Denver International Airport (DEN) is the largest airport in North America. It is located in the beautiful metropolis of Colorado. It’s the 20th busiest airfield globally and offers non-stop flights in and out from Latin America, Asia, and Europe.
According to the Visual Capitalist, Denver International airport is the most extensive and largest employer in Colorado. With more than 35,000 employees, DEN is only second to Walmart, with 1.5 million workers in the United States.
Serving more than 61 million passengers in the past year, Denver Airport continues to expand and plans to become the world’s largest airport. With giant crowds present at departure, awaiting the shuttle services, staying in at hotels, and scurrying into huge airport parking lots, there is no doubt that the entire place feels like a “great human knot.”
According to recent reports, Denver Airport is planning on launching a gate expansion project. This groundbreaking extension will help reduce the overwhelming congestion day in and out and drastically multiply the airport’s flight capacity. With the air traffic that continues to climb, this is a much-anticipated project to allow more airport parking lots and expansive terminals.
With such grand future prospects, Denver Airport is yet to see its best years. For frequent travelers, who use the airport at least twice a week, the importance of airport parking is monumental. It is a convenient option to leave your car in the lot, peacefully fly out, and return without any hassle or worries.
While most trips are short-term, passengers can significantly benefit from long-term airport parking at Denver airport as the lots are highly secured and fortified. For such a huge airport, passenger and vehicle safety are an absolute given. Airport parking is an unquestioned necessity and is utilized by thousands of travelers throughout the day.
Travelling is defined by practicality and utility. You have to make sure to get all your documents ready, get the stamp, and find your seat on the plane as soon as possible. Nobody likes to waste time and, most importantly, their money. Airports, however, are quite famous for being expensive, even when it comes to buying yourself a bag of chips, let alone booking a parking space.
At Denver, the parking garages can cost you around $30 per day, on average. If you’re spending such a hefty amount just to make a trip to the airport, then you’ll probably lose a huge chunk of your money just on a parking lot.
However, this doesn’t mean that you have to forego this convenient service just because you’re tight on expenses. There are many great ways to save money when you’re at the Denver airport and make sure that your car is in safe hands.
But before we get into that, let’s first understand what factors influence DIA Parking rates. Knowing this will help you make the best of seasonal discounts and get low prices in no time.
Factors Influencing Parking Fees at Denver International Airport
Some lots at Denver Airport parking indeed offer nothing short of sky-high prices. That can be a major reservation as to why you may not want to book a slot. What exactly causes Denver Airport parking rates to fluctuate, and why do you end up with a massive bill at the end of the trip?
1.Seasonal Demand
The basics of economics teach us that price is directly related to demand. Hence, the parking lots that are closest to, for example, the Jeppesen Terminal, automatically become high in demand, hugely crowded, and the most expensive.
The holiday season is a prime time when parking charges shoot. If you end up using long-term airport parking in Denver, you could potentially lose all your holiday money.
2.Distance
The distance from the terminal to the Denver Airport parking lot is the main reason behind skyrocketing parking charges. For this reason, short-term parking is always more expensive because it is the most convenient in most of the world’s airports.
At the Denver Airport, short-term airport parking lots like the Short-term East are extremely secure and practical. This is why most passengers at Denver airport parking prefer it, instead of booking a valet service. Although the rates are high, the short trip only lasts for a day or two, which is feasible for most people.
3.Convenience
Convenience is not only about the distance. True, parking lots close to the terminal can be quickly accessed, but passengers look for convenience the most in the case of long-term parking at Denver Airport.
For example, the Garage East may be a little far from the main terminal, but it offers terrific parking spaces for both covered and uncovered purposes. You will see gazillion parked cars in the lot, all because it offers the convenience of long-term security and shuttle services.
4.Maintenance
Overnight protection, weather safety, satellite security, and parking lot conditions will also determine parking rates. Using a covered parking space during the winters will automatically cost you more than an open-air parking spot. At Canopy Airport Parking, the rate of open-air self-park is $6 as compared to covered self-parking, which is up to $12.5.
All these factors will directly influence your airport-parking bill at the end of the day. However, these factors keep changing, and the benefits of discounts, coupons, and early-bird parking services can significantly cut down parking expenses.
Let us now have a detailed look at each parking service and how you can specifically save money when you’re down in the lot.
Various Parking Services at Denver International Airport
There is no doubt that parking safely at Denver International Airport is a top priority for the passengers and the airport staff. Not everyone can abandon this service because sometimes passengers fly solo or book spontaneous flights due to unexpected events.
They will not always have the option to leave their car with a friend or family. Hence, for some people, airport parking really is the only option. Let’s explore the various parking services, their benefits, and how you can save money on each of them.
1.Short-term Parking
Short-term parking is primarily located near the airport terminals— in Denver’s case, the Jeppesen terminal’s east and west sides. With 138 gates, the terminal is then further divided into A, B, and C entrances.
