In this guide
The simplest San Diego airport parking choice is one of the two on-airport parking plazas, one directly across from Terminal 1 and one directly across from Terminal 2, which you can reserve ahead on the airport's website. For longer trips, private off-airport lots with shuttles are the usual alternative, and if you're only picking someone up, the free Cell Phone Lot is where you wait.
You may not need to park at all. MTS Route 992 runs to both terminals from downtown, and a free shuttle links the airport with the Old Town Transit Center. Which option makes sense depends on how long you'll be gone, how much you're carrying and where you start. Below, each one with what it's good for and what to watch.
How parking at SAN is laid out
San Diego International Airport (SAN) sits on the north side of San Diego Bay, right next to downtown and Little Italy. Everything is squeezed onto a narrow strip of land between Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway, which is why parking fills up and why the airport pushes reservations and transit.
The layout changed recently. The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority opened the first stage of the new Terminal 1 Parking Plaza on August 28, 2024, and the new Terminal 1 opened on September 23, 2025, replacing the old building. Older guides and maps may still describe the previous setup, so trust the airport's current information over anything you saved years ago.
For more ways to get across town without a car, see the Getting Around section.
On-airport parking plazas
Terminal 1 Parking Plaza
The Terminal 1 Parking Plaza is at 3501 North Harbor Drive, across from Terminal 1. According to the Airport Authority, the plaza now has 5,200 spaces, which brings total parking at SAN to about 8,500 spaces.
Park here if your airline flies out of Terminal 1. If you end up flying from Terminal 2 instead, the airport runs an Inter-Terminal Shuttle between the two. Before you leave home, check which terminal your airline uses; that one step saves the most time.
Terminal 2 Parking Plaza
The Terminal 2 Parking Plaza sits directly across from Terminal 2. The airport lists a height restriction of 8 feet 2 inches (about 2.5 meters), which matters if you drive a tall van or carry bikes or a cargo box on the roof. The airport has also listed EV charging in this plaza.
Reservations and rates
Both plazas take advance reservations through the airport's parking page, and the airport has listed booking windows of up to 30 days ahead. Reserving guarantees a space on busy travel days, when drive-up parking can fill.
Rates are charged in short increments up to a daily maximum, and the airport has adjusted them more than once in recent years. We don't print a figure here because it would go stale. Look at the current rate table on san.org the week you travel, and compare the daily maximum against the length of your trip.
Picking someone up: the Cell Phone Lot
Circling the terminal loop is the slow way to collect a passenger. The airport runs a free Cell Phone Lot, now located at the Terminal 2 parking area with access from McCain Road. You wait there until your passenger has their bags and calls from the curb, then you drive over.
The airport lists the lot's hours as 5 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. If your passenger lands very late, check the posted hours before you count on it.
Off-airport lots and other choices
Private lots with shuttles
Several private parking companies run lots near the airport, mostly along the Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway corridors, with shuttles to the terminals. They're common picks for trips of a week or more, when a daily maximum at the plazas adds up. We don't recommend any company. When you compare, look at three things: how often the shuttle runs, whether it runs at the hour your flight leaves or lands, and the total price with taxes and fees for your full stay.
The airport has also operated a lower-cost lot farther from the terminals, served by a shuttle. Its status and pricing have changed over time, so check the airport's parking page for what is open now.
Valet
The airport has offered curbside valet at its terminals. It's the fastest handoff when you're running late or traveling with kids and car seats, and usually the priciest. Check current availability on the airport's site.
Accessible parking
Both plazas have accessible spaces. If you need wheelchair assistance inside the terminal, arrange it through your airline, not the parking operator.
Skipping the car: transit to SAN
If you live near a Trolley line or are staying downtown, transit can beat parking on both price and stress.
MTS Route 992
MTS Route 992 connects downtown San Diego with the airport. MTS says it runs about every 15 minutes for most of the day, seven days a week, and since September 23, 2025, each terminal has a single Route 992 stop. Downtown, you can catch it at Broadway and Kettner, about a block from Santa Fe Depot, which is served by the UC San Diego Blue Line and the Green Line. Our San Diego Trolley guide explains the lines and how to pay.
