Parking in Boston

Best Boston parking garages

Driving around Boston's many narrow and 1-way streets looking for parking places is never fun.  If you're visiting Boston and unfamiliar with the twists and turns of streets laid out during Colonial times, your hunt for parking will be even more challenging.  Even with GPS, getting lost is easy. 

On-street metered parking is quite limited in most areas and virtually non-existent in others.  Most Boston permit parking is limited to "Resident Only" spaces.  And if you make a parking mistake or your parking meter runs out of time before you return to your car, Boston parking ticket fines can be expensive - as much as $100 for some offenses. 

Metered parking is $.25 for 15 minutes.  The meters are the old-fashioned type that you have to "feed" with quarters, so having enough quarters can be a challenge.  In neighborhoods such as Beacon Hill and Back Bay where metered parking can be hard to find, tickets are issued swiftly.  Return to your car a minute too late, and you'll find a fluorescent orange ticket on your windshield.

In this context, parking garages quickly become your best choice.  Although Boston parking garages also charge hefty rates, they're cheaper than parking fines - if you avoid the most expensive options, and know where to find discounts and specials.  

Boston "insider" tips: best options for parking in Boston

Here are my "Boston insider" recommendations for parking garages where you'll find the best rates.  I've listed the nearby popular attractions that you can easily get to from the garages.  I'll be adding even more - so check back later if you don't find what you need.

• Boston parking garages in Fenway - Here are the closest parking garages and lots for Fenway Park, plus parking convenient to Boston University, Museum of Fine Arts, Northeastern University, the Longwood Medical area, Colleges of the Fenway, and even the western end of Back Bay
• Parking garages near North End attractions -  Best garages and lots near TD Garden, Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, local cruise departures, Government Center, Haymarket, Rose Kennedy Greenway, and of course, the North End.
• Boston Common Garage -  Convenient and affordable parking in the center of the city - perfect for Beacon Hill, Downtown Crossing, the Theatre District, Back Bay, and the Freedom Trail.  And, of course, Boston Common and the Public Garden. Rates are significantly lower than other nearby options.
• Boston parking garages near Theatre District attractions - Convenient and least expensive parking garages near Boston's Theatre District and Chinatown, as well as Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Boston Common, and Public Garden.

My #1 tip?  If at all possible, leave your car at home, and take Boston public transportation!

But if you absolutely can't, I hope these recommendations for the best places to find affordable parking in Boston will help you!