Main Terminal

Free altiport parking right beside the runway

The Main Terminal parking at L'Alpe d'Huez – Henri Giraud Altiport sits in the Les Bergers/Altiport sector, a short walk from the tiny runway and heli area rather than the village core. This is an outdoor surface lot, not a multi‑storey garage, and it mainly serves private pilots, heli‑ski operators, and skiers shuttling straight to small aircraft.

Rates are simple: the posted daily price is €0, effectively making this a free car park for now. It’s classed locally among Alpe d’Huez’s blue‑zone and free areas, which makes it attractive to anyone flying in or out of the altiport who wants minimal transfer time between car and aircraft. There are no payment machines, barriers, or ticketing to deal with.

The parking sits under the Auris chair above the Bergers base area, so in peak winter weeks the spaces can fill up with day‑skiers using Les Bergers lifts rather than airport traffic. On busy Saturdays in February, think ski‑resort chaos: cars circling, people unloading gear in the lane, and no staff marshalling the flow. Arrive early in the morning if you’re aiming for a tight private-flight slot.

During Tour de France stages up Alpe d’Huez, Reddit threads warn of thousands of spectators but far fewer parking spots, with road closures near the top and around the altiport. Many regulars say they give up on driving all the way up and leave the car in Bourg‑d’Oisans instead, then ride or hike the climb rather than burning time hunting spaces near the runway.

For a week in high season, locals often steer visitors toward covered municipal garages like Les Bergers or Les Jeux, which run around €95 per week if booked ahead. Use the free altiport lot for same‑day flying or quick drop‑offs, then stash the car in a reserved garage so you’re not gambling on surface spaces each morning.

Practical tip: if you have an early helicopter or small-plane departure, plan to be parked at the altiport at least 45 minutes before your slot on peak winter or Tour days to leave a buffer for congestion and walking gear across the snow‑packed lot.