Durango, CO: **Daily parking rates will temporarily increase from $10 to $15 per day at Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) during the Thanksgiving holiday period due to high demand for parking.
The temporary pricing adjustment will be in effect from Monday, Nov. 23 through Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2026, and will apply to the main, south, and remote parking lots. To avoid higher rates, passengers are encouraged to plan ahead by considering drop-off options, carpooling, or utilizing local ground transportation services.
“We’re seeing record levels of passenger and vehicle traffic in 2026, and Thanksgiving is annually the busiest period of demand for vehicle parking at DRO,” said Aviation Director Tony Vicari. “By implementing targeted surge pricing, we aim to better manage congestion, encourage efficient use of available space, and offset airport costs to operate a remote shuttle parking lot.”
Vehicles arriving at the airport in the days leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday will be directed into a remote parking lot. From there, airport staff will assist passengers as they board a shuttle bus for a short ride to the terminal. Passengers and their luggage will be dropped off conveniently on the airport terminal curbside. Return shuttles will be available when passengers return to DRO. The airport’s two regular parking lots will remain open to traffic until they reach capacity and will also be available for short-term and handicap parking over the holiday.
“The remote parking model was first implemented at DRO in 2024,” Vicari said. “The last two years of operations proved to be effective in helping us manage the intense demand for holiday parking, so we will be repeating and expanding the operation in 2026.”
Demand for vehicle parking during the Thanksgiving holiday period is expected to significantly exceed the current capacity of 1,304 spaces, creating an acute capacity challenge during this short period.
“With many local residents traveling to visit family and friends over the holiday, the number of vehicles parking at the airport over the Thanksgiving travel period has grown aggressively over the past several years,” Vicari said. “The primary goal of temporarily raising prices is not to generate revenue. It is to manage congestion by encouraging alternative transportation options such as pick-up and drop-off by family and friends, carpooling, and utilizing local ground transportation services. Raising prices temporarily is the most effective way to accomplish this as we manage periods of intense singular demand.”
It’s important that the public understands that DRO has sufficient parking on a day-to-day basis. The airport’s 1,304 current parking spaces meet demand nearly every day of the year (except the Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year holiday periods). Looking forward, the airport is finalizing design for a planned 2027 construction project to add 100-200 paved parking spaces. This follows the addition of more than 400 paved parking spaces over the last three years.
"We understand that passengers may be hesitant to utilize remote parking due to concerns over the time that it may take to access the terminal, especially during the busy holiday season,” said Vicari. “I would like to reassure our users that the remote parking area is only a few short minutes’ drive from the terminal, and that the convenience of being dropped off right on the front curb will likely end up saving you time versus walking from our most distant overflow parking spaces in the terminal lots.”
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends that passengers arrive at the airport two hours before domestic flights depart. This provides enough time to find parking and get through security with minimal stress. The airport strongly encourages passengers to allow the full two hours during peak holiday travel periods and in inclement weather. Additionally, passengers should be aware that airline ticket counters close 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure times, and arriving after these cutoff times means missing your departing flight.
About Durango-La Plata County Airport
Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) is the primary regional airport for Southwest Colorado, Northwest New Mexico, and the entire Four Corners region. DRO welcomed approximately 560,000 total passengers in 2025 and generates over $342 million in annual economic impact within the region. DRO is served by two major U.S. airlines (American Airlines and United Airlines), offering year-round daily nonstop routes to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), and Phoenix (PHX), and seasonally to Houston (IAH).
DRO operates as an enterprise fund of the City of Durango and generates self-sustaining revenue from airport tenants and users in the form of airline rent and landing fees, terminal concessions, ground leases, and parking fees. The airport does not receive any local tax funding.
Learn more about the Durango-La Plata County Airport at FlyDurango.com. Follow us on social media at twitter.com/DROAirport and facebook.com/DROAirport
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Media Contact**Tom SluisPublic Information Officer Phone: (970) 375-5090Email: Tom Sluis