Blue Grass Airport Parking (LEX)
Blue Grass Airport sits at 4000 Terminal Drive, about a 15 minute drive from downtown Lexington. Parking comes down to three choices, short-term, long-term, and valet. The calculator below prices all three for the length of your trip, and the rest of the page covers pickup, security hours, and what the airport actually flies to.
Rates verified August 7, 2026. Confirm current rates at bluegrassairport.com before you travel.
Blue Grass Airport Parking Rates
| Option | Daily maximum | Hourly structure |
|---|---|---|
| Short-Term | $17.00 | First 30 minutes free, 31 to 60 minutes $2.00, each additional hour $1.00 |
| Long-Term | $14.00 | First 30 minutes free, 31 to 60 minutes $2.00, each additional hour $1.00 |
| Valet | $25.00 | Flat daily rate. EV charging available for the same $25.00 per day |
| Overflow lot | $14.00 | Opens during peak periods only, charged at the long-term rate, shuttle runs first flight to last flight |
- •All rates are plus 6% sales tax.
- •Cash is not accepted. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express only. A reverse ATM in the terminal lobby converts cash to a prepaid card.
- •Parking is ticketless. A license plate is scanned on entry and exit, so there is no paper ticket to lose.
- •Handicap placard holders pay only the long-term rate in short-term or long-term parking. Show the placard at exit.
Parking Cost Calculator
Long-Term
Cheapest$44.52
3 days including 6% tax
$14.00 per day maximum
Short-Term
$54.06
3 days including 6% tax
$17.00 per day maximum
$9.54 more than long-term
Valet
$79.50
3 days including 6% tax
$25.00 per day, EV charging available
$34.98 more than long-term
What to pick
Long-term is the cheapest option for a 3 day trip at $44.52 with tax. That saves $9.54 over short-term, since long-term runs $3.00 per day less plus tax. Valet adds $34.98 over long-term and is worth it only if you want the car handled for you or need EV charging.
Totals are days multiplied by the daily maximum plus 6% sales tax. Parking is ticketless and card only, no cash. Rates verified August 7, 2026. Confirm current rates at bluegrassairport.com before you travel.
Which Option to Pick
Dropping off or picking up
Nothing needs to be paid. The Cell Phone Waiting Area is free, and the first 30 minutes in short-term and long-term are free if someone wants to walk inside. This is the right answer for the large majority of airport trips that do not involve leaving a car behind.
A few hours at the airport
Short-term is fine. At $2.00 for the first hour and $1.00 per hour after that, a three or four hour stay costs a few dollars and never approaches the $17.00 daily maximum. Paying for proximity makes sense when the total is that small.
One full day or longer
Long-term. Once the daily maximum is in play, short-term costs $3.00 per day more plus tax for no benefit that matters on a trip. Over a week that gap is more than $22 with tax, which is real money for a lot that a shuttle or a short walk covers.
Zero hassle or an EV
Valet at $25.00 per day. The car is handed off at the terminal, and EV charging is included at the same rate, which is the one case where valet is not simply the expensive option.
Peak travel weeks
An overflow lot opens during peak periods and is charged at the long-term rate, with a shuttle running from the first flight of the day to the last. Being directed there is not a price increase.
Getting There and Picking Someone Up
The airport is at 4000 Terminal Drive, Lexington, KY 40510, roughly 15 minutes from downtown Lexington. Airport phone: 859.425.3100. Parking questions go to Republic Parking at 859.255.0063.
For arrivals, use the Cell Phone Waiting Area. It sits on Terminal Drive, the main entrance road, on the driver right before the terminal, and it is free. Wait there, then pull to the curb once your passenger is at the door. Only active loading and unloading is permitted in front of the terminal, so circling or idling at the curb is not an option. If a flight lands late or a bag goes missing, the first 30 minutes in short-term and long-term are free, which covers walking in to check.
Checking Lexington traffic cameras before leaving is worth the minute on the Versailles Road and New Circle Road approach, which is how most of the city reaches the airport.
Know Before You Go
- •The airport recommends arriving 90 minutes before your flight. That window covers parking, check-in, security, and boarding.
- •The TSA checkpoint operates 4:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. Every passenger has to clear security before it closes, even on a delayed flight, so a late evening departure still requires getting through by 8:30 p.m.
- •LEX is a small, walkable airport with two concourses. Security generally moves faster than it does at a large hub, and the terminal is easy to cross on foot. The early morning departure bank is the busiest stretch of the day, so build in extra cushion for a sunrise flight.
- •Cincinnati (CVG) and Louisville (SDF) are each about an hour away and serve more destinations. When LEX has no nonstop to where you are going, the drive is often worth comparing against a connection.
Nonstop Destinations from LEX
Four airlines fly out of Blue Grass Airport: Allegiant, American, Delta, and United. Together they serve roughly 18 to 19 nonstop destinations. The heaviest routes are Chicago, Atlanta, and Charlotte, all of which connect onward to most of the country. Denver was added by United, Birmingham starts in September 2026, and Allegiant runs several seasonal Florida routes.
Route maps change every season, so check with the airline or the airport for the current nonstop list rather than relying on a published one. If your destination is not on it, compare a LEX connection against driving to CVG or SDF for a nonstop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does parking cost at Blue Grass Airport?
Short-term parking runs $17.00 per day maximum, long-term $14.00 per day maximum, and valet $25.00 per day. All rates are plus 6% sales tax. The first 30 minutes are free in short-term and long-term, 31 to 60 minutes costs $2.00, and each additional hour is $1.00 up to the daily maximum.
Which airport parking lot is cheapest for a multi-day trip?
Long-term, at $14.00 per day maximum. That is $3.00 per day less than short-term and $11.00 per day less than valet, before the 6% sales tax that applies to every option. During peak travel periods an overflow lot opens and is charged at the same long-term rate, with a shuttle running from the first flight of the day to the last.
Where do I wait to pick someone up at the Lexington airport?
Use the Cell Phone Waiting Area on Terminal Drive, the main entrance road, on the driver right before the terminal. It is free, and you pull up to the curb once your passenger has landed and is ready. Only active loading and unloading is permitted in front of the terminal. Short-term and long-term parking are also free for the first 30 minutes if you would rather walk in.
How early should I arrive at Blue Grass Airport?
The airport recommends arriving 90 minutes before your flight, which covers parking, check-in, security, and boarding. The TSA checkpoint operates from 4:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily, and every passenger has to clear security before it closes, even if the flight is delayed.
Does Blue Grass Airport parking take cash?
No. Parking accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express only. A reverse ATM in the terminal lobby converts cash to a prepaid card. Parking is also ticketless, so a license plate is scanned on entry and exit instead of a paper ticket being issued.
Parking rates, TSA checkpoint hours, and nonstop routes change. Rates verified August 7, 2026. Confirm current details at bluegrassairport.com before you travel.