At a glance
- Short term
- First 10 minutes free, then $10 up to half an hour; $70 daily rate after 4 hours (drive-up, inc GST)
- Long stays
- From $28 a day in Budget Uncovered to $75 a day in Premium (drive-up, as of October 2026)
- Hours
- Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays
- Height limit
- Covered car parks (Terminal, Budget Covered, ParkFast) 2.4m; Budget Uncovered, Premium and Saver no limit
- Pre-booking
- Book up to 3 hours ahead; cancel or change up to 12 hours before arrival
- Wrong car park
- Drive-up rates for the full stay, with no refunds
- ParkFast
- Pre-booked valet-style service for domestic passengers, check-in 5am to 12pm
- Help
- +61 7 5536 9573 or the gate intercom
Gold Coast Airport gives you the first 10 minutes of short term parking free, then charges $10 for up to half an hour. For longer stays the drive-up rates run from $28 a day in the Budget car park to $75 a day in the Premium car park. All prices on this page are as of October 2026, include GST and come from the airport’s drive-up rates page.
The airport has 6 car parks and over 3,000 spaces. Which one costs least depends on how long you are away, so use the tables below to match your trip to a car park.
How much is short term parking at the terminal?
Short term parking is in front of the terminal and is the closest car park, about a 30 second walk. It has disabled parking spaces. The airport describes it as suited to drop-offs and pick-ups.
| Length of stay | Price (inc. GST) |
|---|---|
| Up to ½ hour | $10 (first 10 minutes free) |
| ½ to 1 hour | $15 |
| 1 to 1½ hours | $18 |
| 1½ to 2 hours | $22 |
| Each additional half hour, up to 4 hours | $4 |
| 4 hours or more | $70 daily rate |
Once you pass 4 hours in short term parking, the $70 daily rate applies. Multi-day trips are priced in the tables below.
What does each car park cost per day?
The airport lists five car parks for longer stays. Walking times are the airport’s own estimates.
| Car park | Walk to terminal | 1 day | 3 days | 7 days | Each extra day after 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium (fully covered) | 30 seconds | $75 | – | – | – |
| Terminal (900+ covered spaces) | 1 to 2 minutes | $44 | $124 | $262 | $30 |
| Budget Covered | 4 to 8 minutes | $35 | $102 | $220 | $26 |
| Saver | 4 to 7 minutes | $32 | $94 | $201 | $22 |
| Budget Uncovered | 5 to 10 minutes | $28 | $78 | $162 | $18 |
The Premium car park is listed at $75 per day only. It is fully covered and linked to the terminal by a covered walkway. The Terminal, Budget Covered, Saver and Budget Uncovered car parks all have a covered walkway to the terminal, according to the airport.
What are the rates for 2, 4, 5 and 6 days?
| Car park | 2 days | 4 days | 5 days | 6 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal | $86 | $160 | $196 | $229 |
| Budget Covered | $70 | $134 | $164 | $192 |
| Saver | $64 | $122 | $150 | $176 |
| Budget Uncovered | $56 | $100 | $121 | $142 |
Should I pre-book online?
You can, and the airport’s FAQ says the further ahead you book, the cheaper the rate. You can book up to 3 hours before you arrive, subject to availability, and you can cancel or change a booking up to 12 hours before your arrival time. Online booking accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards. Diners Club is not currently supported.
The airport’s rates page is for drive-up customers, so online prices are different. Check the booking site for the price on your dates rather than assuming the drive-up table applies.
Online prices are worked out in periods of 24 hours or more, so 24 hours is 1 day, and 24 hours and 1 minute to 48 hours is 2 days. The minimum charge is 24 hours. There is no refund if your trip is shorter than the period you booked, and if you overstay, you pay the standard daily rate for the car park you are in, after a reasonable grace period for flight delays.
What happens if I go to the wrong car park?
The airport says the system will not recognise your booking, and you will be treated as a drive-up customer for that car park. You are charged drive-up rates for the full period of your stay, with no refunds. Do not take a ticket or use your credit card at the gate; press the intercom for help instead.
At a booked car park, licence plate recognition cameras scan your number plate, match it to your online booking and open the boom gate. If the camera does not recognise your plate, scan the QR code in your booking confirmation email. The same applies when you leave.
What are the height limits and opening hours?
The airport’s FAQ says the car park is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including public holidays such as Christmas and Easter. For height limits, it lists covered shade structures at 2.4 metres in the Terminal car parks (long-term and short-term), the Budget Covered car park and ParkFast. The Budget Uncovered, Premium and Saver car parks have no height restriction in the bays.
The FAQ also says the same rates apply to all vehicles, with designated motorbike bays in the Premium and Terminal car parks and none in the Budget car parks. The car parks cannot take vehicles other than standard light vehicles, so trailers and caravans do not fit, and it is your responsibility to make sure your vehicle meets the size and height limits. There are several designated accessible bays in each car park, and the vehicle must display a registered disabled parking sticker to use them.
Are all the car parks undercover?
No. The airport’s FAQ says not all of its car parks are undercover, but there is a variety of options to suit different needs and budgets. The Premium, ParkFast, Terminal and Budget Covered car parks all have covered parking options. The Saver and Budget Uncovered car parks are the ones the FAQ does not list as covered, so if shade matters in summer, check the car park name on your booking before you arrive. Gold Coast Airport also says it recommends booking online before your visit, because the best parking deals will always be found online and the further ahead you book, the better the deals.
What is ParkFast?
ParkFast is a pre-booked, valet-style service for domestic passengers. An attendant takes your keys at the ParkFast Check-In area, in the car rental return zone directly opposite the departures area, and you walk the 30 metres to the terminal. When you return, you collect your keys from a secure Key Collect locker just before the exit to the baggage claim area, next to The Book Cellar.
- ParkFast must be booked online in advance. Drive-up bookings are not accepted.
- Bookings are available for check-ins between 5am and 12pm (midday).
- Collect your keys before you go into the baggage hall. If you forget, you will need to go back through security screening.
- Your car stays at the airport, in a covered area just beyond the Premium car park.
Who do I contact?
If you are running late or need help at the gate, press the intercom button or call +61 7 5536 9573. For ParkFast extensions beyond two days, the airport asks you to email your booking reference to the address on its FAQ page.
Looking for other Gold Coast parking? See our guides to Pacific Fair parking and HOTA parking.
More guides: Gold Coast parking guide
Sources
- Gold Coast Airport — Drive Up Parking Rates (rates, walking times; checked 12 October 2026)
- Gold Coast Airport — Parking Map & FAQs (online booking, ParkFast, wrong car park; checked 12 October 2026)
Featured image: Gold Coast Airport terminal (photo: DaHuzyBru / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Gold Coast Airport. Parking rates and conditions can change; check the airport’s parking site before you travel.