Scottish October Holidays 2026: Find Your Dates and Book Airport Parking Before the Rush
Everything you need to plan an October week getaway from a Scottish airport.
Scotland School Holidays 2026: October Week Dates by Council and Airport Parking
The October week is the first big getaway of the Scottish school holidays calendar, and most councils start the break on the same day: Monday 12 October 2026.
That means thousands of families heading for Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Prestwick on the same weekend, all looking for somewhere to leave the car.
Book your airport parking now and you'll know exactly where you're parking, what it costs and how you'll reach the terminal before the suitcases come down from the loft.
Every Scottish council sets its own dates, so the October break in Scotland can start as early as 5 October or as late as 19 October, and it runs for one week in some areas and two in others. Here's when your council breaks up, followed by the parking options at each of Scotland's main airports.
Book Airport Parking for the October Week
Book airport parking for the Scotland school holidays and pick a space that suits your flight times, your budget and the length of your trip.
Know your price before you leave home, with the full cost shown upfront when you book rather than a surprise at the barrier.
Choose the type of parking that fits, from Park & Ride with a shuttle to the terminal to a local driveway or car park a short taxi ride away.
Extend your stay in the app if your flight home is delayed or you decide to stretch the holiday by a day.
Filter for the extras you need, including EV charging and Blue Badge-friendly spaces, so the car is sorted for the drive home.
October Week Scotland 2026: School Holiday Dates for Every Council
The dates below are the pupil holiday dates published by each council. Individual schools can add their own in-service days, so it's worth checking your child's school calendar before you book flights.
One-Week October Break (Monday 12 to Friday 16 October)
Most councils in the west of Scotland take a single October week, with pupils back on Monday 19 October:
Glasgow: Monday 12 to Friday 16 October, with an in-service day on Friday 9 October, so the last school day is Thursday 8 October.
East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, North Ayrshire (mainland), North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire: Monday 12 to Friday 16 October.
A handful of councils add an in-service day on Monday 19 October, so pupils return on Tuesday 20 October:
East Ayrshire, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and South Ayrshire: Monday 12 to Friday 16 October, back on Tuesday 20 October.
Scottish Borders: the Scottish Borders school holidays run from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October, with an in-service day on Monday 19 October and pupils back on Tuesday 20 October. Edinburgh is the closest Scottish airport for most Borders families.
Edinburgh and the Lothians (Monday 12 to Monday 19 October)
City of Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian: Monday 12 to Monday 19 October, with pupils back on Tuesday 20 October.
West Lothian: one of the latest breaks in the country, running from Monday 19 to Monday 26 October, with pupils back on Tuesday 27 October.
Two-Week October Break (Monday 12 to Friday 23 October)
Much of the north, the east and central Scotland takes a full fortnight, with pupils back on Monday 26 October:
Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Highland and Moray in the north.
Dundee, Fife, and Perth and Kinross in the east.
Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling in central Scotland.
Dumfries and Galloway in the south.
Early Starts and Island Councils
Angus and Argyll and Bute: the earliest breaks in Scotland, running from Monday 5 to Friday 16 October, with pupils back on Monday 19 October.
Orkney and Shetland: Monday 12 to Friday 23 October, with in-service days afterwards and pupils back on Wednesday 28 October.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles): the October break starts on Monday 12 October, with an in-service day on Wednesday 21 October and pupils back on Thursday 22 October.
Airport Parking for the Scottish October Holidays
With so many councils breaking up on the same weekend, the Friday and Saturday at the start of the holidays are the pressure points at every Scottish airport. Booking ahead takes the gamble out of it: you're not circling for a space with tired kids in the back, and you're not paying whatever the rate happens to be on the day.
Edinburgh Airport Parking
Book parking near Edinburgh Airport for the October week
Edinburgh is Scotland's busiest airport, handling almost 17 million passengers in 2025 and flying to more than 160 destinations with around 40 airlines. It sits just off the A8 to the west of the city, with fast links to the M8 from Glasgow and the west and the M9 from Stirling and the north. Drivers coming from Fife and the north east can cross via the Queensferry Crossing and pick up the M9 spur to the airport.
Park & Ride: park up and hop on a shuttle that runs regularly to the terminal, ideal for families with luggage, buggies and car seats.
Park & Save: choose from local driveways and car parks near the airport for great value on a longer October week trip.
Weighing up a shuttle against a short taxi ride from a driveway? Our guide to where to park at Edinburgh Airport compares every option.
Glasgow Airport Parking
Book Glasgow Airport parking for the October holidays
Glasgow Airport is Scotland's second busiest, with around 8.2 million passengers in 2025 and more than 100 destinations, and it's popular with holidaymakers heading for the sun. The airport sits right beside Junction 28 of the M8 near Paisley, making it an easy run from Glasgow city centre, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.
