San Diego Airport Parking Garage: Rates, Tips & Options

A San Diego airport parking garage is a covered, multi-level structure located directly on the grounds of San Diego International Airport (SAN), offering travelers drive-up convenience with direct pedestrian access to the terminals. As of 2026, SAN has three main on-airport parking structures: the Terminal 1 Parking Plaza, the Terminal 2 Parking Plaza, and the Terminal 2 Lot. All three charge $32/day as the daily maximum, with hourly rates of $2.50 per 15 minutes ($10/hour). If you're flying out of SAN and want the fastest walk to your gate, the on-airport garages are the most convenient option — but they're not the cheapest.

• Three on-airport garages serve SAN: Terminal 1 Parking Plaza, Terminal 2 Parking Plaza, and Terminal 2 Lot — all capped at $32/day.
• The Terminal 1 Parking Plaza is brand-new, opened with New Terminal 1 in September 2025, with 5,200 spaces across 5 levels and 185 EV charging ports.
• Hourly rate is $2.50 per 15 minutes at all three garages — ideal for quick pickups or short stays.
• Off-site lots start at $8.95/day (pre-booked), saving up to 72% compared to on-airport garage rates.
• The Economy Lot at $20/day with a free shuttle is the best value for trips of 2+ days if you want to stay on-airport.
• Pre-booking online is strongly recommended to lock in rates and guarantee a space, especially during peak travel periods.

Back to Complete SAN Airport Parking Guide

What Are the Parking Garages at San Diego Airport and Where Are They Located?

San Diego International Airport has three on-airport parking structures, each tied to a specific terminal. Access them from Harbor Drive and North Harbor Drive, the main airport loop roads. All structures are well-marked with overhead signage from the Interstate 5 approach (Hawthorn Street exit northbound, Sassafras Street exit southbound).

Terminal 1 Parking Plaza

The Terminal 1 Parking Plaza is the newest garage at SAN. It opened as part of the New Terminal 1 project, which completed Phase 1A on September 22, 2025, as part of a $3.8 billion total investment by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. The structure has 5,200 spaces across 5 levels and connects directly to the new terminal via an indoor pedestrian walkway. Airlines at Terminal 1 include Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines.

Terminal 2 Parking Plaza

The Terminal 2 Parking Plaza sits adjacent to Terminal 2 and serves both Terminal 2 East (Alaska Airlines, American Airlines) and Terminal 2 West (British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines, Volaris). The structure provides covered parking with a direct walkway into the terminal building. This is your best bet if you're flying internationally out of Terminal 2 West.

Terminal 2 Lot

The Terminal 2 Lot is an additional parking area near Terminal 2. Like the Terminal 2 Parking Plaza, it charges $32/day maximum. It provides another covered parking option for Terminal 2 travelers, especially useful when the main garage fills during peak periods. You can check current availability and pre-book at the official T2 Lot reservation page.

Before you drive, check real-time traffic on Waze — SAN sits just 3 miles northwest of downtown San Diego, but Harbor Drive can back up during rush hour and event days. A 7-minute drive in light traffic can stretch to 20+ minutes on busy afternoons.

How Much Does San Diego Airport Garage Parking Cost in 2026?

All three on-airport parking garages at SAN share the same rate structure (verified April 2026). Rates are set by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

A 7-day trip in a SAN parking garage costs around $224 at walk-up rates. That's the weekly cost before fees or taxes. Compare that to off-site lots starting at $8.95/day pre-booked — the savings over a week can exceed $150. For trips longer than two days, the garage rates add up fast. For short stays under four hours, the hourly rate is reasonable. After four hours, the daily cap kicks in automatically.

For a full rate comparison across every SAN parking option, see our San Diego airport parking prices guide.

Ready to compare SAN garage rates against off-site alternatives? Search SAN parking options on Triply — off-site lots start at $8.95/day, saving you up to 72% vs the on-airport garage rate.

How Do You Get from the SAN Parking Garage to Your Terminal?

Each SAN parking garage connects directly to its terminal. No shuttle needed — this is the biggest advantage of on-airport garage parking.

• Terminal 1 Parking Plaza: A covered pedestrian bridge links the garage directly to the New Terminal 1 building. All levels have elevator and stair access to the walkway. Expect a 3-5 minute walk from your car to the check-in counters.
• Terminal 2 Parking Plaza: An indoor walkway connects to Terminal 2. The walk from mid-garage to the check-in hall takes roughly 3-5 minutes.
• Terminal 2 Lot: Access is via a covered walkway to Terminal 2. Walk time is similar to the Terminal 2 Parking Plaza.
• Economy Lot: Requires a shuttle. The free shuttle runs to both terminals and takes approximately 3 minutes per the airport authority. Add waiting time of 5-10 minutes during normal hours.

Once inside, follow the terminal signage to your airline's check-in zone. Terminal 2 East handles domestic carriers like Alaska and American. Terminal 2 West handles international and select domestic flights. Plan at least 90 minutes before your departure. If you have TSA PreCheck, security lines at SAN are typically shorter — but still budget adequate time during holiday weekends and summer peak travel.

How Can You Save Money on San Diego Airport Parking?

The fastest way to cut your SAN parking bill is to skip the garage entirely for trips over two days. But if you prefer the convenience of on-airport parking, there are still ways to reduce costs.

