$22/day buys you the closest covered parking at DAY
The Parking Garage at James M. Cox Dayton International Airport sits directly in front of the Main Terminal, so you walk from your car under cover the whole way. Daily max is $22/day, which puts it just a step below airport valet at $24/day when valet is operating. If you value a short walk more than saving a few dollars, this is the on-airport sweet spot.
This is fully covered parking except for the uncovered 3rd floor, which is where Reserved Parking lives inside the same structure. That top level still uses the same $22/day garage rate, but advance reservation usually adds a small online fee. The Metropolis/Parking.com page pegs that add-on at about $0.99 per online transaction, so the premium is tiny compared with hunting for a space during holidays.
Winter flyers use the garage specifically to avoid scraping ice after those 6:00 a.m. departures and late-night returns, even though it runs more than double older Economy pricing. Garage vs. valet is a tight gap at just $2/day, so on a three-day trip you’re only saving $6 by self-parking. Think about that if you’re hauling checked bags or traveling with kids through the Main Terminal entrance.
Reserved Parking on the uncovered 3rd floor helps during peak weeks when standard garage inventory can feel tight. If you’re picking someone up who parked in the garage, use the free Cell Phone Lot with Wi‑Fi and wait for their text instead of looping arrivals. That lot costs $0, keeps you out of the curb chaos, and lets the garage parker walk straight out without pressure.
Pro tip: For early-morning winter flights at DAY, pay the $22/day, park in the garage, and skip cleaning off a frozen car at midnight when you land.
Pricing
| Stay | Per day | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | $22.00/day | $22.00 |
| 3 days | $22.00/day | $66.00 |
| 7 days | $22.00/day | $154.00 |