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.
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