Dublin Airport Short Term Parking
Short term parking at Dublin Airport means the DAA car parks built directly beside Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Together they provide more than 4,000 spaces within a few minutes' walk of check-in, with no shuttle bus involved. They are the default choice for collecting arrivals, seeing someone off and same-day business trips, and they are also the most expensive way to park for anything longer than a few hours. This guide covers each car park by terminal, how the tariff works, where the break-even point with long-stay parking falls and what to know before you drive in.
Dublin Airport's short term car parks are Blocks A, B and C at Terminal 1 and the 1,800-space multi-storey at Terminal 2. The drive-up tariff is €4 for the first hour and €6 for each additional hour, capped at €50 per day. All Terminal 1 blocks have a 1.85 metre height limit and Terminal 2 has 2.1 metres.
Short term parking is the best option for stays of up to about three to four hours. At four hours it already costs more than a drive-up day at Holiday Blue, and at five hours more than a drive-up day at Express Red.
Short Term Car Parks at a Glance
| Car park | Terminal | Spaces | Walk to terminal | Height limit | Pre-bookable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Block A | Terminal 1 | 450 | About 2 minutes to both terminals | 1.85 m | No, drive-up only |
| Block B | Terminal 1 | Includes 56 accessible bays on the ground floor | Near the terminal entrance | 1.85 m | Accessible bays via PRM process |
| Block C | Terminal 1 | 1,500 | 2 to 4 minutes to T1, about 6 minutes to T2 | 1.85 m | Yes |
| T2 Short Term | Terminal 2 | 1,800 | 2 to 4 minutes via covered walkway | 2.1 m | Yes |
Short Term Parking at Terminal 1
Terminal 1 is served by three short term blocks, each suited to a different use.
Block A is the car park directly opposite Terminal 1, with 450 spaces. DAA describes it as a two-minute walk from both terminals, which makes it the quickest option for collections and drop-offs. It cannot be pre-booked, so availability depends on how busy the airport is when you arrive. Its roof level has four 22 kW EV chargers.
Block B houses most of Terminal 1's accessible parking: 56 accessible bays on the ground floor near the terminal entrance. It also has two EV chargers in its executive area.
Block C is the main Terminal 1 multi-storey, with 1,500 spaces, two to four minutes from Terminal 1 and about six minutes from Terminal 2. It can be pre-booked and has six 22 kW EV chargers on Level 1. Level 2 of Block C also hosts a Drop & Go valet zone.
All three Terminal 1 blocks have a 1.85 metre height limit. The Terminal 1 Bus Park, where the long-stay shuttles collect, sits behind Blocks A and B.
Short Term Parking at Terminal 2
Terminal 2 has a single short term car park: an 1,800-space multi-storey connected to the terminal by a covered walkway. The walk takes two to four minutes, and because it is under cover, it is the most comfortable short term option in poor weather or with heavy luggage. It can be pre-booked and has a 2.1 metre height limit, the highest of the short term car parks.
The Terminal 2 car park has 64 accessible bays across levels 1 and 2, and the most EV chargers at the airport: 12 on Level 2 and two in the executive area on Level 3, all 22 kW. Level 3 is also home to a Drop & Go zone. See our guide to Dublin Airport Drop and Go parking.
Which Short Term Car Park Is Closest to Your Terminal?
For Terminal 1, Block A is the closest, about a two-minute walk, followed by Block C at two to four minutes. For Terminal 2, the T2 multi-storey is closest, two to four minutes via a covered walkway.
- Quick collection or drop-off at Terminal 1: Block A, if spaces are available.
- Several hours at Terminal 1, or a confirmed space: Block C, pre-booked.
- Anything at Terminal 2: the T2 multi-storey, pre-booked for longer stays.
- Accessible parking: Block B at Terminal 1 or the T2 multi-storey.
- Tall vehicles: none of the short term car parks suit vehicles above 2.1 metres; use Express Red or Park2Travel.
Short Term Tariff and Pre-Booked Rates
DAA's drive-up tariff for all short term car parks is €4 for the first hour, €6 for each additional hour or part thereof, and a maximum of €50 per day.
| Time parked | Drive-up cost |
|---|---|
| 1 hour | €4 |
| 2 hours | €10 |
| 3 hours | €16 |
| 4 hours | €22 |
| 5 hours | €28 |
| 6 hours | €34 |
| 8 hours | €46 |
| 9 hours or more (up to 24 hours) | €50 daily maximum |
Calculated from DAA's published short term tariff.
