Most locals just park in front of T1 and walk in
Visitor Parking P2 at St. Gallen Altenrhein sits in that same small cluster by Terminal T1, about a 1‑minute walk from the doors. Officially it’s the long‑stay option, but reviews online mostly just mention “free parking outside” and don’t call out P2 by name. If you’re flying people in and out regularly, think of P2 as the section you use when the quick front row fills up.
P2 works best for trips of several days, since it’s marked as long‑stay and sits slightly back from the absolute front spots near T1. Walking time is still around 1 minute, so you’re not dragging a suitcase across a huge lot. The airport is small, with only T1 in use, so once you lock the car you’re basically at check‑in within a couple of minutes.
Because traveler forums from 2009 through the 2020s barely mention P2 and instead talk about “parking right in front of the terminal,” you can expect a fairly informal setup. Regulars seem to ignore the P1/P2 labels and just slide into any open space directly by T1, then head straight to security. If you care about using the long‑stay area correctly, look for the P2 signage rather than copying what locals do.
No standout complaints surfaced about full lots or long walks, which matches the scale of ACH’s traffic and its single‑terminal layout. You won’t find multi‑storey garages or shuttle buses here; you just park on the surface and walk. One practical tip: arrive 10–15 minutes earlier than you normally would, so you have time to choose a spot in P2 instead of circling for a last‑minute space right at the terminal doors.
1 min walk