Strawberry PIE Lot

When Strawberry PIE opens, airport parking is already close to maxed.

Strawberry PIE Lot (Economy Lot #2) sits off Fairchild Drive west of the Main Terminal and only opens “as needed” when Key Lime and the main long-term areas are full. The rate matches other economy options at PIE at $10.00 per day, so you’re not paying a premium for being pushed to overflow. Think of Strawberry as the pressure valve the airport flips on during spring break, holidays, and Sunday cruise returns.

This is a remote lot with shuttle service to the terminal, officially advertised around 20 minutes but often a bit quicker in motion. One spring-break reviewer clocked the ride itself at roughly 7–8 minutes once the bus pulled in, though waits can stretch when the lot is busy. Shuttles track the first and last flights of the day like the other economy lots, so you’re covered for early departures and late-night arrivals as long as flights are running.

Because Strawberry only comes online when other parking is full, regulars treat its “open” sign as a red flag and add 20–30 minutes to their airport buffer. Reviews from peak periods mention standing-room-only buses and more crowded drop-off zones at the terminal doors. At night, signage on Fairchild Drive can feel vague, and a few drivers weren’t sure if they were in Strawberry or a generic overflow patch until they saw the Economy Lot #2 markings near the entrance.

What locals do: they swing through Key Lime first and only follow directions to Strawberry once staff are actively routing cars there, which cuts down on unnecessary loops around the terminal. If you turn onto Fairchild Drive and see Strawberry open, park, snap a quick photo of your row, and pad your schedule by at least one full shuttle cycle before heading into PIE’s Main Terminal.