The beating heart of the city, Chattanooga’s downtown district brims with activity night and day – and for those coming into the area by car, finding an affordable place to park can be a real test.
A car parked in front of an eatery in Downtown Chattanooga (Photo: aldo c zavala via Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0)
With its assortment of shops, boutiques, restaurants and other attractions, Downtown Chattanooga is a magnet for visitors to this bustling city set along the Tennessee River in southeastern Tennessee. And while the district is eminently walkable, many still choose to travel here in their own transport, making it tricky to find a parking space. Nonetheless, if you spare time to plan ahead, it’s quite possible to locate a spot that will put you within easy reach of the area’s main places of interest. Here’s our short guide to parking in downtown.
The choices for parking in Downtown Chattanooga largely come down to metred street parking or off-street lots and parking garages. Metered street spaces are enforced from 8am to 6pm Monday through Saturday, with rates starting at $1.50 per hour. Alternatively, if you prefer the security of off-street covered parking, there are several options to pick from. Our top choice is the CARTA North Garage on Broad Street, where you’ll pay $9 for 3 hours or more parking per day. Another option we’d recommend for day parking is EPB parking garage on East 10th Street which is even cheaper with a maximum all-day charge of just $8. Both of these garages are open Monday to Sunday.
You can book the above parking garages at Spothero.com, as well as several other parking lots in Downtown Chattanooga.
Free parking in Downtown Chattanooga
As indicated above, metered street parking space restrictions are not enforced in Downtown Chattanooga on Sundays, meaning you can park in the area all day and night for free, or until 8am on the Monday, at least. There are also a small handful of streets with free parking in the area, but other than that the primary choice in downtown for leaving your car somewhere for no charge is staying in one of the area’s hotels that has its own private car park.
Long-stay parking in Downtown Chattanooga
If you’re staying in Downtown Chattanooga and don’t have access to free parking at your place of accommodation, or are intending to drive into the district on several days during your stay, the most affordable option is often long-term parking. This can save you a significant amount of money compared with day parking and is also a whole lot more convenient than seeking out street parking each day or paying high day rates at a private garage or parking lot. For example, at the CARTA Northshore Garage at Frazier and Tremont you’ll pay up to $10 to park on a daily basis, but monthly rates are just $35 – representing a saving of over $250 compared with paying for individual days.
For the best parking rates in Downtown Chattanooga, go to Spothero.com