DCA Airport Parking

Way makes it very easy to reserve DCA Airport parking. Compare offsite parking lots near DCA Airport, choose one with a free round-trip shuttle, and lock in your spot at the lowest rate available.

Every lot listed below is secure, trusted, highly rated, and typically offers a free round-trip shuttle to your terminal. Compare what each lot offers, then reserve a parking spot that fits your travel dates.

DCA Airport parking rates depend on which garage or lot you use, whether you reserve in advance, and how long you park your car. It is always best to compare the rates of onsite and offsite parking at DCA Airport before you reserve.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport served nearly 24.9 million passengers in 2025, with more than 400 daily departures to over 100 destinations. DCA is located just across the Potomac River from downtown D.C., and its terminals, garages, and roadways can get crowded during peak travel periods. You can also use our DCA Airport Map to locate your terminal, gate area, closest parking garage or lot, baggage claim areas, and TSA checkpoints before heading to the airport.

DCA has two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The former Terminal A is now DCA Terminal 1, and the former Terminals B and C are now Terminal 2, which is divided into Concourses B, C, D, and E.

Each terminal has its own parking garage across the roadway, connected to the terminal by an covered walkway. You can also use our DCA Terminal Map to navigate the terminals more easily.

If you are looking for cheap parking at DCA, the best option is to reserve a spot at an offsite lot nearby. Onsite Economy Parking lot costs $25/day, while offsite parking starts at $5 per day. Reserving parking at an offsite lot can help you save significantly compared with these onsite rates. Follow these steps to find the cheapest DCA Airport Parking rates on Way.

Planning to park your car at DCA for a week or more? You can choose onsite lots or affordable offsite lots near DCA Airport. The Economy Lot is the airport’s affordable onsite option for DCA Long-Term Parking, at $25/day compared with $35/day in the Parking 1 and Parking 2 garages. You can park in the Economy Lot for up to 45 days. For longer stays, you must register your vehicle with the parking office to avoid it being flagged as abandoned and towed. Offsite parking lots typically offer greater savings the longer you park.

Parking 1 and Parking 2 are the most convenient short-term and overnight options at DCA. Short-term parking charges $7 per hour, and overnight parking is available at $35 daily. The first 60 minutes are free, which is useful for a quick pickup or drop-off.

For safe, guaranteed overnight parking, it's best to pre-book at a nearby offsite lot. Many offsite lots also offer a free shuttle, confirm the shuttle hours and schedule before you reserve, especially if you're arriving on a red-eye flight or need a late-night pickup.

Onsite garages and the Economy Parking lot at DCA accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, along with cash at any staffed cash lane. If you reserve online, your confirmation email includes a QR code that serves as your entry and exit credential - you generally won't need a card unless you stay beyond your reservation window. If you are planning to reserve an offsite parking spot via Way, you can pay using Venmo, PayPal, or a debit/credit card.

DCA's two terminal garages have height limits: Parking 1 clears vehicles up to 7 feet, and Parking 2 clears vehicles up to 8 feet 2 inches. Vehicles also need to fit within the length of a single parking space unless you've made arrangements with the parking office in advance. The Economy Parking lot is an open-air lot and may be a better option for taller vehicles. If you're driving an oversized vehicle, call the lot ahead to confirm that it can accommodate your vehicle.

DCA's Economy Lot is under construction as the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) builds a new multi-level parking deck on the existing surface lot. At peak construction, up to 1,100 of the lot's 2,680 spaces can be unavailable. The best way to guarantee your parking spot and the lowest rate is to reserve in advance, either through DCA's own site or an offsite lot near the airport. If you're looking for an affordable parking option, consider DCA economy parking.

DCA has been through a lot of changes in the last few years. Project Journey, a $1 billion, multi-year overhaul, added a new 14-gate commuter concourse (now Concourse E) and two large new security checkpoints, opening up far more post-security shopping and dining space. DCA Reimagined is the current multi-year upgrade project for Terminal 2, including new concessions, renovated restrooms, and general modernization.

The airport opened on June 16, 1941, as Washington National Airport, built on land reclaimed from the Potomac River at a site President Franklin Roosevelt selected at Gravelly Point. Its original terminal, designed by architect Howard Lovewell Cheney in the Moderne style, is now a National Register of Historic Places landmark. Congress renamed the airport Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in 1998, a change that remains debated by some Washingtonians to this day. MWAA, which operates Dulles International, has operated DCA since 1987.

Way is trusted by more than 11 million drivers across the United States. Offsite lots listed for DCA Airport Parking are verified by us and run by operators that meet our quality standards. Travelers choose Way for guaranteed reservations, competitive DCA Airport Parking rates, and a price match guarantee.

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