Daily rates undercut the garage, and you still park close.
The Preferred Parking Lot at Buffalo Niagara (BUF) is the middle-ground option: uncovered, priced below the on-airport garage, but a shorter walk than the off-site style economy lots. It sits on airport property, so you stay inside the BUF road loop and don’t deal with off-airport shuttles or third-party payment apps. This lot makes the most sense for trips of a few days where you care about price but still want a quick terminal reach.
The lot is fully uncovered, so your car sits outside through Buffalo snow, rain, and summer sun. In exchange, you skip premium garage pricing and still stay closer than the long-term economy areas. For winter trips, plan a few extra minutes to brush off the car after a storm. For short fair-weather getaways, the trade-off skews heavily in your favor.
According to Looking4, the walk from Preferred Parking to the BUF terminal is short enough to do on foot, but the airport also runs a free shuttle 24/7. Regulars tend to walk if they are light on bags, then grab the shuttle on return when they are tired or loaded with luggage. Shuttles circulate continuously, so you usually just step to the pickup point and ride straight to your row.
There’s no height restriction here because it’s open-air, which helps if you drive a taller SUV or have a roof box that might be tight in the garage. The lot ties into BUF’s standard on-airport payment system, so you pay on exit and roll straight to the highway. One tip: snap a photo of your row sign and the nearest shuttle pole before you head toward the terminal; it makes the late-night return much easier.