Are you moving to NYC? Or maybe you’re planning to visit the City That Never Sleeps for a while. Either way, whether your stay is short-term or permanent for the foreseeable future, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with parking in New York City. From street parking spots and garages to free parking spaces and monthly options, here’s everything you need to know about parking in NYC.
Part 1: Street Parking
Pro Tip: Make Sure You Pay for Metered Street Parking
New York City is divided into zones, and each zone has its own metered street parking rates:
- Zone M1: Midtown and Lower Manhattan
- 1 hour: $5.50
- 2 hours: $9.00
- Zone M2: South of 96th Street in Manhattan
- 1 hour: $5.00
- 2 hours: $8.25
- Zone M3: Between 96th and 110th Street in Manhattan
- 1 hour: $3.00
- 2 hours: $5.00
- Zone 1: Non-Manhattan Business Districts
- 1 hour: $2.50
- 2 hours: $5.00
- Zone 2: Neighborhood Retail Districts
- 1 hour: $2.00
- 2 hours: $3.00
- Zone 3: Everywhere Else in the City
- 1 hour: $1.50
- 2 hours: $2.50
Thankfully, you don’t have to memorize these zones or their rates. The parking meter will tell you how much it costs to park in the area.
In general, most NYC parking meters are not applicable after 7 pm. However, it’s always best to look at the signage placed next to the parking meter that corresponds with your selected parking spot.
You can either add money directly to the parking meter or download the ParkNYC app and pay for parking that way. The ParkNYC app is the more convenient option, especially if you end up needing to add additional time to the parking meter from the comfort of a restaurant booth or conference room.
However, you have a five-minute grace period, so if you’re running a bit behind, you won’t get a ticket immediately.
Pro Tip: Be Mindful of Residential Area Parking Rules
If you’re planning to park in a residential area, it’s important to understand that parking rules vary from one neighborhood to the next. In most NYC neighborhoods, you cannot legally park in the same spot for more than seven days in a row.
Pro Tip: Avoid Tickets By Following Downtown NYC Parking Regulations
The best way to avoid parking tickets is to understand local parking laws and adhere to them. Otherwise, you could end up facing a ticket between $60 and $125 on average.
According to GMC Parking, these are some of the most important parking regulations in Downtown NYC:
- Don’t keep your car parked in a parking spot after your time has run out.
- Park at least 15 feet away from fire hydrants.
- Never block intersections or crosswalks with your vehicle.
- Make sure your parking meter proof of payment is visible through your windshield.
- Respect the time limits denoted by street signs.
- Don’t park somewhere that requires a permit if you do not have one.
Part 2: Parking Garages
Pro Tip: Show Up To Parking Garages As Early As Possible
Have you heard the phrase “the early bird gets the worm”? In that same vein, early drivers in NYC get the parking spot! This is especially true with garages in NYC that offer early bird rates.
According to Icon Parking’s early bird parking options in NYC, drivers can park their vehicles for 12 hours per day as long as they arrive between 10 and 11 a.m. and leave by 6 p.m. The exact times differ based on the garage, but the point is that you will pay less for day parking in a garage if you show up earlier in the day.
Many NYC garages charge drivers an hourly rate. However, drivers who arrive at parking garages during early bird hours will only have to pay a low flat rate instead.
For example, let’s look at the pricing structures of iPark in Manhattan. If you arrive between 9 am and 10 am and you leave by 8 pm, you will pay an early-bird flat fee of $19. On the other hand, outside of early bird hours, here’s what you’d pay instead:
- Up to 30 minutes: $15
- Up to 1 hour: $40
- Up to 2 hours: $55
- Up to 10 hours: $62
- Up to 24 hours: $72
These three parking garages are additional examples of garages that offer early bird rates in NYC:
Part 3: Free Parking
Pro Tip: Plan To Park in the City on Sundays
If you’re looking for free parking options in NYC, Sundays are your friend because street parking is free on Sundays. This is due to something called alternate side parking rules.
