Parking rates have changed at RDU airport. What to know before flying this summer

More people are now flying through Raleigh-Durham International Airport than before the COVID-19 pandemic, and this summer promises to be the busiest in the airport’s history.

That means the days of easily finding a place to park and cruising to the gate for your flight are over.

It’s not unusual to find the big parking decks between RDU’s terminals at or near capacity. That can mean a longer hunt for a space or having to park at one of the airport’s two remote lots and taking a shuttle bus.

If you’re coming to RDU to fly out or to pick someone up, here are some things to keep in mind:

▪ Before you leave for the airport, check rdu.com to see where parking spots are available. The airport’s homepage shows what percentage of spaces in the parking decks and remote lots are full.

▪ Reserve your parking. Consider booking and paying for a parking space at least 24 hours in advance at rdu.com/parking/. Booking online will guarantee a spot in the lot of your choice, even when the electronic signs around the airport say the decks are “closed.”

▪ Booking a spot in advance also might get you a cheaper rate, but that’s not always the case. RDU has gone to “dynamic” parking rates online, so you may get a discount depending on availability. Or you may pay the same as if you didn’t book in advance.

▪ Wherever you park, give yourself time to find a space. Booking in advance doesn’t reserve a particular spot, so you’ll have to hunt for an open one among the more than 11,000 in the decks.

▪ This is important if you’re not paying in advance: RDU does not accept cash for parking.

Cars enter a parking area at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Monday, May 22, 2023.

You may pay more than you expected

Parking is more expensive at RDU than it used to be, particularly if you’re just parking for an hour or two. The rates went up in May 2022 and then again this spring.

Here are the four basic parking options and what they will cost you:

▪ Central: This includes most of the spaces in the parking decks as well as a large surface lot between the terminals. It now costs $5 an hour for the first four hours or $20 a day.

▪ Premier: These covered ground-level spaces in the decks are closest to the terminals and cost more. It’s $7.50 an hour for the first four hours or $30 a day.

▪ Park Economy 3: This surface lot has 3,820 spaces off National Guard Drive near the Aviation Parkway exit from Interstate 40. It’s $3 an hour for the first four hours or $12 a day. Give yourself some extra time, because you may wait up to 20 minutes for a shuttle bus to take you to the terminal.

▪ Park Economy 4: The smaller of the two remote lots, Economy 4 is off International Drive on the north side of the airport campus. It’s also $3 an hour for the first four hours or $12 a day. Give yourself extra time here as well, because you may wait up to 20 minutes for a shuttle bus to take you to the terminal.

There are designated spaces for people with disabilities in all four parking areas. The same rates apply.

Raleigh-Durham International Airport parking garages and lots (note, the Park RDU Express lot has not reopened since the COVID-19 pandemic).

If you’re picking someone up from RDU

▪ Before you leave for the airport, check the status of the person’s flight with the airline or at rdu.com.

▪ Use RDU’s cellphone lot and wait for your incoming passengers to call or text when they’ve gotten off the plane. The lot is at 1000 Trade Drive, off Aviation Parkway and Airport Boulevard, a few minutes’ drive from the terminals. You’ll see signs from I-40.

▪ Wait 15 minutes after someone has landed to go to the terminal to pick them up. It takes time for passengers to exit the plane, make their way through the terminal and collect checked bags.

▪ Consider arranging in advance to pick up your arriving party outside the upper level at Terminal 2. That’s normally used for departing passengers only, but RDU makes exceptions when it’s busy. Because people don’t linger in this area, the traffic often moves more smoothly.

A traveler walks through a parking area at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Monday, May 22, 2023.

Other tips for traveling through RDU

▪ Arrive two hours before your flight or more if you’re flying internationally. You’ll need that time to park, get through security and check in. Plus, many airlines begin boarding planes up to 40 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

▪ Be aware that early mornings are especially crowded at RDU. About a third of all daily departures from the airport take off by 8 a.m., which means the lines for security and coffee are long. Give yourself extra time.

▪ Before you leave for the airport, check the status of your flight using the airline app or at rdu.com.

▪ Be patient with airline and airport workers and fellow passengers, and expect plenty of company. Through April, nearly 4.1 million passengers had passed through RDU so far this year, about 40,500 more than the same point in 2019. And 2019 was a record year for RDU.