Every traveler faces the same conundrum: drive to the airport and pay for parking or hail an Uber and avoid the fees? Upgraded Points breaks down the most affordable and priciest parking at 50 of the nation's busiest airports and directly compares the costs associated with both transportation choices, resulting in clear indications on the most cost effective way to get to each airport as the holiday season approaches.



"With travel budgets often stretched to the limit, even the cost of airport parking can be a significant concern," said Alex Miller, Upgraded Points founder. "Keeping costs low by knowing the most affordable airport parking ahead of time, and when it is best to opt for an Uber instead, can all make a genuine difference over time."

Study Methodology

To determine the cost of parking at major U.S. airports, Upgraded Points analyzed the "economy" or equivalent parking option cost data from the websites of the 50 busiest airports in the country. Average costs were derived based on parking durations for both a long weekend (Friday to Monday) and a full week (Saturday to Saturday). These figures were then compared to the 2-way cost of an Uber from the center of the nearest city to determine if parking at the airport or utilizing a ridesharing service was more cost-effective.

Data was also gathered on the average rating of parking options in/near these airports from airportparking.com to examine the correlation between higher-quality parking and potential increased costs over time.

The Uber Alternative: Out of the 50 analyzed airports, 14 proved more cost-effective to Uber to and from for a long weekend rather than park a vehicle.

Airports with the Largest Savings: Uber vs. Parking (Price Difference):

• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — save $88.94 by parking
• San Diego International Airport (SAN) — save $82.12 by Ubering
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) — save $71.88 by parking
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) — save $69.12 by Ubering
• Logan International Airport (BOS) — save $60.82 by Ubering

Top 5 Budget-Friendly Airports for Parking (Daily Rate):

• Kansas City International Airport (MCI) — $7.50
• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) — $8.33
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) — $9
• Indianapolis International Airport (IND) — $9
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) — $9

Top 5 Costliest Airports for Parking (Daily Rate):

• San Diego International Airport (SAN) — $38
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — $35
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — $35
• LaGuardia Airport (LGA) — $35
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) — $35

Parking Cost and Quality Takeaways

"It was surprising to learn that higher-rated parking facilities don't always equate to steeper long-term costs," said Alex Miller. "In fact, none of the airports boasting the top 10 highest-rated parking facilities found their way into the list of the top 10 priciest."

Conversely, 3 of the top-rated airport parking facilities appeared in the top 10 budget-friendly parking:

• Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) — 4.8 out of 5
• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) — 4.8 out of 5
• San Antonio International Airport (SAT) — 4.6 out of 5

However, Los Angeles (LAX) is both one of the lowest rated airport parking facilities (3.82 out of 5) and in the top 10 most expensive. Conversely, 2 of the lowest-rated airports did appear in the top 10 most affordable:

• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) — 3.8 out of 5
• Kansas City International Airport (MCI) — 3.97 out of 5