Reagan Airport Parking Fees: 2026 Complete Rate Guide

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Reagan airport parking fees are the daily and hourly rates charged by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) to park at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). On-site rates range from $25/day (Economy Lot) to $35/day (Parking 1 and Parking 2 terminal garages), with the first 60 minutes free in both garages. The two off-site hotel lots Triply sells near DCA run about $9 to $11/day, which is about 74% less per day than the $35 terminal garages at the low end. Off-site rates are for a 7-day stay booked ahead and change by date.

• Parking 1 (Terminal 1 Garage): $35/day maximum, $7/hour after the first free 60 minutes
• Parking 2 (Terminal 2 Garage): $35/day maximum, $7/hour after the first free 60 minutes (no longer cheaper than Parking 1)
• Economy Lot: $25 per 24-hour period ($7/hour), the cheapest on-airport option, with a free shuttle to all terminals
• Off-site hotel lots on Triply: Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria at about $9/day and Westin Crystal City at about $11/day, each with a free shuttle with online purchase
• Economy Lot capacity is reduced about 40% during active construction, so book in advance
• Cell Phone Lot is closed during construction, so use the garages (first 60 minutes free) for pickups instead

Compare DCA off-site parking from about $9/day and lock in your spot early: search Reagan National Airport parking on Triply.

How Much Does Parking at Reagan National Airport Cost in 2026?

DCA offers three on-airport parking tiers, each with different daily maximums and hourly rates. The cheapest on-site option is the Economy Lot at $25/day (checked on flyreagan.com in October 2026). The most expensive are Parking 1 and Parking 2, each at a $35/day maximum. Parking 1 sits directly next to Terminal 1.

All on-airport garages accept credit and debit cards. You can pre-book a spot at reserve.flyreagan.com. Pre-booking is strongly recommended right now — the Economy Lot is running at reduced capacity due to active construction.

What Are the Different Parking Options at DCA Airport?

DCA has three main on-airport parking choices, plus two off-site hotel lots nearby that Triply sells. The right option depends on your airline, trip length, and budget.

Parking 1 — Terminal 1 Garage

Parking 1 sits directly attached to Terminal 1 (Gates A1–A9). It's the closest garage to Southwest Airlines, Frontier, and Air Canada Express gates. The daily maximum is $35, and the hourly rate is $7 after the first 60 free minutes. For short stays under three hours, the free grace period makes this very cost-effective for drop-offs and pickups.

Parking 2 — Terminal 2 Garage

Parking 2 connects directly to Terminal 2, which serves American Airlines (Concourses C, D, and E), Delta, United, Alaska, and JetBlue. The daily maximum is $35, and the hourly rate is $7 after the first free 60 minutes, the same as Parking 1. Most DCA travelers use Terminal 2, making this the most popular on-airport garage. It holds part of the airport's total capacity of 8,500 vehicles across all DCA facilities, per MWAA.

Economy Lot

The Economy Lot charges $25 per 24-hour period ($7 per hour), the cheapest on-airport rate available. A free shuttle runs to all terminals, with a vehicle every 10 minutes. The lot is farther from the terminals than the garages, so budget extra time. Right now, up to 1,100 of 2,680 spaces are unavailable due to a $40M parking deck construction project. See more in the construction section below.

Off-Site Hotel Lots

Triply sells two off-site hotel lots near DCA, both with a free shuttle with online purchase and both parked in covered, underground garages. Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria is about $9/day, listed 2.6 miles from the airport (about a 10-minute drive), with a shuttle every hour on the hour from 7 AM to 10:30 PM. Westin Crystal City is about $11/day and the closer of the two at 0.8 miles, with a shuttle every 30 minutes from 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM (registered hotel guests board first). Neither shuttle runs overnight. Both cost well under the $25 Economy Lot and the $35 garages. For more nearby options, see the article on cheap DCA parking options near Reagan National.

How Can You Save Money on Reagan Airport Parking Fees?

The fastest way to save is to book off-site and pre-pay. Here are the most effective strategies, based on current rates.

• Book off-site: Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria is about $9/day, about $26/day less than Parking 1 or Parking 2. For 7 days that is about $62 against $245 at the $35 daily max. Westin Crystal City is about $11/day, or about $76 for 7 days.
• Pre-book on-airport: Reserve early at reserve.flyreagan.com to lock in your spot before the reduced-capacity Economy Lot fills up.
• Match the shuttle to your flight: the Sheraton shuttle runs 7 AM to 10:30 PM and the Westin shuttle 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM, and neither runs overnight.
• Don't count on Parking 2 being cheaper: both garages now max out at $35/day. The Economy Lot is $25/day, or $175 for 7 days at the daily max versus $245 in the garages.
• Use the free 60-minute grace period: for pickups only, both garages give you the first 60 minutes free. Drop off or pick up at zero cost, then leave before the hour is up.
• Compare on Triply: see Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria and Westin Crystal City side by side in one search, with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.

