Express Red Car Park at Dublin Airport

Express Red is DAA's premium long-stay car park and the nearest long-term parking to Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. It sits on the airport campus, holds around 8,000 vehicles and is linked to both terminals by a free shuttle that runs through the day and night. This guide covers how the car park operates in practice: entry and exit, the shuttle routine, where to wait on your return, pricing, overstays and the facilities on site.

Express Red is the closest long-term car park at Dublin Airport. Its free shuttle runs every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day, and takes about 5 minutes to reach either terminal. The car park has around 8,000 spaces, 24-hour security, no height restriction and a minimum pre-booked stay of 24 hours.

Pre-booked through us, Express Red starts from €35.99 for 3 days and €66.99 for a week, against a drive-up rate of €25 per day. It costs more than Holiday Blue, so it suits travellers who value a short, frequent transfer over the lowest price, including business travellers, early departures and drivers of tall vehicles.

Express Red at a Glance

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Where Express Red Is and How to Get There

Express Red sits within the airport campus and is reached from the main airport roundabout. From the M1, follow the signs for the airport. At the main airport roundabout, follow the signs for the R132 Airport and the Long Term Red Car Park, continue to the main set of traffic lights and turn left. The entrance is signposted from there. From the M50, join the M1 northbound and follow the same route.

Search for "Express Red Car Park Dublin Airport" in Google Maps or Apple Maps rather than relying on a general airport address, which will route you to the terminal forecourts instead. On peak mornings, expect queues on the airport road network and leave extra time.

Entering the Car Park

Pre-booked customers do not need a ticket. As you drive up to the entry barrier, a camera reads your licence plate and matches it to your booking, and the barrier lifts. You can arrive up to four hours before your selected entry time.

If the barrier stays down, scan the QR code on your booking confirmation from the Dublin Airport app or your email, or press the intercom to speak to the customer service team. If you are driving a different car from the one on your booking, use the QR code at both entry and exit. Without a booking, take a ticket on entry and pay when you leave.

Inside, follow the signs to an available zone. Express Red is staffed 24 hours a day, and DAA staff help direct drivers to spaces when the car park is busy.

How Long Does the Express Red Shuttle Take?

The Express Red shuttle takes about five minutes to reach Terminal 1 or Terminal 2, and buses leave every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day. The service is free and wheelchair accessible.

Buses depart from the designated bus shelters in each zone, so park, note your zone and walk to the nearest shelter. Older DAA guidance noted reduced overnight frequency and no service on Christmas Day, so check DAA's latest information if you are travelling over Christmas.

The five-minute journey is the in-vehicle time only. DAA advises allowing up to 40 minutes in normal traffic to reach the car park, find a space, unload and transfer to the terminal. At peak times, build in a larger margin. For a full timing plan, see our guide on how early to arrive when parking.

Where Do You Catch the Express Red Shuttle on Return?

At Terminal 1, the Express Red shuttle collects from Zone 9 of the Bus Park. At Terminal 2, it collects from Zone 21, opposite the ground floor entrance to Terminal 2 departures.

The Terminal 1 Bus Park sits behind Blocks A and B of the Terminal 1 multi-storey car park, about a two to four minute walk from Terminal 1 Arrivals. Zones 8 and 9 serve the long-term car park shuttles: Holiday Blue buses use Zone 8, and Park2Travel also collects from Zone 9, so check the bus livery and destination before boarding.

Before you leave your car on departure, save your location using the My Parking feature in the Dublin Airport app, or photograph the zone sign and your space. If you cannot locate your vehicle, ask a member of staff or use an intercom.

How Much Does Express Red Parking Cost?

Pre-booked through us, Express Red starts from €35.99 for 3 days, €66.99 for 7 days and €132.99 for 14 days. Without a booking, it costs €25 per day. It is priced above Holiday Blue, reflecting its shorter and more frequent transfer.

Pre-booked parking is charged in 24-hour periods, and DAA extends your exit time on the final day to match your entry time at no extra cost. Set your arrival and return times accurately when booking.

Independent data shows how Express Red sits in the market. In its June 2025 analysis, the CCPC found that Park2Travel was on average 21% cheaper than Express Red. In a 2026 price snapshot, a typical 10-day stay at Express Red was listed at €132, compared with €95 at Holiday Blue. At the drive-up rate, the same 10 days would cost €250.

Our lowest year-round price for each stay length. Prices vary by date and are higher during school holidays, Christmas and summer. Search your dates for the live price. Drive-up figures calculated from DAA's €25 daily rate.

For UK cardholders, charges are in euro and the exchange rate is applied by your card provider at the time of booking.

Changing, Cancelling or Overstaying

Amendments and cancellations. DAA bookings can be changed or cancelled free of charge up to four hours before your pre-booked arrival time, through Manage My Booking or by calling customer service on 01 944 0440. Refunds are processed within five business days.

Returning later than booked. Your licence plate is read again at the exit barrier, and any overstay is charged on exit. Press the help button at the exit barrier or at the pay stations in Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 Arrivals; DAA says its team will try to apply the best available rate when the original parking was pre-booked.

Extending while you are away. If your trip runs longer, call customer service on 01 944 0440 to extend the booking before you return.

Facilities and Services at Express Red

Security. Express Red has 24-hour security and on-site staff throughout the day and night. DAA requires drivers to lock their vehicles and secure their contents. See is Dublin Airport parking safe?

Breakdown assistance. DAA's on-site team can help with a flat tyre or flat battery, which is particularly useful after a long winter trip. Use an intercom or call +353 1 944 4828.

EV charging. There are two 50 kW chargers near the exit, on the ePower network. With only two units serving 8,000 spaces, arrive with enough range to get home. See our guide to EV charging at Dublin Airport.

Car cleaning. Crystal Valet offers four valet options, from €59 to €179, bookable when you pre-book your parking.

Accessible Parking at Express Red

Express Red is DAA's main long-term car park for drivers with reduced mobility. It has 65 accessible bays across its parking zones, located beside the shuttle bus stops, and all long-term car park shuttles are fully wheelchair accessible. Assistance help points with intercoms are located near the accessible spaces.

Blue Badge holders can get a reduced rate by completing DAA's PRM form to receive a single-use PRM code, then entering it when booking. If accessible spaces are booked out online, DAA's process is to drive up and park, then press the help button at the exit barrier, provide your PRM code and show your Blue Badge, and the team applies the reduced rate.

For help between the car park and the terminal, contact OCS, DAA's assistance provider. DAA lists +353 1 944 6108 on its reduced mobility page and +353 1 814 5902 (prm@ocsireland.com) in its car park FAQs. Full details are in our guide to disabled parking at Dublin Airport.

Vans, Campervans and Tall Vehicles

Express Red has no height restriction, which makes it the most practical DAA car park for high-top vans, campervans and vehicles with roof boxes that would not clear the 1.85 metre Terminal 1 car parks or the 2.1 metre Terminal 2 car park. Trailers and large commercial vehicles are not permitted. See our guide to van and campervan parking at Dublin Airport.

Who Express Red Suits Best

• Business travellers on short trips, where a five-minute transfer and frequent buses matter more than price.
• Early-morning departures, where waiting up to 15 minutes for a slower shuttle eats into tight margins.
• Drivers of tall vehicles, because of the absence of a height limit.
• Travellers with reduced mobility, given the accessible bays beside the shuttle stops.

If the lowest price is your priority, Holiday Blue is generally cheaper. Our Holiday Blue vs Express Red comparison sets out the trade-off in detail, and our guide to Dublin Airport long term parking covers every long-stay option.

Frequently Asked Questions

For every parking option at the airport, see our main guide to Dublin Airport parking.