Abbreviated as ASP, alternate side parking is an NYC-specific traffic law. It dictates which side of the street drivers must park on to accommodate both street cleaners and road maintenance workers alike.
This law might sound complicated, but thankfully, NYC streets are lined with street signs that let you know which dates and times ASP is in effect. Sundays aside, look for a white rectangular street sign that showcases a black letter “P” circled in red with a red broom across the “P.”
Pro Tip: Park in NYC on Holidays When Alternate Side Parking is Suspended
Parking is free on Sundays in NYC because alternate side parking rules are not enforced on Sundays. Similarly, NYC street parking is also free on the following holidays for the same reason:
- New Year’s Day
- Three King’s Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Lunar New Year’s Eve
- Lunar New Year
- Lincoln’s Birthday
- Ash Wednesday
- Presidents Day
- Pruim
- Holy Thursday
- Good Friday
- Eid al-Fitr
- Passover
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Tisha B’Av
- Feast of the Assumption
- Labor Day
- Rosh Hashanah
- Yom Kippur
- Indigenous Peoples Day
- Succoth
- Shemini Atzereth
- Simchas Torah
- Diwali
- All Saints Day
- Election Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
So, if you ever want to spend a holiday in NYC, you’re in luck because street parking won’t cost you a penny!
Pro Tip: Reference the NYC DOT Map or Take Public Transportation
Another way to find free parking in New York is to look up your destination on the official DOT map of NYC. This resource will let you know what your parking options are in any given area.
Now, for cheap parking at unbeatable prices, consider finding a parking spot outside of the city’s limits and taking public transportation into NYC. This will be an easier way to find free parking and lower your total costs because you won’t have to pay tolls on your way into NYC.
According to New York City Tourism, here are the best public transportation options that will take you into the city:
- Trains
- Buses
- Subways
- Taxis
- Ferries
- Bicycles
- Pedicabs
- Trams
Part 4: Monthly Parking
Pro Tip: Reserve Monthly Parking Spots Through Peer-to-Peer Marketplaces
Local NYC parking management company Icon Parking says the average monthly parking rate in NYC is $570. But what if you could find monthly parking options in NYC for up to 50% without sacrificing safety or security?
With peer-to-peer marketplaces like Neighbor, you can find NYC parking lots for as low as $75 per month. You can rent a 50′ x 10′ driveway in New York, NY, for $98.50 for the first month, or book an entire 20′ x 10′ parking garage for $199 monthly.
These are only some of the many local parking options available through Neighbor. Each listing is verified before becoming available to drivers like you, so you can trust that the people you’re renting space from have been thoroughly vetted. Marketplaces like Neighbor are the way to go for lower-cost monthly parking spaces in New York City.
In Summary
Peer-to-peer marketplaces like Neighbor are excellent options if you need somewhere to park your car for extended periods of time, but they are also helpful if you’re looking to reduce your dependency on your car or store it elsewhere for a while.
If you need long-term storage for your vehicle, resources like Neighbor also serve as peer-to-peer car storage marketplaces. Check it out for car storage options in all 50 states — New York included! — for 50% less than traditional storage option pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There Free Parking in NYC?
Yes! You can park for free in NYC on Sundays and most holidays. In many NYC neighborhoods, you can find free street parking after a certain time of day, depending on the area. Check the specifics of the location before parking your car overnight.
How Much Does It Cost to Park in NYC?
It depends! Parking garages cost anywhere from $15 to $100 or more. Street parking is free on Sundays and most holidays. Monthly parking can be upwards of $570 or more, but it can also be as low as $100 per month.
Where Do Tourists Park in NYC?
NYC-based mobile parking app ParkNYC recommends that tourists park in Roosevelt Island, Central Harlem, Marble Hill, Upper West Side, and Inwood.
Where to Park When Visiting Times Square?
The best option is to park your car in a parking facility, like a garage or parking lot. The most popular parking facilities near Times Square include Robo-Park, Advance Parking, Crowne Garage, Biltmore Garage, Global Parking, and 225 West 49th Street Parking. You can also search Neighbor for parking options near Times Square.
