Atlanta Airport Parking Crisis Causes Summer Travel Problems

ATLANTA – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has 10 parking lots on site, but for hours Wednesday, 80% of the lots were full.

It’s been nearly nine months since airport leaders announced the parking situation was about to get frustrating as they worked to improve parking; passengers begin to reach their boiling point as the summer heat sets in.

“It’s really crazy, I got there 40 minutes early and drove everywhere,” one man told FOX 5.

SEE ALSO: Atlanta Airport Parking or Offsite? New grounds and shuttle services take over for travelers

Parking lots at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are continually full during the summer season due to construction of a new parking lot. (FOX 5)

The parking issues come during a busy time for the airport, as a boom in summer travel collides with a decline in parking at the airport.

“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” Rick Butgereit said.

Park and Ride at Atlanta Airport

At one point, Butgereit was a frequent traveler. Now he only travels a few times a year. He says that last week he waited nearly an hour for a shuttle at the airport’s Park and Ride lot.

“The influx of people was just phenomenal, people were queuing trying to get to the terminal,” he said. “It was so bad that people were calling Uber to pick them up from the parking lot and take them to the terminal.”

Parking lots at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are continually full during the summer season due to construction of a new parking lot. (FOX 5)

The airport says it has 33,000 parking spaces, but is working to increase availability by adding a new 7,000-space “South Economy” bridge. The addition is temporarily costing 3,000 spots while construction crews work their magic.

“We continue to improve our parking capacity, but we also encourage people to use public transport,” said Balram Bheodari, general manager of the airport.

Parking lots at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are continually full during the summer season due to construction of a new parking lot. (FOX 5)

According to parking numbers obtained by FOX 5, the airport has seen about 10 percent fewer cars parked overnight this year compared to last year, but if you ask travelers, it doesn’t seem to be the case.

“We have already made the decision to go to Uber from now on,” says Butgereit. “We’re not even going to roll the dice.”

SEE ALSO: Drivers can now pay for parking at the Atlanta airport with Peach Pass

Parking lots at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are continually full during the summer season due to construction of a new parking lot. (FOX 5)

Best Ways to Get to Atlanta Airport

Although the airport says the lots are full on its website, some people would like to see more details, such as how many open spaces are on each lot.

Airport officials recommend travelers consider taking public transportation or carpooling to help reduce crowds until the new bridge opens in late 2026.

If you plan to park at the airport, the airport recommends making a reservation.

Other parking options also include off-airport parking.

FOX 5’s Tyler Fingert covers issues at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, MARTA and other transportation options. If you have a story, video or image you would like to share, send him an email.