Taxi there and back, or park your own car? It is one of the most-asked travel questions, and the honest answer is: it depends on two things , how long your trip is, and how far you live from the airport. Here is the maths, without the sales pitch.
The simple rule
A taxi costs the same whether you are away for two days or two weeks , you pay two return journeys' worth (there and back). Parking costs more the longer you stay. So:
- Short trips favour a taxi , a weekend away means only a couple of days' parking saved, which rarely beats two taxi fares if you live far out.
- Long trips favour parking , for a two-week holiday, the taxi's fixed cost is spread over nothing, while parking's per-day rate keeps it competitive.
- Distance flips it , the closer you live, the cheaper the taxi and the more it wins; the further out, the more parking wins.
A worked example
Say a return taxi is £60 (£30 each way). If long-stay parking is £8 a day:
- 2-day trip: parking £16 vs taxi £60 , parking wins easily.
- 7-day trip: parking £56 vs taxi £60 , line-ball.
- 14-day trip: parking £112 vs taxi £60 , the taxi wins.
Swap in your own numbers , your real taxi fare and the actual parking rate for your dates , and the answer falls out. Do not forget the fuel and your driving time if you park, and any airport pick-up fee a taxi might add.
The hidden costs each side
- Taxi: airport pick-up charges, late-night or surge pricing, and the risk of no car if your return flight is delayed at an odd hour.
- Parking: the drop-off is free but the days add up, plus fuel and the small risk of a long stand. On the plus side, your car is there whenever you land.
FAQ
Is it cheaper to get a taxi or park at the airport?
For short trips or if you live far from the airport, parking usually wins. For long trips or if you live close, a taxi often wins. Work out your real fare against the parking total for your dates.
If parking comes out ahead, the cheapest rates come from booking early , see when to book airport parking.