Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) keeps its parking simple: four on-site lots at 4000 International Lane, all first come, first served, all within reach of the terminal. There are no reservations, and no third-party app sells you a spot ahead of time.
This guide follows what the airport publishes on its official parking page, verified October 2026. Rates and policies change, so always check the live page before you travel.
The Four On-Site Lots and What They Cost
The airport runs four parking areas, priced by the day and calculated from the time your ticket is issued. That means the 24-hour clock starts when you pull in, not at midnight, so an afternoon arrival is billed through to the same time the next day.
The Economy Lot is the cheapest at $10 per day and sits a short walk from the terminal. The Surface Lot is $12 per day, and the Ramp is $14 per day.
If you are only stopping to drop off or pick up, the Hourly area charges $2 per hour for the first six hours, then $20 for a full day. That hourly area is your best choice for a quick greeting or a long goodbye at the curb.
The cost of a trip adds up fast, so the decision usually comes down to how long you will be gone and how much weather you are willing to walk through. Three days in the covered Ramp costs $42; the same three days in the Economy Lot costs $30.
Choosing the Right Lot for Your Trip
For a quick pickup, the Hourly area is the obvious pick, since it bills by the hour and caps at $20 for the day. You will not pay a full day’s rate for a 20-minute stop. Once a stay passes about six hours, though, the hourly area flips to its $20 day rate, which is more than the $10 Economy or $12 Surface lots, so longer stays belong in a daily lot.
For a budget trip of several days, the Economy Lot’s $10 daily rate is the least expensive way to leave a car at the airport, and it is still a short walk from the terminal. The Surface Lot at $12 splits the difference when you want a little more convenience than Economy without paying Ramp prices.
The Ramp at $14 is the premium option, and the main reason to choose it is the enclosed, covered space with a third-floor skywalk straight into the terminal. In snow and ice, walking a covered route instead of a snowy lot is a real benefit.
First Come, First Served: No Reservations
Every one of the airport’s spaces is sold first come, first served. The airport states plainly that it keeps 100% of its spots on that basis and does not partner with any third-party service for parking.
That means any website or app claiming to pre-reserve you a space at MSN is misleading you. The airport encourages travelers to use its own website for the most up-to-date rates and availability, and to plan around that.
Height Clearances
If you drive something taller than a sedan, check the clearances before you commit to a lot. The Economy Lot allows 11 feet 8 inches in its left lane and 9 feet 4 inches in the right. The Surface Lot clears 8 feet 10 inches, and the Ramp clears 8 feet 2 inches.
The Hourly area also clears 8 feet 2 inches. A tall van, camper, or work truck that cannot clear those heights should call ahead before arriving, rather than discovering the problem at the gate.
Accessible Parking
Accessible parking is available in every area of the facility. In the Ramp, accessible stalls sit near the two elevators on the terminal side of each level, in rows A and B. From the third floor of the Ramp, a skywalk takes you straight into the terminal.
In the Surface Lot, accessible stalls are on the left and right as soon as you enter. If you use a disabled placard or plate, our Madison accessible parking guide explains how those permits work across the city.
Electric Vehicle Charging
The airport has added complimentary EV charging in the parking garage. Stations sit on level 1 of the Ramp, in row B for the Hourly area and row C for the Ramp itself.
Charging is free, and you can confirm a station is open through the ChargePoint network before you arrive. It is a small, quiet perk that can make the difference on a cold-morning departure.
Two-Wheel Parking
Motorcycles, bicycles, mopeds, and scooters park free in a designated two-wheel area inside the hourly parking zone, immediately on your right as you enter the garage.
To reach it on a motorcycle, enter through the right lane of the Hourly area, skip the ticket, and go around the gate arm. Upright stanchions are available for locking a bike or scooter while you travel. Two-wheel vehicles parked anywhere else are ticketed and charged the posted rates.
Getting to the Airport Without Parking
You do not have to park at all, and the airport makes that easy to choose. During busy travel seasons it encourages ride share, Madison Metro, and other alternatives, both to ease congestion and to support its EcoMentality goals. Ride-share services pick up outside Door 6, along the terminal curb, and taxis wait at the north end of baggage claim by Door 7.
Two taxi companies serve the airport: Madison Taxi at (608) 255-8294 and Union Cab at (608) 242-2000.
Rental car counters sit inside at baggage claim, with the rental lot just outside Door 6. Several area hotels also run courtesy vans, which stop at the shelter on the roadway median at Door 5, so ask your hotel whether a shuttle is available.
Madison Metro’s Route D2 bus leaves from the Door 6 area every 30 minutes on weekdays and hourly on weeknights and weekends, running toward downtown Madison and the UW campus on the way to Verona. The adult fare is $2 with contactless payment, and it includes a free two-hour transfer.
Plan your trip with Metro’s Bus Tracker, or stop by the Airport Information Help Desk inside the terminal. Full details are on the airport’s ground transportation page.
Long Stays and Paying a Citation
Planning to park more than 30 days? Call the airport’s Parking Manager at (608) 246-3394 before you leave, rather than letting the daily rate pile up without a word.
If you do get a parking citation at the airport, it can be paid online through the airport’s ticket payment system at daneparking.com. A receptionist is available Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at (608) 661-4804, and the airport’s main line is (608) 246-3380 for general questions.
A Quick Pre-Trip Checklist
Before you head to MSN, run through a few steps. Check the airport’s parking page for the current lot rates and any service notices. Pick your lot by trip length, budget, and vehicle height. Arrive with a little extra time, since every space is first come, first served.
If you are flying during the holiday rush or an early-morning departure, remember that the cheapest lots can fill, and consider the covered Ramp when snow is in the forecast. And if you would rather skip parking entirely, the D2 bus and ride share both leave you at the terminal door.
Rates, clearances, and the charging station all change over time, so treat this as a starting point. The airport’s parking page and ground transportation page are the authoritative, up-to-date sources.
