Overcoming the Fear of Downtown Parking

One of the only things that will keep you from enjoying all the rich offerings of the historic peninsula is parking. As more garages shut down and there’s less onstreet parking available, it’s gotten more difficult to master the art of downtown parking. Here are a few tips from our team to overcome the challenges!

1. Parking rules - for city parking rules, garage rates/locations, and holiday parking promotions and other information, check the City website.

2. Smart Card - purchased from the Parking office at 180 Lockwood Blvd for $5, this card can be preloaded with funds to use whenever you secure a meter spot. Meters take credit cards, but this is a more economical and convenient payment method. The best thing about the card? You can get a refund for your unpaid balance! So go ahead and max out the allotted time knowing you can get back $ if you leave the spot early.

3. Street parking - the signs can be confusing, but if you see a 2 hour residential decal zone, you can park there! It’s just a 2 hour limit so the parking stays available for the neighbors who live there. In my experience, the 2 hour limit is not closely enforced, so this is the cheapest way to park for dinner downtown, especially in a neighborhood area where some of our favorite restaurants are located!

4. Parking apps - No one app is the golden ticket for convenient parking. They all have their hindrances, but they can make parking a little less stressful once you get the hang of them. There are a number of them available on your preferred app store. I’ve tried BestParking and ParkMe. The apps show metered, garage, and lot options with rates, amenities, lost ticket fees, payment options + operating hours.