Spending the day — or more! — in Seattle can be a blast, even if you run into one of those infamous Seattle rain showers. While the rain shouldn’t dampen your day in the Emerald City, driving around for hours in search of a parking spot just might.
Instead of letting the parking situation get you down, set yourself up for success by learning how to score an affordable and convenient parking space in the city with our ultimate guide to Seattle parking.
The Two Types of Seattle Parking Options
There’s no shortage of parking spaces in Seattle. However, it can still be hard to find an open spot due to the sheer number of residents competing for the same, limited number of parking spots.
If you’re looking for real-time updates on available garages, parking lots, and street parking options in Downtown Seattle, check out INRIX’s ParkMe Seattle Parking Map.
Downtown Seattle Parking’s online interactive map is another helpful resource for finding real-time parking spots where you can legally park.
Instead of roaming the city in search of parking, reference one of these maps for assistance. You’ll be able to see how many spaces are available at each parking location. The map will also tell you how much you can expect to pay based on how long you need to park your car.
Free Parking
You can park for free in Seattle on Sundays and many federal holidays, including the following:
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Presidents Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Indigenous Peoples Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
Pay To Park
Paid street parking options are denoted by signs with a blue letter “P.” The sign will also indicate the maximum number of hours you can park there.
When paying for metered parking in Seattle, you’ll have two options.
Option #1 (the most convenient way to pay for street parking): Download the PayByPhone app on your smartphone and connect a debit or credit card to the app. Once you’ve entered the parking spot’s location number (which can be found on the PayByPhone sign near the parking meter), you can indicate how much time you want to pay for. Note: Don’t worry if you end up needing more time. You can always extend your time by wiring more money to the app.
Option #2: Pay in person with cash: Add money to the physical meter near the parking signs. Remember that most Seattle-paid parking spots are charged in 50-cent increments, so make sure you have $1 bills and quarters to make exact change.
Many metered parking spots also allow you to pay with a physical card. Just know that, unlike paying for parking via the PayByPhone app, you won’t have the luxury of adding more time to your parking spot when you pay in person by card. Instead, you’ll need to physically return to where you parked your car and manually add more time by swiping your credit card.
Best Parking Garages in Seattle
Here are five of the best parking garages in Downtown Seattle based on affordability, convenience, and accessibility:
- 7th & Pike Garage, 1508 7th Avenue
- Pike Place Market Parking Garage, 1531 Western Avenue
- West Edge Republic Parking Garage, 200 Pike Street
- Market Place Imperial Parking Garage, 65 Lenora Street
- KOMO Plaza Garage, 140 4th Avenue
Rules of Parking in Seattle
When looking for somewhere to park in Seattle, never park in alleyways or on sidewalks. You can park near stop signs, yield signs, crosswalks, fire hydrants, and driveways as long as you do not park closer than the legal distances:
- Within 30 feet of stop signs
- Within 30 feet of yield signs
- Within 20 feet of crosswalks
- Within 15 feet of fire hydrants
- Within 5 feet of driveways
When looking for parking in Seattle, pay attention to the curbs’ paint colors. A curb painted yellow, white, or red means you cannot park in that space.
Also, before you park your car, make sure you understand the time limits. Paid street parking options often limit the amount of time you can park in one spot at any given time. These limits are often two, four, or ten hours, depending on the location, so check the parking sign to see what the time-related restrictions are.
No matter what, you cannot park your car on Seattle streets for longer than 72 hours, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation (DOT). Otherwise, the city will treat your car as though it’s been abandoned, and you’ll either receive a ticket or your car will be towed.
In Summary
If you’re planning to take a road trip to Seattle or rent a car while you’re in the city, understanding local parking rules and regulations is a must. Otherwise, you’ll risk getting a ticket or having your car towed — neither of which are ideal situations.
While preparing for your travels to the Emerald City, deciding where you’ll park ahead of time is an option. However, it’s not the only one! You can also look into renting parking space from local Seattle residents, especially if you need somewhere to park for a month or so.
From driveways and garages to paved and unpaved lots, peer-to-peer marketplaces like Neighbor are gold mines for affordable and reliable monthly parking spaces in Seattle. Plus, you won’t have to worry about breaking any parking laws because all car storage options are verified before being listed for rent!
People Also Ask
Can You Park for Free in Seattle?
Yes! You can find free Seattle street parking on Sundays and most federal holidays.
How Much Is Parking in Seattle?
Parking rates vary according to location, time of day, and the parking zone in question. The Seattle DOT Paid Parking Rates chart can help you understand specific parking rates, but on average, most Seattle parking spots cost between $1 and $5 per hour.
Where Can I Park All Day in Seattle?
Street parking is free all day on Sundays and most federal holidays. You can also look for parking garages that offer all-day parking. For example, the Pike Place Market Parking Garage offers an Early Bird rate, and for $15, you can park in the garage from 9 am to 9 pm every day of the week.
Is It Difficult to Park in Seattle?
It’s not difficult to park in Seattle because there are a variety of parking options. However, it can be expensive!
Is Parking Expensive in Seattle?
Parking can be expensive in Seattle, but it doesn’t have to be. There are affordable parking options available near you (both in the heart of downtown and on the outskirts of the city, including neighborhoods like Bainbridge Island, Kenmore, Issaquah, and Sammamish).
