Doncaster Sheffield Airport Is Closed — Here's the Nearest Airport (and Parking) to Use Instead

Nearest Airport to Doncaster: A Parking Guide for Leeds Bradford, Manchester and East Midlands

Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), also known as Robin Hood Airport, has been closed to commercial passenger flights since November 2022. A £159.52m funding package was approved by South Yorkshire's Mayoral Combined Authority in September 2025, and a Civil Aviation Authority airspace consultation opened on 3 August 2026 (closing 4 October 2026) as part of the reopening process. But freight operations aren't expected to resume until 2027, and commercial passenger flights are unlikely before summer 2028 at the earliest.

That leaves Doncaster and Sheffield travellers relying on three main alternatives for the next couple of years:

• Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) — the closest by road, roughly 39 miles and 55 minutes' drive

• Manchester Airport (MAN) — the UK's third-busiest airport, around 59 miles and 1 hour 11 minutes away

• East Midlands Airport (EMA) — a strong package-holiday option, roughly 57 miles and 57 minutes' drive

Wherever you're flying from, pre-booking parking removes one of the biggest sources of pre-flight stress — no circling for a space, no last-minute price surprises, and no wasted time you could spend at the gate.

Book Your Parking in Advance

Booking airport parking before you leave home means:

• Guarantee your space before you set off, so there's no uncertainty when you arrive after a long drive

• Choose from a range of price points, from short-stay drop-off spots to long-stay options for a week away

• Extend your stay through the app if your return flight is delayed or your plans change

• Lock in a lower rate than on-the-day pricing, which tends to climb the closer you get to departure

• Park on quieter residential streets and driveways away from the terminal crush

Leeds Bradford Airport: The Closest Option to Doncaster

Leeds Bradford Airport is the nearest of the three to Doncaster and had its busiest-ever year in 2024, carrying 4.24 million passengers — a 5.8% rise on 2023 — with 2025 on pace to beat that record. Jet2 is the airport's largest operator, accounting for around 49% of passengers, followed by Ryanair at 33%, with easyJet, KLM, Wizz Air and SunExpress also flying from LBA. Alicante, Dublin and Palma de Mallorca were the airport's most popular routes in 2024.

• Driving: around 39 miles and 55 minutes from Doncaster

• By train and bus: roughly 30 minutes by train from Doncaster to Leeds, then the 757 Flying Tiger bus to the terminal (also around 30 minutes), for a total journey of about an hour

• Parking: book parking near Leeds Bradford Airport from £5.10 per day through JustPark

Manchester Airport: The Biggest Range of Routes

Manchester Airport recorded 32.09 million passengers in 2025, up 4% on the previous year, making it the UK's third-busiest airport behind Heathrow and Gatwick. It connects to around 200 destinations, including new direct routes to Delhi and Mumbai launched in 2025. Most passengers now depart from the newly expanded £1.3bn Terminal 2, which handles roughly 75% of traffic, while Terminal 3 covers budget and domestic routes.

• Driving: around 59 miles and 1 hour 11 minutes from Doncaster

• By train: no direct service — expect one change and a journey of anywhere from 1 hour 52 minutes to around 3 hours 15 minutes depending on connections

• Parking: book parking near Manchester Airport from £6.86 per day through JustPark, with results filterable by terminal so you can find a space closest to Terminal 2 or Terminal 3

East Midlands Airport: A Strong Choice for Package Holidays

East Midlands Airport served around 4 million passengers in 2025 and connects to more than 90 destinations, with Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Malaga and Faro among its most popular routes. Ryanair is the dominant operator, alongside easyJet, Jet2, TUI and Wizz Air, and the airport also serves as a major freight hub for DHL Air UK and UPS Airlines.

• Driving: around 57 miles and 57 minutes from Doncaster

• By train and bus: the fastest trains reach East Midlands Parkway station in around 1 hour 23 minutes from Doncaster, followed by a Skylink bus to the terminal (20–30 minutes, running every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day)

• Parking: book parking near East Midlands Airport from £3.79 per day through JustPark

Book Early and Travel with Confidence

Whichever airport you choose, booking your parking ahead of time is the simplest way to protect your journey from last-minute stress. Spaces closest to the terminal fill up fastest during school holidays and peak summer travel, and prices on unbooked spaces tend to rise the nearer you get to your travel date. Reserving early means one less thing to think about on travel day — you'll know exactly where you're parking and what it costs before you've even packed your bags.

For families travelling with luggage, buggies or car seats, having a confirmed space also means more flexibility around arrival time — no need to build in extra time for finding parking on top of check-in and security.

Accessibility and Practical Details

• Blue Badge and accessible parking are available to search and filter for on JustPark at each of the three airports

• EV charging can be found at many JustPark spaces near these airports, or nearby via a quick Zap-Map search

• Drop-off and pick-up zones at each terminal are separate from long-stay parking, so check your airport's own signage on arrival if you're just dropping someone off

Live Near Leeds Bradford, Manchester or East Midlands Airport? Earn Extra Income

If you live near any of these airports, an unused driveway or parking space could bring in useful extra income while flight demand in the region has shifted their way. Listing takes less than 10 minutes and is free, with more than 65,000 hosts already renting out space through JustPark to over 13 million drivers.

The first £1,000 you earn each year is tax-free, and you can use Scheduled Pricing to charge more during school holidays and other peak travel periods, without having to manage it day to day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Doncaster Sheffield Airport open? No. DSA has been closed to commercial passenger flights since November 2022. Funding for its reopening was approved in September 2025, but freight operations aren't expected to resume until 2027, and passenger flights are unlikely before summer 2028.

What is the nearest airport to Doncaster? Leeds Bradford Airport is the closest by road, at around 39 miles and 55 minutes' drive. Manchester and East Midlands airports are both roughly an hour's drive away and offer a wider range of routes.

Can I book parking in advance for Leeds Bradford, Manchester or East Midlands airports? Yes. JustPark lets you book a confirmed parking space near all three airports ahead of your travel date, with prices starting from £3.79 per day at East Midlands, £5.10 at Leeds Bradford and £6.86 at Manchester.

Is there accessible or Blue Badge parking near these airports? Yes. You can filter for accessible and Blue Badge parking spaces near each of the three airports directly on JustPark.

When will Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopen? The current timeline points to freight flights resuming in 2027, with commercial passenger services not expected before summer 2028, subject to the outcome of the ongoing CAA airspace consultation.

Ready to Book Airport Parking?

With Doncaster Sheffield Airport still years away from welcoming passengers again, booking ahead at Leeds Bradford, Manchester or East Midlands is the easiest way to keep your travel plans on track.

Reserve your airport space before you go, and you can head to the airport knowing exactly where you're parking — sorted before you even leave home.