How Much is Parking at Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS)?
By ParkON Team | Last updated: June 2026
Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) has been one of the fastest-growing US airports for several years, and parking demand has grown right along with passenger counts. The good news: AUS has a clear, tiered set of parking options with predictable price ranges — from the closest paid garage down to budget-friendly off-airport lots with shuttle service. The catch is event weeks: SXSW, ACL, and the F1 US Grand Prix can push the cheapest lots to capacity, so booking ahead matters more here than at most airports.
Here’s a complete breakdown of what AUS parking actually costs in 2026, plus how to keep the total down whether you’re parking for a long weekend or two weeks.
Outline
- Rate Overview by Lot Type
- AUS Short-Term Parking
- AUS Economy / Long-Term Parking
- Off-Airport Parking Near AUS
- Total Cost by Trip Length
- Event-Week Pricing (SXSW, ACL, F1)
- How to Save on AUS Parking
- Free Cell Phone Waiting Lot
- Frequently Asked Questions
AUS Rate Overview by Lot Type
AUS parking generally splits into four tiers, each with a clear price band and target use case:
| Option | Typical Daily Rate (2026) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| On-airport closest (garage / express) | $25–$30 / day | Quick trips, business travel, pickups under 30 min |
| On-airport surface lots | $12–$15 / day | Mid-length trips, official-only preference |
| On-airport economy / long-term | $8–$12 / day (often lower with discounts) | Multi-day trips, budget-conscious travelers |
| Off-airport (pre-booked) | From ~$7 / day | Multi-day and weekly trips; usually best total value |
| Cell Phone Waiting Lot | Free | Picking up an arriving passenger |
Rates are approximate and can change. Always confirm on the official AUS parking page or at checkout on ParkON before relying on them.
AUS Short-Term Parking
The closest AUS parking is the on-airport garage and surface options right next to the Barbara Jordan Terminal. These are priced hourly for the first few hours, then transition to a daily maximum of roughly $25–$30/day. They’re the right pick when:
- You’re picking someone up and the wait is more than 30 minutes (under 30 minutes, use the free Cell Phone Waiting Lot).
- You’re on a tight schedule and need to walk to the terminal door, no shuttle.
- The trip is 1–2 days and the convenience matters more than $30 in savings.
AUS Economy / Long-Term Parking
AUS’s on-airport economy lot is the airport’s budget option — a lower-priced surface lot with a free shuttle to the Barbara Jordan Terminal. It’s a solid middle ground between the closest garage and going off-airport:
- Daily rates approximately $8–$12/day, sometimes lower with official discounts.
- Free shuttle to the terminal, typically every 10–15 minutes.
- Operated by the City of Austin Department of Aviation — official airport parking with all standard security in place.
For travelers who want to stay strictly on official airport property but don’t want the garage rate, the economy lot is the go-to choice. Note that during SXSW/ACL/F1 weekends and major holidays, it’s the first lot to fill — pre-book early.
Off-Airport Parking Near AUS
Off-airport lots cluster along the TX-71 / East Riverside Drive corridor between AUS and downtown. They’re privately operated, run free shuttles to the Barbara Jordan Terminal, and almost always beat the on-airport rate for multi-day trips:
- Daily rates from about $7/day when pre-booked, with regular promos and multi-day discounts.
- 24/7 shuttles running every 10–15 minutes (more frequently during peak hours).
- Self-park and valet options at many lots.
- Covered/indoor parking at some lots — valuable during Texas summer heat and occasional hailstorms.
- Online booking with date-locked rates and instant confirmation.
The trade-off: an extra 15–25 minutes for the shuttle ride. For most travelers that swap is worth it — the savings on a 5-day trip are typically $50–$100 versus parking at the AUS terminal garage.
Total Cost by Trip Length
Approximate totals using mid-range rates for each tier:
| Trip Length | Closest Garage (~$27/day) | On-Airport Economy (~$10/day) | Off-Airport (~$7/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 days | ~$54 | ~$20 | ~$14 |
| 4 days | ~$108 | ~$40 | ~$28 |
| 7 days | ~$189 | ~$70 | ~$49 |
| 10 days | ~$270 | ~$100 | ~$70 |
| 14 days | ~$378 | ~$140 | ~$98 |
Event-Week Pricing (SXSW, ACL, F1)
Austin’s biggest events don’t usually change official AUS rates, but they transform availability — and that effectively raises your average price:
- SXSW (mid-March): roughly a week of capacity crunch. The cheapest official and off-airport lots fill first, leaving only higher-priced options for late bookers.
