Orlando’s bustling Downtown district is a hive of activity day and date, making parking in the area something akin to a competitive sport.
(Photo: Russ Sanderlin via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)
Home to a hotch-potch of modern office towers and 19th-century buildings, along with a huge array of attractions, the Central Business District – or Downtown – draws large numbers of visitors throughout the year. For those travelling in their own car, finding a parking space in or around the district isn’t always simple, but with a bit of organisation you can usually land a spot. We’ve done some research so you don’t have to by creating a guide to parking in Downtown Orlando.
The options for parking in Downtown Orlando mainly come down to metred street parking or off-street lots and parking garages. There are a number of metered street spaces available, which are enforced from Monday through to Saturday 8am to 6pm, priced at $1 per every 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 City Commons Parking Grage, where you’ll pay $3 for the first hour and $2 for each additional hour. If you’re coming into Downtown just for the evening, then you might consider The Plaza Garage, where there’s a flat evening rate of $13 which kicks in after 6pm
You can book the above parking garages at Spothero.com, as well as several other parking lots in Downtown Orlando.
Free parking in Downtown Orlando
As outlined above, metered street spaces are not enforced after 6pm on Monday to Saturday, and on Sundays parking is completely free of charge. This means you can drive into Downtown for the evening and park on the street for free, providing you can find a space. Alternatively, residents and visitors can also take advantage of two hours of free parking at any on-street metered and non-metered spaces on all days and times of the week by using a downloadable smartphone app called ParkMobile.
Long-stay parking in Downtown Orlando
If you’re staying in Downtown Orlando and don’t have free parking at your accommodation, or are planning to drive into the area on several days during your stay, the cheapest option is finding long-term parking. This can be both a real money saver and highly convenient, allowing you to avoid searching for street parking each day or paying high day rates at a parking garage. So, for example, at Jefferson Street Parking garage, overnight day rates are $15, but monthly rates start at just $110 per month – representing a huge saving of over $300 compared with paying for individual days for an entire month.
For the best parking rates in Downtown Orlando, go to Spothero.com