First 30 minutes at the curb cost $0 at ACT.
The Free Drop-off/Pick-up Area sits directly in front of the Main Terminal at Waco Regional Airport, right along the terminal curb. It is strictly short-term, curbside use for active loading and unloading only, not for leaving your car while you go inside for a long visit.
This area is meant for quick goodbyes and fast pick-ups tied to specific flight times from the Main Terminal. You pull up to the curb, help with bags, and move on once your passenger walks into the building or comes out from baggage claim.
There are no parking tickets, no pay stations, and no stated hourly rates at the Free Drop-off/Pick-up Area. Because it is free curb space, you should expect local police or airport staff to move you along if you sit and wait too long in front of the Main Terminal doors.
The curbside setup cuts the walking distance to almost zero between your car and the Main Terminal entrance. That makes this option useful if you are helping with heavy luggage right at airline check-in or assisting someone with limited mobility for a short handoff at ACT.
The airport treats this as an active traffic lane directly beside the Main Terminal curb, so you cannot leave your vehicle unattended at any time. If you need to go inside ACT for more than a couple of minutes, plan to shift to a proper parking lot instead of staying in the Free Drop-off/Pick-up Area.
Tip: Use the curb only once your passenger is ready at the Main Terminal door; if their flight at ACT is delayed, wait in a nearby lot or on airport roads before pulling into the Free Drop-off/Pick-up Area.