The busiest airport in the country, Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, is 11 miles south of downtown Atlanta. Serving more than 275,000 passengers each day, the Atlanta Airport is also the second busiest airport in the world. Understandably, this means that finding affordable Atlanta parking can be quite a hassle most days, and more so during the holidays and other peak travel seasons. Here are 5 ideas for hassle-free parking at Atlanta Airport.
Where to find parking at Atlanta Airport
There are many places for parking near and at Atlanta airport – whether you’re heading out for a long vacation or are planning for a short trip for work. With this guide on the different types of parking available and the best places to land a spot, your parking experience at Atlanta Airport will trouble-free.
Atlanta Airport parking options
With twelve parking garages offering 30,000 parking spots, and hundreds of offsite lots nearby, there does seem to be adequate parking at Atlanta Airport for all your needs.
People who often fly from Atlanta, be it for business or pleasure, understand the importance of finding the best parking spot at Atlanta Airport. Nothing beats parking your car in a location that you know is safe and well-monitored.
Now, let’s get down to the business of making sure you have no trouble at all in finding a perfect parking spot at Atlanta Airport.
(Note: We have updated the information wherever possible to represent current rates and availability; however, Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta airport authorities can decide to update this status at any time.)
1.   Book ahead
Although not everyone is aware of this choice, you can reserve your parking spot ahead of time to ensure you have one on the day of your departure. As you might imagine, you’ll end up paying less money the earlier that you reserve your parking at Atlanta Airport.
The most simple and convenient to reserve a parking space at an offsite lot ahead of time is on the Way.com website or app. All you’ll need to do is enter your arrival and departure times to get an accurate estimate of how much you’ll have to pay for your parking spot.
Missing your flight could potentially cost hundreds of dollars. While several airlines will let you board the next available flight for free, you will still be wasting time that you do not need to. Whether or not you have to purchase a new ticket, missing a flight may have many consequences. This is particularly true for business trips. To ensure that you leave on time, it’s worth reserving your ATL parking spot as early as possible.
2.   Consider offsite parking at Atlanta Airport
Many people choose to park as close to their gate as possible, which is understandable for those with a lot of luggage. However, if you are okay with offsite parking near the airport instead of onsite parking at Atlanta Airport, you can save a considerable amount of money and spend less time looking for a parking space. Even the cheapest onsite parking at the Park-Ride lots costs $10/day, while offsite parking lots are available for as low as $3/day.
There are several parking lots near Atlanta Airport that offer safe parking and a free shuttle bus service. You may use this service, so you won’t need to call a cab, Uber, or waiting for a bus. When you reserve a parking spot ahead of time, you will also guarantee that you will park in a convenient position regardless of how busy the season is.
3.   Be aware of your priorities
Finding a reasonably priced parking space isn’t always possible. If that happens, you’ll probably need to be a little more flexible with your budget to stop circling airport lots in the hopes of finding an empty spot. The fact is, parking your car at the Atlanta airport for a few days can often cost more than $100. However, paying this fee is often less than the cost of purchasing a new ticket for missing your flight. Whether or not you have to pay money to book another flight, you are still wasting time, which is something that not everybody has. You should expect airport parking prices to vary depending on how busy the season is, so keep this in mind while you browse.
4.   Arrive early
If you want to have the best chance of finding a parking spot at this airport, you should arrive at least several hours before your flight. It’s always a good idea to arrive at the airport early to get through TSA screening, so this shouldn’t be a problem for most people.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to arrive much sooner during peak travel times, such as the holidays, spring break, and so on. As a general rule, arriving at the airport earlier in the morning would make it much easier to find a parking space.
This is crucial to remember, even if your flight is in the afternoon. You can also use your time at the airport to catch up on work, personal stuff, shop, or even grab a bite to eat.
5.   Factor in traffic snarls
Atlanta traffic is infamous for being incredibly congested even on a good day. If there is a traffic block due to construction or even a fender bender, traffic will become much worse than usual! Therefore, you should be fully prepared to depart for the airport some hours before you need to be at your terminal. This will allow you to look up the traffic situation and act accordingly.
Check out more blogs on the best parking spots in your city, the most affordable insurance for your car, and top-rated car washes near you.