We partner only with parking providers and car parking facilities that meet our approval, so there is no need for you to sift through a variety of options. Highwayman Parking, for example, offers fast, secure and cost-effective Cardiff Airport parking just minutes from the terminal doors.

Here’s a quick overview of our Cardiff Airport parking.

Car ParkParking Type
Customer Rating
Transfer TimePark Mark
Price From (per week)
Highwayman
Highwayman Cardiff Airport CWL2

Off Airport
(2237 Reviews)

Transfer time 5 - 7 minutes
parkmark logo
£87.99

Park Mark Safer Parking Award

Security is paramount when leaving your vehicle at an airport. While you are away, you need peace of mind that the appropriate security measures are in place at your chosen car park. 

The Park Mark Safer Parking Scheme is a Police Crime Prevention Initiative that is designed not only to protect vehicles but also the safety and wellbeing of customers themselves. Aimed at reducing both crime and the fear of crime in car parks across the UK, the Park Mark Safer Parking Award is given only to car parks that meet certain standards of security, maintenance and management, such as Highwayman Parking at Cardiff Airport.

Find out more about the Park Mark Safer Parking Award.

Cardiff Airport Car Parks Reviews

We love to receive feedback; we always want to know what our customers want and need. Our reviews are collected independently by Reviews.io and are verified responses from genuine APH customers.

Terminals 

Cardiff Airport is a single terminal airport, so there’s no need to worry about checking which terminal you are flying from. Highwayman Parking is just a five-minute shuttle transfer and offers secure parking for your vehicle as well as a friendly welcome to you and your fellow passengers. The car park is attached to the Highwayman Inn, so you have good amenities close by and, if you arrive in a good time, you can relax with a coffee or a meal before heading to check-in.

For more information on the facilities provided within the terminal, including mobility assistance, shopping, WiFi access and where to eat, just check out our Cardiff Airport information page.

Hotels & Parking

A pre-flight hotel stay at the airport – or close by – is a good option for those with an early flight departure or travelling with young children. It can help to avoid unexpected traffic jams and makes for a relaxing start to a trip away.

If you book your Cardiff Airport parking with APH in conjunction with an airport hotel, you’ll find this is a cost-effective option too. Our Cardiff Airport hotel & parking packages offer great value as well as peace of mind that you will be at the airport on time.

We are committed to offering airport parking to suit all budgets, without compromising on security or service. From over forty decades of experience, we are more than happy to share our tips on how to secure the cheapest Cardiff Airport parking.

Book early to save on your Cardiff Airport parking

Cardiff Airport parking prices fluctuate with availability, just like many airfares. An easy way to save on costs, therefore, is to book in advance. We have analysed our own booking data and can advise that booking Cardiff Airport parking with APH six months before your flight means you could save up to 28 per cent, compared with making a reservation just one week ahead.

In pure cash terms, this means paying £43.60 instead of £60.64, for a week’s parking.

The chart below shows how parking prices can shift over a period of six months. Prices are the average price per day.

Car parking Cardiff airport prices graph

Prices are correct at time of writing and subject to change

Pick park & ride parking

If you are looking for cheap Cardiff Airport parking, then Park & Ride through Highwayman Parking is a great option. Park & Rides are usually situated off-airport and provide free shuttle bus rides to and from the terminal. Highwayman Parking offers good-value, secure parking, as well as a friendly welcome.

Our cheapest parking at Cardiff Airport

Here is the parking we currently offer at Cardiff Airport.

Car Park Type of Parking Transfer Time Price*
Highwayman Off-Airport 5 minutes £67.99*

*prices based' on 1 weeks parking in April 2023

Sign up for great deals

Don’t miss out on the best airport parking deals! Sign up to our mailing list and we will keep you in touch with all the latest money-saving offers. In addition, we’ll give you an instant introductory discount of at least 10 per cent!

Look below to “Join here for discounts and offers” and simply enter your email address.

There are various types of airport parking at airports across the UK. Most airports offer good-value off-airport facilities as well as on-airport options right next to the terminal.

