No reservation is needed. There is Long Term A and Long Term B. Only one will be open, so remember which lot you're in and what stop # ( there is usually a big pole with a number for reference),you'll need that when you get home

No, there are no reservations for any of the airport-run parking lots. However, they are first-come-first-serve, so if all of the lots happen to be full, then you're out of luck, but that isn't likely to happen. The BWI Website has indicators that show how full each lot is, in addition to road signs near the lots.

Offsite 3rd party lots, like The Parking Spot and FastPark, often require a reservation. Shouldn't be a problem to get one, even last minute. I had used The Parking Spot at my last flight, and it was great.

One tip I have is try to park near the last bus stop, that way when the bus comes you are straight to the terminal, make note it should be close to the first bus stop at least in long term b. I’ll often get off at the first stop on my way home and take a short walk to my car so I don’t have to wait on the bus for the full loop

I also like using the third party lots.

Thanks- super helpful!

Thank you!

Great tip- thanks!

Oh and you’ll pay with credit card when you leave so leave the ticket in your car so you don’t lose it not sure what they charge if you do lose it

Thanks so much!

My advice is skip the airport run long term and do one of the off airport lots. I have used fast park and relax for a while and much prefer it. The process of getting from the lot to the terminal is much faster than the airport run lot. I have also never gone and there not been a spot. No reservations are needed either.

>FastPark

I always use this one and have never had a reservation. Maybe at thanksgiving?

The people who work there are fucking great too.

I don't think they require a reservation but it's helpful to have. Plus if you have account I think you get points that can be used for future discounts. IIRC the price point is typically the same as, or slightly cheaper than the BWI long term lot, though the actual price you pay may vary slightly based on what the rates actually were while you were parked there.

I've come across this and wondered why only one is open...I've always gone to B and they past few months it's been closed 3 of 4 times

Take the light rail or a taxi to the airport! #onelesscar

Use FastPark, it's really great.

FastPark. Always FastPark. Next to no wait time getting from the lot to the terminal or terminal to the lot, and the pickup/drop-off at the car is so convenient. Plus the free parking points are a nice bonus.

I prefer fast park. It’s a private parking service that has amazing prices and shuttle directly to and from your car I use them all the time and it’s outstanding https://www.thefastpark.com/airport-parking/baltimore-washington-bwi?gclid=CjwKCAjwzuqgBhAcEiwAdj5dRvEyDtyyrK9cJVwpYrB_RJpexvALbigr6z-B7zONBvYtz9uL2FhQQRoCn-0QAvD_BwE

I've always had a hunch that they do that to let one of the lots clear out to see if there's any abandoned cars just taking up space. But that's just my made up reason.

So what's the actually advantage of the off airport lots if you don't mind telling. Like I get off my plane, wait for a bus and go to my car either way right? Is the price that much better or something? I just don't see what they can 'offer' that differntiates something like parking lots.

They are faster. Taking the airport run lot option can mean a huge wait time. One trip I took I was stressing because I waited 20 minutes for the bus just to pick me up to go to the terminal and it was another 15 or so minutes of picking up more people . With fast park I am on the bus within 5 minutes (if that - I am usually on my way by the time I have pulled my luggage out of the trunk) and it doesn't take much longer than that to leave the lot for the terminal. It is also faster getting back to my car on return.

Ah, thanks for the info!

Honestly the uber flat airport rates work out to kind of what you'd pay to park but with less hassle and pretty much door to door if you're coming from the city.

[deleted]