Quick tips to secure a parking spot in Boston

Travelling around Boston on wheels is convenient if you’re using public transport or feeling the wind in your hair while cycling around. After all, Boston is literally known as America’s Walking City, owing to its high population density – with the Greater Boston area ranking as the 4th most populated region in the United States in 2024, according to World Population Review.

However, you may need to get around Downtown Boston in a car for some unavoidable reason but unable to find a place to leave your car because of parking restrictions. Avoid finding yourself going around in circles, shelling out for expensive parking options, or typing “parking tips Boston” on your phone out of frustration while searching for a spot.

It’s much easier to find a suitable parking space if you have more concrete plans. With that in mind, figure out how long you will be parked and how much you’re willing to pay.

How long will you park?

Before heading out, consider your purpose and parking duration for your drive and check out which of the options below best suit your needs.

Street parking for a quick stay (≤2 hours) 

If you’re just out on a quick errand or just good at keeping track of your time, you may want to consider parking along the streets in spots with parking meters installed. Parking meters are operational from Monday through Saturday, 8AM to 8PM and cost around $2 to $3.75, depending on the location.

Metered parking usually has a time limit of two hours so make sure to keep track of the time to avoid getting a parking ticket. There are also parking meters that can be paid through the ParkBoston app which will automatically send an alert once your time is almost up.

If your errand is really quick such as a swift pick-up or drop off, there are a few areas of Back Bay and Beacon Hill that will allow a 15 to 30 minute parking for $0.50.

Parking garages for midterm stays (>2 hours to 1 month)

If you need to park for more than two hours, consider parking lots at a location close to where you’ll go instead. This way, you won’t need to bother tracking your time to avoid a ticket.

There are many parking garages in Boston that offer rates depending on the length and time of stay and these usually accept credit card payments, so you don’t need to worry about stocking up on coins.

Boston Common Garage

The Boston Common Garage offers different rates depending on the time and duration of your stay. For instance, the weekday daily rate ranges from $12 for an hour to $32 for a 24-hours stay. However, they also offer a lower late night parking rate of $5 for vehicles parked between 9PM to 8AM if you reserve a spot online. Likewise, they offer parking spaces for monthly rentals.

Government Center Garage

Located in the heart of Boston, the Government Center Garage is an 8-storey parking building that offers over 2,000 parking spaces, 24-hour staff assistance, individual and corporate parking, as well as EV charging facilities. 

Rates vary depending on the length of stay. It is also open 24/7 and accepts cash and credit card payments, with an additional option for debit payment for monthly customers.

Long-term parking (1 month to 1 year)

If you’ll be staying in Boston for an extended period, you might want to find parking garages and facilities that accept monthly or annual rentals.

Parking garages

For instance, the two garages above both accept weekly and monthly rentals of parking spaces. There are other smaller and similar-sized garages scattered around the city that accept long-term rentals, so your main concern is to find one close to where you will stay.

Residential street parking

You may also apply for a monthly or annual permit to park in neighborhoods where the residential streets require a parking permit. Application can be done online or in-person and approval can take as long as 10 days for new residents or the end of the business day for rental cars. Just remember that residential parking permits for rental cars are only valid up to 30 days from issuance.

Is there free parking in Boston?

If you’re out of coins, tight on money, or just simply don’t want to spend for parking, there are some viable free parking spots in Boston. The catch is that they are usually a good distance away from the popular spots, but if you don’t mind walking a bit, there are some good parking spaces at community centers or parks.

Where else can I find information about parking in Boston?

A quick search online would yield additional information about your parking options in Boston. If you want quick information from locals residing in the area you’re going to, crowdsourcing isn’t a bad option, especially if you know or are familiar with the crowd you’re asking.

However, if you’re not familiar with anyone from Boston, or you’re simply going there as a tourist or for work, there are still other options available. For instance, rental car companies like SIXT provide information about different parking options to its customers who will stay in Boston.

Likewise, some hotels provide valet service so you can ask the staff when booking a room or upon your arrival. Just be aware that valet parking usually comes at additional cost so fees may add up when using this type of hotel service for parking.

Parking apps can also provide parking space listings according to various requirements.

Spacer offers monthly parking spots in major spots in Boston and other major cities and suburbs and you can simply book in advance to better enjoy the bustling city.

Final word: If you need to drive, you need to plan

As you can see from the provided parking option above, you need to have a plan if you don’t want to search for a parking space in Boston on hard mode. Before you leave, make sure you have a general idea of where you’re going and how much you’re willing to spend for parking. This way, you’ll have an idea of the closest parking option you have according to your budget.