Off-airport parking: How it works

Cost-effective and generally easy to find, off-airport car parks are located outside the airport perimeter, between five and 20 minutes away from the airport terminals. Our off-airport car park at Cardiff, Highwayman Parking, is just a five-minute shuttle bus ride from the terminal doors.

If you book your off-airport parking with APH, you can be sure that your car will be left in a secure parking compound. We partner only with parking providers that are tried and tested – the majority of the off-airport parking that we offer in the UK is in car parks that hold the Park Mark Safer Parking Award.

For off-airport parking, simply follow the directions to the car park. Offload your luggage, drop your keys and hop onto one of the regular shuttle bus transfers to the terminal. The transfer to the airport takes five to 15 minutes and is free of charge. Your car will be parked for you in a secure parking facility and will be returned for you to collect at the end of your trip.

The off-airport parking process is simple.

Cardiff off-airport parking process

Best for: easy parking that is safe and secure and offers the best value for money.

Meet and Greet parking: How it works

Meet & Greet parking is a valet service that provides you with the fastest way to get from the car to the check-in desk. You drive straight to the terminal forecourt or designated meeting point nearby, unload your luggage, and your car will be parked for you while you head to the check-in desks. Upon your return to the airport, your vehicle will be brought back to the terminal for you to collect. Book Meet & Greet parking through APH to be sure you are booking with an approved Meet & Greet operator.

Cardiff meet and greet airport parking process

Best for: families with young children, travellers with bulky luggage, or those simply looking for the quickest type of parking.

APH does not currently offer meet and greet parking at Cardiff Airport. Take a look at Highwayman Parking – which won’t hold you up and always delivers a first-class service.

On-airport parking: How it works

Most airports have some car parks within the airport perimeter, often within walking distance of the terminals.

Offering convenient parking and quick access to the check-in desks, on-airport parking is a good fit for those prioritising time over cost.

You usually just need to drive to the car park, take a ticket, find a parking space, unload your luggage and walk to the terminal building.

Cardiff on-airport parking process

Best for: those simply looking for the quickest type of parking right next to the terminal. You may want to take a look at Highwayman Parking at Cardiff Airport, which won’t hold you up and always delivers first-class service.

APH does not currently offer on-airport parking at Cardiff Airport. Take a look at Highwayman Parking – which won’t hold you up and always delivers a first-class service.

Use the map to find directions to our Cardiff Airport parking facilities. Bon voyage!

History of Cardiff Airport

Cardiff’s first airport, which opened in 1931 as Splott Aerodrome, was two miles southeast of Cardiff at Pengam Moor. It operated flights to Bristol, Little Haldon and Plymouth, Weston-super-Mare, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Le Touquet and Paris and was the birthplace of Cambrian Airways. The aerodrome later changed its name to Cardiff Municipal Airport.

Construction of the existing airport began in 1941 and RAF Rhoose, as it became, opened in 1942 as a wartime satellite aerodrome and training base for RAF Spitfire pilots.

Civilian flights did not come to Rhoose until 1954 when they were transferred from Pengam Moor, where development was restricted by its cramped position, short runway and lack of night flying facilities. A new terminal building was added to Rhoose, and the growth of the holiday charter business helped increase annual passenger traffic to 100,000 by 1962.

Further investment followed when the airport came under the control of the Glamorgan County Council in 1965. A new terminal building was constructed along with a control tower, and the runway was extended so it could handle wide-bodied aircraft. The first transatlantic flights took off in 1971. By the early 1980s, passenger numbers had topped 250,000, thanks to an increase in Mediterranean charter flights and new links between Wales and Canada.

Another runway extension in 1986 led to the arrival of 747 jumbo jets and attracted the British Airways Maintenance team to Cardiff. The maintenance hangar at Cardiff Airport is one of the largest in the world.

Manx Airlines were also drawn to Cardiff and began offering daily scheduled services to key business destinations in the early 1990s. New development projects continued throughout the 1990s and in 2006, the airport invested a further £7 million. In 2013, Cardiff Airport was bought from TBI plc by the Welsh Government, which continues to operate it as a limited company.

