Economy Parking at $9/day, with the first 30 minutes free. It sits in levels 3-7 of the Ground Transportation Center (GTC) — the parking facility directly across from the terminal complex — and connects to Terminal B via a covered pedestrian bridge. No shuttle, no waiting, no weather. At 4,554 spaces it's the largest official lot at MEM.
| Lot | Daily rate | Spaces | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy (GTC L3-7) | $9/day | 4,554 | Most travelers; covered walkway to Terminal B |
| Long-Term | $15/day | 2,013 | Backup when Economy fills |
| Short-Term | $24/day | 644 | Picking up arrivals only |
| Blue/Yellow (overflow) | $9/day | 1,526 combined | Only open when other lots full |
| Comfort Inn & Suites (off-site) | $6.95/day | — | Trips 3+ days; cheapest with shuttle |
Rates published by Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority at flymemphis.com/parking-transportation/, retrieved 2026-04-29. All MEM lots: first 30 minutes free, then $4/hour up to the daily max.
For trips of 3+ days, yes. Comfort Inn & Suites at $6.95/day saves you $2.05/day vs. Economy at $9 — modest per day but it adds up: a 7-day trip costs $48.65 there vs. $63 in Economy, a $14.35 swing. Plus the Comfort Inn lot has 4,554 fewer competitors for spots on Friday afternoons. The trade-off is a 5-7 minute shuttle ride each way, so plan an extra 15 minutes of buffer for early morning departures vs. parking inside the GTC.
| Origin | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Memphis | ~12 mi | 15-20 min |
| East Memphis / Poplar | ~7 mi | 12-18 min |
| Germantown | ~12 mi | 18-25 min |
| Collierville | ~16 mi | 22-30 min |
| Cordova | ~14 mi | 18-25 min |
| Bartlett | ~17 mi | 22-30 min |
| Southaven, MS | ~15 mi | 20-28 min |
| Olive Branch, MS | ~13 mi | 18-25 min |
| Tunica, MS (casinos) | ~38 mi | 45-55 min |
| Jackson, TN | ~85 mi | 90-100 min |
Memphis International is unusual in the US system because it's overwhelmingly a cargo airport with a passenger operation grafted on the side. FedEx Express's global super-hub occupies the south-east quadrant of the field, processing roughly 4 million pounds of cargo per night. From a passenger-parking standpoint, this matters in two specific ways: (1) the pre-dawn 4-6 AM window has band of cargo-related ground traffic on Plough Boulevard and Democrat Road that can extend the airport approach for early-morning departures, and (2) employee parking for FedEx, ABM, and airport authority staff occupies the lots furthest from Terminal B, leaving the public lots — Economy in the GTC, Long-Term, and Short-Term — concentrated at the terminal core. The practical effect: every official passenger lot at MEM is genuinely close to the building. Even the "Long-Term" lot is closer than what a traveler at ATL or ORD would call "long-term."
Northwest Airlines' Memphis hub closed in 2009-2013 (with the Delta merger drawing it down progressively), and MEM has been physically reshaping the terminal complex ever since. The major changes a returning traveler would notice:
For Memphis-metro residents, MEM almost always wins on parking — Economy at $9/day undercuts BNA's cheapest official rate, and you save 3 hours of drive time round-trip. The only scenario where the BNA drive makes sense: you need a specific nonstop flight that BNA has but MEM doesn't (less common since Memphis recovered post-Northwest hub). For Jackson, TN residents the math flips — Jackson sits roughly between MEM and BNA, and BNA's larger flight selection often justifies the extra 30-40 minutes of drive.
For 5:30-7:30 AM departures, plan to be at your parking spot 70 minutes before boarding if you're in Economy/Long-Term/Short-Term (covered walkway, no shuttle), and 85 minutes before boarding if you're at Comfort Inn & Suites or another off-site lot. MEM's TSA security wait is typically very short — under 10 minutes outside of holiday peaks — but the FedEx Express hub creates a band of pre-dawn airport traffic on Plough Boulevard between 4-6 AM that can add 5-8 minutes to the airport approach.
MEM operates a single terminal complex with concourses A, B, and C connected through one central security checkpoint and ticketing area. The Ground Transportation Center (GTC), where Economy / Long-Term / Short-Term parking lives, sits directly across from Terminal B and connects via a covered pedestrian bridge. From Terminal B, you walk to A or C through the post-security airside corridor — total terminal-edge-to-farthest-gate walk is roughly 8-10 minutes. Concourse B is currently the primary active concourse; A and C have rotating airline use as MEM continues its modernization program.
Three peak windows produce real capacity pressure at MEM's official lots: the week before Thanksgiving (Sunday-Wednesday departures), the week before Christmas (similar), and the FedEx Annual Meeting / industry events that bring international visitors to the FedEx hub. During these windows, Economy can hit capacity by 9 AM on a Friday, with Long-Term filling next and overflow Blue/Yellow lots opening to absorb spill. If you're traveling in a peak window and want a guaranteed spot, the off-site Comfort Inn & Suites lot accepts reservations through parkingaccess.com and other partners — worth the small premium over guaranteed-no-spot Economy on a Friday afternoon.
Yes — every MEM lot offers the first 30 minutes free, intended for quick drop-offs and pickups. The Cell Phone Waiting Lot is free indefinitely while you wait for an arriving passenger. There's no free long-term option.
The airport's lots operate first-come-first-served, no reservations. Off-site lots like Comfort Inn & Suites (MEM) accept reservations through parkingaccess.com and other booking partners — useful for guaranteeing a spot during peak holiday travel.
Yes. Economy occupies levels 3-7 of the Ground Transportation Center, an enclosed multi-story garage. Your car is sheltered from rain, sun, and Memphis summer heat. The covered walkway to Terminal B keeps you out of weather end-to-end.
There's no published maximum stay limit on Economy or Long-Term. Two weeks at Economy runs $126 ($9 × 14). For 3+ week stays, off-site Comfort Inn & Suites at $6.95/day becomes the cheaper option overall ($146 for 21 days vs. $189 at Economy).
Graceland is on Elvis Presley Boulevard, 3 miles east of the airport. Economy parking inside the GTC is your closest cheap option at $9/day — drop your car after the Graceland visit, walk to Terminal B for your flight. The off-site Comfort Inn & Suites is also nearby on Brooks Road.
Not in the legacy hub sense. Northwest closed its passenger hub in 2009, and Delta (which acquired Northwest) drew down to spoke-level service. MEM remains FedEx's global cargo super-hub — the largest in the world by tonnage — but passenger service today is point-to-point on Delta, American, United, Southwest, and Allegiant.
Uber and Lyft are price-competitive for downtown / Midtown / East Memphis residents on trips of 1-2 days. MATA (Memphis Area Transit Authority) does not currently operate a frequent direct bus from downtown to MEM, so transit isn't a practical option for most travelers. Friend or family drop-off remains the cheapest non-parking option.
Blue (west side) and Yellow (east side) are overflow lots — they only open when Economy / Long-Term / Short-Term hit capacity. When active they cost $9/day and accept credit card only. Don't plan around them; if you're directed to one when arriving, parking staff will walk you through the shuttle process.
The Economy lot at $9/day inside the GTC is both the cheapest official option and covered (multi-story garage). For uncovered cheap parking, the off-site Comfort Inn & Suites at $6.95/day is the lowest rate in the MEM market.
Rates and operational details verified as of 2026-04-29 from publicly published sources (flymemphis.com/parking-transportation/, parkingaccess.com lot inventory). Always confirm current rates at the airport authority's reservation portal before traveling.
Use the official airport parking information above for current rates, then check back here as we expand live inventory coverage.
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