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East Midlands Airport parking explained (and when a taxi wins)

EMA has short-stay, long-stay, JetParks, Meet & Greet and Park & Ride. Prices swing wildly. Here's a plain-English breakdown of every option — and when a taxi actually costs less.

2026-01-02 · 6 min read

East Midlands Airport parking prices swing more than any other UK airport we deal with. A week of parking at EMA can cost anything from £45 to £180 depending on which car park you pick and how far ahead you booked. Here's the breakdown.

Short-stay

Right in front of the terminal. £4 for the first 30 minutes, then rising steeply. Fine for a genuine pickup, terrible for anything longer than 45 minutes.

Long-stay

A 5-minute shuttle from the terminal. About £70 for a week if pre-booked 4+ weeks ahead, £120+ if booked on the day. This is the "default" holiday option most people use.

JetParks

A 10-minute shuttle from the terminal — the cheapest official EMA option. About £45 for a week pre-booked. The shuttle is fine; the walk with luggage inside JetParks can be long.

Meet & Greet

Drop your car with a driver at the terminal, they park it, meet you on return. ~£90 for a week. Convenient but expensive.

Park & Ride (off-site)

Several independent operators near the airport — Airparks, Purple Parking etc. Prices from £40/week. Quality varies; read reviews before booking.

When a taxi wins

Our Nottingham to East Midlands fare is £35 one way, £70 return. For one person on a 1-week trip, that beats every parking option except the cheapest JetParks/off-site. For two or more people splitting the fare, we beat everything. And there's no shuttle bus, no walking with cases, no risk of finding a scratched car when you get back.

Hidden costs of parking

  • Fuel to and from EMA (~£12 return from central Nottingham).
  • Waking up 30 minutes earlier to allow for the shuttle ride.
  • Missing your flight if the shuttle is late (yes, it happens).

Our advice

Solo, 2–3 days, EMA-only? Parking might edge it. Family of four, week-long holiday, 4am flight? Book us and sleep in until the driver knocks.

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