While your "Bags Fly Free" on Southwest Airlines, it's going to cost you to park you car at the airport. Or maybe not. There are many options for reduced rate, and even free parking at San Diego International Airport.
If you're on an expense account, and your company hasn't yet sent out a memo on belt tightening, then these tips aren't for you. But if you like keeping more of what you earn for yourself, then you will want to read this advice.
San Diego International Airport (SAN) has convenient parking facilities by Terminal 1 and 2 and the Commuter Terminal. Each charges hourly rates that rise steeply the
longer you stay. Your first day will cost $21, and each additional day $26. Valet parking is available at Terminal 1 and 2. Look for the SAN Park Valet signs. This service costs $30 a day. For a 5 day trip your bill would total $125 for self park, and $150 for valet parking.
CAPTIONS: (ABOVE LEFT) San Diego Airport sign at entrance to terminal 2 ; (ABOVE RIGHT) SAN Park NTC is West of Terminal 2; (BELOW RIGHT) Free street parking is availalbe on Laning Road less than 1 mile from Terminal 2 (All Photo Credits - Joel Siegfried)
A slide show follows this article showing scenes from Laning Road to San Diego Airport.
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It's not necessary to go very far from the terminal lots to save money. SAN Park NTC, just west of Terminal 2 operates a long term lot that charges $16 a day, or $80 for a 5 day trip. They provide a shuttle bus to take you from their lot to the terminal. It runs every 5 minutes or so.
About a half mile further West on North Harbor Drive, toward Point Loma, Park Shuttle & Fly welcomes your wheels for $11 a day, $55 for our 5 day benchmark trip comparison. Their yellow and blue buses also leave frequently for all three terminals. An online coupon reduces this rate to just $10 a day.
SAN Park also operates a long term parking lot on Pacific Highway, about 3.5 miles from the airport. They charge $10 a day, $50 for a 5 day trip. It gets even better.
CAPTIONS: (ABOVE LEFT) Park Shuttle & Fly bus connects with all airport terminals; (BELOW RIGHT) Free street parking is availalbe on Laning Road less than 1 mile from Terminal 2 (All Photo Credits - Joel Siegfried)
Mission Brewery, 2.8 miles from SAN at 1765 Hancock Street has an out
door self park online rate of only $8 a day. Now your 5 day trip is reduced to just $40. Other parking lots near the airport can be found at this LINK.
But as they say in those TV infomercials, there's more, or in this case, less, much less. It doesn't get any lower than $0 a day, free, zero, zilch. Now we're talking about real savings, but there's a catch. If you know where to find it and don't mind a little walking, there's plenty of available on street parking close to the airport, which is both legal and safe.
First, some cautions. Don't park anywhere along Harbor Drive, at Spanish Landing Park, opposite the Airport on Shelter Island, in the shopping mall parking areas at Liberty Station which are clearly signed for shoppers or employees with permits, or at any of the hotel properties near the Airport. If you stay clear of those areas, greener pastures are waiting nearby.
Just 1.2 miles West of Terminal 2 off North Harbor Driv
e is Laning Road. Turn on to this street and park along any curb that is not painted red. You should find many parking spaces here. This is a residential and commercial development known as Liberty Station. It was formerly the home of the Naval Training Center, or NTC. As long as you avoid the shopping mall lots, curb side street parking is allowed. We must also note a disclaimer. Like most cities, San Diego has a 72 hour maximum parking limit ordinance on public streets. This is seldom enforced and you are not likely to be cited. As noted below, the San Diego Airport Examiner has parked here for up to a week without incident.
CAPTIONS: (ABOVE LEFT) North Harbor Drive and Laning Road ; (ABOVE RIGHT) Map showing Laning Road proximity to SAN (All Photo Credits - Joel Siegfried)
Your walk to the airport, even with rolling luggage, should take no more than 20 minutes to Terminal 2. If you're going further, to the Commuter Terminal, or Terminal 1, just stop first at Terminal 2 and take the free Airport red shuttle bus. Buses run at 10 minute intervals. If you prefer not to walk, you could call for a taxi. Yellow Cab of San Diego can be reached at 619-444-4444, or you can send them a text message using your cell phone with your pickup address to 777222. You can also place your taxi pickup order online from your laptop. Your one mile trip, including tip, should cost less than $5. If you are even more budget minded, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bus route 923 runs along Harbor Drive, and will drop you off near the airport for just $2.25. Wikitravel also has an excellent article on San Diego public transportation.
CAPTIONS: (BELOW UPPER LEFT) USS Recruit former naval training ship; (BELOW RIGHT) Boaters on channel near airport; (BELOW LOWER LEFT) San Diego MTS bus 992 goes downtown from the airport (All Photo Credits - Joel Siegfried)
Not only will you
r walk from there to the airport save you money and give you a little exercise, you will also see some lovely sights. You can stop at the Laning Road Starbucks for a coffee, or at the Sushiya next to it for a dragon roll with all the money you're saving on parking. You'll pass the landlocked USS Recruit, a former naval training vessel, see sailboats on San Diego 
Bay, maybe a cruise ship or even an aircraft carrier passing through the harbor either to dock, or on its way to blue open waters. You'll walk near the coastal access Esplanade, parallel to the Nimitz Bridge, where fisherman like to cast their lines and try to catch a white sea bass, if they're lucky. There are all sorts of treats for the senses along this walk. Watch the slide show to see more images.
We have tested out this advice on several trips. Our car was waiting for us when we returned. We even walked from our home 3 miles to the airport pulling luggage. It took 45 minutes. Then we explored street parking options closer to San Diego International Airport, and cut that walking time by more than half.
Of course, you can also take a taxi, public transportation, have a friend drop you off, or use one of the many excellent shuttle services. We did all of those for many years, until we discovered convenient street parking. The first time may be more challenging because it's a new experience.
Perhaps there are no free lunches, but we can guarantee that there is free street parking near the airport. You just have to be willing to look for it.
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Comments
It pays to park further away. That's what we always do and take the shuttle bus. The parking lot company even provides us with free bottled water.
I always park elsewhere now.
As Bobbi mentions, DFW airport also has off-site parking that is less expensive. The Parking Spot gives free bottled water when you pick up your vehicle. I can't see myself parking on the street 1.5 miles away though, pulling my luggage. I'm sure the scenery in San Diego is much more pleasing to do so, however...
Wow! That's expensive parking. We park right outside the ABQ airport for about $3.00 per day with a coupon from the internet. Seems like a bargain!
That stinks!
Or i could just leave my car and your house and you can drop me off and pick me up, for free!! Wouldn't cost me more than a couple of beverages i'd bet.
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