Raleigh-Durham International parking

RDU · Morrisville, North Carolina · —

RDU has two terminals and a parking system branded ParkRDU. Premier is the close, expensive garage. Central is the everyday covered option. Express is a surface lot with a shuttle. Economy 3 is the cheap remote field.

ParkRDU Premier

Closest garage — walk to the terminals, highest drive-up rate.

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ParkRDU Central

The everyday covered garage for most RDU trips.

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ParkRDU Express

Surface lot with a shuttle — cheaper than Central, closer-in than Economy 3.

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ParkRDU Economy 3

Remote value lot — lowest drive-up rate, plan for the bus.

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How RDU parking works

Terminal 2 (American, Delta, JetBlue, most of the big metal) is the busy one. Terminal 1 is smaller. Premier and Central are built for people who want to walk or take a very short hop. If you park Economy 3 with a 7 a.m. T2 departure, you need the bus to be there.

RDU fills from Research Triangle traffic: weekday mornings outbound, Sunday nights inbound. Premier goes Limited first. Central is the overflow that still feels like a garage. Express is the compromise when you want cheaper than Central and faster than Economy.

Drive-up rates are posted on each lot. They move. Confirm the sign at the gate. If you are staying a week, Economy 3 is the rate that makes sense; if you are gone nine hours, Premier is the one you will not regret.

Which lot

Late or carrying a lot: ParkRDU Premier.
A normal overnight: ParkRDU Central.
Cheaper, still a quicker bus than Economy: Express.
Several days: Economy 3.

Lot guides

ParkRDU Premier

Closest garage — walk to the terminals, highest drive-up rate.

Best for Short trips and tight timing.

ParkRDU Central

The everyday covered garage for most RDU trips.

Best for Typical one- to three-night trips.

ParkRDU Express

Surface lot with a shuttle — cheaper than Central, closer-in than Economy 3.

Best for A night or two at a lower rate.

ParkRDU Economy 3

Remote value lot — lowest drive-up rate, plan for the bus.

Best for Trips of several days.

RDU parking questions

Which ParkRDU lot can I walk from?

Premier is the close garage. Central is the everyday covered option and still feels like you parked at the airport. Express and Economy 3 are shuttle lots.

What is the cheapest drive-up lot at RDU?

Economy 3, at the edge of the campus. It is the right rate for several days and the wrong lot if you arrive twenty minutes before a 6 a.m. departure.

When does ParkRDU Premier fill?

Weekday mornings out of the Triangle and Sunday nights. If Premier is Limited, Central is the next garage — not Economy 3.

Is Express the same as Economy 3?

No. Express is a surface lot with a shorter bus ride and a higher rate. Economy 3 is the remote value field.