Last Updated on October 24, 2018

Driving to the airport? Just how much is that going to cost you? We did some research to find out how much it costs to park at some of the most popular airports in Australia, the US, and the UK, to help travellers understand where they’re spending their money.

If you’re about to take a trip that involves a flight, no doubt you’ve thought about how to get to the airport. In light of recent revelations in Australia that Sydney Airport made an eye-watering profit of AUD$97 million in 2017 from its airport parking, the Jayride.com team did a little digging to find out how much it costs to park your car at some of the busiest airports in Australia, the US and the UK for just one week, to help travellers understand the costs involved and make savvy decisions about how to get to the airport.

 The Australia

We started in Australia. Parking at Ballina-Byron Gateway Airport (BNK) sets you back almost AUD$100 to park for seven days, regardless of whether you manage to get a limited undercover security park, or simply in the general car park out in the open.

If you’re travelling from the Queensland state capital of Brisbane (BNE), expect to pay AUD$165 in the International Parklong car park for just seven days. The nearby Gold Coast Airport (OOL) jumps up to AUD$180 for one week of parking in their long term park. Nudging above that, at the second most expensive airport parking in Australia is Melbourne – parking in their Flexifare terminals 123 for one week will set you back AUD$184.

The airport that’s really shocking though is Sydney, where it costs a whopping AUD$230 to simply park your car for seven days in the international terminal car park. And that’s not even looking at premium and valet parking services, which skyrocket the prices even more.

For AUD$230, we can think of plenty of other things we’d rather spend our hard-earned money on. A fancy hotel, an extravagant meal or even a flight upgrade! Ditch the car and book an airport transfer instead. Shared shuttles from the Sydney CBD to Sydney Airport start at just AUD$16 one way if you book on Jayride.com.

The USA

If you thought John F Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York was going to be the US airport with the most expensive parking, you’re close, but it comes in at number five. Parking there for seven days will cost you USD$126 in their long term car park. Parking at Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEA) jumps up to USD$140 for seven days in general parking, and if you’ve got a spare USD$175, that’s how much it will cost you to park at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) for one week in their long term car park.

But get ready for the two most expensive airport car parks in the US. Logan International Airport (BOS) in East Boston sets you back a huge USD$245 for seven days of parking at their central parking, and topping the list of the most expensive US airports for parking is LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in northern New York City, which costs a massive USD$287 just to park for one week in their terminal parking.

Alternatively, you can leave the car at home and get a shared airport shuttle from Brooklyn to LaGuardia Airport starting from as little as USD$40 on Jayride.com. We know what we’d rather do!

The UK

If you’re thinking about driving to an airport in London and parking your car, it might be time to think again. Leaving your car at London City Airport (LCY) for one week will cost you GBP£88 in their on-site car park. London Luton Airport (LTN) is another GBP£30 on top of that at GBP£118 for seven days in their multi-storey car park. London Gatwick (LGW) is next at GBP£145 for seven days in their long stay car park (north terminal), then jumping up to GBP£161 is London Stansted (STN) for one week drive-up in their long term car park.

And the most expensive airport in the UK for one week is, possibly unsurprisingly, also the busiest – London Heathrow (LHR), at a whopping GBP£163 if you drive-up to use their long term car park (as opposed to booking online).

Alternatively, a private airport transfer from Wembley to LHR starts from just GBP£31, and from Croydon a private transfer to LHR starts at just GBP£54.

If you need to get to the airport, say goodbye to expensive parking and hello to thousands of airport transfer options on Jayride.com at a price to suit every budget. Search and compare from thousands of airport transfer companies in one convenient place, and then your holiday starts as soon as you’re picked up.