Park and ride at Aberdeen
Aberdeen's park and ride is the airport's own Long Stay, with a short free bus.
There are no large off-airport shuttle sites of the kind found at bigger airports. The Express car parks in Dyce are close enough to walk. That makes Aberdeen one of the simplest UK airports to park at.
Prices
The cheapest options are Long Stay and the two Express car parks.
| Car park | Standard, 8 days | 8 days | Each day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Long Stay | £66.99 | £46.89 | £5.86 |
| APH Express | £74.09 | £51.86 | £6.48 |
| Airparks Express | £74.87 | £52.41 | £6.55 |
Sample eight-day prices. Search at the top for your dates.
The Long Stay bus
The bus takes under five minutes and runs from 04:00 until the last arrival.
It is free, and you keep your keys. On return, the Long Stay stop is signed outside the terminal. For a flight before four in the morning, plan to arrive after the first bus or use a walk-in car park.
Walk-in alternatives
APH Express and Airparks Express are a five-minute walk from the terminal.
Both sit on International Gate in Dyce, run by Airparks, staffed 24 hours. They cost a little more than Long Stay and remove the bus altogether.
Offshore park and ride
Offshore workers park at Long Stay or the Park and Depart car park at a special rate.
The rate applies to all four heliport terminals, with no booking needed and validation on return. See our Aberdeen offshore parking page.
The free hour
Long Stay is also free for up to an hour for drop-offs and pick-ups.
Passengers use the same bus. It is the cheapest way to see someone off at Aberdeen; our Aberdeen drop-off and pick-up page explains the options.
With children
The short bus and short walks make Aberdeen easy for families.
For a family with a lot of luggage, the Long Stay bus avoids carrying bags. For light travellers, the Express walk is often quicker.
Winter waits
Keep a warm layer for the bus stop.
The bus is short and frequent, but Aberdeen winters are cold and dark. The walk-in Express car parks avoid any wait.
Security
The airport says its car parks hold the Police Scotland Safe Car Park Award, with CCTV and regular patrols.
The Express operators describe CCTV, fencing, floodlighting and patrols. We report their claims as their own.
Booking
Book ahead to pay up to 80% less than the drive-up rate.
Our code takes up to 30% off selected products. The airport says pre-booking saves up to 60% against turning up. See the Aberdeen discount code page.
Our view
At Aberdeen, park and ride is quick and cheap.
Long Stay is the cheapest option with a short bus; the Express car parks cost a little more and let you walk. All three keep your keys in your pocket.
Arriving at Long Stay
Follow the airport signs to Long Stay.
The barrier reads your plate. Park, keep your keys, and walk to the bus stop. The bus drops you outside the terminal, a few steps from check-in.
The return journey
Head to the Long Stay stop outside the terminal.
The bus runs until the last arriving flight, so a delayed evening flight is covered. At the Express car parks, walk back along International Gate.
Park and ride or Short Stay
Short Stay removes the bus for a little more money.
For a week away, Long Stay's saving is worth the short ride. For a night, Short Stay's two-minute walk may be the better deal. Compare the totals for your dates in the search.
Business travel
Business travellers often prefer the walk-in options.
The Express car parks and Short Stay avoid any wait for a bus, which helps on a tight schedule. Priority adds Priority Security for the busiest mornings.
Vehicle size
Long Stay suits taller vehicles.
The multi-storey has a height limit, and the Express car parks take only standard cars. Long Stay is the straightforward choice for a campervan or tall van.
For heliport users
Offshore crews have their own car parks and rate.
Park and Depart is close enough for OHS terminal users to walk. Long Stay serves the Bristow heliport. No booking is needed. We sort the car parks by price on our cheap Aberdeen Airport parking page.
Families
The short bus makes Long Stay easy with children.
Buses stop close to the terminal entrance, and the ride is over in a few minutes. For a family flying at the start of the school holidays, book early: Long Stay is the cheapest product and fills first.
For a family travelling light, the Express car parks are a pleasant walk away and remove any wait.
Winter
Aberdeen's winters make the transfer choice more important.
The Long Stay bus keeps you out of the weather; the Express walk does not. Short Stay and Priority are mostly undercover. Keep a scraper and de-icer in the car.
Booking
Book ahead through the search at the top.
Bookings made with us can be cancelled free within 24 hours of booking.
About Dyce and the airport
Aberdeen International Airport sits at Dyce, about seven miles north-west of the city centre.
It is the main airport for the North East of Scotland and one of the busiest helicopter bases in the world, thanks to the North Sea energy industry. That mix of offshore crews, business travellers and holidaymakers shapes the park and ride options: Monday mornings are busy, and demand is steadier through the year than at most holiday airports.
The airport is reached from the A96 and the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, and Dyce railway station is a short ride away.
Three tips
Small habits make park and ride smoother.
Photograph your row before walking to the bus, keep a warm layer handy in winter, and check the bus hours against your flight times.
Planning your timings
Allow around a quarter of an hour from Long Stay to check-in.
That covers parking, a short wait and the ride. The Express car parks take a similar time on foot. On busy mornings, add a margin, and check the bus hours for very early departures.
On return, the bus runs until the last arrival, so a delayed evening flight is covered.
Park and ride or a lift
A lift avoids parking but costs two return journeys.
For a short trip, parking may be cheaper once fuel is counted. The free hour at Long Stay makes drop-offs cheap for whoever gives the lift.
Accessibility
The Long Stay bus stops close to the terminal entrance.
Passengers who need help can book assistance through their airline. Short Stay gives Blue Badge holders 30 minutes free for drop-offs and pick-ups.
Late arrivals
The Long Stay bus runs until the last flight of the day has landed.
After a delayed flight, wait at the Long Stay stop outside the terminal. For a walk instead, the Express car parks are close by, and Short Stay is closer still. A late landing in winter is when a covered car park and a short walk feel most welcome, so weigh that when you book. Our Aberdeen meet and greet page shows the car parks we compare, with prices.
Park and ride at Aberdeen: your questions
The airport's Long Stay works as park and ride, with a short free bus.
No. APH Express and Airparks Express are a five-minute walk from the terminal.
From 04:00 until the last arriving flight.
Yes. Long Stay and the Park and Depart car park carry the airport's offshore rate.
Yes, at Long Stay and both Express car parks.
Ready to book? The search at the top compares every Aberdeen product we sell. Cancel free within 24 hours of booking. Book ahead and save up to 80% on the price at the barrier.