Charlotte airport raises parking prices as much as 40%. Here’s the breakdown
Travelers planning to park at Charlotte’s airport will see higher prices starting March 1. Maximum rates will increase between 9% to 40%.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is increasing the daily maximum rates for its lots and decks, CLT announced Thursday. The new prices are due to higher operating costs and changes in demand, the airport said in a news release.
The parking adjustments range from $2 to $8, depending on location. The biggest maximum rate increase was for the daily deck, which went from $20 to $28, a 40% price hike, followed by the Daily North Deck’s nearly 29% increase from $14 to $18, and the 20% hike for the Express Deck, Self-Park, from $20 to $24.
The last rate changes at Charlotte Douglas were in November 2023.
This change will also help the airport improve parking safety, infrastructure, reliability and the overall experience for passengers, the Charlotte airport added.
Despite the increase, CLT will remain among the more affordable airports for parking, even with the price hikes, according to Charlotte Douglas.
Charlotte airport among the world’s busiest
Ted Kaplan, CLT chief business and innovation officer for the airport, said the airport is committed to making parking convenient and dependable.
“These adjustments allow us to continue investing in our parking facilities while maintaining competitive rates, and our focus remains on safety, reliability, and a positive customer experience.”
The airport is seeing more passenger traffic, with 35% of passengers starting their trips in Charlotte and 65% connecting at CLT.
Charlotte Douglas is the sixth-busiest airport in the world for takeoffs and landings, according to preliminary rankings released in April by Airports Council International. The airport handled 596,583 flights in 2024 — an 11% increase from 2023, when it was ranked seventh internationally.
Maximum CLT parking rate as of March 1 (previous rates in parentheses)
Here are the changes coming March 1:
Valet – $50 ($45) — Available for pre-book and drive-up Hourly Deck – $35 ($32) — Available for pre-book and drive-up Daily Deck – $28 ($20) — Pre-book only Express Deck Preferred – $24 (no change) — Pre-book only Express Deck Self-Park – $24 ($20) — Pre-book only Daily North – $18 ($14) — Drive-up only Long Term 1 – $14 ($12) — Pre-book only Long Term 2 – $14 ($12) — Drive-up only
All lots and decks are free for the first 15 minutes, except for valet parking.
Charlotte airport offers advance booking
Parking can be reserved online in advance at parkCLT.com or via the CLT Airport app. Of the 25,000 parking spots, 16,000 are available for online booking, according to the airport.
Travelers can earn reward points by reserving spots online through the Royalty Program, which has more than 250,000 participants. More than half of all parking is reserved online, at a 65% rate.
What do you think about CLT parking rate hikes?
The Charlotte Observer wants to hear from you about the rate hikes. What do you think of them? Will they impact your travel plans, or will you consider alternative transportation? Is the convenience worth the additional cost? Share your thoughts with reporter Chase Jordan at cjordan@charlotteobserver.com. Please include your name and contact info.
This story was originally published January 15, 2026 at 3:41 PM.
