Park and ride at Stansted
Park and ride at Stansted comes in two kinds: the airport's own car parks with free buses, and off-airport compounds that hold your keys.
The airport runs JetParks, Long Stay and Mid Stay. Off-airport, we sell SMG, CSL, Peak, I Love, Maple and APH. All of them are a short ride from the terminal; the differences are the keys, the hours, the transfer charges and the price.
Every park and ride we sell
Nine products, from SMG to APH.
| Product | Usual price, 8 days | 8 days | Daily |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMG Park & Ride | £72.98 | £51.09 | £6.39 |
| Official JetParks | £80.98 | £56.69 | £7.09 |
| Official Long Stay | £84.98 | £59.49 | £7.44 |
| CSL Park & Ride | £85.49 | £59.84 | £7.48 |
| Peak Park & Ride | £85.49 | £59.84 | £7.48 |
| Official Mid Stay | £91.98 | £64.39 | £8.05 |
| I Love Park & Ride | £114.00 | £79.80 | £9.97 |
| Maple Parking Park & Ride | £117.98 | £82.59 | £10.32 |
| APH Park & Ride | £134.00 | £93.80 | £11.72 |
Priced for 7–14 November 2026. Your own dates are in the search at the top.
| Product | Transfer | Hours | Keys |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMG Park & Ride | 6–7 min, about every 20 min | 04:00–23:55 | Held |
| Official JetParks | About 10 min, every 15 min | 24h | Yours |
| Official Long Stay | Every 15 min | 24/7 | Yours |
| CSL Park & Ride | 3–5 min, on demand | 04:00–23:45 | Held |
| Peak Park & Ride | 2–3 min, on demand | 04:00–midnight | Held |
| Official Mid Stay | About 7 min | 24/7 | Yours |
| I Love Park & Ride | About 5 min, on demand | 24/7 | Held |
| Maple Parking Park & Ride | About 5 min, every 20 min | 24h | Held |
| APH Park & Ride | About 5 min, on demand | 24h | Held |
The airport's buses
The official buses are free, run all night and let you keep your keys.
JetParks and Long Stay buses leave every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day; the JetParks ride takes around ten minutes. Mid Stay's bus takes about seven. Minimum stays apply at JetParks (seven days) and Long Stay (five).
Transfer charges
Several off-airport sites add a per-person charge for the bus.
| Operator | Charge per person, each way | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SMG Park & Ride | £2.50 | Airport levy, per resellers |
| Peak Park & Ride | £2 | Under-12s free |
| CSL Park & Ride | £1, cash | Under-16s and over-60s free |
For a family of four, those charges can wipe out the saving over the airport's JetParks. Add them before comparing.
The Takeley sites
SMG, CSL and Peak operate from the Takeley side of the airport.
SMG is at Warish Hall Farm (CM22 6NZ). CSL lists Network House, Takeley Road, and says cars may be moved to one of several compounds up to six miles away. Peak lists Waltham Hall Industrial Estate and says its service is not suitable for small children who need car seats. CSL and Peak return passengers from the Radisson Blu hotel near the terminal. CSL and Peak have no guide pages on our site yet.
The Thremhall Avenue sites
I Love, Maple and APH list the same Thremhall Avenue address, close to the airport.
All three run 24 hours, with transfers of about five minutes, and hold your keys. Maple's return pick-up is at Coach Station Bay 19; I Love and APH ask you to call from Arrivals. See I Love Park & Ride, Maple Parking Stansted and APH Park & Ride Stansted.
Early starts and late landings
Several off-airport sites stop between about midnight and 4am.
SMG, CSL and Peak all close overnight, and Peak lists a £100 levy for returns outside its hours. For a flight landing after midnight, the airport's car parks or a 24-hour operator are safer choices. We set out prices and transfer details on our Stansted meet and greet page.
Park and ride with children
Families should count the per-person bus charges and check the car-seat rules.
The airport's buses are free for everyone. At the off-airport sites that charge per person, a family of four pays the charge eight times over a return trip. Peak says its service is not suitable for small children who need car seats, and CSL makes under-16s free. I Love, Maple and APH list no transfer charge.
Keys and relocated cars
Off-airport operators hold your keys because they move the car.
CSL says cars may be taken to one of several secure compounds up to six miles away. Others keep the car on the site where you check in. Take house keys off the ring, remove valuables and note the mileage before you hand over.
Getting back to the car
Each operator has its own return routine, and it is worth reading before you fly.
Follow the signs to your car park's bus stop.
Call from Arrivals.
A numbered bay in the coach station.
Pick-up by the Radisson Blu hotel.
Waiting for the bus in winter
On-demand buses mean shorter waits, but plan for the cold.
The official buses run every 15 minutes at JetParks and Long Stay; several off-airport operators run on demand once you call. Keep a warm layer in your hand luggage, and have the operator's number ready before you land.
Arriving at an off-airport site
Allow more time than the transfer alone.
Check-in at reception, a vehicle inspection and a wait for the next bus all add minutes before the ride itself. Maple suggests three to four minutes for check-in and inspection, and SMG asks you to arrive at least 30 minutes before your recommended check-in time. Several operators want a call as you approach, so keep the number from your confirmation handy on the drive.
Vans and larger cars
Most off-airport sites take standard cars and small vans that fit a normal bay.
APH and I Love turn away taxis and commercial vehicles, and SMG charges from £40 extra for vehicles too large for a standard space, per listings. The airport's open-air car parks are the simplest choice for a larger vehicle; its multi-storeys have a 2.0 metre height limit.
Why many drivers pick the airport's own buses
Free buses, all-night service and your keys in your pocket.
For a lot of travellers, those three points outweigh a small saving off-airport. JetParks in particular is priced close to the cheapest operators on our sample dates, and there is nothing extra to pay on the day. The off-airport sites earn their place for travellers who prefer a staffed compound where someone else parks the car, or who find the official products sold out. Our Stansted parking discount codes page shows how much the code takes off each car park.
Booking tips
Book as soon as your flights are fixed.
The cheapest park and ride sites fill first at half-term and in summer. Our code takes up to 30% off selected products, but it cannot help once a car park is sold out.
Which park and ride suits you
Pick by keys, hours and party size.
| You want | Choose |
|---|---|
| Lowest price, one or two travellers | SMG Park & Ride |
| Keep your keys, a week or more | Official JetParks |
| Keep your keys, a shorter trip | Official Mid Stay |
| A 24-hour operator that parks for you | I Love Park & Ride |
Park and ride at Stansted: FAQs
SMG Park & Ride in Takeley, on our sample dates.
Some do. Resellers list £2.50 per person each way at SMG, £2 at Peak and £1 at CSL, with some free for children or over-60s.
The airport's JetParks, Long Stay and Mid Stay, plus I Love, APH and Maple, per their listings.
No. Listings give different operators and addresses, though both are on the Takeley side of the airport and priced the same on our sample dates.
At the airport's own car parks, yes. Off-airport operators hold them.
Ready to book? The search at the top compares every Stansted product we sell. Cancel free within 24 hours of booking. Book ahead and save up to 80% on the price at the barrier.