Terminals

Cardiff Airport has one terminal with two floors. Check-in, arrivals and baggage reclaim are all on the ground floor, with the departures lounge and international pier on the first floor.

Facilities at the terminal include cash points, cafés and bars, an executive lounge and special assistance services. If you are travelling to the airport by car, it is a good idea to book your airport parking in advance.

Cardiff offers direct flights to many destinations, including:

  • Alicante
  • Amsterdam
  • Antaly
  • Barbados
  • Belfast
  • Bourgas
  • Bucharest
  • Corfu
  • Crete
  • Dalaman
  • Dublin
  • Dubrovnik
  • Edinburgh
  • Enfidha
  • Faro
  • Ibiza
  • Kefalonia
  • Kos
  • Lapland
  • Larnaca
  • Malaga
  • Mahon
  • Milan
  • Palma
  • Paphos
  • Reus
  • Rhodes
  • Sharm el Sheikh
  • Zakynthos

Airlines that operate at Cardiff include:

  • BH Air
  • Cardiff Aviation
  • Dragonfly
  • Eastern Airways
  • KLM
  • Qatar Airways
  • Ryanair
  • TUI
  • Vueling

Check-in

The check-in hall is on the ground floor opposite the main terminal entrance.

Recommended check-in times:

For short-haul flights, the recommended check-in time is two hours prior to departure.

For long-haul and non-direct flights the recommended check-in time is four hours prior to departure.

For updated information on when to arrive at the airport, you should refer to your travel documentation, or contact your airline or travel agent.

If you have already checked in online and are travelling with just hand luggage, when you arrive at the airport you can head straight for security with your boarding pass and ID. If you have luggage checked in, take your tagged bags to the Bag Drop desk in the check-in hall before proceeding to security.

You can check hand luggage restrictions at home before you pack.

Main travel connections

By car

Cardiff Airport lies 13 miles to the west of Cardiff city, near the village of Rhoose. From the M4, take the exit at Junction 33 and follow the signs to the airport via the A4232, A4050 and A4226.

If you are driving your own car, it is best to book your airport parking in advance.

Cardiff Airport postcode: CF62 3BD

Newport to Cardiff Airport is approximately 29 miles (via the M4).

Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff Airport is approximately 35 miles (via the A470).

Swansea to Cardiff Airport is approximately 42 miles (via the M4).

Bristol to Cardiff Airport is approximately 57 miles (via the M4).

By bus

There are two bus services for Cardiff Airport.

The 905 New Adventure Travel service shuttles between Rhoose railway station and the airport. It operates daily and meets all train arrivals. From Rhoose the line goes northeast to Cardiff and northwest to Bridgend.

The 304 New Adventure Travel service travels between Cardiff city centre and the airport via Llantwit Major and Barry. Buses depart from Stop JL in Customhouse Street, close to Cardiff railway station, and the 304 also serves Cardiff Bay.

For further information on bus travel in Wales visit traveline.cymru.

Cardiff city is served by coaches from across the UK operated by National Express, Megabus and Flixbus.

By rail

If you are travelling to Cardiff Airport by train you can purchase a “Cardiff Air Bus” ticket that includes the 905 shuttle bus to the airport from Rhoose railway station.

Drop-off and pick-up

Drop-off

You can free-drop passengers outside the terminal building for up to 10 minutes. If you stay in the drop-off zone longer than 10 minutes the cost is £5.00 for each additional 10 minutes. You must stay with your vehicle at all times. When you arrive at the airport, just follow the signs to the drop-off point.

Alternatively, you can park for free for up to 20 minutes in the Long Stay car park, which is just a short walk or free shuttle bus ride from the terminal. Parking charges will apply if you stay longer than 20 minutes. Just follow the signs to the Long Stay car park when you arrive at the airport.

Pick-up

The closest pick-up area to the terminal is the Short Stay car park, where you can park for 10 minutes for £1.00. Charges will increase for stays of more than 10 minutes. The Short Stay car park is close to the terminal building. Just follow the signs to the Short Stay car park when you arrive at the airport.

