Terminal 2 Parking Plaza

Three-minute walk from Terminal 2 check-in, $38 per day

This is the Terminal 2 Parking Plaza, the short-term garage sitting directly across from SAN Terminal 2, priced at a posted $38 daily max. United, Delta, Alaska, and most international flights use T2, so this is the default “pay more, walk less” option. Think short trips, reimbursed travel, or departures where cutting 15–20 minutes off your arrival buffer actually matters.

Access is fully post-roadway: you drive straight into the structure serving Terminal 2, pull a ticket or scan your reservation, then walk about 3 minutes across the pedestrian route into the ticketing hall. Google reviewers repeatedly say it’s “right across from the terminal,” which tracks if you’re used to shuttle waits at off-airport lots. For same-day or one-night parking, the time saved usually beats the extra cost.

Official rates list the max at $38 per day, but FlyerTalk users report that booking a 6-day stay online sometimes prices out cheaper than simple daily × days math. The airport’s reservation tool occasionally drops the effective daily rate for multi-day bookings, so regulars check the website first, then decide between this plaza and cheaper remote options.

EV drivers get charging inside the Terminal 2 plaza, with chargers grouped in specific sections of the garage rather than evenly spread. Reviewers say that arriving later in the day can mean circling a few levels to find an open plug, especially on peak cruise weekends when both traffic and occupancy spike. If a full charge is mission-critical, build in extra time.

Complaints focus on price and size: paying nearly $40 per day stings for leisure trips, and several reviews mention tight spaces and low ceilings that feel cramped for bigger SUVs and trucks. During heavy cruise traffic, drivers report the plaza filling up, with staff redirecting cars to other on-airport lots. Regular SAN flyers with TSA PreCheck or CLEAR aim to park here, walk in, and be through security in about 20–30 minutes. Tip: always check online reservations before driving in; if the system shows “limited” or high pricing, have a backup lot in mind.