This is the PegishaPlace parking guide. We plan on expanding it as information comes in. However we will begin by making this a Manhattan parking guide page as Manhattan is the land of parking issues.
There are three options for parking in Manhattan.
1. Street parking (free):
On average, the availability of street parking on the island is very limited. Availability can differ depending on the block or neighborhood you are visiting. For example, you are more likely or find a spot in The Village than you are in Times Square. It also differs based on the time if day. In large areas of Midtown, there is no parking allowed on the street until 6 or 7 PM for noncommercial vehicles. But after that it is possible to find one. Another thing to be aware of is alternate side parking, which takes place 1-2 days per week, usually in the morning or early afternoon.
An interactive map of every parking sign in the five boroughs can be found here. You can find the ASP signs in the DOT portal . Or you can use this color coded map, (which is useful for all five boroughs, but may be having technical issues at the moment in Manhattan). Another useful resource is BestParking (may not work in mobile), which allows you to input the date and times of when you need to park, and it will display a map of where you can park for free (also meters and lots). However, it will still be extremely difficult to find a spot that isn't already occupied, so don't rely on this.
2. Parking meters:
Even spots by paid meters can be very difficult to find in Manhattan. If you do find an empty metered spot, you are likely capped at 1 or 2 hours at a time. Most meters in Midtown and Lower Manhattan charge more the second hour. The approximate costs are:
1. Street parking (free):
On average, the availability of street parking on the island is very limited. Availability can differ depending on the block or neighborhood you are visiting. For example, you are more likely or find a spot in The Village than you are in Times Square. It also differs based on the time if day. In large areas of Midtown, there is no parking allowed on the street until 6 or 7 PM for noncommercial vehicles. But after that it is possible to find one. Another thing to be aware of is alternate side parking, which takes place 1-2 days per week, usually in the morning or early afternoon.
An interactive map of every parking sign in the five boroughs can be found here. You can find the ASP signs in the DOT portal . Or you can use this color coded map, (which is useful for all five boroughs, but may be having technical issues at the moment in Manhattan). Another useful resource is BestParking (may not work in mobile), which allows you to input the date and times of when you need to park, and it will display a map of where you can park for free (also meters and lots). However, it will still be extremely difficult to find a spot that isn't already occupied, so don't rely on this.
2. Parking meters:
Even spots by paid meters can be very difficult to find in Manhattan. If you do find an empty metered spot, you are likely capped at 1 or 2 hours at a time. Most meters in Midtown and Lower Manhattan charge more the second hour. The approximate costs are:
Neighborhood |
1st hour |
2nd hour |
Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Midtown - Downtown |
4.00-$4.50 |
$6.75 -$7.50 |
Uptown (Washington Heights, Harlem) |
$1.25-$2.50 |
N/A |
Payment methods:
Coins (quarters, dollar coins) and credit cards
These are to be paid at the meter. You will then be given a receipt which you MUST display on your dashboard. When time expires, you must go again to the meter and get another receipt, so you can technically stay longer than the maximum time allowed.
ParkNYC App
Available for Android and iPhone.
The benefit of the App is that you don't need to go back to the meter to add time. However, you will not be able to extend the time past the 1-2 hour maximum. If you want to park again in the same area, you need to leave that zone for 30 minutes. Personally, I pay with coins for the first hour, take note of the zone number and my licence plate, and if I need to extend, I use the app later. You will need to maintain a $25 balance to use the app.
Resources:
Map of all parking signs including meters
Map of meter prices
NYC metered parking info
Locations and hours of street parking, meters and lots
3. Parking Lots/Garages:
When going to Manhattan, you should be prepared to pay for a lot. Although lots are to be found all over, they can be quite pricey. A 3 hour stay can be $20-$60. There are ways to save significantly though. There are three methods to pay for lots:
Walk-in rate:
This will be the most expensive and there is little reason to ever pay the official rate. For example, the lot at 110 E. 16th near Union Square officially charges $40 for up to 2 hours and $50 for up to 10 hours. So a three hour stay will cost $50 + tax. However, using one of the next two methods will allow you to park for 6 hours for only $32 including tax.
Coupons:
Coupons can save you a chunkload of cash. The benefit of using coupons over making reservations is that you don't have to prepay, so if you end up finding a spot or a meter, you can just not use the coupon. The downside is that a spot is not guaranteed, though this has never been an issue for me. These are most useful for Icon garages. Find a convenient garage on their website, and see if that lot offers a coupon that will help you. They may require you to print it, (although I've never had it enforced: I usually show PDF on my phone.) They may require you to pay with credit card when using a coupon.
Pre-book online or through mobile apps:
The benefit is that a spot is guaranteed. Also, sometimes you can get get rates that aren't available with coupons.
Websites:
Icon Parking Systems
BestParking
SpotHero
ParkWhiz
Parking.com
Apps:
Spot Hero: Android | iPhone
ParkWhiz: Android | iPhone
ParkMobile: Android | iPhone
They are all basically the same, though they might have different promotional rates. You can also try searching the web to see if there are any promo codes, especially of it's your first time with that site/app.
If you have any questions, comments or input, please let us know in the contact form.
Good luck!
Coins (quarters, dollar coins) and credit cards
These are to be paid at the meter. You will then be given a receipt which you MUST display on your dashboard. When time expires, you must go again to the meter and get another receipt, so you can technically stay longer than the maximum time allowed.
ParkNYC App
Available for Android and iPhone.
The benefit of the App is that you don't need to go back to the meter to add time. However, you will not be able to extend the time past the 1-2 hour maximum. If you want to park again in the same area, you need to leave that zone for 30 minutes. Personally, I pay with coins for the first hour, take note of the zone number and my licence plate, and if I need to extend, I use the app later. You will need to maintain a $25 balance to use the app.
Resources:
Map of all parking signs including meters
Map of meter prices
NYC metered parking info
Locations and hours of street parking, meters and lots
3. Parking Lots/Garages:
When going to Manhattan, you should be prepared to pay for a lot. Although lots are to be found all over, they can be quite pricey. A 3 hour stay can be $20-$60. There are ways to save significantly though. There are three methods to pay for lots:
Walk-in rate:
This will be the most expensive and there is little reason to ever pay the official rate. For example, the lot at 110 E. 16th near Union Square officially charges $40 for up to 2 hours and $50 for up to 10 hours. So a three hour stay will cost $50 + tax. However, using one of the next two methods will allow you to park for 6 hours for only $32 including tax.
Coupons:
Coupons can save you a chunkload of cash. The benefit of using coupons over making reservations is that you don't have to prepay, so if you end up finding a spot or a meter, you can just not use the coupon. The downside is that a spot is not guaranteed, though this has never been an issue for me. These are most useful for Icon garages. Find a convenient garage on their website, and see if that lot offers a coupon that will help you. They may require you to print it, (although I've never had it enforced: I usually show PDF on my phone.) They may require you to pay with credit card when using a coupon.
Pre-book online or through mobile apps:
The benefit is that a spot is guaranteed. Also, sometimes you can get get rates that aren't available with coupons.
Websites:
Icon Parking Systems
BestParking
SpotHero
ParkWhiz
Parking.com
Apps:
Spot Hero: Android | iPhone
ParkWhiz: Android | iPhone
ParkMobile: Android | iPhone
They are all basically the same, though they might have different promotional rates. You can also try searching the web to see if there are any promo codes, especially of it's your first time with that site/app.
If you have any questions, comments or input, please let us know in the contact form.
Good luck!