Park & Ride: leave the car and let a regular shuttle take you and your bags straight to departures.
Park & Save: find parking near Glasgow Airport on a local driveway or in a car park in and around Paisley, and keep more of your holiday budget for the trip itself.
Aberdeen International Airport Parking
Book airport parking in Aberdeen for the October break
Aberdeen Airport handled 2.3 million passengers in 2025 and sits in Dyce, around 6 miles north west of the city centre, just off the A96. Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire both take a two-week October holiday, so demand is spread across a longer window, but the first weekend still gets busy.
Park & Stroll: no shuttle bus to wait for, just a short walk from your car to the terminal.
Park & Save: choose a local driveway or car park and make the full fortnight go further.
Inverness Airport Parking
Book Inverness Airport parking for the Scottish school holidays
Inverness Airport at Dalcross is the gateway to the Highlands, with close to 800,000 passengers a year. It sits east of Inverness, just off the A96 towards Nairn, and Highland schools have two full weeks off from Monday 12 October.
Car parks in Inverness and Nairn: book a space at supermarket, hotel and town car parks including Strothers Lane, Asda Inverness, Morrisons Inverness, Premier Inn Inverness East and Sainsbury's Nairn, all within around 6 to 9 miles of the airport.
Private driveways close to the terminal: park on a host's driveway just 1.5 to 2 miles from the airport, with well-lit and CCTV-covered spaces available.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport Parking
Book airport parking at Glasgow Prestwick for October half term in Scotland
Prestwick is a handy alternative for families in Ayrshire and the south west, sitting just north of Ayr with its own railway station beside the terminal.
Driveways within walking distance: park on Monkton Road, around a 12 to 13 minute walk from the terminal, or on Midton Road and Newdykes Road, about 19 minutes away on foot.
Car parks nearby: choose Sainsbury's Prestwick, around 1.5 miles away, or Asda Ayr, around 2.1 miles away, for a budget-friendly option a short taxi or train ride from the airport.
For a full breakdown of short-stay, long-stay and driveway options, see how much parking at Prestwick Airport costs.
Practical Tips for October Week Airport Parking
Book before the break starts, as the first Friday and Saturday of the October holidays are when spaces near the terminals are most in demand.
Check your in-service days before you choose flight dates, since an extra day off at the start or end can change your best departure day.
Add your registration correctly when you book, as many car parks use number plate recognition on entry.
Use the accessibility filter on JustPark if you need Blue Badge-friendly parking or step-free access.
FAQs about Scottish Holidays and Airport Parking
When are the Scottish school holidays in 2026/27?
Every council sets its own dates, but the 2026/27 Scottish school holidays follow the same pattern across the country: the October week, the Christmas holidays, a February mid-term break, the Easter holidays and the summer holidays, which start between 26 June and 5 July 2027 depending on your council.
When are the October holidays in Scotland in 2026?
Most councils start the Scottish half term, also known as the October week or October break, on Monday 12 October 2026. Angus and Argyll and Bute break up earliest, from Monday 5 October, while West Lothian is among the latest, starting on Monday 19 October. Some councils take one week and others take two, so check your council's dates above before you book.
Where can I find parking near Edinburgh Airport?
JustPark lists Park & Ride spaces with a regular shuttle to the terminal, plus Park & Save driveways and car parks in nearby areas such as Newbridge, Corstorphine and South Gyle. Booking ahead means your space is confirmed before the October week rush.
Is there free parking near Glasgow Airport?
Free parking close to Glasgow Airport is hard to come by, especially for a week or more away. Booking a driveway or car park space near the airport through JustPark gives you a confirmed spot for the whole trip, with the price agreed upfront.
How do I pay for airport parking?
With JustPark, you pay for your airport parking when you book, either online or in the JustPark app, so there's nothing to sort out on the day. Many spaces can also be cancelled up to 24 hours before your booking starts.
Live Near a Scottish Airport? Rent Out Your Driveway This October Week
Even if you're not travelling yourself, the October holidays are one of the busiest times of the year for airport parking in Scotland, with families from across the country driving to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Prestwick on the same weekends. If you have a driveway or off-street space near an airport, you could turn that demand into extra income.
Rent out your driveway with JustPark for free, and set the days and times your space is available.
Keep more of what you earn, as the first £1,000 of income from renting out your space each tax year is tax-free under the trading allowance.
Stay in control by blocking out dates whenever you need your space back.
Fly Off for the October Week with Parking Sorted
Whether your council gives you one week or two, the October holidays come round fast once term starts. Book your airport parking now and you'll set off knowing exactly where the car is going, what it costs and how you'll get to the terminal. That's one less thing to think about, so you can travel with confidence and enjoy every day of the break.