Pre-booking Block C or the Terminal 2 multi-storey secures a space and can lower the cost of a full-day or multi-day stay. Pre-booked prices vary by date, and DAA charges no booking fee.
To pay a drive-up charge, use the pay stations in Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 Arrivals before returning to your car, or pay at the exit. For help, press the intercom at the barrier or pay station, or call DAA's 24-hour car parks line on +353 1 944 4828.
When Is Short Term Parking Better Value Than Long-Stay?
Short term parking is better value for stays of up to about three to four hours. At four hours, the drive-up cost reaches €22, more than a full drive-up day at Holiday Blue (€20). At five hours it reaches €28, more than a drive-up day at Express Red (€25).
The trade-off is time. Express Red adds a five-minute shuttle each way, and DAA advises allowing up to 40 minutes to park and transfer. For a two-hour collection, that overhead is not worth it. For a full day away, it usually is.
- Up to 3 hours: Short Term. Cheapest and closest.
- 4 to 12 hours: compare Short Term pre-booked rates with the long-stay drive-up rates. If the extra 20 to 40 minutes of transfer time is acceptable, a long-stay car park is generally cheaper.
- Overnight or longer: a pre-booked long-stay car park almost always wins on price. See our guide to Dublin Airport long term parking.
Express Red's minimum pre-booked stay is 24 hours, so for a same-day trip you would pay its drive-up daily rate rather than an online price.
Can You Wait in Short Term Parking to Collect Passengers?
Yes. The short term car parks are the standard place to wait when collecting arrivals, and you pay the hourly tariff for the time you are parked. Waiting at the terminal kerb is not how the system is designed to work, and cars left unattended in the set-down areas can be clamped or towed, with reported recovery charges of up to €140.
Dropping off at the terminal set-down zones is free. DAA holds planning permission for paid drop-off and pick-up zones but has said it has no current plans to introduce charges. For the full rules, see our guide to Dublin Airport drop-off and pick-up.
A practical tip: check the arrivals board before you park. Delayed flights and baggage reclaim can easily add 30 to 60 minutes, which, at €6 per hour, changes the cost of a collection quickly.
Height Restrictions and Vehicle Suitability
DAA confirms that all its car parks accommodate standard family cars and SUVs, but the short term car parks have height restrictions: 1.85 metres in Terminal 1 Car Parks A, B and C, and 2.1 metres in the Terminal 2 car park. Large commercial vehicles and vehicles with trailers are not accepted.
High-top vans, campervans, minibuses and cars with roof boxes or roof-mounted bike racks may not fit. If you are driving a tall vehicle, use Express Red, which has no height restriction, or Park2Travel, with its 4.40 metre entrance. See our guide to van and campervan parking at Dublin Airport.
Accessible Short Term Parking
The short term car parks hold most of Dublin Airport's accessible parking: 56 bays on the ground floor of Terminal 1 Car Park B near the terminal entrance, 64 across levels 1 and 2 of the Terminal 2 car park, and two in Block A. Assistance help points with intercoms are located near the accessible spaces.
Blue Badge holders can get a reduced rate by requesting a single-use PRM code through DAA's form and entering it when booking. Without pre-booking, bring your ticket and Blue Badge to the pay station in the Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 short term car park and staff will apply the reduced rate. OCS, DAA's assistance provider, operates beside the designated parking areas. Full details are in our guide to disabled parking at Dublin Airport.
Facilities and Services
Covered parking. The Block C and Terminal 2 multi-storeys are indoor car parks.
EV charging. 26 of Dublin Airport's 30 chargers are in the short term car parks, all 22 kW. See EV charging at Dublin Airport.
Help on site. DAA's car parks team can help if you cannot find your car or have a flat tyre or battery; use an intercom or ask a member of staff.
Car cleaning. Crystal Valet offers four valet options from €59 to €179, bookable with your parking.
Changes and cancellations. Pre-booked short term parking can be changed or cancelled free of charge up to four hours before your arrival time through Manage My Booking or by calling 01 944 0440.
Frequently Asked Questions
For every parking option at the airport, including long-stay car parks, Drop & Go and hotel park and fly, see our main guide to Dublin Airport parking.
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