Daily rates at ParkRDU Economy 4 usually run well under garage pricing.
ParkRDU Economy 4 is the long-term budget play at RDU, sitting a short shuttle ride from Terminals 1 and 2. It’s an open-air economy lot, so you’re out in the elements, but the savings over the ParkRDU Central and Premier garages can add up fast on trips of 3+ days. You keep your keys, park yourself, and walk to clearly marked shuttle stops spread through the lot.
This lot serves both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 via the standard blue ParkRDU shuttle buses. Buses run in a loop, so factor in 10–20 minutes from parking to curb during normal hours. The shuttle drops at the main terminal curbsides, not at a remote center, so you roll straight into the ticketing areas. Shuttles are free and included in the daily rate; there’s no extra per-person fee.
Payment at ParkRDU Economy 4 is all automated: use your license plate with an online booking, a QR code, or a credit card at the entry and exit gates. Pre-booking on the RDU site often undercuts drive-up rates by several dollars per day, especially around peak weeks like Thanksgiving and spring break. There are clear LED signs at the entrance showing “open” or “full,” which helps before you pull into a row and commit.
Lighting towers cover the rows in ParkRDU Economy 4, and there are emergency call boxes spaced through the lot. Lanes are wide enough for larger SUVs and trucks, but in full sections you may still end up walking 3–5 minutes to the nearest shuttle stop with bags. There’s no covered parking here, so in summer sun or winter storms your car takes the hit instead of your wallet.
Practical tip: screenshot your row number or drop a pin in your maps app as soon as you park in Economy 4; coming back at midnight after a Terminal 2 arrival, those rows start to look identical.