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Parking in Boston

Best Boston parking garages

Parking in Boston can be tricky. 

If you're visiting Boston and trying not to get lost while navigating the twists and turns of narrow streets laid out during Colonial times, your hunt for parking will be even more challenging.  

The best place to park in Boston is in a garage.

Why?

On-street metered parking in Boston is quite limited in most areas and virtually non-existent in others.  You'll see mostly "Resident Only" spaces.  And if you make a parking mistake such as parking in a tow zone 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 12 minutes.  Most neighborhoods have the old-fashioned type of meters that you have to "feed" with quarters, so stockpiling enough quarters can be a challenge. 

Also, we have parking police who are the fastest on the planet at issuing tickets, especially In neighborhoods such as Beacon Hill and Back Bay.  Return to your car a minute too late, and you'll find a fluorescent orange ticket on your windshield.

The only days when you don't have to put money in the meter for on-street parking are Sundays and City of Boston holidays - which, in case you're wondering, include all the usual federal and state holidays plus Patriots Day.

What's important to note about free parking on holidays is that on-street parking is free on the actual holiday, not the day when offices close to celebrate it. For example, if New Year's Day (January 1) falls on Sunday but offices close on Monday (January 2) to celebrate it, on-street parking in Boston is free on Sunday (which is free anyway), not Monday. Make sense?

In this context, you can see why 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. 

• Boston parking garages in Fenway - Here are the closest parking garages and lots for Fenway Park, plus parking convenient to House of Blues and other Fenway bars and clubs, Boston University (East Campus), Museum of Fine Arts, Symphony Hall, Northeastern University, the Longwood Medical area, Colleges of the Fenway, and even the western end of Back Bay
• Parking garages near North End attractions and TD Garaden -  Best garages and lots near TD Garden, Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, local Boston Harbor cruise departures, Government Center, Haymarket (including my favorite - the cheapest parking garage in Boston, with validation), 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, and the garage is easy to get in and out of - one of my personal favorites!
• 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 the T!

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

Any Questions about Parking in Boston?

Have a question about parking in Boston? Ask, and I'll do my best to answer.

First, though, check out what others have asked - I might have already answered the same question for someone else.

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Thanks for getting in touch, and enjoy your visit to Boston!

Susan

Questions from Others about Parking in Boston

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