Saint Paul’s bustling Downtown district is the beating heart of the city and caters to its large number of visitors with plenty of affordable parking options.
Wabasha Street in Downtown Saint Paul (Photo: Warren LeMay via Flickr / )
With its grand State Capitol building and sprinkling of historic monuments and memorials, not to mention an assortment of drinking, dining and entertainment spots, Downtown Saint Paul is a magnet for visitors to the Minnesota capital. And enough of them come here in their own transport to make parking something of a challenge. However, with the right planning you can normally find a spot that won’t blow the budget. We’ve compiled a quick guide to parking in Downtown Saint Paul below.
The options for parking in Downtown Saint Paul mainly come down to metred street parking or off-street lots and parking garages. When it comes to metered street spaces available, which are enforced Monday through Saturday, 8am to 10pm, except for city holidays, with rates ranging from $0.25 to $2.75 per hour. Alternatively, if you prefer the security of off-street covered parking, there are several lots and garages to pick from. Our number one choice is Lawson Ramp on West 5th Street, where you’ll pay $14 for a 4-hour stay and $13.00 for an evening stay (5pm-5am). Another option we’d recommend is the Union Depot Parking Lot A on North Sibley Street, where prices start at $4 per hour.
You can book the above parking garages at Spothero.com, as well as several other parking lots in Downtown Saint Paul.
Free parking in Downtown Saint Paul
As outlined above, metered street parking space restrictions are not enforced between 10pm and 8am on Mondays to Saturdays – but those times are unlikely to help the average driver. However, there is free street parking across Downtown on Sundays, although we’d recommend arriving early to grab a spot as unsurprisingly they tend to go fast. Other than that, there is no free parking currently available in Downtown Saint Paul.
Long-stay parking in Downtown Saint Paul
If you’re staying in Saint Paul and don’t have free parking at your accommodation, or are planning to drive into Downtown on frequent days, the cheapest option is often finding long-term parking. This can save you a lot of money and is also more convenient than searching for street parking every day or paying hefty day rates at a private garage or parking lot. For example, at Treasure Island Center Parking on Cedar Street, you’ll pay up to $15 to park on a daily basis, but monthly rates are just $165 – representing a saving of almost $300 compared with paying for individual days.
For the best parking rates in Downtown Saint Paul go to Spothero.com