Tips to Lower Your SAN Garage Parking Cost

• Pre-book online at san.org/parking to guarantee your space and avoid any walk-up rate surprises.
• Use the Economy Lot if you can spare 10-15 minutes for the shuttle. At $20/day vs $32/day in the garage, you save $84 on a 7-day trip.
• Stay under 4 hours when picking someone up — at $10/hour, four hours costs $40, but the daily cap stops at $32 after that.
• Avoid valet parking at $40/day unless convenience is genuinely worth the premium over the $32 garage rate.
• Consider off-site parking for any trip longer than two days — the savings are significant (see below).
• Use the free Cell Phone Lot at 2311 McCain Road if you're just picking someone up. Wait there until your passenger texts you — then pull around to arrivals. It's completely free.

For promo codes and discount strategies that apply to both on-airport and off-site options, check out the San Diego airport parking coupons and promo codes guide.

What Are the Best Off-Site Alternatives to the SAN Parking Garages?

Off-site parking lots near SAN can save travelers up to 72% compared to the $32/day garage rate. All verified lots below include a free shuttle to both terminals and offer free cancellation.

The cheapest pre-booked option is Four Points by Sheraton San Diego at $8.95/day via cheapairportparking.org. That's a savings of $162 over 7 days compared to the Terminal 1 Parking Plaza. The trade-off is shuttle time: the hotel shuttle runs every 30 minutes, so you may wait up to 30 minutes on the return trip. Aladdin Airport Parking offers the most frequent shuttle at every 5-10 minutes, making it a strong pick if you prioritize speed alongside savings.

For a deep dive on every off-site option near SAN, see our San Diego airport parking off-site guide.

Is There EV Charging Available in San Diego Airport Parking Garages?

Yes — the Terminal 1 Parking Plaza is one of the most EV-ready airport garages in California. It includes 185 EV charging ports spread across the 5-level structure, per the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. This makes it a strong choice for electric vehicle drivers who want to charge while they travel.

Charger availability at Terminal 2 structures is more limited. Check real-time charger availability via PlugShare for Terminal 2 before you arrive. The Terminal 1 Parking Plaza also runs on 100% carbon-free electricity as part of SAN's sustainability commitments — a meaningful detail for eco-conscious travelers.

If the T1 EV chargers are full, note that off-site lots typically do not offer EV charging. Plan to arrive early on peak travel days to secure a charging spot in the Terminal 1 garage.

How Do You Reserve San Diego Airport Parking in Advance?

Pre-booking your SAN airport parking garage spot takes about two minutes and is strongly recommended. Here's how to do it:

1. Go to san.org/parking for the official airport reservation system.
2. Select your terminal (Terminal 1 or Terminal 2) and your parking structure preference.
3. Enter your arrival and departure dates and times.
4. Complete payment — credit and debit cards are accepted.
5. Save your confirmation and use it to access the garage on your travel day.

Pre-booking through the airport's own system locks in your rate and guarantees a space. This matters most during summer weekends, holiday periods, and large events in Downtown San Diego or the Gaslamp Quarter that can push airport traffic up sharply. Alternatively, search SAN parking on Triply to compare the official garage rates alongside off-site lot prices in one view.

Oversized vehicles and trailers must pay for additional spaces. Motorcycles park at the standard car rate.

What Accessibility and ADA Parking Options Are Available at SAN?

San Diego International Airport's parking garages are ADA-compliant. Each structure includes accessible parking spaces on multiple levels, with priority placement near elevator banks for the shortest possible walk to the terminal. The Terminal 1 Parking Plaza, being the newest structure completed in 2025, was built to current ADA standards throughout.

• Accessible spaces are available in all three garages: Terminal 1 Parking Plaza, Terminal 2 Parking Plaza, and Terminal 2 Lot.
• Elevators are present on all levels of each structure, with direct access to the terminal walkways.
• ADA-accessible shuttles serve the Economy Lot and connect to both terminals.
• Curbside valet at $40/day is available at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 for travelers who prefer not to navigate the garage structure.

If you need specific ADA accommodations, contact the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority in advance through the SAN services and facilities page. Arriving early is especially helpful for accessible space availability during peak summer and holiday travel.

On-Site Garage vs. Off-Site Lot: Which Should You Choose?

The right choice depends on your trip length and how much you value walking convenience over cost savings.

• Choose the on-airport garage if: your trip is 1-2 days, you have heavy luggage, you value a direct walk to the terminal, you drive an EV and want charging, or you're flying with young children.
• Choose an off-site lot if: your trip is 3+ days, you want to save $10-$23 per day, you're comfortable with a 5-30 minute shuttle, or you're booking well in advance and want the best rate.

For a short overnight trip, the Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 garage at $32/day is a fair price for the convenience. For a week-long trip, the math shifts dramatically. A 7-day stay in the garage costs ~$224. The same stay at Four Points by Sheraton San Diego pre-booked costs as little as ~$63 — a savings of over $160 on a single trip.

For longer trip planning, our San Diego airport long-term parking guide covers every multi-day option in detail, including shuttle timing tips for early-morning flights.

Find the Best SAN Parking Rate for Your Trip

The San Diego airport parking garages offer unbeatable convenience with direct terminal access, brand-new facilities at Terminal 1, and 185 EV charging ports. At $32/day, they're a solid choice for short trips. For longer stays, off-site lots starting at $8.95/day pre-booked can save you over $160 per week. The Economy Lot at $20/day splits the difference — still on-airport, with a free 3-minute shuttle.

Whatever your itinerary, comparing options takes less than a minute. Compare SAN airport parking rates on Triply — find options from $8.95/day and reserve your spot in seconds.