Gatwick Airport Parking: Prices, Options & Terminal Guide

Gatwick Airport Parking Prices: What You Can Realistically Expect to Pay

How much is parking at Gatwick airport? For a typical seven-day trip, pre-booked long stay parking usually costs between £45 and £75 in total, while short stay parking can cost £25 to £40 per day if booked on arrival. Gatwick airport parking prices always drop when booked in advance, sometimes by 50% or more compared with paying on the day.

These figures move seasonally, so summer holidays and Christmas tend to push parking rates higher across every car park at Gatwick. As we help travellers get to and from the airport every day, our airport transfer team often hears that people are caught out by last-minute short stay prices, which is why booking parking early is worth doing even if your plans aren't fully confirmed.

Car Parking Gatwick Airport North Terminal: Facilities and Access

North Terminal has its own short stay and long stay car parks, both a few minutes from the check-in area. Airport parking at Gatwick North includes a free shuttle bus for long stay customers, running every few minutes at peak times, and step-free access throughout for wheelchair users and families with pushchairs.

Car parking Gatwick airport North also has dedicated premium spaces close to the terminal, useful if you're travelling with young children, heavy luggage, or have mobility needs. Our fleet regularly picks up passengers from North Terminal drop-off points, and the layout is straightforward once you know which car park matches your flight.

Airport Parking Gatwick South: Facilities and Access

South Terminal is Gatwick's larger terminal and handles most long-haul flights, so its car parks tend to be busier, especially in the school holidays. Airport parking Gatwick South includes short stay, long stay, and valet options, with the long stay car park connected by a regular shuttle bus service.

If you're unsure which terminal your flight departs from, always check your booking confirmation before selecting a car park, since North and South Terminal parking areas are not within walking distance of each other. Passengers using our standard taxi service to South Terminal often mention that pre-booking parking saved them a considerable amount compared with turning up and paying on the day.

Short Stay vs Long Stay Gatwick Airport Parking Compared

Short stay parking is priced by the hour and suits trips of a day or less, drop-offs, or picking someone up. Long stay parking is priced per day and works out far cheaper for holidays and business trips lasting several days.

For families travelling with an MPV taxi worth of luggage, long stay parking with a shuttle bus can feel like an extra hassle, which is a genuine drawback worth weighing against the cost saving.

Gatwick Premium and Valet Parking for a Faster Terminal Departure

Premium parking and valet parking both cut down the time between arriving at the airport and reaching check-in. With valet parking, you drop your car at the terminal and a member of staff parks it for you, meaning there's no shuttle bus wait at all.

This works well for early morning flights, passengers with reduced mobility, or larger groups using an minibus alternative who want to minimise walking. Premium parking costs more than long stay, but for some travellers the time saved is worth the extra spend, particularly on short trips where every hour matters.

Cheapest Gatwick Airport Parking Options for Budget Travellers

The cheapest way to park at Gatwick airport is almost always pre-booked long stay parking, ideally reserved several weeks ahead of travel. Prices rise the closer you get to your departure date, so booking early is the single biggest factor in keeping costs down.

Other ways to reduce airport parking costs include:

1. Comparing prices across official Gatwick car parks before booking
2. Avoiding peak season dates where possible
3. Choosing long stay over short stay for trips over two days
4. Checking for seasonal discount codes on the official parking site

Some travellers also compare parking costs against using our taxi services for the full return journey, since for solo travellers or couples, a return transfer can sometimes work out similar in price to a week of parking, without the shuttle bus wait or the cost of fuel.

How to Book Gatwick Airport Parking Online Step by Step

Booking Gatwick airport parking online takes a few minutes. Here's the process:

1. Go to the official Gatwick Airport parking website
2. Enter your arrival and departure dates and times
3. Choose your terminal, North or South
4. Compare available car parks and prices
5. Select short stay, long stay, premium or valet parking
6. Enter your vehicle registration and contact details
7. Pay online and save your confirmation email or booking reference

Always double-check your terminal before confirming, since parking booked for the wrong terminal isn't always transferable on the day.

How Early Should You Book Gatwick Airport Car Parking?

Book Gatwick airport parking as soon as your flight dates are confirmed. Prices are almost always lowest 4 to 8 weeks before travel, and they climb steadily as your departure date gets closer, particularly during school holidays and bank holiday weekends.

If your travel dates are flexible or uncertain, most Gatwick car parks allow free amendments up to a certain point before arrival, so booking early rarely carries a downside. Leaving it until the last minute is the most common mistake travellers make, and it's usually the reason people end up paying two or three times the pre-booked rate.

Gatwick Airport Parking for Long Trips and Extended Holidays

For holidays of two weeks or longer, long stay car parks remain the most economical choice, though it's worth checking whether your car park offers a maximum stay limit. Leaving a vehicle for an extended period also raises practical questions, such as battery health and whether the car park is covered or has CCTV.

Before a long trip, it's worth charging your car battery fully, removing valuables from sight, and photographing your parking bay location and car park level. These small steps make collecting your car far less stressful after a long flight home.

Gatwick Parking Alternatives: Taxi Transfers Versus Driving Yourself

Driving and parking gives you flexibility and independence once you're home, but it comes with costs beyond the parking fee itself, including fuel, wear on your vehicle, and the shuttle bus journey at both ends of your trip. A taxi transfer removes all of that, dropping you directly at the terminal doors and collecting you again on your return.

For early morning departures or late-night arrivals, many travellers prefer a taxi transfer simply to avoid navigating a car park half asleep after a long flight.

Which Gatwick Airport Parking Option Is Best for Your Trip?

The right choice depends on your trip length, budget, and how much convenience matters to you. Short trips of a day or two suit short stay parking. Holidays of a week or more suit pre-booked long stay parking. Early flights, mobility needs, or a preference for speed suit premium or valet parking.

If you'd rather skip parking altogether, a pre-booked taxi transfer is worth comparing directly against a week's parking cost, especially for solo travellers, couples, or anyone flying from somewhere well outside the M25.

Is There Free Parking at Gatwick Airport?

There is no genuinely free long-term parking at Gatwick airport, though most car parks offer a short free period, typically around 10 to 15 minutes, for dropping off or collecting passengers at designated set-down zones. Anyone asking is there free parking at Gatwick airport for longer stays should expect to pay from the official car parks, since free long stay parking isn't offered at either terminal.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Gatwick Airport Parking

A few avoidable errors account for most parking problems at Gatwick:

• Booking the wrong terminal's car park
• Leaving booking until the last minute, paying inflated prices
• Underestimating shuttle bus travel time from long stay car parks
• Not saving the booking confirmation or vehicle registration details
• Forgetting to check maximum stay limits before extended trips

Avoiding these mistakes usually comes down to booking early, double-checking your terminal, and allowing extra time for the shuttle bus on the day you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gatwick Airport Parking