- ACL Festival (early-mid October, two weekends): arrival/departure spikes around each weekend. Plan parking pre-Wednesday or post-Monday.
- F1 US Grand Prix (late October): heavy international travel spike, especially Wednesday-Sunday of race week.
- UT football home weekends (fall): bumps in demand, especially marquee games.
- Major holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day all run hot.
How to Save on AUS Parking
- Pre-book online. Pre-booked rates beat drive-up at virtually every off-airport lot, and many on-airport official options.
- Compare both on- and off-airport. The gap can be $15–$20/day.
- Choose off-airport for trips of 3+ days. Savings scale with trip length.
- Book early for event weeks. SXSW, ACL, F1, and UT football weekends fill the cheapest lots fastest.
- Use the Cell Phone Lot for pickups under 30 min. It’s free.
- Consider rideshare for solo, short trips inside Austin. A round-trip Uber/Lyft from inside the city can beat 1–2 day parking totals — except during SXSW and F1 when surge erodes that advantage. See our parking vs. rideshare guide.
- Consider covered parking for summer. Texas sun and the occasional hailstorm are real factors for multi-week stays; covered parking is often only a few dollars more.
Free Cell Phone Waiting Lot
For pickups under 30 minutes, AUS’s free Cell Phone Waiting Lot beats every paid option. You stay with your vehicle on the airport entry road, wait for your traveler to text that they’re curbside-ready, then make a 5–7 minute run to the Barbara Jordan Terminal’s Arrivals level.
See our full AUS Cell Phone Waiting Lot guide for directions, rules, and SXSW/ACL/F1 event-week timing tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does parking cost at Austin-Bergstrom?
AUS parking ranges from about $4–$7/day at the economy/long-term lot, $12–$15/day at on-airport surface lots, and roughly $25–$30/day at the closest garage. Off-airport lots near AUS typically pre-book from around $7/day — often the cheapest realistic option for trips of 3+ days. Confirm current rates on the official AUS site or at checkout.
What’s the cheapest way to park at AUS?
For trips longer than 3 days, off-airport lots near AUS pre-booked online are usually the cheapest. For very short trips (1–2 days), the on-airport economy lot can be competitive. For pickups under 30 minutes, use the free Cell Phone Waiting Lot.
How much does AUS short-term garage parking cost per hour?
AUS short-term parking is priced hourly for the first several hours, then transitions to a daily maximum of approximately $25–$30. For pickups under 30 minutes, use the free Cell Phone Waiting Lot instead.
Are AUS rates higher during SXSW, ACL, or F1?
Official AUS rates don’t usually change for events, but availability does. The cheapest lots fill first, leaving only higher-priced options. Off-airport lots may apply demand-based pricing during SXSW (March), ACL (October), F1 (late Oct/Nov), and major holidays. Book 1–2 weeks ahead for these dates.
How much can I save by pre-booking AUS parking?
Pre-booking online typically saves 20–40% versus drive-up rates at off-airport lots. Over a 7-day trip the savings can add up to $40–$80.
Is AUS cell phone lot parking really free?
Yes. AUS operates a free Cell Phone Waiting Lot for drivers picking up arriving passengers — no ticket, no payment, as long as you stay with your vehicle.
Is AUS parking cheaper than rideshare for short trips?
For 1–2 day trips with a short rideshare distance inside Austin, an Uber or Lyft round trip is often cheaper than even the on-airport economy lot. For 3+ day trips, or trips with multiple passengers and luggage, parking wins. Surge during SXSW, ACL, and F1 weekends can flip rideshare cost above parking even on short trips.
Related Austin & Parking Resources
- AUS Airport Parking Guide — full overview
- AUS Cell Phone Waiting Lot Guide
- Compare AUS parking on ParkON
- Off-Airport vs On-Airport Parking
- Long-Term Airport Parking Guide
- Airport Parking vs. Uber/Lyft
- Airport Parking Types Compared
Airport Parking Cost Guides at Other Airports
- How Much is Parking at Newark (EWR)?
- How Much is Parking at LAX?
- JFK Airport Parking Cost
- How Much is Parking at Atlanta (ATL)?
- DFW Airport Parking Cost