per day, our DCA Airport Parking Cost Per Day: 2026 Full Rate Guide covers every option in detail.

Economy Lot

The Economy Lot is DCA's budget on-airport option at $25/day. A free shuttle connects it to both terminals. There's one major catch right now: a $40 million parking deck is being built on top of the lot, which means up to 1,100 of the 2,680 spaces are unavailable during peak construction. Phase 1 (939 new deck spaces) opened in February 2026, with Phase 2 adding 1,230 more spaces by May 2026. Reserve early — this lot fills up fast. For a full breakdown of what the Economy Lot costs and the best off-site alternatives, see our guide to Reagan Airport Economy Parking: $25/day + Off-Site Alternatives. See the Economy Lot construction update for current availability.

Which DCA Parking Option Is Cheapest for Long Trips?

For trips lasting more than two or three days, off-site hotel parking is almost always cheaper than any on-airport option. The savings add up quickly over a long stay.

Here's a simple comparison for a 7-day trip:

• Economy Lot (on-airport): $25/day x 7 = $175 total
• Parking 2 (Terminal 2 Garage): $35/day x 7 = $245 total
• Parking 1 (Terminal 1 Garage): $35/day x 7 = $245 total
• Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria: about $9/day x 7 = about $62 total
• Westin Crystal City: about $11/day x 7 = about $76 total

Off-site lots save you about $99 to $113 on a single week-long trip compared to the Economy Lot, and about $169 to $183 compared to the garages. The trade-off is the shuttle: Westin Crystal City is listed 0.8 miles from the airport and Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria 2.6 miles (about a 10-minute drive), and neither shuttle runs overnight. For a deep dive on extended-stay options, our guide to Reagan airport parking for long-term stays covers weekly caps, monthly options, and shuttle logistics in full.

High-Demand Travel Seasons: When Capacity Tightens

Reagan National is one of the busiest airports in the DC region. During peak travel periods, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, and summer, the Economy Lot is already running at reduced capacity and can fill up. On-airport garages don't change their posted rates, but you may arrive and find no space. Booking an off-site lot ahead holds your spot. Book at least 1-2 weeks ahead for holiday travel, or 3-5 days ahead for standard summer trips.

How Can You Save Money on Reagan National Airport Parking?

There are several proven ways to cut your Reagan airport parking cost. The biggest savings come from combining off-site parking with advance booking.

• Book an off-site hotel lot: Triply sells two near DCA, Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria at about $9/day and Westin Crystal City at about $11/day. That is about 74% and 69% less than the $35 garages. Both include a free shuttle with online purchase, but neither runs overnight.
• Book ahead: Reserve on-airport spots at reserve.flyreagan.com, the airport's own booking site. Off-site lots on Triply come with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.
• Compare the two off-site lots: Westin Crystal City is closer (0.8 miles) with a shuttle every 30 minutes, while Sheraton Suites is cheaper with an hourly shuttle. Match the shuttle hours to your flight.
• Use the free 60-minute window: If you're just dropping someone off or picking them up, both garages are free for the first hour. Skip Uber, drive yourself, and save the fare.
• Ride the Metro instead: If you live near a Yellow or Blue Line stop, parking at a Metro station and riding in may cost less than any airport lot.

Having TSA PreCheck also affects how you plan your airport arrival time. With faster security, you don't need to arrive as early — which means less time your car sits in a lot if you're paying hourly.

What Are the Best Off-Site Parking Options Near DCA?

Triply sells two off-site lots near Reagan National: Westin Crystal City in Arlington, listed 0.8 miles from the airport, and Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria, listed 2.6 miles away (about a 10-minute drive). Both include a free shuttle to DCA with online purchase. For a complete overview of every rate and lot type, see our DCA Car Parking Rates: Every Option, Every Price (2026) guide.

Shuttle hours matter for early-morning or late-night flights. The Westin Crystal City shuttle runs 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. The Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria shuttle runs from 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM, with no shuttle from 11 PM to 7 AM. Outside those hours you will need your own ride, or the Reagan National Metro Station (Yellow and Blue Line), which connects to the terminal. WMATA's National Airport station page has current service hours.

Neither off-site lot requires a hotel reservation to park, but the Westin Crystal City stands out for its location: at about $11/day and listed 0.8 miles from DCA, it's the closer of the two lots Triply sells, with parking in an underground garage. 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.

Is There Free or Discounted Parking at Reagan National Airport?

Truly free parking at DCA is limited — but there are a few legitimate options worth knowing about.

What Counts as Free Parking at DCA?

• First 60 minutes free in Parking 1 and Parking 2 garages — use for drop-off and pickup while the Cell Phone Lot is closed
• Cell Phone Lot — normally free for waiting while passengers deplane, but currently temporarily closed due to construction

There are no multi-day free parking options at Reagan National. Military and government employee parking discounts are not publicly listed by MWAA on their official parking page — if this applies to you, contact MWAA directly through flyreagan.com for current policies.