Alternatively, you can park for free for up to 20 minutes in the Long Stay car park, which is just a short walk or a free shuttle bus ride from the terminal. Parking charges will apply if you stay longer than 20 minutes. Payment can be made at the payment machines in the arrivals hall inside the terminal, or at the car park. Special assistance is available for passengers with reduced mobility.

Short Stay car park charges

The Short Stay car park is close to the terminal at Cardiff Airport, and you can turn up and pay on the day. The car park is secured with CCTV and is a short walk to the terminal entrance. There are no maximum height restrictions, and the barriers operate with Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology. Special assistance may be booked for passengers with reduced mobility.

Short Stay car park charges:

  • 0 – 20 minutes £2.00
  • 20 – 40 minutes £4.00
  • 40 – 60 minutes £6.00
  • 1 – 2 hours £8.00
  • 2 – 3 hours £10.00
  • 3 – 4 hours £13.00
  • 4 – 12 hours £16.00
  • 12 – 24 hours £38.00
  • 2 days £65.00
  • 3 days £80.00
  • 4 days £95.00
  • 5 days £110.00
  • 6 days £125.00
  • 7 days £140.00
  • 14 days £245.00
  • 21 days £345.00

Alternatively, you can book your airport parking in advance and save on cost.

Security

All passengers must pass through security screening, located on the first floor. You will need to put your belongings into a tray to be X-ray screened, including:

  • laptops, iPads, mobile phones
  • any other electrical items
  • anything in your pockets
  • coat, belt and shoes

Liquids, gels and deodorants are limited to 100ml each and must be placed in a sealed, clear plastic bag no bigger than 20cm x 20cm.

All passengers must walk through a metal detector gate. If you have a pacemaker, just let the security staff know beforehand. Special assistance may be booked for those with mobility restrictions.

Special assistance and disabled facilities

Special Assistance

Special assistance bookings should be made with your airline or travel agent at the time of booking your flight, or at least 48 hours prior to travel. If you are travelling with your own mobility aid, such as a wheelchair or scooter, you need to inform the airline.

Each airline may have different rules and regulations around booking special assistance.

The special assistance desk is located in the check-in hall.

Disabled parking

There are dedicated disabled parking bays in the Short and Long Stay car parks, which also have special assistance call points. There are also disabled parking bays at the off-airport Highwayman Parking.

Assistance dogs

Guide and hearing dogs are welcome in the terminal building if they comply with the Pets Travel Scheme (PET). You must contact the airline in advance to ensure you can take your assistance dog on board.

Security

If you need to carry liquid medicine of more than 100ml through security, you must provide a supporting prescription or doctor’s note. If you have a diabetic pump or stoma, this may need to be checked with explosive trace detection equipment, in which case you will be taken to a private room.

Accessible toilets

Unisex-accessible toilets are available throughout the airport terminal. In some cases, these may be located within the men’s or ladies’ toilets. In addition, there is a changing place facility on the first floor of the terminal, which includes an adjustable bed as well as a toilet and wash basin.

Mobility equipment

You can remain in your own mobility equipment right up to the departure gate. You’ll need to confirm the specifications of your equipment, such as weight and dimensions, with the airline in advance. If you are travelling with a scooter or electric wheelchair, staff will meet you at the gate to ensure it is turned off and folded properly for the flight.

When flying into Cardiff Airport, your mobility equipment should be waiting for you as you disembark the aircraft.

Hidden disabilities

Sunflower lanyards, wristbands and pins can be requested in advance of travel, free of charge.
Tel: 01446 729329
Email: PRMDesk@cwl.aero
The sunflower lanyard, pin or wristband indicates to staff that a passenger may need some additional support when navigating through the airport. The airport has a trained team on hand to help.
You can also book a familiarisation tour and visit the airport prior to your date of travel, where you can meet the staff, experience the surroundings of the airport and learn what to expect on the day.
Tel: 01446 729329
Email: PRMDesk@cwl.aero

Family facilities

Security

You are permitted to carry sufficient baby milk, baby food and sterilised water for your journey, even if it exceeds 100ml.

