$0 wait while you track arrivals at MSN
The Cell Phone Lot at Dane County Regional (MSN) lets pickup drivers wait for arriving passengers for $0 per day, instead of looping around the Main terminal road. It is strictly for short-term waiting in your vehicle, not for long-term parking or leaving the car unattended.
This lot supports short-term waiting only, so you stay in the car and pull up to the Main terminal curb once the passenger texts. There is no overnight option here; use the airport’s regular parking if you need to leave the car for more than a quick pickup window of roughly 15–30 minutes.
Signage on the airport access road points to the Cell Phone Lot before you reach the Main terminal departures and arrivals lanes. The lot sits close enough that it’s only a 2–4 minute drive from there to the terminal curb once your passenger has collected bags and is at the pickup point.
There are no fees, gates, or tickets in the Cell Phone Lot, and no posted daily maximum since it is not intended for all-day parking. Facilities are minimal: think a basic paved lot with marked spaces and your own cell phone, not a staffed operation with shuttles or restrooms like the Main terminal parking garage.
Use this spot if you’re picking someone up from the Main terminal and want to avoid the short-term garage, which starts charging from the first hour. One tip: have your passenger text you only after they walk outside to the arrivals curb, so your 2–4 minute drive from the Cell Phone Lot lines up with them standing at the right door number.