During Thanksgiving week, Garage 2 can hit capacity by midday.
Garage 2 at Washington Dulles (IAD) sits across from the Main Terminal and prices at over $15 per day, slotted between the cheaper economy lot and the pricier terminal options. It’s a covered daily garage, so your car is under a roof instead of out by the long-term shuttles. Locals treat Garage 1 and Garage 2 as interchangeable, pulling into whichever side has a shorter entry line off Saarinen Circle.
Both IAD garages feed the Main Terminal, so from Garage 2 you walk indoors, then ride the airport train or mobile lounge to concourses A, B, C, or D. Count on at least 10–15 minutes from parking space to the security queue if you find a spot near the lower levels, and add another 5–10 minutes if you end up circling to the top floors. The daily rate runs more than economy but less than close-in hourly parking at the terminal front.
Regulars on FlyerTalk planning Thanksgiving trips say they try to reach Garage 2 two to three hours before departure if they really want covered parking. They treat economy as the backup plan and are mentally ready to divert if the “Garage Full” signs flash at the entrance. Some report that arriving after 10:00 a.m. on peak holiday mornings has gotten them turned away to the economy lot more than once.
Watch out for holiday crunch periods like Thanksgiving and Christmas, when both Garage 1 and Garage 2 can show “Full” and force you into a loop that dumps you back toward the long-term/economy lot. Sitting in that approach queue for 10–20 minutes and then being redirected adds real stress if your flight departs from C or D and boarding starts 40 minutes before departure. On normal weekdays, though, most drivers find a space without drama.
Pro tip: on peak days, check the IAD parking status page from your phone 20–30 minutes before you hit the airport roads; if Garage 2 is already tight, skip the gamble and head straight to economy.