Cleveland Hopkins International Airport parking

Searching for parking at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)?

If good old Google’s doing its job, you should be!

Grab a cup of Joe and settle down for five minutes with this great guide – you’ll get all the essential info about CLE parking and tips and advice about airport facilities and amenities too.

And if you’re cruising into Cleveland from out of town, take a little time to explore the city too – there are always plenty of delightful distractions.

For instance, music fans love the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with its huge collection of music memorabilia from all of your favorite trailblazing artists. And if you also like the kind of art that hangs on walls and sits on pedestals, Cleveland Museum of Art has an amazing 63,000 pieces from the ancient era to contemporary times.

Foodies also love West Side Market – stroll around and take your pick from the best local cheeses, meats, and prepared foods. And if you want to burn off some calories after your feast, head to Cuyahoga Valley National Park south of the city for biking, hiking, fishing, and camping under the stars.

Back in the city, The Flats is a lovely historic district close to the Cuyahoga River which houses hip clubs, bars, and restaurants. And sports fans should definitely make a beeline for Progressive Field to soak up the atmosphere as obsessive Cleveland Indians baseball fans roar on their team against any opposition.

Meanwhile, the Great Lakes Science Center is a must-see for kids (and adults) interested in STEM topics – there are exciting exhibits on the human body, space travel and lots more. Alternatively, go wild at Cleveland Zoo, with its 3500 animals from all around the world.

All that exploration is bound to make you hungry, so try Slyman’s Deli for delish corned beef sandwiches, Melt Bar and Grilled for signature grilled cheese sandwiches, and Happy Dog for dogs with a variety of unusual (but tasty) toppings.

Want to unwind with a few drinks? The Velvet Tango Room looks just as lush as it sounds, with speakeasy styling and a range of swish cocktails, while The Spotted Owl has a top-notch whiskey selection.

Alternatively, The SideBar is a brilliant place to watch sports with friends and The Winking Lizard (what a great name) is an iconic place where you can try local beers.

Need some hotel recommendations? Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade has a great Downtown location, The Clevelander Hotel is located on the Lake Erie shore and The Metropolitan at the 9 is in the heart of The Flats district.

Find the best deals at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

In the interest of transparency, there are a few other ways you can find cheap airport parking than reading this excellent guide.

For one, try parking apps and websites (more of which later) and if you’re willing to consider offsite (and unofficial) parking lots, the CLE parking rates are usually cheaper than the official offering.

And don’t forget to keep your eye out for airport parking coupons – you might find them on the official airport website or even the local newspaper.

Compare parking at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

CLE has an impressive 13,600 parking spaces split across four onsite parking facilities and another three offsite lots.

And this airport has been pioneering great service since its inception, when it was founded in 1925 as Cleveland Municipal Airport, America’s first municipally owned airport. Named after founder William R. Hopkins, it was also the world’s first airport to have an airfield lighting system and air traffic control tower, as well as being the first connected to a railway line.

And that’s not all. Because CLE was home to the first commercial air freight system and a main hub for United Airlines until the 1980s. It’s still going strong as a Midwest gateway and has served 10 million annual passengers at its peak.

What parking is there at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport?

Two parking sites/apps usually worth checking out for CLE airport parking bargains are Looking4Parking and APH. For instance, Looking4Parking often has discounts that equate to half of the regular price and APH offer similar deals. This parking is offsite unofficial parking that’s still in easy reach of the airport.

Now check out your official CLE parking options:

CLE Smart Parking Garage

You’ll find this garage right next to the terminal and it’s the most convenient parking choice at CLE.

Red Lot

Just a stone’s throw from the terminal, the Red Lot offers a lower parking rate than the CLE Smart Parking Garage.

Blue Lot

Also reasonably close to the terminal, the Blue Lot offers a cheaper parking rate than the Red Lot.

Brown Lot

The farthest onsite lot from the terminal, the Brown Lot is also the cheapest onsite CLE parking option.

Cell Phone Lot

Just outside the airport boundary, the cellphone lot offers free parking for up to two hours and is ideal for picking up and dropping off passengers.

The choice is even greater at CLE than other airports because it also offers you the following offsite airport parking options.

Park ‘N Fly

Located around a mile from the airport, this lot offers a more reasonable rate than its onsite equivalents.

Fast Park Cleveland

Again, this lot is around a mile away and the rate is similar to the Park ‘N Fly option.

Park Place CLE

Around two miles from the airport, this CLE parking option is slightly more expensive than the two previous options.

Getting to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

CLE is pretty easy to drive to from the nearest cities and towns.

When you’re driving in from Downtown Cleveland, take the I-90 East towards I-71/I-77, then take exit 170B for I-171 South towards I-77 South/Columbus. Keep left at the road fork and drive on to Berea Fwy, then follow the signs for OH-237 S/Airport/Berea/I-480 W/Toledo and take the exit to the airport. Then turn right onto Airport Access Road and CLE will appear on your right.

Rolling in from Akron?

Take I-76 East towards I-271 South, take exit 10 for I-480 East towards Cleveland, keep left at the road fork and follow the I-71 South/Columbus signs. Take exit 170B for I-71 South towards I-77 South/Columbus and keep left at the fork to continue on Berea Fwy. After this, follow the same finishing directions as above.

Facilities at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

Facilities at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport are very good, which always makes for a pleasant pre-flight experience.

For starters, free Wi-Fi throughout means you can check your email and post a selfie on your socials, and there are three airport lounges away from the hustle and bustle of the main concourse – the Centurion Lounge, Delta Aky Club and United Club.

There are over 30 restaurants and over 50 shops (more of which shortly) and fab family services include a family care center, kids play area and nursing room.

CLE is no slough when it comes to its business travelers – there’s a well-appointed business center, conference room and post office.

And for information, its transport links are excellent too. It’s connected to the RTA HealthLine services in and out of the airport, and also to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) System for rapid transit, bus and light rail services to Cleveland city and its neighboring area.

You’ll also find two currency exchange kiosks in the baggage claim area, and several ATMs throughout if you need to withdraw cash.

There’s a luggage storage and lost and found facility at the baggage claim area and CLE offers wheelchair assistance for passengers with mobility needs too.

If you’re hungry before you fly, there are several sumptuous options. Bistro 185 is an upmarket establishment serving US dishes with French flavor, Condado is a spectacular Mexican restaurant with terrific tacos and magnificent margaritas.

Alternatively, Eataly is an Italian marketplace complete with pasta bar, pizza joint and gelato shop, while the Great Lakes Brewing Company has its own restaurant and tap room.

Want to shop ‘til you drop? Hudson News has all your magazines, newspapers and novels, Macy’s department store offers gifts, clothing and accessories, and Swarovski sells glam crystal jewelry and accessories.

Meanwhile, The North Face sells stylish outdoor clothing that looks as good on city streets as in the wilderness, and Duty Free Americas is the best place to find bargains on electronics, liquor, and fragrances.