How much is parking at Cardiff Airport?
Turning up at Cardiff Airport's Car Park 2 (formerly Long Stay) is reported at £43 for 12 to 24 hours, then £25 for each additional day, which comes to about £193 for a week. Car Park 1 (formerly Short Stay) is reported at £42 for 12 to 24 hours and £27 for each additional day, about £204 for a week. Car Park 2 is free for the first 20 minutes. Pre-booking is far cheaper, with official parking roughly £59 to £106 for eight days depending on the car park.
| Option | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Car Park 2: turn-up | Free up to 20 minutes; £6 up to 40 minutes; £8 up to 1 hour; £10 for 1 to 2 hours; £12 for 2 to 3 hours; £14 for 3 to 4 hours; £17 for 4 to 12 hours; £43 for 12 to 24 hours; £25 for each additional day | Free pick-ups and drop-offs, and the cheaper of the two drive-up car parks, with a short walk to the terminal |
| Car Park 1: turn-up | £17 for 4 to 12 hours; £42 for 12 to 24 hours; £27 for each additional day | Short trips and visits, about a 3 to 5 minute walk from the terminal |
| Drop Off Zone (outside the terminal) | £4.50 up to 10 minutes; £4.50 for each additional 10 minutes | A quick goodbye at the closest point; vehicles cannot be left unattended |
| Car Park 2: pre-booked | Roughly £59 to £84 for 8 days (about £7 to £10 a day) | Most trips; the cheapest on-airport option |
| Car Park 1: pre-booked | Roughly £69 to £106 for 8 days (about £9 to £13 a day) | A short walk to the terminal at a pre-booked price |
| Express Park | About £88 for 8 days (example price) | Dropping your keys at Priority Reception, then a short walk to check-in |
| Premium Parking | Roughly £89 to £118 for 8 days | The closest spaces to the terminal, with extra wide bays |
| Off-airport Park & Ride | About £48 for 4 days; about £72 for 8 days (example prices) | A budget alternative with a short transfer |
Pre-booked prices are examples quoted by booking sites and change with dates and demand. The turn-up prices above come from the airport's published gate tariffs and third-party listings of them, so check the live quote before you drive. A week of turn-up parking costs about £193 in Car Park 2, which is more than double a typical pre-booked price.
Use our interactive Cardiff Airport Parking Calculator below to quickly estimate your total parking cost. Turn-up car parks are charged at a flat rate for the first 24 hours, then a daily rate for each additional day, and pre-booked options are shown as daily estimates. Whether you are away for a weekend or a two-week trip, comparing your expected fees in advance can help you budget and choose the right car park.
Cardiff Airport Parking Calculator
What is the cheapest parking at Cardiff Airport?
The cheapest on-airport option at Cardiff Airport is Car Park 2 pre-booked online, roughly £7 to £10 a day in examples quoted by booking sites. Off-airport Park & Ride can be similar or cheaper, with example prices of about £48 for four days. If you turn up without a booking, Car Park 2 is also the cheaper drive-up choice, at £25 per day after the first 24 hours compared with £27 in Car Park 1.
Ways to Pay Less for Cardiff Airport Parking
Turn-up rates are the most expensive way to park. Booking online in advance, particularly for stays of more than a day, can secure a price well below the standard tariff, with savings of up to 60% advertised by booking sites.
For almost any multi-day trip, pre-booked Car Park 2 is the most cost-effective choice. Car Park 1 is a little closer, Express Park lets you drop your keys at Priority Reception, and Premium Parking offers the closest spaces with extra wide bays, so pick one of those only if the convenience is worth the extra.
For drop-offs and pick-ups, use Car Park 2, which is free for the first 20 minutes, rather than the terminal Drop Off Zone. From 1 July 2026 the Drop Off Zone costs £4.50 for up to 10 minutes and the same again for every further 10 minutes, so it adds up quickly if the goodbye runs long. After the free period, Car Park 2 charges £6 up to 40 minutes, £8 up to an hour and £10 up to two hours. Do not stop on the approach roads.
If you are collecting someone from a landing flight, wait in Car Park 2 until they have their bags and message you, rather than paying in the Drop Off Zone while you wait.
Finally, for shorter trips, it may be best to skip parking altogether. Rhoose Cardiff International Airport railway station connects to the terminal by a shuttle bus, and bus services link the airport with Cardiff, Barry and Llantwit Major. A taxi or rideshare can also beat the cost of parking on a short break.
Not sure if you should drive or take a taxi? Use our Cardiff Airport Parking vs. Taxi & Rideshare Cost Calculator below to compare your expected parking fees against a round-trip taxi, Uber or Bolt. The airport is roughly 12 miles west of Cardiff city centre, and a one-way ride commonly costs roughly £35 to £50 depending on where you start, while a multi-day parking stay can add up quickly.
Enter your trip length and your estimated one-way ride cost to see whether driving or taking a ride is the more budget-friendly option for your Cardiff trip.
Cardiff Airport Parking vs. Taxi & Rideshare Calculator
Cardiff Airport Parking FAQ
Is there free parking at Cardiff Airport?
Yes. Car Park 2 is free for the first 20 minutes for pick-ups and drop-offs, and it is a short walk from the terminal. The terminal Drop Off Zone is not free.
How much does it cost to drop someone off at Cardiff Airport?
From 1 July 2026 the Drop Off Zone outside the terminal costs £4.50 for up to 10 minutes and £4.50 for each additional 10 minutes. Car Park 2 is free for up to 20 minutes, then £6 up to 40 minutes, £8 up to an hour and £10 up to two hours.
Can I get to Cardiff Airport by train?
Yes. Rhoose Cardiff International Airport railway station connects to the terminal by a shuttle bus, and bus services link the airport with Cardiff, Barry and Llantwit Major.
Disclaimer: All parking and taxi rates are estimated, based on prices checked in October 2026, and subject to change without notice. Pre-booked prices are examples and vary by date. Always confirm current tariffs with Cardiff Airport before you travel. We strive to keep our pricing data as accurate as possible. If you spot an updated price we missed, please contact us to let us know.
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