Cardiff Airport is at Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan, about twelve miles west of Cardiff, with a single terminal. The car parks are a short walk from the terminal, and the drop-off is one of the cheapest in the UK. The parts to plan are the route from the M4 and, if you are not driving, the train and shuttle bus. This guide covers what is worth knowing before you fly from Cardiff.
Getting there by car
The postcode for the sat-nav is CF62 3BD. From the M4, leave at junction 33 and follow the A4232, then the A4050 and the A4226 to the airport. Some sat-navs suggest junction 34, but junction 33 is the one the airport's directions use, so check your route before you set off.
Drop-off, Meet & Greet and Short Stay are reached from the eastern approach on Port Road or from the western roundabout signed A4226 and B4265; the Long Stay car park is reached only from Port Road. Traffic Wales has live updates for the roads in. If you have booked parking, use the postcode in your confirmation instead.
Drop-off: low charges, and a free 20 minutes
- The Drop off Zone, directly outside the terminal: £4.50 for the first 10 minutes, then £4.50 for every 10 minutes after that. Do not leave the car unattended, or it may be removed.
- The free option is Car Park 2, where the first 20 minutes are free, a short walk from the terminal. After that, it is £6 up to 40 minutes and £8 up to an hour.
At £4.50 for ten minutes, the Drop off Zone is one of the cheapest in the UK, so for a quick drop with cases it is usually worth it. For collecting someone, Car Park 2's free 20 minutes give you time to meet them inside. If you are parking rather than being dropped off, none of this applies. Our drop-off charges guide compares Cardiff with every other UK airport.
Security
Cardiff's newer scanners let you keep liquids and electronics in your hand luggage, but each liquid container must still be 100ml or less. Some other UK airports allow up to 2 litres, so pack the bag for home for the airport you fly back from.
How early to arrive
Go by your airline's check-in and bag-drop times, on your booking; bag drop often closes about an hour before departure. Then add the walk from your car park, which is short at Cardiff:
- Short Stay and Premium Parking: about a two-minute walk.
- Long Stay: about a five-minute walk.
- Meet & Greet: about a five-minute walk from the handover point; be there 10 to 15 minutes before your booked time.
Which parking suits which trip
Before You Fly lists every Cardiff car park we sell in one table, cheapest first. When we compared prices for an eight-day trip booked about three months ahead, Meet & Greet came out cheapest:
- Meet & Greet was around £85, for handing the car over close to the terminal. Photograph the car at handover.
- Long Stay, a five-minute walk, was around £95.
- Short Stay and Premium Parking, two minutes' walk, were around £105 and £115.
With all the car parks this close, the choice is mostly about price, and at Cardiff Meet & Greet is the one to check first. Prices move with the dates, so compare them for your trip. Book the flexible rate if your dates might move. It can be cancelled up to 72 hours before arrival for a full refund; see the cancellation FAQs.
Lounge and hotels
The 51° Executive Lounge can be booked through the airport. Book ahead for an early flight and check the opening hours for your date, as they change through the year.
For a very early flight, there are several hotels nearby, including the Celtic International Hotel, a short taxi ride from the terminal, and the Travelodge Cardiff Airport. Search Cardiff hotels.
Getting there by train and bus
- Train and shuttle: Rhoose Cardiff International Airport station is on the Vale of Glamorgan line, and a shuttle bus links it to the terminal in a few minutes. From Cardiff Central, the train and shuttle together take around 45 minutes.
- Bus: there are direct buses between the airport and Cardiff city centre, but they are infrequent, so check the timetable for your flight.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drop off at Cardiff Airport?
£4.50 for the first 10 minutes in the Drop off Zone outside the terminal, then £4.50 for every 10 minutes after that. Car Park 2 is free for the first 20 minutes.
Is there free drop-off at Cardiff Airport?
Yes. The first 20 minutes in Car Park 2 are free, and it is a short walk from the terminal.
Which M4 junction is Cardiff Airport?
Junction 33, then the A4232, A4050 and A4226. The postcode for the sat-nav is CF62 3BD.
Can I get to Cardiff Airport by train?
Yes, to Rhoose Cardiff International Airport station, then a shuttle bus to the terminal. From Cardiff Central the whole journey takes around 45 minutes.
What is the cheapest parking at Cardiff Airport?
In our comparison for an eight-day trip, Meet & Greet was the cheapest, at around £85, ahead of the Long Stay at around £95. Compare Cardiff parking for your dates.
Sorted before you fly.
