Driving to Munich Airport: Route, Terminal and Time Buffer

Munich Airport is not on the edge of the city but a good distance outside it: in the Erdinger Moos between Freising and Erding, around 30 kilometres north-east of the city centre. For many travellers from Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, Swabia and the Upper Palatinate, the car is therefore the means of transport of choice – especially with luggage or at times when buses and trains run less often. In this guide you will learn how to plan the drive, what role the two terminals play and how much buffer makes sense.

The main route: A9 and A92

The A92 is the central motorway access to the airport. It begins at the Neufahrn junction on the A9 (Munich–Nuremberg) and continues towards Landshut and Deggendorf. If you are coming from the city of Munich or from the south, you usually take the A9 north to the Neufahrn junction and switch to the A92 there. Coming from Lower Bavaria, you reach the airport via the A92 from the direction of Deggendorf and Landshut. From the exit, follow the “Flughafen” (airport) signs and then the signs for your terminal.

From other directions – for example from Augsburg, Ingolstadt, Regensburg or Rosenheim – various routes lead to the airport. You will find an overview by region in the guide Getting to Munich Airport from the region.

Terminal 1 or Terminal 2?

At Munich Airport the access road splits early towards Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Terminal 2 is used mainly by Lufthansa and the Star Alliance partners, Terminal 1 by many other airlines. Before you set off, check in your booking or airline app which terminal applies. If you drive to the wrong terminal you lose time, even though both are connected via the Munich Airport Center. More in the guide Terminals at Munich Airport.

Schedule: how to calculate correctly

Plan backwards – from the departure time to the time you leave home:

1. Airline lead time: How early you should be at the terminal is set by your airline. For long-haul flights and non-Schengen destinations it is usually longer than for European flights.
2. Parking and the way to the terminal: A valet handover near the terminal is quick; with shuttle parking, check-in, waiting time and the transfer are added.
3. Driving time and buffer: Calculate the normal driving time and add a buffer for traffic jams – a generous one during rush hour and at the start of the holidays.

Example: a long-haul flight at 12:15 from Terminal 2, and the airline recommends three hours. You want to be at the terminal at 9:15. With a valet handover you need to be at the meeting point around 15 minutes earlier, so at 9:00. With 70 minutes of driving time and a 40-minute buffer, you set off at 7:10. What this looks like for very early flights is explained in the guide Parking for an early flight from Munich.

Setting up your sat nav correctly

Do not simply enter “Munich Airport”. That will take you close by, but not necessarily to where you want to park. For shuttle car parks, the provider's address belongs in the sat nav – they are often located in business parks in the surrounding municipalities. For valet parking, the provider names a specific meeting point, which may depend on your terminal. Many providers also ask for a short call before you arrive, see frequently asked questions about calling the provider.

When time gets tight

If you are stuck in traffic, inform your parking provider early. That way they can prepare for a later arrival. Check in your airline's app whether you can check in online, and contact the airline if it really gets tight. With valet parking you save the transfer at the end – that can be decisive. What applies if you arrive late at the car park is set out in the frequently asked questions about arriving late.

Electric car, motorhome, trailer

With an electric car you should think about the return journey: after your trip you do not want to have to look for a charging station first. Whether a provider offers charging as an additional service is shown in its description. With a motorhome, van or roof box, clarify space and clearance heights beforehand – multi-storey car parks often have height restrictions. More in the frequently asked questions about large vehicles.

Peak times on the A9 and A92

The A9 between Munich and the Neufahrn junction is one of the busiest motorway sections in Bavaria. On weekdays between about six and nine in the morning there is a lot of commuter traffic here, and in the afternoon in the opposite direction. For travellers this means: a departure in the late morning can mean a drive right into the rush hour. On Friday afternoons, weekend commuters and day-trippers are added, and at the start of the holidays holiday traffic heading south and east. Check the traffic situation on the day of departure shortly before you leave and not the evening before – the situation can change within a few hours.

On the A92 traffic is usually more even, but here too roadworks and accidents can lengthen the journey. If you are coming from the direction of Landshut, you have the advantage of not having to cross the Munich metropolitan area.

In snow, ice and fog

The Erdinger Moos is known for fog, and in winter snow can slow down the drive considerably. On such days, expect longer journey times and set off correspondingly earlier. Winter tyres are mandatory in Germany in wintry road conditions. Also remember that after a long trip your car may be covered with snow or ice if it was parked outdoors – an ice scraper and a hand brush in the boot will save time when you return.

Refuelling and charging before the airport

Refuelling directly at the airport is often less convenient than on the way there. So plan to arrive with enough fuel that you can drive home without a detour after you return. Drivers of electric cars should bear in mind that a battery loses some charge during a long period of standing and in the cold. Start with a reserve that is certainly enough for the return journey. If your parking provider offers charging as an additional service, this is stated in its description.

Being dropped off instead of driving yourself?

If someone drives you, there is no need to park – the driver, however, covers the distance twice. There are drop-off areas at both terminals for dropping off; the airport publishes the applicable stopping rules on its website. When you are being picked up, it is worth following the flight status online so that nobody waits unnecessarily.

The drive home from the airport

After landing, the route leads back in the opposite direction via the A92. If you want to go to Munich or to the south, switch to the A9 at the Neufahrn junction. In the evening the route is usually quieter, whereas on Sunday afternoons and at the end of the holidays it is often busy because many holidaymakers return home at the same time. After a long flight it pays not to set off immediately but to have a quick drink and catch your breath. If you are tired, plan a break along the way – especially on longer drives to Lower Bavaria, Swabia or the Upper Palatinate.

Lift sharing and car pooling

If several people you know are flying at the same time, a joint journey is worthwhile: one car, one parking booking, shared costs. With shuttle providers, state the full number of people, as some charge per person. With valet parking it is enough for one person to handle the handover. Clarify beforehand who will collect the car on your return if you are not flying back at the same time – and whether the provider allows the car to be returned to another person.

Checklist for the drive

• Terminal checked
• Address or meeting point from the booking in the sat nav
• Traffic situation on the A9 and A92 checked shortly before leaving
• Provider's phone number to hand
• Enough fuel or charge for the return journey

You will find all parking options at the airport – and whether offers can already be booked through Friend-Park – on the page Parking at Munich Airport. The guide Parking options at Munich Airport gives a general overview.