For more ways to cut costs, check the full Reagan Airport parking coupon guide.

How Does the DCA Economy Lot Construction Affect Parking in 2026?

The Economy Lot is the most affected area right now. MWAA is building a new 3-story parking deck directly on top of the existing lot, as part of a $40 million project contracted to Kiwi Newton.

Here's what that means for you in 2026:

• Phase 1 added 939 new spaces in February 2026.
• Phase 2 adds 1,230 more spaces — expected May 2026.
• Until Phase 2 completes, up to 1,100 of the lot's 2,680 spaces remain unavailable — a roughly 40% capacity reduction.
• The Cell Phone Lot is temporarily closed during construction. Use Parking 1 or Parking 2 (first 60 minutes free) for passenger pickups instead.
• DCA Reimagined is also ongoing — expect restroom upgrades and new concessions throughout Terminal 2.

The bottom line: don't wait until the day of your flight to find Economy Lot parking. Book early at reserve.flyreagan.com or compare off-site alternatives. You can check the latest DCA construction advisories on the official airport site for real-time updates.

Is Off-Site Parking Near Reagan Airport Cheaper Than On-Site?

Yes. The two off-site lots Triply sells near DCA cost less per day than every on-airport option, and both include a free shuttle with online purchase. Here's a full comparison (on-airport rates checked on flyreagan.com in October 2026):

One important note: neither off-site shuttle is 24/7. If you have a very early morning or late-night flight, check the shuttle hours before booking, because the Sheraton has no shuttle from 11 PM to 7 AM and the Westin none from 10:30 PM to 4:30 AM. The Metro is a solid backup, and the Yellow Line gets you to DCA in about 10 minutes from Crystal City. For overnight stays near the airport, the DCA park-sleep-fly guide has more on hotel options.

How Do You Reserve Parking at Reagan National Airport in Advance?

Pre-booking is the single best way to guarantee a spot. The steps are straightforward.

1. Go to reserve.flyreagan.com for on-airport lots (Parking 1, Parking 2, Economy Lot).
2. Enter your travel dates and select your preferred lot.
3. Pay by credit or debit card — a confirmation QR code is emailed to you.
4. At the garage entry lane, scan your QR code to enter without stopping at a kiosk.
5. Exit using the same QR code — the system calculates your total if you leave early.

For the off-site hotel lots, book on Triply: search DCA parking for Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria and Westin Crystal City. Bookings come with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in, and no hotel room is needed. At the Sheraton, park on garage Level P2 and place the tag from the front desk on your dashboard. At the Westin, register your car at the front desk or the exit gate won't open. Always check real-time traffic on Waze before heading to the airport. George Washington Memorial Parkway and Interstate 395 can back up during peak hours and add significant time to your drive.

What Are the Best Alternatives to Driving and Parking at DCA?

DCA is the best-connected airport near Washington, D.C. for transit options. For some trips, skipping parking entirely is the smarter move.

Metrorail — Yellow and Blue Lines

The WMATA Yellow Line reaches DCA in about 10 minutes from Crystal City and connects downtown D.C. in 4 stops to L'Enfant Plaza. The Blue Line also serves Reagan National. A SmarTrip card fare is typically a few dollars each way — far cheaper than a week of parking. Check fares at WMATA's official fare page.

Rideshare — Uber and Lyft

For short trips of 1–2 days, Uber or Lyft can beat parking costs. A round trip from Crystal City to DCA typically runs $20–$30. For longer trips, parking usually wins on price. Both services have designated pickup zones at DCA.

TSA PreCheck — Save Time at Security

If you're driving and parking, getting through security faster matters. TSA PreCheck members use dedicated lanes with no need to remove shoes or laptops. DCA is a busy commuter airport — PreCheck is worth considering if you fly regularly.

For a deep dive into long-term parking strategies — including seven-day cost scenarios — see the Reagan Airport long-term parking guide.

Find the Best Reagan Airport Parking Fee for Your Trip

Reagan airport parking fees run from about $9/day off-site to $35/day in Parking 1 or Parking 2. With the Economy Lot at reduced capacity during 2026 construction, off-site lots are more important than ever. Both off-site hotel lots Triply sells near DCA include a free shuttle with online purchase, and you can cancel free with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.

Don't overpay. Compare DCA off-site parking on Triply, with lots from about $9/day and 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 terminal garages.