Long stay prices at Gatwick
AVPS Park & Ride is the cheapest long stay option we bring you, followed by Cophall and the official Long Stay. The first five sit within about £15 of each other over eight days, and APH Self Park costs more for letting you keep your keys.
| Operator | Car park | Type | Transfer | 8-day price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
AVPS Park & Ride Off-Airport · Lingfield |
Park & Ride | Shuttle, 10–15 min | £53.38 £6.67/day |
 |
Cophall Park & Ride Off-Airport · Copthorne |
Park & Ride | 24-hour shuttle, allow 30–45 min | £60.16 £7.52/day |
 |
Official Long Stay On-Airport · Official |
Park & Ride | Free bus, 10–12 min | £61.60 £7.70/day |
 |
APH Park & Ride Off-Airport · Copthorne Road |
Park & Ride | Shuttle, 10–12 min | £65.05 £8.13/day |
 |
Airparks Gatwick Off-Airport · Copthorne Road |
Park & Ride | Shuttle, 10–12 min | £67.14 £8.39/day |
 |
APH Self Park Off-Airport · Copthorne Road |
Park & Ride | Shuttle, 10–12 min | £97.60 £12.20/day |
*Sample 8-day prices with our code, for 7–14 November 2026. Prices are subject to availability; search your dates above for live rates.
Every option in the table suits a week or more. The real differences are the transfer, whether you keep your keys, and whether the airport or an off-airport firm runs the site.
Official Long Stay at North and South
Gatwick runs a Long Stay car park at each terminal, with a free bus every 10 to 12 minutes, 24 hours a day. You keep your keys, and the ride takes 10 to 12 minutes.
Buses run through the night, so a dawn flight is no problem.
Park, lock up and take the bus.
The barrier reads your plate on the way in and out.
Vans and roof boxes are fine. Trailers are not allowed.
32 at North and 95 at South.
Approval stated by Gatwick.
Long Stay South uses the postcode RH6 0NY. Gatwick gives no exact postcode for Long Stay North, so use the map link in your confirmation. Read the full Official Long Stay guide before your first visit.
The free two hours at Long Stay
Gatwick's Long Stay car parks are free for the first two hours at both terminals. That makes them the cheapest place to wait when you are collecting someone.
The free window has nothing to do with a long stay booking, but it is worth knowing. Park, take the free bus to arrivals and ride back with your passengers. Stay past two hours and the drive-up rate applies, so keep an eye on flight delays.
The forecourt charge and the other pick-up options are in our Gatwick drop-off and pick-up guide.
Off-airport long stay sites
AVPS, Cophall, APH and Airparks all run their own car parks near Gatwick, with shuttles to both terminals. Each takes your keys at check-in, apart from APH Self Park.
| Car park | Where | Transfer (operator's figure) | Keys |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVPS Park & Ride | Lingfield, RH7 6BJ | 10–15 minutes | Left with staff |
| Cophall Park & Ride | Copthorne, RH10 3HZ | Allow 30–45 min from check-in | Left with staff |
| APH Park & Ride | Copthorne Road, RH10 3PD | 10–12 minutes | Left with staff |
| APH Self Park | Copthorne Road, RH10 3PD | 10–12 minutes | You keep them |
| Airparks Gatwick | Copthorne Road, RH10 3PD | 10–12 minutes | Left with staff |
Cophall's timing covers the whole process, from checking in to reaching the terminal, so it is not a like-for-like figure. We have not timed the shuttles ourselves, and these are the operators' own figures.
Keeping your keys on a long trip
The official Long Stay and APH Self Park let you keep your keys. The other off-airport sites hold them while you are away.
Key-drop sites hold your keys so staff can move cars around a busy compound. That packs more cars into the space and keeps prices down. Some drivers still prefer to hold on to their keys, especially with a keyless or high-value car.
APH charges more for Self Park than for its standard park and ride. On our sample dates the gap is about £32 over eight days. The official Long Stay gives you your keys for less, so it is the better buy for most key-conscious drivers.
Pre-booked against drive-up
Gatwick's drive-up tariff for Long Stay is £38 for the first 24 hours and £32 for each extra day. Eight days at that rate comes to £262.
Those two figures tell you all you need to know about turning up on the day. Book ahead and you keep the difference. That is money back in your pocket for the holiday itself.
What to allow for the journey in
Allow for the drive, parking up, the wait for the bus and the ride itself. From the official Long Stay, budget around 30 minutes from the barrier to the terminal door.
- Drive to your car park. Use the postcode or map link in your confirmation, not the terminal postcode.
- Park or check in. At Long Stay, park and keep your keys. At a key-drop site, check in at reception.
- Take the transfer. Official buses run every 10 to 12 minutes. Off-airport shuttles run to their own timetable.
- Walk to check-in. Buses drop you close to the terminal entrance.
On the way home the steps reverse. Head for the bus stop named in your confirmation, and at a key-drop site collect your keys at reception.
Security on a long stay
Gatwick states that Long Stay is fenced, lit, patrolled by its own security staff and Park Mark approved. APH describes over 120 CCTV camera points at its site.
Gatwick states that its official car parks hold Park Mark Safer Parking approval, the police-backed award for car parks with proper lighting, surveillance and management. The off-airport operators describe their own security, and we report what each says rather than claiming an award on their behalf.
Cophall says it holds Park Mark approval too. Whichever you choose, leave nothing valuable on show for a long trip, and remove house keys from the ring at a key-drop site.
Who each long stay option suits
AVPS suits the lowest price, the official Long Stay suits drivers who want the airport's own car park, and APH Self Park suits keyless car owners.
AVPS Park & Ride.
Official Long Stay, with your keys kept.
APH Park & Ride with EV Charging.
Meet and greet, with no bus at either end.
For a day or two, our Gatwick short stay parking page compares the car parks beside the terminals. For no bus at all, see meet and greet at Gatwick.
More questions about long stay at Gatwick
Gatwick says the ride takes 10 to 12 minutes, with a bus every 10 to 12 minutes, day and night.
Yes. There is a Long Stay North and a Long Stay South, each with its own bus to its own terminal. Book the one that matches your flight.
No. Gatwick lists no height restriction at Long Stay, though trailers are not allowed. That makes it the easy choice for a van with a roof box.
Not at the moment. Gatwick says Long Stay has no charging points. APH Park & Ride with EV Charging charges your car to full while you are away.
AVPS Park & Ride, on our sample dates. Cophall comes next, then the official Long Stay, all within a few pounds of each other over eight days.
As early as you can. Prices move with demand, and the drive-up rate is far higher than the pre-booked price.
Ready to book long stay parking at Gatwick? Search your dates above to compare every option live. Our code is already in the form, and cancellation cover runs up to 72 hours before arrival.