How Much Is Parking at DIA? 2026 Complete Rate Guide

DIA parking rates at a glance — 2026

Here is every DIA parking option with its daily and weekly rate, whether it is covered, and how you get to the terminal:

DIA on-airport rates effective May 14, 2025. Source: flydenver.com. Off-airport rates are advance online booking prices and vary by season.

How much is short-term parking at DIA?

Short-term parking at DIA uses the covered terminal garage, priced at $4 per 30 minutes. Here is how the cost adds up by duration:

• 0–30 minutes: Free (grace period for quick curbside pickups)
• 30–60 minutes: ~$7
• 1–2 hours: ~$14
• 2–4 hours: ~$24–28
• Full day maximum: $51

The short-term garage is directly attached to the Jeppesen Terminal — no shuttle required. It is the right option for picking someone up or dropping them off when timing is tight. For anything over 1.5–2 hours, the $10/day Economy shuttle lots become significantly cheaper. For overnight or multi-day stays, the $51/day maximum in the short-term garage makes no financial sense — the Economy lot or an off-airport lot will cost a fraction of that price.

How much is economy parking at DIA?

DIA's economy lots are the best value for on-airport multi-day parking. There are four economy lots:

• Pikes Peak Economy: $10/day, free shuttle every 7–10 minutes
• Longs Peak Economy: $10/day, free shuttle every 7–10 minutes
• Mt. Elbert Economy: $10/day, free shuttle every 7–10 minutes
• 61st & Peña Lot: $8/day — cheapest on-airport option, but uses the RTD A-Line commuter rail instead of a free shuttle

All four are open-air surface lots — no covered parking. The Pikes Peak, Longs Peak, and Mt. Elbert lots run a free shuttle to the terminal. The 61st & Peña lot requires an RTD A-Line ticket for terminal access (~$10.50 round trip), which partially offsets the $2/day savings versus the other economy lots for longer trips. For most travelers planning a trip of one or more days, the economy shuttle lots at $10/day are the most cost-effective on-airport option.

How much is covered parking at DIA?

DIA's only covered on-airport option is the Terminal Garage at $35/day ($245/week). It is the most expensive on-airport lot and connects directly to the Jeppesen Terminal via an enclosed walkway — no wait, no shuttle, no weather exposure.

If you need covered parking but want to avoid the $35/day price tag, off-airport covered lots are significantly cheaper:

• Canopy Covered: ~$18/day (~$126/week) with free shuttle
• ParkDIA Covered: ~$22/day (~$154/week) with free shuttle
• WallyPark DEN: ~$15–22/day with free shuttle

For a 7-day trip, the DIA Terminal Garage costs $245. An off-airport covered lot costs $105–154. That is a $91–140 difference for the same covered protection, with the only tradeoff being a 5–15 minute shuttle ride instead of a direct walk.

How much is off-airport parking near DIA?

Off-airport lots near Denver International Airport consistently offer the lowest parking rates — 30–70% cheaper than DIA's own garage, all with free 24/7 shuttle service to the terminal. Here are the major operators:

Rates shown are advance online booking prices. Walk-in rates are typically $2–4/day higher. Rates fluctuate during peak travel periods.

DIA parking cost calculator — by trip length

Here is exactly how much parking at DIA costs for common trip lengths across every lot type:

For a 7-day trip, choosing an off-airport open-air lot over DIA's covered garage saves $168–182. Even against the Economy shuttle lots, off-airport open-air lots save $7/week — and come with more amenities like loyalty programs, EV charging (at Canopy), and online booking discounts. For a precise total based on your exact travel dates, see the DIA parking calculator.

Why is DIA parking so expensive?

DIA raised its on-airport parking rates effective May 14, 2025. The covered garage went from $28/day to $35/day — a 25% increase. Here is the context behind DIA's pricing and why off-airport lots remain significantly cheaper:

• DIA is one of the most remote major US airports. Located 25 miles east of downtown Denver, it has fewer transit alternatives than urban airports. Most Denver-area travelers drive, creating sustained high demand for on-airport parking — which DIA prices accordingly.
• On-airport lots have captive audience pricing. Once you are at DIA, there is no competing lot within the airport boundary. DIA knows many travelers will pay the posted rate without comparison shopping — and prices reflect that.
• Off-airport lots emerged specifically to undercut DIA prices. The Aurora/Commerce City corridor near DIA now hosts a cluster of competing private lots — Canopy, Park2Jet, ParkDIA, WallyPark, Fine Airport Parking — all competing for the same travelers. This competition keeps off-airport rates at $9–15/day even as DIA raises its own prices.
• DIA has not announced further 2026 increases. As of April 2026, the May 2025 adjustment is the last confirmed rate change. Off-airport lots have expanded dynamic pricing but baseline rates are stable when booked in advance.

The practical takeaway: for any trip longer than a quick pickup, off-airport lots deliver 30–70% savings over DIA's garage. Book online in advance to lock in baseline rates before dynamic pricing kicks in during peak periods.