Drive-Up Storage Units: What They Are and Who They're Best For

In this guide you’ll learn:

• What a drive-up storage unit is and how it works
• How drive-up storage compares to indoor storage on convenience, cost, and climate protection
• What to store in a drive-up unit and what fits better elsewhere
• What amenities come standard with a drive-up rental
• How to load a drive-up unit for easy access later

A drive-up storage unit lets you pull your vehicle right up to the door of your unit so you can load or unload without carrying anything through a hallway, up a ramp, or into an elevator. It's one of the most common storage unit types because of how convenient it is for those who make frequent trips to their unit, have a lot of heavy items to move, or are cycling business inventory. It’s worth understanding the benefits of drive-up storage so you know if it’s the right fit for your situation.

What Is a Drive-Up Storage Unit?

A drive-up unit is exactly what it sounds like: your storage unit's door opens directly to an outdoor lane, so you park right next to it. There's no shared hallway, no elevator, and no walking your belongings across the property. Drive-up storage is built around direct, ground-level access from your vehicle to your unit.

Not every KO Storage location offers drive-up units, since it depends on how the property is built. You can see which locations near you have drive-up access on our drive-up storage facilities locator.

How Does Drive-Up Storage Compare to Indoor Units?

The biggest difference is convenience versus climate protection. Drive-up units win on convenience with no stairs, no elevators, no navigating narrow hallways with a couch or a dresser. Indoor units win when you're storing something sensitive to temperature or humidity swings, since they're inside a climate-controlled building.

On cost, there isn't a universal rule, as pricing depends on your market and unit size. Drive-up units are generally priced in line with or slightly below similarly sized indoor units without climate control, since climate-controlled space costs more to build and maintain. If you're storing electronics, wooden furniture, or instruments, it's worth comparing climate-controlled storage side by side with drive-up storage before you decide.

What Should You Store in a Drive-Up Unit?

Drive-up units tend to work best for:

• Furniture, appliances, and other large or heavy items that are easier to load straight off a vehicle than to carry down a hallway
• Seasonal items like patio furniture, holiday decorations, or sports equipment
• Moving boxes, when you only need a unit for a short stay between homes
• Business inventory or equipment that needs to be loaded and unloaded often
• Motorcycles, trailers, and other vehicles that just need a weatherproof space rather than full climate control

If you're storing an RV, boat, or vehicle long term and want more protection than a drive-up unit offers, our boat and RV storage options are built specifically for that.

What Amenities Come With a Drive-Up Unit?

Amenities vary by location, but most KO Storage drive-up units include an individual door lock, on-site lighting, and property cameras, along with a range of unit sizes so you're not paying for more space than you need. Rentals can be reserved online and most locations offer month-to-month leases so you're not locked into a long-term contract. You can see the full list of what's included at every location on our storage unit features page.

How To Load a Drive-Up Unit for Easy Access

A little bit of planning makes a drive-up unit much easier to use over time. For tips on packing everything efficiently before it goes in, see our guide on how to pack a storage unit efficiently. For a system to keep your unit organized once it's loaded, learn tips on how to organize a storage unit. Always load the heaviest or least frequently needed items first and toward the back of the unit, and keep anything you'll need to grab again, like seasonal decorations, tools, or moving boxes you're still unpacking, near the front, closest to the door.

Find a Drive-Up Storage Unit Near You

Ready to skip the stairs and load straight from your vehicle? Find a KO Storage location with drive-up access and reserve your unit online in a few minutes.