East Midlands Airport sits just north of Castle Donington, serving over four million passengers a year. Most flights are operated by Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI for leisure travel, with significant cargo traffic alongside. Whether you are flying out for a short break or dropping off a relative for an early morning departure, the cost of leaving your car at EMA has changed dramatically since May 2025. Here is what you actually pay in 2026.
What changed in May 2025
East Midlands Airport went barrierless at the Rapid Drop-Off zone on 1 May 2025. There are no payment machines, no tickets, no exit barriers. ANPR cameras read your number plate as you enter and exit. You pay online at pay.eastmidlandsairport.com (managed by APCOA) by midnight the day after your visit. Failing to pay results in a £100 Parking Charge, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. The system is designed to reduce queues at peak times and is similar to ones used at Manchester and Heathrow. Other car parks (Long Stay 1, Long Stay 2, Short Stay 1, Mid Stay) still operate with traditional ANPR barriers but those barriers do raise automatically once your number plate is registered.
The real cost of dropping someone off
Rapid Drop-Off costs £5 for the first 15 minutes. After that you pay £1 per minute on exit, up to a maximum stay of 30 minutes. Most drop-offs take 5-7 minutes if luggage is light, but if you are helping a parent with three suitcases you can easily cross the 15-minute threshold and add £10-15 to your bill. The free alternative is Long Stay 2, which gives you up to one hour free with a free shuttle bus to the terminal every 10-15 minutes. The shuttle ride is 3-5 minutes. Most travellers do not realise the free option exists because the airport signs primarily direct you to Rapid Drop-Off.
Pre-booked parking: where the savings are
For longer stays, pre-booking online cuts costs significantly. Official Long Stay parking starts from £45-£50 for an 8-day stay in 2026 if booked 4-6 weeks ahead. Midlands Parking Meet & Greet, which is run at the airport's own Short Stay 1 car park, runs £48-£75 for an 8-day stay depending on which tier you pick (Non-Flex, Flexible, or All Inclusive with cancellation cover). JetParks (a budget version of Long Stay) starts from around £42 for 8 days, working out at around £5.24 per day. Park & Ride from off-airport providers can match or beat these prices in summer, but always compare on the day.
Walking back to your car
Long Stay 1 and Long Stay 2 both run free shuttle buses. Long Stay 1 transfers run every 10 minutes, taking 5 minutes to the terminal. Long Stay 2 transfers run every 10-15 minutes, also 3-5 minutes to the terminal. Short Stay 1 is walking distance to the terminal (about 2-4 minutes) but is designed for stays under a few hours. Mid Stay car parks are 5-7 minutes walk from the terminal and offer good value for week-long stays. Meet & Greet drop-off and pick-up happens at Short Stay 1 – you walk straight into departures.
Avoiding the £100 fine
The most common mistake at EMA in 2026 is forgetting to pay the Rapid Drop-Off charge. There are no on-site machines or reminders. The simplest fix is to set up an AutoPay account at pay.eastmidlandsairport.com before your trip, so the charge is taken automatically. AutoPay is free to set up. Without it, set a phone reminder for the day after your visit. The £100 PCN is reduced to £60 only if paid within 14 days, and unpaid PCNs can be passed to debt recovery agencies with an additional fee of up to £70. Travel insurance does not usually cover parking penalties.
The Long Stay closure: 15 November 2025 – 31 March 2026
For paid bookings, the official Long Stay 1 and Long Stay 2 car parks were closed from 15 November 2025 until 31 March 2026 for refurbishment, and have now reopened. The free 1-hour drop-off service at Long Stay 2 continued throughout the closure. If you booked Long Stay during the closure period your booking would have been moved to an alternative car park automatically. Always check current availability on the airport website if you have a stay over the winter season.
Frequently asked questions
How much is parking at East Midlands Airport in 2026?
Pre-booked Long Stay starts from £45-£50 for an 8-day stay. JetParks (budget Long Stay) is around £42 for 8 days. Meet & Greet runs £48-£75 for 8 days depending on flexibility tier. The Rapid Drop-Off charge is £5 for 15 minutes, then £1 per minute after that, max 30 minutes. Long Stay 2 is free for the first hour.
How do I pay for East Midlands airport parking?
For pre-booked parking, you pay at the time of booking. For airport-run car parks with barriers, ANPR reads your number plate on entry and exit and the barrier raises automatically. For the Rapid Drop-Off (no barriers), you pay online at pay.eastmidlandsairport.com by midnight the day after your visit. AutoPay is recommended.
What is the cheapest parking at East Midlands Airport?
For drop-offs only, Long Stay 2 is free for 1 hour with a free shuttle bus. For longer stays, JetParks from £42 for 8 days is the cheapest official option, working out at around £5.24 per day. Pre-booking 4-6 weeks before travel saves the most money.
Can you stop free at East Midlands Airport?
Yes. Long Stay 2 car park is free for up to 1 hour, with a free shuttle bus to the terminal every 10-15 minutes. Allow 15-20 minutes total for the round trip with the shuttle. This is the only fully free option at EMA.
Is Meet & Greet worth it at East Midlands?
Meet & Greet at EMA happens at Short Stay 1 car park, just a 2-4 minute walk from the terminal. It is significantly faster than Park & Ride or Long Stay (which need a shuttle). For early morning flights, families with young children, or anyone with mobility issues, the time saving is worth the small price premium. The minimum stay is 3 days.
Compare East Midlands airport parking prices live across providers including official car parks and Midlands Parking Meet & Greet at park4travels.co.uk.