Most streets in New York City have curbside parking available, but finding a spot can be challenging. Parking spots fill up early and can remain filled all day long. When you find an open spot, you will typically need to parallel park, so make sure you've brushed up on that skill. Furthermore, New York City has a process called alternate side parking, which means that on certain days you can park on one side of the street and on other days, you can park on the other side. This allows for street sweepers to keep the roadways tidy.
If you plan on using street parking in New York City, be sure to give yourself an additional 30 to 45 minutes to get wherever you are going. Finding street parking can take a long time, so don't let it make you late by not allocating enough time to locate it. You are most likely to locate street parking in the outer boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island) and in the more residential areas of Manhattan. You are least likely to locate street parking in midtown and around the city's colleges when school is in session. The crosstown streets are your best bet for looking for street parking.
In some areas of New York and on some crosstown streets, there is no charge for parking. But in most areas, there are parking meters to feed. There are two ways to pay for the street parking meters.
If you plan to make several trips into the city, a NYC Parking Card is an option. It's available in denominations $20, $50 and $100. However, only certain areas are covered by the system. In Manhattan, those include midtown, Union Square, 72nd Street, the New York University area and other areas in the boroughs. The NYC Parking Card can be purchased by mail or from a CityStore location, the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, 66 John Street in Manhattan or online.
Otherwise, bring lots of quarters to feed the parking meters, which are used on most streets throughout the city. You will also need to return to your spot several times to add more change to your parking meter if you are there for longer than the meter-allowed time. If you fail to feed the meter, you will receive a parking ticket that could cost you upward of $65. Parking meters also accept dimes and nickles.
Parking garages are located throughout Manhattan. There are also some located in the boroughs, though they are less populous there. Parking garages are mostly located on crosstown city streets and identified with large signs that say PARK. There are many choices for garages in the Lincoln Center area, midtown, Union Square and other popular areas of Manhattan and fewer in the less traversed areas of the city.
Popular parking garages in the city include Icon, Central Parking and Park Fast, which all have multiple locations.
At most underground garages, you drive your car in, leave it with the keys inside and receive a ticket for your car. You will be asked when you plan to return. Be accurate. The parking attendant asks that because they store your car in a place that is easy to access at the time you say you will be returning.
Although most parking garages in New York have attendants to park your car, there are some self-parking garages as well, such as the Riverside Church Garage located near Columbia University and Barnard College. Drive safely and park carefully, as parking spots are very close together.
There are above-ground parking lots available throughout the city as well. Similar to an attended garage, you usually leave your car with a parking attendant who gives you a ticket and keeps your keys (so they can park your car). Unlike a parking garage though, your car is exposed to the elements in this parking area.
Parking lots are widely available around the city's sports facilities such as Yankee Stadium. They are also available on a smaller scale in midtown, near colleges and uptown. Some, such as the parking lot located next to the Fairway supermarket in Harlem on 12th Avenue, are free to use.
The amount you will pay for parking will depending on several factors: where in the city the garages is located, what time you arrive and how long you stay. Parking in midtown costs more than it does uptown.
For drivers entering the city just for the day, planning ahead can be advantageous. Parking garages such as Icon and Central Park offer coupons and special deals on their websites. Furthermore, some also offer early bird specials where you pay a low flat rate for all day parking.
For those who travel into the city more frequently, parking garages and lots offer weekly and monthly deals, which can help save money in the long run.
Also, check with any business or college you may be visiting. Schools such as Fordham University at Lincoln Center will stamp your parking stub (this is called validating), which gives you a heavy discount on parking in nearby garages.
