Cardiff Airport Long Stay Parking

Long stay at Cardiff in brief

Cardiff has no separate long stay car park: every official car park takes stays of any length, and all of them are a short walk from the terminal.

That makes the choice simpler than at most airports. For a week or a fortnight away, the question is not how far out to park, but whether to walk, hand over the keys or take a shuttle. Car Park 2 is the value choice, Car Park 1 the closest self-park, Express Park the handover, and Highwayman at Fonmon the independent option.

Long stay prices

Eight days with our code, lowest first.

Sample eight-day prices. Search at the top for your dates.

Car Park 2: the value pick

Car Park 2 is the lowest price we sell at Cardiff and the natural home for a long holiday.

It is run by the airport, you keep your keys, and the terminal is a short walk away along marked paths. An optional shuttle helps with heavy bags. Over a fortnight, its lower daily price adds up to a useful saving on Car Park 1. See Official Car Park 2.

Car Park 1: the shorter walk

Car Park 1 is the official car park closest to departures.

It costs a little more than Car Park 2 and saves a couple of minutes each way. For families with young children, or a return flight that lands late, that can be money well spent. Blue Badge bays and an assistance call point make it the better choice for passengers with reduced mobility. See Official Car Park 1.

Express Park: hand over the keys

Express Park is the airport's own handover service, and it works for long stays too.

You leave the car by the terminal, hand in the keys, and staff move it to a secure area on airport land. It costs more than the self-park options but takes the effort out of arriving. See Official Express Park.

Highwayman: the off-airport choice

Highwayman, now APH Cardiff Park & Ride, is the only off-airport car park we sell at Cardiff.

It sits at Fonmon, just outside Rhoose. Staff park the car, and a shuttle runs to the terminal around the clock. It suits trailers, which the official car parks do not take. See Highwayman Parking (APH Cardiff Park & Ride).

Walk, handover or shuttle

At Cardiff, the three ways to park for a long trip each suit a different traveller.

Walking from Car Park 1 or 2 is cheapest and keeps you in control. The Express Park handover suits anyone for whom the walk is a burden. The Highwayman shuttle suits larger loads and drivers coming in from the west of the Vale.

The summer rush

Long stay spaces at Cardiff are busiest from the late May bank holiday to early September.

The Welsh school holidays and the sun routes to Spain, Portugal and the islands drive demand, and weekends are the busiest days. Book as soon as your flights are confirmed; the cheapest products fill first.

Winter breaks

Winter is quieter, and the choice is wider.

Ski trips and winter sun still fill the car parks at half-term and Christmas, but outside those weeks there is usually space everywhere. Bring a scraper; the airport sits on an exposed plateau above the Bristol Channel and frosts come early.

Security for a long trip

A long stay means the car is unattended for longer, so the details matter.

Resellers describe barriers, CCTV and staff patrols at the official car parks, and APH lists floodlighting, CCTV and patrols at Fonmon. The airport does not publish a Park Mark award on the pages we could check, so we do not claim one. Take valuables with you and leave nothing on show.

Vans, trailers and larger cars

The official car parks take cars that fit a standard bay.

Trailers, commercial vehicles and minibuses are not accepted in Car Park 1. Highwayman takes trailers, which count as two spaces, so book twice for the same dates.

Late back from holiday

Delays happen, especially on the way home.

Booking terms reported by resellers allow a discretionary grace period at the official car parks, then a daily charge. When your return date changes before you travel, amend the booking rather than paying on the day.

Our view

For most long trips from Cardiff, Car Park 2 is the one to book.

It is the airport's own, the price is the lowest we sell, and the walk is short. Choose Car Park 1 for a shorter walk, Express Park for a handover, and Highwayman for a trailer or a staffed site with the keys held on the premises.

Three tips for long stay

A little planning makes the trip home easier.

Photograph your bay or row before you walk away. Keep the booking confirmation on your phone. And check your flight times against the booking, including the return, before you pay.

Arriving on the day

Follow the brown airport signs from the A4050, then the signs for your car park.

At Car Parks 1 and 2, the barrier reads your plate and lifts; park in any free bay and note where you are. At Express Park, pull up at the shelter by the terminal. For Highwayman, turn off before the airport for Fonmon and check in at reception. Allow a little longer than you think on a summer Saturday, when the approach roads through the Vale are at their busiest.

Long stay with a family

A fortnight with children is where the choice of car park shows.

With car seats, a buggy and a week's luggage, the walk from Car Park 1 is short enough to manage in one trip. Car Park 2 is a couple of minutes further, with the optional shuttle for heavy loads. Express Park avoids the walk altogether, which some parents find worth the extra on the way home after a late flight with tired children.

Longer business trips

A week of meetings abroad is a long stay too.

For business travellers, the choice often comes down to the return. After a late flight home, Car Park 1's short walk or the Express Park handover gets you on the road fastest. Keep the booking confirmation with your travel documents so the reference is to hand.

Help from our team

Our team can help with a booking by phone on 0333 5678 678.

Have the booking reference ready. For changes to dates, amending the booking keeps the code applied and the cancellation cover in place.

Long stay at Cardiff: common questions