The US Airports With The Most Affordable Parking

It's a truth universally acknowledged that parking at airports is kind of the worst and should be avoided if possible. There are many reasons why you should seriously think twice before parking at an airport. However, due to cost, convenience, or lack of public transportation, parking before catching a flight is unavoidable for some, especially for Americans in the United States. And newsflash: Parking is one of the biggest moneymakers for many airports, so there's not much interest in promoting other ways to reach the airport or making parking more affordable.

If you must park at the airport for the duration of your trip (no judgment, we've all been there!), there are a few major American airports that won't break the bank, or at least lessen the sting on your checking account — especially if you choose the economy parking option. Although scattered across the country, many of these airports are based in the Midwest, but they provide access to other airports all over North America and the world. Some of these airports have even better deals if you stay for a weekend, week, or longer, but for the purposes of this article, they'll be categorized based on the daily economy price. This article also only covers the cost of parking at major or midsize U.S. airports, not smaller municipal airports. 

Tied for fourth place in our list of the cheapest airports for parking in the U.S. are: Indianapolis International Airport (IND), John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) out of Ohio, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) based in Houston, Missouri's St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), and Kansas City International Airport (MCI). That's Kansas City, Missouri, not to be confused with Kansas City, Kansas (yes, there are two Kansas Cities, and to make matters worse, they're only about 5 miles apart). Parking at these airports costs an average of $9 per day or $27 for a long weekend. 

Parking at airports is one thing — getting to the terminal from the parking lot can be a whole different chore. Most airports these days have a shuttle service, especially for distant lots. Still, the regularity and comfort of said shuttles are something to consider if you have a lot of luggage, will be walking alone at night (always a safety concern, even at airports and especially for women), or are on a tight schedule (who's not, at the airport? Except the dads who've insisted on getting there six hours early!). IND, CMH, IAH, STL, and MCI all have reliable shuttle service that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a bonus, George Bush Intercontinental Airport has "ecopark lots," which use an eco-friendly shuttle for transport between the parking and the terminals.

Note that George Bush Airport is just one of Houston's airports, so make sure you know your airport code before your day of travel so you drive to the correct one — because going to the wrong airport is decidedly not cost-effective.

Florida's Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), with three large economy lots, has parking fees of $8 dollars per day. Bonuses like a free shuttle and conveniently located call boxes, if you need help finding your car or jumping a dead battery, make parking at JAX a better value. It also has a "JAX Passport" program for frequent fliers (and parkers) to make parking there even more economical.

Although Jacksonville isn't the largest airport in Florida, dwarfed by giants like Orlando and Miami, it has direct flights to over 40 destinations across 10 airlines. And since Jacksonville is so well-located in Florida, it might make sense to fly out of there, especially if you're parking. Of course, driving extra hours to an airport with cheaper parking doesn't always make sense, since the gas money could make any savings on parking moot. However, if you live between airports, like Jacksonville and Orlando, it's worth a slightly longer drive to reap the benefits of cheaper parking.

The United States sadly doesn't have many of the best airports around the world with excellent public transportation options, but luckily there are some where it's quite cheap to park. Coming in second, tied at $7 a day, are Denver International Airport (DEN) in Colorado, Des Moines International Airport (DSM) based in Iowa's capital, and Bradley International Airport (BDL) out of Connecticut. 

In addition to the cheaper cost, there are also extra perks to parking at these airports. For example, Denver Airport offers free services like jump-starting a dead battery and filling low tires. At the Des Moines airport, shuttle services occur every 10 minutes and can be tracked online. In Connecticut, Bradley International has a shuttle that does pick up and drop off right at your lot. Bradley also has a park-and-walk lot if you're hoping to get in a few steps and are willing to spend a couple more dollars.

Omaha Eppley Airfield (OMA), which flies out of Nebraska, and Will Rogers World Airport (OKC), based in Oklahoma City, are tied with the second-least expensive airport parking in the United States. In Omaha and Oklahoma City, expect to pay just $6 per day for basic economy parking.

They say that everything has a price — but that price isn't always money. One particular concern when it comes to flying is the environmental cost, an unfortunate and expensive byproduct of travel. Certain things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint in the air include packing light, flying economy, choosing direct flights, and utilizing airlines committed to sustainable practices. Some of the most eco-friendly airlines in America fly out of both OMA and OKC, which means you can feel good about the cost of parking, as well as the cost to the environment.

The prestigious award for cheapest airport parking in the United States goes to North Carolina's Wilmington International Airport (ILM). ILM offers economy parking at the low, low price of $5 per day in its Shuttle Lot. With flights continually increasing in price, travelers have to cut down costs wherever possible, and flying out of an airport like Wilmington, North Carolina, is one of the best ways to save on airport parking.

If you aren't lucky enough to live close to one of these airports with affordable or even cheap parking, there's still hope for you (and not just relying on the kindness of friends and family). For some major airports, it's less expensive to take an Uber or other ride-share service, such as Lyft, than it is to park. Consider booking an Uber if you're flying out of airports like San Diego International (SAN), Newark Liberty International (EWR), Boston's Logan International (BOS), or Oakland International (OAK) out of California.