Parking at DFW or Surrounding Areas

Hi D.,

I have just one daughter (10mo) and I haven't travelled with her yet (except short car trips), so I'm afraid I can't help with the baby travel advice. And I can only sympathize with what you must be feeling about leaving your 3.5yo! I'm sure she'll be fine (it's usually the mommy that has the worst time of it!)

It also looks like you've gotten some good advice about parking, but I thought I'd throw in my 2¢ anyways:

Between Remote and Express parking at the airport, if you can afford to pay for the Express, it will be worth it. I've used Remote a lot and like it, but if you are time conscious on the return, I will say that the buses come around less frequently for the remote lot and the trip is longer. There are more Express buses and the round-trip is faster resulting in them being there sooner after you arrive.

Parking at the terminal itself is good but only if you know to which terminal you will be returning. If you are fliying American, there is no guarantee! They change gates for flights like an actor changes costumes! Even if they will tell you what gate to expect your return flight to, I wouldn't trust it. However, if you are flying out of terminal B on one of the carrier with only a few gates, then it might be worth it (but it is costly... I think they have the rates on the page the other posters included in her comments).

I'm fairly good at directions and alternate routes (I've lived here all my life and did extensive travel in my job when I was younger), if you want to send me a private message about exactly where you need to get to for your daughter's daycare, I can (hopefully) give you a good route. Keep in mind that now that the extension to the President George Bush Turnpike has opened, it is fairly quick to get to Plano from DFW (if you don't mind paying the tolls).

Good luck and have a great trip!

P.

PS. I've been hearing on the news that now that there are greater restrictions on what you can carry on board with you that checked baggage is up about 20% making the wait to get your bags at baggage claim after your flight even longer. I'm sure that travelling with an infant, you will be checking bags, so just include at least a 1/2 hour into your arrival tiem for getting your checked luggage (hopefully, it go faster, but that is the average they are saying).

Hi D.!
Your daughter will be fine, but i understand the worry! :)
I love Park and Fly at Royal and 635. It's easy and not expensive!
Have a good trip!
J.

There is long-term parking on the DFW Airport property -- http://www.dfwairport.com/parking/ --- you can either do Remote Parking $6/day or do the Express parking $9-11/day. They run shuttles from those lots to the gates. We've always used this since it's right there on the airport property and have been able to get in and out of the the airport and to our car quickly. Coming back home, you will have to wait at the outside of your gate area for the shuttle to pick you up, but they come by frequently.

D.,

I too hope your flight comes in on time - do you have backup incase you are delayed? Anyways - another option is Freedom Park (www.freedomparkdfw.com), they are a valet service ($20/day) and they will have your car waiting for you outside of your gate. They can also wash your car, oil change, etc. for extra $$.

Good luck!

Someone mentioned parking at the terminal and making sure you know which terminal you're returning to. With that in mind...

My experience has been good with Express North. You leave your car and a shuttle takes you right to your gate. When you return, you stand outside under and Express sign and they take you right back to your car. On a recent trip, my return flight with American was switched from terminal C to D, so I'm glad I didn't park in the terminal. However, for some reason my cost was $16 per day, so I'd check on their website and make sure you know the rates.

Hi, there! 1st, I hope your return flight is not delayed because you are cutting it close unless the preschool is closeby. Anyway, as a business traveler, I prefer parking at PCA: http://www.parkrideflyusa.com/parking_locations/dfw/pca/m...

It's easy to get to, all cars are covered and a shuttle picks you up at your car and takes you to your terminal. On the return, you go downstairs at the airport where the shuttle pickups are, get on the PCA shuttle and it drops you off at your car. Pay on your way out. It's really close.

Otherwise, since it's just a weekend, I'd park at the terminal and be even steps closer. Just make sure you know what terminal is generally the one you'll be landing at.

Alse ensure enough time to park your car in case a lot is full whih happens a lot on holidays.

Relax and have fun!