{"id":11581,"date":"2023-09-14T12:47:34","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T12:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/?p=11581"},"modified":"2023-09-19T07:54:56","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T07:54:56","slug":"parking-in-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/","title":{"rendered":"Parking in Washington DC: Strategies and Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Visiting Washington DC can be an exciting and enriching experience, but finding convenient and affordable parking can be a challenge. From street parking to garages and public transit, here&#8217;s what you need to know to park like a pro in the nation&#8217;s capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#on-street-parking\">Where to find On-Street Parking in DC?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#parking-garages\">How and where: Finding parking garages in DC<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#free-parking\">Where to park for free in DC?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#park-and-ride\">How do I use Park &amp; Ride in DC?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#other-faqs\">Other FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"on-street-parking\">Where to find on-street Parking in DC?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, some popular areas to find on-street parking in DC are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>U Street Corridor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adams Morgan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capitol Hill<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Georgetown<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dupont Circle<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of where to park in the City, on-street parking is one of the <strong>most common and convenient options<\/strong>. However, it is also one of the <strong>most heavily regulated, and availability varies by neighborhood and time of day<\/strong>. Once you pick up your rental car at one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/car-rental\/usa\/washington\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Washington DC SIXT branches<\/a>, you will find on-street parking available throughout the city.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/sites\/6\/2023\/09\/washington-on-street-parking-washington-iStock-1084662428-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"O-street Parking Washington, United States Capitol and Upper Senate Park. Washington, DC. Autumn\" class=\"wp-image-11573 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">On-street parking in Washington DC, istock.com\/ValerijaP<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"parking-garages\">How and where: Finding parking garages in Washington DC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Washington DC has plenty of parking garages located in various parts of the city, <strong>usually near popular tourist attractions, shopping centers, and restaurants<\/strong>. One way to find and reserve parking spots in DC is through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parkwhiz.com\/p\/washington-dc-parking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">ParkWhiz<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/spothero.com\/city\/washington-dc-parking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">SpotHero<\/a>. These apps allow users to search for available parking garages and lots in real time, compare prices, and reserve a spot in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to know where to find parking garages, be sure to filter your search results by location, price, and other criteria. <strong>There are over 50 parking garages in downtown DC alone<\/strong>. Garages in DC can cost anywhere <strong>from $10 to $40 per day<\/strong>, depending on the location, time of day, and length of stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"free-parking\">Where to find free parking in DC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Finding free parking in DC is easy if you know where to look and are patient enough. One place to look is in the <strong>residential neighborhoods outside the central business district.<\/strong> Be sure to check the posted parking signs for any restrictions, as some residential neighborhoods in DC have time-limited parking or residential permit parking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another option for free parking is to use an app like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotangels.com\/washington-dc-parking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">SpotAngels.<\/a> The app shows you a map of the neighborhood, parking signs, and time limits, so you can see where to park your vehicle for free without worrying about getting ticketed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are going to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/luxury-cars\/washington\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rent a luxury\u202fcar<\/a> with SIXT, you should check for hotels in DC that offer free parking, to secure an extra safe and supervised space. One of the hotels in Washington DC that offers free parking is the <strong>Americana Hotel <\/strong>and another option is the <strong>Holiday Inn Washington-Central\/White House.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/sites\/6\/2023\/09\/washington-parking-lot-washington-dc-capitol-iStock-1410904401.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10668 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Capitol parking lot in Washington DC, istock.com\/mr-fox<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"park-and-ride\">Using Park &amp; Ride in Washington DC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/washington.org\/de\/deal\/park-and-ride\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Park &amp; Ride system in Washington<\/a> is perfect for those who want to avoid the hassle of driving in metropolitan areas. This transportation solution allows you to park your car in one location, and then take a shuttle or train to your desired destination in the city. When using Park &amp; Ride make sure you check:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For time restrictions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For fees, as some lots may require you to <strong>pay for parking<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the <strong>best Park &amp; Ride locations in DC <\/strong>are located at various bus terminals and Metro stations across the city. These include <strong>the Franconia-Springfield station, the Greenbelt station, and the Shady Grove station<\/strong>. Next, park your car in the designated area and make your way to the shuttle or train platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"other-faqs\">Other FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is parking in DC difficult?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, parking in DC can be a difficult task due to narrow streets, limited parking spaces, and traffic congestion. However, there are still many ways to help you find a parking spot. One of the most effective ways is to use public transportation, including the Metro, bus, and streetcar systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, <strong>using a parking app<\/strong> such as SpotHero or ParkWhiz can help you plan ahead and find available parking spots in advance. Another great option is to purchase a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/parkingpass\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">ParkingPass<\/a> which offers online parking reservations at various locations in DC, eliminating the need to search for parking spots yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, it&#8217;s important to be patient and flexible in your search for parking, especially in high-demand areas. By utilizing these strategies, parking in DC can be a manageable task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How much does it cost to park a car in DC?