MSY’s “Long Term” garage is the main stay-put option
MSY only labels one facility as Long Term, and it’s a multi-level garage directly at Terminal 1, not a far-off surface lot. It sits next to the Short Term garage and uses the same terminal roadway loop, so you drive right up to the airport instead of taking an off-site shuttle. This is the on-airport choice for trips longer than a quick overnight.
Rates run at the posted daily maximum (check current pricing; MSY last revised several parking rates in the early 2020s), and you pay on exit at gates that accept major credit cards. You pull a ticket at entry, keep it on your dash or in your wallet, then feed it at the pay point when you leave. If you’re expensing the trip, that printed ticket plus the receipt from the exit machine usually satisfies most corporate policies.
The Long Term garage connects to the terminal via covered walkways on the same level as ticketing and departures at Terminal 1. Walking time from a mid-level parking spot to the security checkpoint is often under 10 minutes, even if you park a bit deeper in the structure. Elevators and stairwells are spaced along the core of the garage, so you’re rarely more than a short walk from a way into the terminal.
Because this is a garage and not an open-air lot, your car stays under a roof during New Orleans thunderstorms and summer heat that often pushes past 90°F. Clearance is typical garage height, so oversized vehicles and tall vans should double-check the posted maximum at the entrance ramp. If you’re flying an early-morning departure, aim to pull into the Long Term garage at least 90 minutes before boarding to give yourself margin for a full ramp, extra driving loops, and security lines.