Dulles Parking
Dulles airport parking is a mess. When I lived in Reston, the absolute fastest way to get to my car once I got off a plane was to leave it at home in the first place and take a taxi: barely more than ten minutes from exiting security to unlocking my door.
But if you’re Googling Dulles airport parking, you don’t have this option. So note:
- There’s no off-site parking, except the odd hotel in Herndon or Sterling that might offer park-and-fly.
- Parking in the daily garages will buy you an average of 10 minutes on arrival, but very little on return since you probably won’t have to wait too long at the terminal for an economy lot shuttle. The main benefit of garage parking is weather protection.
- The best daily garage for most people is Garage 1, the garage immediately opposite the terminal on your right as you drive toward the terminal (you make a right turn basically around the corner of the garage). The elevators (and the attached underground walkway) are along the lateral center of the building (as you face the terminal), and close to the terminal-side front, so after you enter (having driven the entire lateral length of the garage, if you’re trying to minimize your walk, double back to center and start looking.
- If you’re flying United, don’t use Garage 2! You’ll have to walk the entire length of the terminal to check in and check your luggage. Delta and Northwest flyers are the only winners at Garage 2, and only if they park on the correct level of the garage, close to the tunnel.