Compare Melbourne Airport Parking Options and Book Ahead for Your Trip

Melbourne Airport is one of Australia's busiest airports, connecting Victoria to the rest of the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Every year, roughly 36 million travellers pass through our terminals, and with that many people, knowing where to park ahead of your flight means you're already one step ahead.

From low-cost open-air parking to valet service right at the terminal, there's an onsite Melbourne Airport parking option for every kind of trip and budget. Whether it’s a same-day business trip interstate or a week-long family holiday overseas, you can sort airport parking online up to 12 months in advance.

Choosing where to park at Melbourne Airport comes down to four things: how long you'll be away, how close you want to be to the terminals, your budget, and whether you'd rather self-park or hand your keys over to someone else.

• How long are you parking? The answer changes the maths on your parking costs significantly. A lower daily rate matters a lot more on a two-week international trip than it does on an overnight stay.
• Which terminal are you flying from? All airport car parks have easy access off the Tullamarine Freeway, but some sit closer to certain terminals than others. Knowing which terminal you're flying from means you can pick the car park with the most direct route to check-in.
• Do you want to self-park or hand over your keys? If you'd rather not circle for a bay or think about where you parked when you land, valet parking is available at Melbourne Airport across several of our onsite options.
• What's your budget? Daily parking rates vary across our onsite car parks. Generally, the closer the car park is to the terminal entrances, the higher the daily rate.

Melbourne Airport's onsite parking options range from open-air budget parking to fully undercover valet service. The car parks are located either within easy walking distance of the terminals or a short free bus ride away, and suit both short-term parking and long-term parking needs.

Here's how they compare side by side:

The right Melbourne Airport parking option depends entirely on your needs and preferences. Your terminal, how long you're parking, and whether you'd rather self-park or hand your keys over all lead you to a different car park.

Every trip is different, but here are some common scenarios to help point you in the right direction:

• Budget traveller heading away for several days or more? The Value Car Park and Value Express give you the lowest daily rate of all our onsite options, with a free bus to the airport terminal running every 15 minutes, 24/7.
• Travelling light and want to be close to check-in? The Terminal Car Parks are the right fit. The T123 Terminal Car Park connects directly to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 via a covered link bridge, just a few minutes' walk to the check-in counters, while the T4 Terminal Car Park is just 100 metres from Terminal 4.
• Business traveller who needs to move quickly? The Premium Car Parks offer the closest self-parking bays to the terminal entrances. These prime undercover parking spots mean you’re closer to check-in. Choose from the T123 Premium Car Park, best suited for flights through Terminal 1 (domestic Qantas), Terminal 2 (all international flights) and Terminal 3 (domestic Virgin Australia), or the T4 Premium Car Park, best suited for flights through Terminal 4 (domestic Jetstar, Rex and Link Airways) and Terminal 3 (domestic Virgin Australia).
• Travelling with family or have extra luggage? The Premium Car Parks are worth the upgrade. Every bay is fully undercover, and the short walk to the terminal is easier to manage when you've got a lot to carry.
• Flying internationally? The Value Car Park is the most cost-effective onsite option for an extended stay. But for shorter international trips where being close to Terminal 2 matters more, the Terminal Car Parks and Premium Car Parks are the better fit. 
• Want the full valet parking experience? Both Melbourne Airport Valet and Qantas Valet let you drive in, hand over your keys to our friendly staff, and walk straight to check-in. There’s no need to circle for a bay and try to remember where you parked when you land. 

Yes, Melbourne Airport has dedicated accessible parking spaces in every onsite car park, positioned as close as possible to the terminal entrances, lifts and bus stops. Across the car parks and terminals, there are accessible parking facilities, including lifts with wide doors, buttons set at wheelchair height, and Braille control panels. The Value Car Park buses are also wheelchair-friendly.

To use an accessible bay, display a valid Disability Parking Permit. If you need the original permit for your travels, Melbourne Airport also accepts a clearly visible photocopy.

Need a hand getting from the car park to the terminal? Melbourne Airport Assist provides kerbside assistance Monday to Sunday, from 6 AM to 10 PM. You can pre-book special assistance at least 24 hours in advance by calling 0492 868 960, or approach staff at any car park on the day. For a full overview of what's available, visit our Online Mobility Hub.

Booking Melbourne Airport parking online is worth it for the parking rates alone. You’ll get better parking rates than drive-up rates, and the earlier you pre-book parking, the better the rate you lock in. But there are a few other good reasons to sort it online rather than tapping your credit card at the gate on the day.

• Flexible payment options – Pay via your Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit card or through your mobile wallet like Google Pay or Apple Pay. There are no booking or credit card fees.
• Quick and easy QR code entry – After booking, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a QR code. Save it to your phone, scan it at the boom gate on the way in and scan it again on the way out. No fumbling for a card or printing anything.
• A grace period built in – For stays under 4 hours, you get a 1-hour grace period on either side of your booked window. For longer stays, that extends to 2 hours on both ends. So whether you arrive early or run a little late, you won't be charged extra.
• Full flexibility before and after you park – Update your booking online up to 2 hours before arrival via the My Bookings page. Already parked, but plans changed? You can extend your stay through the same page anytime before your booked exit.
• Optional Overstay Guarantee add-on – For a small upfront fee at the time of booking, the Overstay Guarantee add-on covers overstay charges if your return is delayed due to a flight cancellation, border closure, or a physical illness preventing you from flying home. That's real peace of mind on any trip where the return leg is out of your hands.

You can book Melbourne Airport parking online in a few minutes, up to 12 months before your trip. If you want to book now, head to the Melbourne Airport Parking & Transport page, enter your travel dates and compare the options in real time.

Here's how it works:

1. Select your travel dates, entry and exit times, and the terminal you're flying from. If you have a promo code, add it here.
2. Compare the available parking options and choose the one that fits your trip and budget.
3. Pay by credit card, Google Pay or Apple Pay.
4. Wait for the confirmation email with your QR code. Save it to your phone, and use it to enter and exit the car park.

On the day, check for road delays and disruptions before you leave home, and give yourself an extra 60 minutes for the drive in. A quick look at our car park maps and Google Maps for live traffic before you drive off can also save you unnecessary stress on the approach.

Not parking yourself? Melbourne Airport has dedicated Pick Up and Drop Off zones at all terminals. All zones have a strict 1-minute standing time limit at the kerb, so make sure your passenger is ready before you pull in. If you're a little early, the Free Wait Zone on Mercer Drive gives you up to 60 minutes of free parking.