BWI Parking - Some Surprisingly Cheap Long Term Parking Options

By: Emmanuel Gonot, Associated Content

BWI parking accommodations, by far, is one of the best from among the numerous airports of similar size, that we’ve seen throughout the country. This is hardly surprising, considering that in 2010, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) was ranked by the Airports Council International as the best airport of its size (15 - 25 million passengers served in one year) in the world.

If you’re flying out of BWI Marshall and looking for a good BWI parking location, you definitely should consider staying at one of the airport’s own parking facilities. We’re getting ahead of ourselves here, let’s look closely at the different BWI airport parking options available.

Hourly Parking

The BWI hourly parking rate is relatively lower at $4 per hour (maximum $22 per day) compared to those in Dulles or Philadelphia International, for example. For that price, it’s also the most convenient, located right in front of the main airport terminal. Still, if you’re looking at parking beyond 2 hours, this is not a cheap option.

Daily Rates

Again, the BWI parking rate for daily parking ($12 per day) is lower than in other nearby airports such as Washington Reagan ($20 per day). If you’re traveling for a few days, staying at the BWI indoor daily parking garage is a good option.

Express Parking

The rate for express parking at BWI, at $10 per day, is slightly less than their daily parking rate. I guess it’s because the express outdoor parking lot is situated a little bit farther than the daily parking garage. In my opinion, though, this service where an express shuttle picks you up directly where you park your vehicle and takes you to the terminal, picks you up at the terminal when you come back and takes you directly to your vehicle, is a winner.

Long Term Parking

If you’re looking at a business or vacation trip for 7 days or more and trying to find a parking location that will not burn a hole in your pocket when you come back, the long term BWI airport parking option is the way to go. The rate is only $8 per day and the lots are serviced by closely-scheduled shuttle buses.

Off-airport Parking

There are numerous off-airport private garages and lots available to BWI passengers, like the EconoPark Express on Ridge Road and the Park ‘N Fly lot along Camp Meade Road. These locations offer long term parking rates ranging from $9 to $10 per day and are served by their own shuttle vehicles. These are often run by large companies operating dozens of other similar facilities throughout the country, they’re a good option for long term parking.

So, why am I recommending the airport-owned BWI parking? The obvious answer, of course, is in the rates. It’s cheaper to park at BWI airport’s own long term parking lots than at any off-airport location - something that’s unheard of in most other large airports. BWI provides extra things like car keys assistance, jump cables for dead batteries, flat tire assistance, sensors in every parking bay - which all adds tremendous value to their parking service.

Looking for the ideal BWI parking? Now, you know where the best ones are.

Hassle-free BWI parking? It’s possible. Get the latest BWI Airport parking or National Airport parking at BestParking.com. Use our maps and other tools to find the best locations and calculate actual rates. Emmanuel Gonot writes about parking and travel information for BestParking.com.