Note all the following items must be placed in a tray to go through the x-ray machine:

  • liquids under 100ml (which have been placed in a sealed clear plastic bag)
  • oversized liquids including sterilised water, baby milk and baby food
  • electricals including laptops and games consoles
  • any bags and items from prams or buggies
  • anything in your pockets
  • coat, belt and shoes

All items are screened as they pass through security. Just reassure your children that their teddies and toys will be looked after properly and returned to them quickly.

Baby changing

There are baby care rooms in the departures lounge and arrivals hall, which are equipped with changing tables.

Pushchairs

If you are travelling with a pushchair or buggy, you can take it right up to the gate, just before you board your flight, where the staff will take it from you to put in the hold.

Business facilities

Meeting rooms

You can book the following meeting rooms at Cardiff Airport:

Porthkerry Room

  • boardroom seating: 15
  • theatre-style seating: 30
  • integral screen
  • air conditioning
  • private toilet facilities

Rhoose Room

  • boardroom seating: 12
  • integral projector
  • runway views

Both rooms are accessible by lift from the ground floor of the terminal.

51° Executive Lounge

The 51° Executive Lounge is located in the departures lounge, on the first floor of the terminal after security. Enjoy comfortable seating, free WiFi and business facilities. Complimentary refreshments include speciality teas, freshly ground coffee, soft drinks, hot food and locally produced snacks, as well as wine, beer and spirits.

  • Opening times: 03:30 – 18:00
  • Price from £29.99 per adult
  • The maximum stay is three hours and special assistance is available.

Chapel

Cardiff Airport has a multi-faith room, which is situated within the check-in hall, opposite the special assistance desk. Wudü ablution facilities are available in the toilets on the first floor above the check-in hall, before security.

Food and drink

After security

  • The Beer House
  • Meals, light bites and drinks while watching the planes
  • In the departures lounge
  • Costa Coffee
  • Italian coffee, sandwiches and pastries
  • In the departures lounge

Arrivals

  • Costa Coffee
  • Italian coffee, sandwiches and pastries
  • In the arrivals hall

Smoking areas

There are dessignated smoking zones outside the terminal. There is also a smoking zone after security, in the departure lounge, next to Gate 2. No smoking is permitted anywhere inside the terminal building.

Water fountains

You can refill your reusable container at three different refill stations in Cardiff Airport:

  • in the departures lounge
  • next to the departure gates
  • in the baggage reclaim hall

The three refill stations are registered on the free Refill app, which you can download here.

Duty-free shopping

World Duty-Free stocks a range of branded products including Burberry, Estée Lauder, Gucci, Lancôme, Ray-Ban and Swarovski.

They also offer a reserve and collect service, which allows you to shop in advance up to one month prior to your flight departure. You don’t need to pay for your items until you collect them at the airport. Orders must be placed at least 24 hours prior to travel.

Other shops at Cardiff Airport include WHSmith and Well Health & Beauty.

Charging points

A battery charging service is available at the internet kiosks in the departures lounge, where passengers can charge up mobile devices before boarding the aircraft.

EV charging points

LiFe Charging Station - Rhoose, Barry CF32 3BD

  • Type 2
  • 22.1 kW
  • 4 charging ports

BP Pulse - Port Road, Rhoose, Barry CF62 3BT

  • 1 x CHAdeMO 50.0 kW
  • 1 x CCS 50.0 kW
  • 1 x Type 2 43kW
  • 2 x Type 2 7.2kW

There are seven chargers across the Short Stay and Meet & Greet car parks.

Internet access

WiFi

Cardiff Airport provides free WiFi for up to two hours per day per device.

Luggage trolleys

Luggage trolleys are free to use at Cardiff Airport but do require a £1.00 or 1 Euro coin deposit, which is refunded when the trolley is returned to a designated trolley park.

Currency exchange

You can withdraw GBP, Euros and USD from the ATMs located in the departures lounge and arrivals hall.

Help Desk

The special assistance desk is on the ground floor of the terminal, in the check-in area.

For passengers arriving at Cardiff Airport, there is a tourist information kiosk in the baggage reclaim hall and also in the arrivals hall.

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