Off-Site Savings Compared With On-Airport Parking

Booking an off-site lot ahead is the main way to pay well under the on-airport daily rates. Here is how the two lots Triply sells near DCA compare:

• Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria: about $9/day, about 64% less than the $25 Economy Lot and about 74% less than the $35 garages
• Westin Crystal City: about $11/day, about 57% less than the Economy Lot and about 69% less than the garages

Both lots are booked ahead online, and Triply bookings come with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in. For more ways to keep costs down, the cheapest DCA airport parking guide goes deeper. You can also review a full summary of what DCA charges across every lot in our DCA Airport Parking Charges: 2026 Full Rate Guide.

How Do You Get from DCA Parking to the Terminal?

Getting from your parking spot to the DCA terminal depends on which lot you chose. The path is short for on-airport garages and just a few extra minutes for off-site hotel lots.

From On-Airport Garages (Parking 1 and Parking 2)

Both garages connect directly to their respective terminals via covered walkways. Parking 1 connects to Terminal 1 (Gates A1-A9). Parking 2 connects to Terminal 2 (Concourses B-E). Walk time is under 5 minutes from most floors. No shuttle needed.

From the Economy Lot

The Economy Lot has its own free shuttle that loops to both terminals. During normal conditions, the ride takes a few minutes. With reduced capacity and more vehicles using the lot, expect slightly longer waits. Build in an extra 15-20 minutes from parking to your gate when using the Economy Lot. Per the MWAA Economy Lot page, check for real-time construction advisories before your trip.

From Off-Site Hotel Lots

Both off-site lots Triply sells near DCA include a free shuttle to the terminals with online purchase. Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria runs hourly on the hour from 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM, with airport pickups on demand during those hours: call 703-836-4700 and tell the desk your airline. Westin Crystal City runs every 30 minutes from 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM, and returning travelers are picked up at Terminal 1 Curbside 2 or Terminal 2 Curbside 1 (Door 4 or Door 7). Neither shuttle runs overnight, so always check shuttle hours before booking.

Is Taking the Metro Cheaper Than Parking at Reagan National?

For many DC-area travelers, the Metro is the cheapest option of all — and sometimes the fastest. The Reagan National Airport Metro Station is directly connected to the terminal via an indoor walkway. No shuttle, no lot, no stress.

Metro Costs vs. Parking Costs

A round-trip Metro fare from downtown DC to DCA typically costs under $10 total, depending on the time of day and your starting station. Compare that to $25-$35/day for on-airport parking. If you're traveling solo and coming from a Metro-accessible neighborhood, the math strongly favors the train. Per WMATA's fare information, basic fares vary by distance and peak vs. off-peak hours.

• Yellow Line: Direct to DCA — 4 stops from L'Enfant Plaza, about 10 minutes
• Blue Line: Also serves Reagan National — 12 stops from L'Enfant Plaza
• Round-trip fare: Typically under $10 from central DC stations
• Travel time: Around 10-20 minutes from central DC, depending on origin
• Luggage: Manageable on the Metro if you're traveling light

The Metro makes less sense if you're driving in from Virginia suburbs, have multiple bags, or are traveling with a group. In those cases, off-site parking at about $9 to $11/day often beats the per-person Metro cost. Also keep in mind that WMATA doesn't run 24/7, so check WMATA's current schedules if you have a very early or late flight.

Before you drive to the airport, it's also worth checking real-time traffic on Waze. DCA sits right off George Washington Memorial Parkway and Interstate 395, and morning or evening rush can add 15-30 minutes to your drive.

Pro tip: Neither off-site lot's shuttle runs overnight, so if you have a very early or very late flight, plan your own ride or take the Metro. The Reagan National Metro Station connects directly to the terminal, and the Yellow Line is direct from central DC.

Plan Your DCA Parking and Save on Every Trip

Reagan airport parking cost ranges from free (first 60 minutes) to $35/day on-airport, or as little as about $9/day off-site. The right choice depends on your trip length, airline, terminal, and budget. The off-site lots Triply sells near DCA beat on-airport daily rates by about $14 to $26 per day, with a free shuttle included at both. The Economy Lot is the best on-airport value at $25/day, but capacity is reduced during the current construction project, so booking ahead is wise. For a full side-by-side comparison of what you'll pay per day at every lot, see our DCA Airport Parking Per Day: 2026 Full Rate Guide and our DCA Airport Parking Price: 2026 Full Rate Guide. You can also find a complete breakdown of daily rates in our Reagan Airport Parking Daily Rate: 2026 Complete Guide.

Always review TSA security screening guidelines before your trip — knowing what to expect at the checkpoint helps you plan exactly how early to arrive, which affects how long your car sits in a paid lot.

Search and compare DCA parking rates from about $9/day on Triply. Compare both lots near Reagan National, book in minutes, and get 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.