The two parking lots, Short term East and Short term West for arrival and departure, are near the Jeppesen Terminal. Overnight parking isn’t allowed, so you’re likely to leave your car for only a few hours in the lot. The Garage clearance is usually eight-feet, so you have plenty of space to find a spot.
Short-term lots can charge you up to $96 per day and only $3 per hour. For most people, this can be reasonably high for spending only a few hours at the airport.
Who Should Be Using This Option?
Short-term parking is an ideal option for people who plan for short stays at the airport or will merely see-off their friends and family. It is also a viable option for parents who can’t stay at the airport for long because of their children. Instead of risking your child getting lost at the large airport while you’re waiting for a cab, simply use a short-term parking lot to access your vehicle once you’re done.
Short-term airport parking is also wise if an elderly or a disabled person has accompanied you. They won’t be able to wait or stand that long. Short-term airport parking is exceptionally convenient, practical, and quick to access, especially when your trip is short.
How to Save Money
These are some clever ways to save money when you find short-term parking rates out of your league.
·Pay for a Ride
Instead of booking a short-term parking slot, simply ditch the option and go for a cab. If you only want to get dropped at the airport, it doesn’t make sense to use short-term parking, even if your trip lasts for a day. You could get a pick-and-drop cab ride for a lesser cost.
·Carpooling
If you don’t want to opt for a cab service like Uber, simply carpool with your friends. If you have people accompanying you, you can use a single car and park it in an off-site region until you get back.
·Get Parking Discounts
Look for early bird airport parking discount codes, promo codes, or simply get in touch with Denver Airport and ask them if they have any ongoing discount packages. Canopy Airport parking allows you to save up to 30% if you’re early.
·Find a Cheap Online Airport Parking
You can either contact the local airport staff for the cheapest service or get on websites like Way.com to find offers and deals that suit your budget.
·Use Economy Parking Slots
Economy parking slots located in the East and West Garages are extremely economical for short trips. The charges are only up to $8, like Pikes Peak Shuttle Parking, which is quite feasible if you’re only staying out for a day.
·Look for Monthly Options
If you’re frequently making short-term trips within and out of the USA, then simply look for monthly discount packages t save you money on parking charges. If you pick open-air parking in Canopy airport, their monthly package can get you a rate as low as $5 per day. This means you’ll be saving $300 on your trip.
2.Long-term Airport Parking
Long-term airport parking is mostly provided at Canopy Airport Parking, Pike’s Peak Shuttle Parking, Park DIA, or the Parking Spot. These places are near the terminal and offer secure parking spaces if the main airport parking lot is full. The Garage at the Denver Airport usually charges $25 per day, which can be minimized with coupon codes and discounts.
Who Should Be Using This Option?
Long-term airport parking in Denver is ideal for people leaving for vacations. Since they are usually located far from the main terminal, they use a shuttle service to get to the airport. During the holiday season and Christmas festivities, people tend to use long-term parking in Denver. You can leave your car for weeks under satellite-security.
How to Save Money:
While the parking rates are understandably high, there are still many ways to save money on long-term parking.
·Make the Best of Parking Apps
Use parking apps like Way can help you pre-book your slot and avail discount offers for affordable parking. The benefit of using apps is that they can quickly tell you rates, schedules, and ideal parking spots.
Instead of searching the parking lot yourself, simply use a guiding app to ease long-term parking at Denver airport.
·Use a Parking Fee Estimator
When you’re traveling abroad for a long vacation, always search the Denver Airport parking rates on an online parking fee estimator. It can inform you about heavy traffic routes and cost-saving parking lots. Additionally, you can also check comparison websites like Parkwhiz and Gocompare. Even during the busy holiday seasons, many discount coupons and vouchers can easily cut down a few bucks.
·Use Hotel Shuttle Services
If you’re already going for a vacation, you could greatly benefit from hotel bundles. Add in a hotel stay-in package into your holidays and park your car at the hotel. The West-in Denver International Airport, Day Inn and Suites, and Embassy Suites by Hilton Denver International Airport offer free shuttle services and minimal parking charges.
Simply park your car at one of these hotels and get to the terminal using a free shuttle.
·Pay with a Credit Card
Some parking lots do offer points or discounts to frequent travelers on their Visa and Master cards. Park DIA and ParkRideFly USA offer DIA parking coupons and a frequent flyer program, which can earn you 10-15 points on your first day. Chase Sapphire Preferred, and Chase Sapphire Reserve are the two credit cards that can get you the most points on your mileage and discounts on parking lots and garages.
A Final Word
Using these smart ways will greatly help you get coupons, discounts and save you from wasting money on high parking rates. Make sure to browse for cheap parking rates beforehand, contact the airport directly, and pre-book your parking space for utmost convenience.
Reserve your airport parking space in advance with Way online or via the iOS and Android apps!