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost of parking in Washington DC depends on the location, the time of day, and the type of parking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you&#8217;re parking in the <strong>central downtown area,<\/strong> expect to pay anywhere<strong> from $10 to $20 per hour <\/strong>for street or garage parking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some popular<strong> tourist areas <\/strong>may even charge <strong>up to $30 per hour <\/strong>for parking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Overnight<\/strong> parking fees can add up quickly too, with some garages charging $<strong>50 or more for a 24-hour period.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is parking free on Sundays in Washington?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, parking is <strong>free on Sundays<\/strong>, including metered parking spots and residential parking zones. This policy encourages people to go out and explore the city on Sundays, without worrying about parking fees. However, some areas, such as Georgetown and the National Mall, may still have time-limited <strong>parking restrictions on Sundays,<\/strong> so be sure to check the posted signs before parking your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the parking options near museums in DC?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a few options available for parking near the National Mall, where many of the most popular museums and attractions are located. One option for parking near the museums is <strong>the garage located on 7th St. SW, between D and E streets.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another option is to park at <strong>Union Station, which is about a 10-minute walk from the National Mall.<\/strong> These parking garages offer rates by the hour, as well as daily rates for those who wish to spend the entire day exploring the city&#8217;s attractions.<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Visiting Washington DC can be an exciting and enriching experience, but finding convenient and affordable parking can be a challenge. From street parking to garages and public transit, here&#8217;s what you need to know to park like a pro in the nation&#8217;s capital. Where to find on-street Parking in DC? In short, some popular areas&#8230;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-11581","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-tips","7":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Unlock top tips for free &amp; paid parking in Washington DC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Score a great parking spot while saving time and money with these proven strategies for parking in DC. Click here for your essential guide.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Unlock top tips for free &amp; paid parking in Washington DC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Score a great parking spot while saving time and money with these proven strategies for parking in DC. Click here for your essential guide.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SIXT rent a car Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-09-14T12:47:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-09-19T07:54:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/sites\/6\/2023\/09\/washington-on-street-parking-washington-iStock-1084662428.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"packermann\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"packermann\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Unlock top tips for free & paid parking in Washington DC","description":"Score a great parking spot while saving time and money with these proven strategies for parking in DC. Click here for your essential guide.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Unlock top tips for free & paid parking in Washington DC","og_description":"Score a great parking spot while saving time and money with these proven strategies for parking in DC. Click here for your essential guide.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/","og_site_name":"SIXT rent a car Magazine","article_published_time":"2023-09-14T12:47:34+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-09-19T07:54:56+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":800,"url":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/sites\/6\/2023\/09\/washington-on-street-parking-washington-iStock-1084662428.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"packermann","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"packermann","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/"},"author":{"name":"packermann","@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/ed2af37c9b0ee5c0d0358abc9c9c67f1"},"headline":"Parking in Washington DC: Strategies and Tips","datePublished":"2023-09-14T12:47:34+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-19T07:54:56+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/"},"wordCount":995,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/sites\/6\/2023\/09\/washington-on-street-parking-washington-iStock-1084662428-1024x683.jpg","articleSection":["Guides &amp; Tips"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/","url":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/","name":"Unlock top tips for free & paid parking in Washington DC","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/sites\/6\/2023\/09\/washington-on-street-parking-washington-iStock-1084662428-1024x683.jpg","datePublished":"2023-09-14T12:47:34+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-19T07:54:56+00:00","description":"Score a great parking spot while saving time and money with these proven strategies for parking in DC. Click here for your essential guide.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/#primaryimage","url":"","contentUrl":""},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/tips\/parking-in-washington\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Parking in Washington DC: Strategies and Tips"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/","name":"SIXT rent a car Magazine","description":"Travel Tips and News","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/#organization","name":"SIXT Rent A Car","url":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/SIXT_Logo_Pos_RGB-2.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/SIXT_Logo_Pos_RGB-2.png","width":2000,"height":804,"caption":"SIXT Rent A Car"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/ed2af37c9b0ee5c0d0358abc9c9c67f1","name":"packermann","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/195d0b7721724d95e00a8ed0c09b668246fc329f4ff3e92513836d6626653185?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/195d0b7721724d95e00a8ed0c09b668246fc329f4ff3e92513836d6626653185?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"packermann"}}]}},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/111"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11581\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}