San Diego Airport Parking Terminal 1 Rates: Full Guide

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San Diego Airport Terminal 1 parking is the on-airport garage directly connected to the new Terminal 1 building at San Diego International Airport (SAN), with rates of $3 per 15 minutes and a cap of $40 per day. Off-site lots Triply sells near SAN start at about $20/day, about 50% less per day than the Plaza's daily maximum (off-site rates are for a 7-day stay booked ahead and change by date). Whether you need a quick parking stop or a week-long space, this guide covers every rate, lot, and option for SAN Terminal 1 in 2026.

• Terminal 1 Parking Plaza rate: $3 per 15 min, max $40/day, with direct pedestrian access to Terminal 1
• Valet parking: $60/day at Terminal 1 curbside
• Off-site lots on Triply: San Diego's Park, Shuttle & Fly at about $20/day and Aladdin Airport Parking at about $27/day, both with a free 24-hour shuttle
• New Terminal 1 opened September 22, 2025, and the 5-level, 5,200-space parking plaza is fully operational
• 185 EV charging ports are available in the Terminal 1 Parking Plaza

How Much Does San Diego Airport Terminal 1 Parking Cost?

Terminal 1 parking at SAN costs $3 per 15 minutes ($12/hour) with a daily maximum of $40. This applies to the Terminal 1 Parking Plaza, the main garage attached to the new terminal building. One hour costs $12, two hours $24, three hours $36, and the $40 cap applies after that. Valet parking is available at Terminal 1 curbside (Zone J) for $60/day. The airport's own parking options are the Parking Plazas and valet, so for a lower price on a longer trip, look at the off-site lots below.

Based on current rates from the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, here's the on-airport rate breakdown (checked on san.org in October 2026):

For a trip of 3 days or more, off-site parking can save you real money. A 7-day stay at the Terminal 1 Parking Plaza costs $280. The same week at San Diego's Park, Shuttle & Fly is about $140 and at Aladdin Airport Parking about $186, a saving of roughly $94 to $140. Compare SAN parking rates from about $20/day on Triply before you book.

What Parking Lots Are Available at SAN Terminal 1?

Two on-airport parking options serve Terminal 1 travelers at SAN. The Terminal 1 Parking Plaza is the closest: a brand-new, 5-level garage with 5,200 spaces and a direct pedestrian connection to the terminal. It's ideal for short trips or when convenience matters most. Valet parking is available right at the curb for maximum ease. For longer trips at a lower price, two off-site lots are covered below.

The Terminal 1 Parking Plaza is the centerpiece of SAN's $3.8 billion New Terminal 1 project, which opened Phase 1A in September 2025. The garage includes 185 EV charging ports — the largest EV charging installation at any California airport garage. If you drive an electric vehicle, you'll find charging access built into the parking structure itself. For more on EV charging options at SAN, the lot's chargers are compatible with standard Level 2 connectors.

The Cell Phone Lot at 2311 McCain Road is free. Use it while waiting to pick someone up from Terminal 1. You can wait there at no charge and drive to the arrivals curb once your traveler texts you. It keeps traffic moving and saves you money during pickups.

How Do You Get from Terminal 1 Parking to the Airport Terminal?

From the Terminal 1 Parking Plaza, you walk directly into the terminal — no shuttle needed. The garage has a pedestrian connection built into the structure. This is one of the biggest advantages of the new parking plaza over older options.

If you park off-site, a free shuttle takes you to the airport. San Diego's Park, Shuttle & Fly runs its shuttle 24 hours on demand, and Aladdin Airport Parking runs every 10 to 15 minutes, 24 hours, and on demand. Before driving, use the Waze live traffic map to check for congestion on Harbor Drive or near the terminal entrance. Traffic can back up during morning peaks and holiday travel periods.

Here's a quick comparison of access options:

• Terminal 1 Parking Plaza: Direct pedestrian walkway, no shuttle, no wait
• Valet at Terminal 1 curbside: Drop off and go, an attendant parks your car
• San Diego's Park, Shuttle & Fly: Free shuttle, 24 hours on demand; call 619-291-1234 for your return pickup
• Aladdin Airport Parking: Free shuttle, 24 hours, every 10 to 15 minutes and on demand

The terminal is accessible via Harbor Drive and North Harbor Drive. Arriving from Interstate 5 northbound, take the Hawthorn Street exit. Heading southbound, use the Sassafras Street exit. New roadways with a 3-lane entrance opened as part of the Terminal 1 rebuild, making access smoother than before.

Is It Cheaper to Park Off-Site Near SAN Terminal 1?

Yes. Off-site parking near SAN is cheaper than the on-airport garage. San Diego's Park, Shuttle & Fly is about $20/day and Aladdin Airport Parking about $27/day, compared to the Terminal 1 Parking Plaza's max of $40/day. That's about 50% less at Park, Shuttle & Fly and about 34% less at Aladdin. Both include a free 24-hour shuttle to the airport.

For detailed guidance on shuttle logistics, see our guide to San Diego Airport parking shuttle services and how they work. Here's how the two off-site lots Triply sells near SAN compare:

The trade-off is shuttle time. Both lots are listed 0.9 to 1.2 miles from the airport, with Aladdin about a 5-minute drive away. Budget extra time when using off-site parking, especially during morning rush hour, and San Diego's Park, Shuttle & Fly asks you to arrive 2 to 3 hours before your flight. For more budget-focused options, our guide to cheap San Diego Airport parking breaks down the best deals in detail.

