Short Stay Parking

Level 3 of the main deck is BHM’s real short‑stay zone

Short Stay Parking at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth basically means the hourly section on Level 3 of the main deck, directly next to the Main terminal. It’s a covered walk of about 5 minutes from your car to check-in, so it works well for quick drop-offs, meeting an arriving passenger, or a same-day business trip.

Rates in this short-stay/hourly area run about $2 per hour, with the airport capping that section at roughly $26 per day. That’s higher than the long-term options, so it only really makes sense if you’re under roughly four hours or you value the short walk more than the savings. The separate published $20 daily / $140 weekly “short stay” numbers are not a distinct product here; you’re still using the same Level 3 deck.

All of this sits in the main parking deck immediately next to the terminal, so there’s no shuttle loop or waiting around at a curb. You drive into the deck, follow the signs for Hourly / Level 3, and park. Payment is at the exit plaza like the rest of BHM parking, and the ticket uses time-stamped entry to calculate the hourly charge.

One catch: the posted height limit for the Level 3 hourly area is 6’2". Taller SUVs, full-size vans, trucks with racks, or anything with a roof box may not clear. In that case you’ll likely end up in standard deck parking at a different rate. If your vehicle is close to that 6’2" mark, measure before you go and have a backup plan in one of the long-term areas.

Tip: For a pickup, time your arrival to hit the deck about 20–30 minutes before the flight’s scheduled landing, so you stay inside a cheap 1–2 hour window instead of drifting into the full-day cap.