Terminal 1 Short Term C — Dublin Airport Car Park Guide

If you are looking to book Dublin Airport parking close to your departure terminal without the hassle of long shuttle rides or confusing layouts, Terminal 1 Short Term C is one of the most popular options at Dublin Airport for good reason. It sits within easy walking distance of both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, offers over 1,600 spaces across multiple levels, and gives you the flexibility of pay-on-exit pricing with no advance booking required. This guide covers everything you need — directions, rates, map, and practical tips — before you arrive.

What Is Terminal 1 Short-Term Car Park C?

Dublin Airport Terminal 1 Short Term Car Park C is a multi-story car park located on the northern side of the Dublin Airport campus. It is officially operated by the Dublin Airport Authority and is one of three short-term car park blocks serving Terminal 1—alongside Block A and Block B. Block C is the largest of the three with approximately 1,600 spaces spread across several levels including ground, Level 1, and a rooftop level.
The car park is designed for passengers who need flexible, short-duration parking—whether you are dropping someone off, collecting an arrival, or catching a flight and want to park close without committing to a long-stay car park rate. It is also a popular choice for passengers flying from Terminal 2 as the walking distance between Block C and T2 is only marginally longer than from the dedicated T2 short-term facility.

Terminal 1 Short Term C Directions — How to Get There

Getting to Terminal 1 Short Term Car Park C at Dublin Airport is straightforward whether you are arriving from the M1 motorway, the M50, or the R132 airport road.
From Dublin City Centre:
Take the M1 northbound and follow signs for Dublin Airport. At the airport roundabout follow signs for Terminal 1 and short-term parking. Block C is signposted from the main airport access road and sits on your left as you approach the T1 multi-story zone. The drive from the city center takes approximately 25 to 35 minutes depending on traffic.
From the M50:
Exit at Junction 3 for Dublin Airport and follow the R132 northbound toward the terminal complex. Follow airport parking signs and look for Short Term Car Parks signage directing you toward Blocks A, B, and C.
Arriving at the Carpark:
Entry barriers at Block C are automated. Take a ticket on entry—your parking duration is recorded from this point. Keep your ticket safe as you will need it at the pay station before returning to your vehicle. Payment machines are located inside the car park on each level and at ground floor exits.
One important tip: if you are using Google Maps or a sat nav use the postcode K67 X6N0 for Dublin Airport and follow internal signage to Short Term Car Park C once on the airport campus. The internal road layout is well signed and Block C is clearly marked from the main airport loop road.

Terminal 1 Short Term C Map — Layout and Level Guide

Understanding the Terminal 1 Short Term C map before you arrive saves time, especially during busy travel periods when the car park fills quickly on upper levels.

Ground Level—Entry and exit barriers, pay stations, accessible parking bays, and electric vehicle charging points. Ground level fills fastest during peak hours—typically early morning departures between 5am and 8am and afternoon arrivals between 2pm and 6pm.

Level 1—Standard parking bays, additional pay stations, and covered walkway access to the terminal pedestrian route.
Roof Level — Open-air parking, additional bays, and the overflow area during busy periods. The roof level typically has the most availability during peak times.
Electric Vehicle Charging: Block C includes charging points across ground level, Level 1, and roof level—12 charging points in total across Blocks A, B, and C combined, rated at 22 to 25 kW. If you are driving an EV arrive early as charging bays fill quickly during morning departure peaks.
Walking to Terminal 1 from Block C: The covered pedestrian walkway connects Block C to Terminal 1 in approximately 4 to 5 minutes on foot. Follow the pedestrian signs from Level 1 toward the terminal link bridge. The route is flat, covered, and accessible for passengers with mobility requirements or travelling with luggage trolleys.
Walking to Terminal 2 from Block C: Block C is also a reasonable walk from Terminal 2 — approximately 5 to 7 minutes following the airport’s internal pedestrian route through the terminal link corridor. For T2 passengers Block C represents a genuinely practical alternative to the dedicated T2 short-term facility, particularly when T2 short-term is full during peak periods.

Terminal 1 Short Term C Rates — What You Will Pay

Dublin Airport parking Terminal 1 Short Term C operates on a pay-on-exit basis with rates applied by duration. Current published rates apply across all short-term car park blocks, including Block C:

Important points on rates:
Short-term parking at Dublin Airport does not offer online pre-booking discounts — the rate is the same whether you book in advance or pay on exit. This is different from the long term car parks (Express Red and Holiday Blue) where pre-booking online delivers a meaningfully lower daily rate.
If your stay is likely to exceed one full day the daily cap of €45 applies per 24-hour period. For trips of two days or more the cost of Dublin Airport Terminal 1 Short Term C can become significantly higher than long-term parking alternatives—at €45 per day compared to €15 to €18 per day for long term options. For any stay beyond 24 hours long term parking with a free shuttle transfer is the more cost-effective choice.

When to Choose Short-Term C—And When Not To

Block C is the right choice when:
You are collecting an arrival and plan to be in and out within two hours. You are dropping a passenger for departure and need to park briefly while they check in. You are catching an early flight and want to walk to the terminal in under five minutes without waiting for a shuttle bus. You value flexibility and do not want to commit to a pre-booked long-term space.
Block C is not the right choice when
Your trip is longer than one full day — the daily cost accumulates quickly at €45 per day. You are traveling during peak summer months when Block C can reach capacity by mid-morning. You are on a tight budget and have flexibility on your travel day—long-term pre-booking will save you significantly.

Practical Tips for Parking at Short-Term Car Park C

Arrive at least 10 minutes earlier than you normally would during school holiday periods, bank holiday weekends, and the June to August summer peak. Block C fills from the ground level upward—if ground and Level 1 show full signs, proceed directly to roof level rather than circling lower levels.
Pay at the machine inside the car park before returning to your vehicle—do not pay at the barrier as this causes delays for other drivers. Payment is accepted by card or contactless — cash is not accepted at Dublin Airport pay stations.
If your flight is delayed and your parking duration exceeds your plan the daily cap of €45 protects you from unlimited accumulation—the maximum per calendar day is fixed regardless of how many additional hours accrue.