How Can You Reserve Terminal 1 Parking in Advance?

You can reserve on-airport Terminal 1 parking through the SAN official parking reservations portal. Pre-booking guarantees your space, especially during busy travel periods like summer and holidays. Triply sells two off-site lots near SAN, San Diego's Park, Shuttle & Fly and Aladdin Airport Parking, with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.

Here's how to book Terminal 1 parking step by step:

1. Go to san.org/parking for on-airport lots or Triply's SAN parking search for off-site options
2. Enter your travel dates and choose the Terminal 1 Parking Plaza on san.org, or an off-site lot on Triply
3. Select your lot and complete payment
4. Save your confirmation. You'll need it to enter the lot or confirm your rate
5. On arrival day, follow the signs off Harbor Drive or North Harbor Drive to the Terminal 1 Parking Plaza, or drive to the address of your off-site lot

Book the dates you need when you pre-book off-site. A San Diego's Park, Shuttle & Fly reservation covers a block of time, and arriving early or leaving late is charged at the lot's $24.95 per 24 hours flat rate plus a one-time $4.75 Airport Access fee. The lot also has a 2-day minimum, and large vehicles must book the large-vehicle rate. Aladdin Airport Parking is about $27/day and has you pull a ticket at entry and check out at the garage office with your email confirmation and the entry ticket you pulled. On Triply you can cancel free with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.

What Airlines Fly Out of San Diego Airport Terminal 1?

Terminal 1 at SAN serves six airlines. All operate out of the new terminal building that opened in September 2025. If your airline is listed below, you should park at Terminal 1 or the adjacent Terminal 1 Parking Plaza.

• Breeze Airways
• Frontier Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Southwest Airlines (the busiest Terminal 1 carrier)
• Spirit Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, United, and international carriers like British Airways and Lufthansa use Terminal 2. If you're unsure which terminal your flight departs from, check your boarding pass or airline app before heading to the lot. Parking in the wrong terminal garage adds unnecessary time and distance. For a complete Terminal 2 breakdown, see our guide to San Diego International Airport parking at Terminal 2.

Phase 1B of the new terminal is currently underway. Three additional gates are expected by Spring 2026 to accommodate Air Canada and WestJet. Eight more gates are planned by early 2028, bringing Terminal 1 to a total of 30 gates. This construction may cause minor access disruptions near the terminal entrance, so allow extra time.

Are There Alternatives to Parking at SAN Terminal 1?

Yes — several alternatives to driving and parking exist at SAN Terminal 1. Public transit, rideshare, and the free San Diego Flyer shuttle are all solid options depending on where you're coming from.

• MTS Route 992: Runs between downtown San Diego and SAN for just $2.50. The trip takes about 15 minutes from downtown. Stops at both terminals.
• San Diego Flyer: A free shuttle between both terminals and the Old Town Transit Center. From there, you can connect to the San Diego Trolley, COASTER commuter rail, or Amtrak Pacific Surfliner.
• Uber / Lyft: Drop-off and pickup zones are located at Terminal 1. Expect 7–12 minutes from downtown San Diego by rideshare.
• Amtrak Pacific Surfliner: Connect via Santa Fe Depot downtown, then take the San Diego Flyer to Terminal 1.

For travelers with TSA PreCheck, transit is especially efficient — you can skip the long security lines and don't need the extra buffer time that driving and parking requires. SAN is only 3 miles northwest of downtown, making it one of the closest major airports to a city center in the country. That proximity makes transit genuinely practical here.

Tips for Saving Money on San Diego Airport Terminal 1 Parking

Saving on SAN Terminal 1 parking comes down to a few consistent strategies. Plan ahead and compare before you commit to the on-airport rate.

• Book off-site in advance: San Diego's Park, Shuttle & Fly is about $20/day versus $40/day at the Terminal 1 Parking Plaza, a saving of about $20 per day. Aladdin Airport Parking at about $27/day saves about $13 per day
• Avoid valet unless time is critical: Valet at $60/day adds up fast, $420 for a week versus about $140 at Park, Shuttle & Fly or about $186 at Aladdin
• Choose lots with 24-hour shuttles: Both San Diego's Park, Shuttle & Fly and Aladdin Airport Parking run a free shuttle around the clock, which helps on red-eye flights
• Book your exact dates: Park, Shuttle & Fly charges its $24.95 per 24 hours flat rate plus a one-time $4.75 Airport Access fee if you arrive early or leave late
• Use the Cell Phone Lot for pickups: Free waiting at 2311 McCain Road, with a 1-hour limit. Only drive to the terminal once your traveler is ready
• Check for EV savings: The Terminal 1 Parking Plaza has 185 EV charging ports, and charging costs $1 per session plus $0.55/kWh. Aladdin Airport Parking also has EV charging stations, so factor that into the total cost comparison

One more tip: avoid arriving on peak travel days without a reservation. Summer weekends, Thanksgiving, and spring break push parking lots near capacity. Pre-booking locks in the rate and the space. Find and reserve off-site SAN parking from about $20/day on Triply and compare both lots in one place before your next trip.

Compare SAN parking rates. Off-site lots Triply sells near San Diego International Airport cost about 34% to 50% less per day than the $40/day Terminal Parking Plazas.