Parking Structure C

Southwest counters sit closest to Parking Structure C at SNA.

Daily rate runs $20 in Parking Structure C, with a 5-minute walk into Terminal C. This garage sits on the Terminal C end of the building, so Southwest and other C-side check-in counters line up better with this side of the road. It’s official airport terminal parking, not an off-site lot, and marked that way on airport and third-party maps.

Long-stay math: $140 covers a 7-day park in Structure C at the same $20/day terminal rate. That makes it the on-airport long-stay option when you want to stay closest to the C gates instead of hiking from a farther economy lot. The walk is fully curb-to-terminal, so you skip shuttles and timing guesses.

Regulars flying Southwest or other Terminal C airlines head straight to Structure C and usually aim for upper levels. Reviews say lower levels can fill fast at peak times because C handles spillover for busy carriers. Going up a ramp or two often finds open rows even on Sunday evenings or Monday mornings.

Exiting can bottleneck: drivers report slow roll-out from Structure C back onto the airport access road during late-afternoon departures, roughly 4–6 p.m. If you land around that window and head straight for the exit, add a few extra minutes before you hit MacArthur Boulevard. It’s not gridlock, but it can eat 10–15 minutes.

What locals do: they snap a quick photo of the column marker on their level in C, especially on level 3 or higher. The end-of-terminal layout makes rows feel similar after a 5-hour return flight. One last tip: if you’re checked in at Terminal A or B, use this garage only if other structures show full; otherwise, you’re paying $20/day for a longer indoor walk.