The free San Diego Flyer from Old Town
MTS and the Airport Authority run the San Diego Flyer, a free shuttle between the Old Town Transit Center and the airport. Old Town is a hub for the Trolley, the COASTER and several bus routes, so the Flyer works well if you're coming from North County or the east side by train. If you have time to spare before a flight, our guide to Old Town San Diego covers what's within walking distance of the station.
Which option fits your trip
Here's how the main choices compare. Prices are left out on purpose; check the airport's and each operator's current rates.
| Option | Where | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 Parking Plaza | 3501 North Harbor Drive, across from Terminal 1 | Short trips, heavy bags, Terminal 1 airlines | Daily maximum adds up on long trips |
| Terminal 2 Parking Plaza | Across from Terminal 2 | Short trips, Terminal 2 airlines | Height limit of 8 feet 2 inches |
| Cell Phone Lot | Terminal 2 parking area, access from McCain Road | Waiting to pick someone up | Posted hours; no unattended parking |
| Private off-airport lot | Mostly along Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway | Trips of a week or more | Shuttle frequency and late-night service |
| MTS Route 992 | Downtown to both terminals | Travelers near downtown or the Trolley | Luggage on a busy bus at rush hour |
| San Diego Flyer | Old Town Transit Center to the airport | Trolley and COASTER riders | Connection time at Old Town |
Quick rules of thumb
A one- or two-day trip with a lot of luggage points to a terminal plaza, reserved ahead. A long vacation leans toward a private lot or transit. Picking up a friend means the Cell Phone Lot, never the curb. And if you live within a short ride of a Trolley stop, compare the fare with a few days of parking before you decide.
Parking costs are one of those small budget lines that add up over a year. If you're still working out the bigger picture, our breakdown of the cost of living in San Diego covers transportation alongside housing and utilities.
Find your fit
Which airport option fits your trip?
Answer three quick questions to see where to start.
Matches based on your answers:
- Reserve a terminal parking plaza The Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 plazas sit across from their terminals and take advance reservations. Check the daily maximum and, for Terminal 2, the 8-foot-2-inch height limit. See how transportation fits a San Diego budget
- Compare off-airport lots and transit For a long trip, compare a private lot's shuttle frequency and total price with a plaza's daily maximum, or skip parking with Route 992 or the San Diego Flyer. Learn how the Trolley connects to the airport routes
- Wait in the free Cell Phone Lot Park free at the Cell Phone Lot, reached from McCain Road, and drive to the curb once your passenger calls with bags in hand. Grab a bite in Little Italy, next to the airport
- Take MTS Route 992 or the San Diego Flyer Route 992 runs from downtown to both terminals about every 15 minutes for most of the day, and the free Flyer links the Old Town Transit Center with the airport. See what's near the Old Town Transit Center
Next up: Got a few hours downtown before your flight? Plan a visit to the USS Midway Museum.
Questions readers ask
Where do you park at San Diego International Airport?
The airport runs two parking plazas, one across from Terminal 1 at 3501 North Harbor Drive and one across from Terminal 2. Private off-airport lots with shuttles are another option for longer trips.
Can you reserve parking at SAN?
Yes. The airport lets you reserve a space in its parking plazas in advance on its website, and the airport has listed reservations up to 30 days ahead.
Is there a free place to wait for arriving passengers?
Yes. The Cell Phone Lot is free and is located at the Terminal 2 parking area with access from McCain Road. Wait there until your passenger calls from the curb.
How do you get to the airport without parking?
MTS Route 992 runs between downtown and both terminals about every 15 minutes for most of the day, and the free San Diego Flyer shuttle connects the Old Town Transit Center with the airport.
Is there a height limit in the Terminal 2 Parking Plaza?
Yes. The airport lists a height restriction of 8 feet 2 inches for the Terminal 2 Parking Plaza, so tall vans and vehicles with roof boxes should check before driving in.
