Charlotte Douglas Raises Parking Rates Up to 40% Starting March 1

Charlotte Douglas International Airport will bump parking prices starting March 1. Rates climb between 9% and 40% depending on which lot you pick.

Officials say climbing costs and changing demand pushed them toward this decision. They announced the changes Thursday.

The Daily Deck takes the hardest hit. Prices leap from $20 to $28 — a 40% jump that'll sting regular parkers. Daily North Deck climbs nearly 29%, moving from $14 to $18, while Express Deck Self-Park rises 20% to land at $24 instead of $20.

Valet will set you back $50 now, up from $45. The Hourly Deck inches up to $35 from $32. Both Long Term 1 and Long Term 2 will cost $14 instead of $12. Express Deck Preferred stays put at $24. Most lots still offer 15 minutes free, except valet.

"We know parking is an important part of the travel experience, and we're committed to making it as convenient and dependable as possible," said Ted Kaplan, chief business and innovation officer at Charlotte Douglas. "These adjustments allow us to continue investing in our parking facilities while maintaining competitive rates, and our focus remains on safety, reliability, and a positive customer experience."

The last time rates changed was November 2023. Money from these new prices goes back into parking facilities — safety upgrades, better infrastructure, reliability improvements.

CLT is watching its passenger mix shift. Now 35% of travelers begin trips in Charlotte while 65% connect through. The airport sits sixth-busiest worldwide for takeoffs and landings, based on preliminary rankings Airports Council International released in April.

In 2024, the airport processed 596,583 flights. That's an 11% increase from 2023, when it ranked seventh internationally. Despite these price hikes, CLT will still count among the cheaper parking options, officials insist.

Travelers can book spots online at parkCLT.com or through the CLT Airport app. Out of 25,000 parking spots, 16,000 can be reserved online. More than half of all parking gets reserved online — 65% to be exact. The Royalty Program rewards customers who book spots online, and it's grown to include more than 250,000 participants.