How to choose the cheapest Inverness Airport Parking?

Used to just rocking up to official Inverness Airport parking on the day and paying as you enter? Perfectly understandable as you just want to relax and enjoy your holiday; however, by using Airport Parking Shop and a tiny bit of planning, you can save money and perhaps find an option better suited to you.

A comparison: Turning up at the Short Stay (CP2/CP3) is £22 for 12–24 hours (drive-up tariff; CP1/CP2/CP3 short-stay bands apply). Long Stay (CP4) publishes weekly turn-up bands such as £90 for up to 7 days and then £12 per additional day. Our lowest price last week was £79.11 for a 7-day stay.

Tempted? Then, whether it is the nearest car park or the cheapest, we give you the answers below in just three bite-sized chunks.

1 – Understand Your Parking Type Options (and what's usually cheapest)

Quick Insights

Park & Ride is usually the cheapest (you park further away and take a bus), while Short Stay, right by the terminal, is the most expensive.

A Deeper Dive

(but don’t worry you will be back to the surface in no time)

• Short Stay (or Multi-Storey) — usually very near to the terminal and just a few minutes’ walk to departures.
• Long Stay (or Park & Ride) — these two names exist because Long Stay is more often used for official airport car parks, while Park & Ride is used by third-party providers. What they have in common is that they usually require a shuttle bus or a longish walk of 10+ minutes.
• Meet & Greet — you leave your car and keys near the terminal; it’s parked for you in a secure compound.

If you’re travelling with the family, you may find the Meet & Greet service is best suited to you; if you’re not carrying huge amounts of luggage then a cheaper Park & Ride may be the best option for you.

Inverness Car-park Specifics

Inverness keeps things simple with an on-airport Premium & Drop-off car park (CP1) directly in front of the terminal, Short Stay (CP2/CP3) a short stroll away, and Long Stay (CP4) further out on the estate. All are self-park with ANPR/ticketless barriers; you keep your keys. Expect ~1–4 minutes walk for Premium/Short Stay, and allow about 15 minutes walk from Long Stay.

Walkable (official)

• Premium & Drop-off (CP1) — right in front of the terminal; walk ~1–2 minutes; short-stay bands apply (includes a brief free window); ideal for drop-off/short stops.
• Short Stay (CP2/CP3) — adjacent to terminal; walk ~2–4 minutes; day-rate available.
• Long Stay (CP4) — on-airport; ~15-minute signed walk to the terminal; best value for week+ stays.

Park & Ride (official/third-party)

• No routine third-party Park & Ride shuttle is sold for Inverness; official CP4 Long Stay is designed to be walkable (allow ~15 minutes).

Meet & Greet

• Not generally offered as a parking product at Inverness.

Which parking type is cheapest?

Expect to pay more for convenience. Premium/Short Stay are closest and costliest per day; Long Stay (CP4) usually offers the best weekly value with clear turn-up bands (and cheaper still when pre-booked).

Using Airport Parking Shop

Tip: By default, Airport Parking Shop lists prices from low to high irrespective of the parking type, which you can see in the blue box. If you are sure what kind of parking type you want, simply hit the Filter Results option above the results and then select just what you want under Parking Options on the left.

2 – Plan to Book in Advance

Quick Insight

Start looking at least two weeks in advance.

The Quick Dive-Down Part

Turning up and paying at the barrier is the most expensive way to park (and you might find limited space). Short Stay lists £22 for 12–24 hours; Long Stay publishes £90 for up to 7 days then £12 per additional day. Our lowest price last week was £79.11 for a 7-day stay. Pre-booking can reduce the total, especially in peak periods.

Tip: Prices go up due to availability (or lack of), so at busier times of the year, like school and national holidays, you may want to start looking at prices even earlier.

3 – Compare Parking Features to Find the Best Value

Once you’ve decided on a parking type, compare what they offer to get the right balance of price and convenience:

• Transfer time & frequency (walkable: CP1/CP2/CP3 ~1–4 mins; CP4 ~15 mins; no shuttle)
• Distance from terminal (closest = Premium/Short Stay; longest = CP4)
• Keys (keep vs. leave — official INV car parks are keep your keys)
• Opening hours (24/7 operation; ANPR/ticketless entry)
• Security & reviews (Park Mark, CCTV, patrols on official estate)
• Accessibility (Blue Badge bays; step-free routes; allow extra time from CP4)
• Total price, not headline (compare Short Stay day-rate vs Long Stay weekly bands)

Compare Parking Options

Using Airport Parking Shop

Tip: After doing a search the features above will be displayed in the tabs, or by hitting the More Info button.

Inverness City Guide

Beautiful, historic Inverness, located at the mouth of the beautiful River Ness, is the capital of the Highlands. Home to more than 55,000 friendly Scots, Inverness provides a wide range of cultural attractions and social and sporting activities for travellers and locals alike.

From the Victorian Market to Eastgate II, you'll find shops and markets both old and new waiting to be explored. For those interested in history, a visit to Inverness Castle or St. Andrew's Cathedral followed by a stroll through the picturesque city centre will make for a pleasant afternoon.

Inverness has many attractions for sports enthusiasts. With 3 golf courses, a multi-function sports centre and the Aquadome, there is no shortage of opportunities to get out and stretch your muscles.

Savour the countless miles of walking paths amidst stunning scenery and the Ness islands, where you may spot anglers and blue nose dolphins. Loch Ness, legendary home of the infamous Loch Ness Monster, or Nellie as the locals call her, is nearby and easy to get to from the city.