P3 sits in the long-term cluster near the main PVG car parks
P3 Outdoor Parking Lot is marked as a long-term option at Shanghai Pudong (PVG), but most public maps only highlight P1, P2 by the terminals and P4 as the remote long-stay field. Expect P3 to function similarly to P4: surface parking aimed at trips of several days rather than quick drop-offs.
PVG’s main parking complex sits between T1 and T2, and P1/P2 are the short-term multi-storey garages closest to the buildings. P3 Outdoor Parking Lot falls into the long-term category, so plan on a longer walk or shuttle ride than the 3–8 minute walk people quote for P1 and P2 access to the check-in halls.
P4 long-term pricing at PVG is usually significantly cheaper than the terminal garages, and P3 Outdoor Parking Lot likely follows that long-stay pricing logic even though an official daily rate is not published in the English guides. Treat this as a budget option versus the premium convenience of P1/P2 by T1 and T2.
Most online guides in English only talk about P1, P2, and P4, and frequent flyers on Flyertalk focus on T1/T2 transfers and transit timing rather than parking specifics. P3 Outdoor Parking Lot barely appears in these discussions, so walk in assuming minimal English signage and rely on the Chinese "P3" labeling on airport boards.
PVG sits about 30 km from central Shanghai, with many drivers taking the S1 Yingbin Expressway into the airport. If you aim for P3 Outdoor Parking Lot, build in extra time at the tolls and on the airport ring roads, then follow the on-site P3 signs instead of trusting older app maps.
Practical move: take a quick photo of your P3 Outdoor Parking Lot row and a nearby sign, and also note your terminal (T1 or T2) so the return shuttle or walk back after your trip is straightforward even if the English wayfinding is thin.