- Midlands
- Posted: 01/06/2025
Getting to East Midlands Airport
Isabelle
You’ve booked your next flight out of East Midlands Airport – but how are you going to get there? Never fear; we’re here to give you all the info and all the options your need for getting to East Midlands Airport. So whether it’s by car, bus or train, check out what you need to know below.
Getting to East Midlands Airport By Car
It is pretty easy to drive in to East Midlands Airport and there are pick up and drop off zones as well as short and long stay parking options. Pre booking your parking will save you big money here!
Rapid Drop off
This option costs £5 for up to 15 mins and £1 for every minute thereafter (max stay 30 mins). As of 2025 this must be paid for online. There is no option to pay cash or card at the barrier here anymore. You must make payment online or by phone by midnight the day after you visit.
Short Stay 1 – Drop off or Pick Up
Ideal for a short stay to collect loved ones, this car park is right next to the terminal and allows you to park for a short time (between 30 minutes and 3 hours).
30 minutes is £6, up to an hour; £8, 2 hours £12 and 3 hours £16. This does not need to be pre booked.
Short Stay
Short stay parking is available at Short Stay 1 and 3. If you are travelling at short notice then it is a hefty £45 for up to 24 hours, £90 for 2 days and £45 for each day after.
Save a fortune by pre booking your parking. Use our discount link below for the current prices.
Mid Stay
Mid Stay 3 offers parking in 1 day increments up to 7 days+. 24 hours is £40, this increases each day up to £185 for 7 days.
It is a lot cheaper by pre booking. Use our discount link below for the current prices.
Getting to East Midlands Airport By Train
The closest train stations to East Midlands Airport are East Midlands Parkway, Long Eaton, Loughborough, Nottingham or Derby
To get directly to the airport from these train stations, you would need to use the local bus services or a taxi.
Nottingham, Derby, Long Eaton, Loughborough are all served by the Skylink service.
East Midlands Parkway is serviced by the Notts On Demand Bus Service – more information here
Book your train tickets easily and quickly at TheTrainline.com
Getting to East Midlands Airport By Bus
There are several bus services to East Midlands Airport but the most frequent and reliable is the Skylink service run by Trent Barton.
The Skylink connects Nottingham, Derby and surrounding towns direct to the airport terminals. Buses run 24 hours a day, every 2o minutes from 4am-11pm and then hourly overnight.
Nottingham to East Midlands: £6.60 for adults and £4.60 for children (under 5s are free)
Derby to East Midlands: £5.90 for adults and £4.10 for children (under 5s are free)
More information on Skylink here
Getting to East Midlands Airport is Easy
If you’re a budget traveller then public transport will always win out with the Skylink service offering direct access to the airport from Nottingham or Derby for around £6pp. But, as a family, reducing the stress of travel is so important.
Convenience is king for us now so we do mostly use a taxi or park our own car these days. Airport parking can be expensive but Looking4Parking helps you find the best deals!
Looking for a hotel near East Midlands Airport, check out my recent post with hotel recommendations!
Looking for cheap airport parking?
This post has some great tips!
Written by: Isabelle
I am a Notts Mum of two daughters. Our family love exploring the local area and beyond; we share our adventures on social media and encourage other families to get out and about! I am passionate about finding good deals and am always happy to help others do the same. We will help you travel on a budget and find cheap deals from East Midlands Airport.
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