Parking in the US - what are the rules?
Posted by manon_o23@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 111 comments
Hey!
I’ll be traveling through the US this month and I was wondering about parking. Here in the Netherlands I’m used to either parking garages or whatever paid parking alternatives there are. What’s the rules like in the US?
Maybe that’s a bit of a dumb question but I just want to make sure I follow the rules when visiting city centers mostly.
Places I’ll be visiting:
San Antonio
Dallas
Austin
Nashville
New Orleans
Thanks in advance! :)
CaptainPunisher@reddit
If the curb is painted red don't park there. If it's green, it's a timed parking area often 30 minutes to an hour. Yellow is for loading and unloading. Unpainted is generally free parking without a time limit, but watch for nearby signs and parking meters; if they're there, they will tell you the specifics.
clairew88@reddit
It's extremely localized. In Boston, the rules can differ even on different parts of the same street. You have to read the posted signs.
pikkdogs@reddit
Big cities like that usually do have parking garages. You might be able to find street parking as well, but mostly parking garages I would think.
Usually you take a ticket when you enter the garage and pay a fee for each hour you are there when you go. You may also have an automated parking meter or something where you would do something similar.
Efficient-Panic3506@reddit
Always read the signs. That’s basically the #1 rule. Rules can change by street, time of day, even day of the week.
chevy42083@reddit
Everything is free, unless there's a sign.... then read the sign.
Bear_necessities96@reddit
Depends which city you’re going to be
FishrNC@reddit
Parking garages and lots are obvious places to park. On the streets, unless there is a yellow curb or signs on posts nearby defining a length of curb as No Parking, streetside parking is allowed. There is sometimes a charge for streetside which you pay for at meters located at the front of your car or as posted nearby where you receive a paper to put on the dashboard to show you have paid and for how long. The meters show how much time you have remaining of the time you purchased to park.
darwinsidiotcousin@reddit
Unfortunately I haven't driven in any of the cities you mentioned except Nashville but I'll try to help.
Most cities have parking garages if you're in a particularly busy part of town. You'll grab a ticket when you pull in, then pay for parking as you leave depending on how long you were there. If you park on the street by the curb instead of in a garage, there will likely be parking meters and there will either be info on the meter or a sign on the street telling you how long you can park there and the cost to park there for different amounts of time.
If you're in a more residential area of a city, you may find street parking where you just pull over to the curb and can park there for free. Look for signs around where you park. A lot of cities will say you can only park there for like 2 hours before you have to move your car. Often times those rules are only enforced during business hours (it will say on the sign). In my town, if you're parking between 6pm and 9am then you can leave your car there as long as you want without paying. You just have to move it by 9am.
If the curb is painted red, do not park there, you will be towed because thats a fire lane and it needs to be kept clear because its an access point for a fire hydrant. Curbs can also be painted green and that typically means there is a time limit to how long you can park there. There will be a sign telling you how long you can stay, often between 15 minutes and 2 hours. If the curb is painted blue, its handicap parking only. Any of these will have signs nearby telling you what the rules are.
If there are no signs and you see other people parked on the curb, you can park there indefinitely. I have a fire hydrant in front of my house that I can't park in front of, but its only about 15ft. The rest of my road I can leave my car there as long as I want.
General rule is just look for paint on the curb. If you see paint, look for signs. I've only been to a handful of other countries, but from what I hear, Americans love road signs. They'll tell you what's okay and what's not
Few_Recognition_5253@reddit
red (no parking) and green (time limited) are pretty standard across the country in most cases I think, which is likely helpful to know
dbdiver@reddit
Towns have Electronic parking fees. If they list an app, and you are there for a while, get the app. Look for signs. This means of payment can also be used in garages.
If you are in a major city, an expect to use garages see if their is a parking app. NY, Boston etc. have apps that show the best price near your destination. In NYC I use Park Whiz. Parking can be a fortune in city center. Downtown Austin TX is ~ $50 a day which can be anything over an hour or so.
ZaphodG@reddit
Most people wouldn’t rent a car in New Orleans. The part of the city most people visit is very compact.
JumpingJacks1234@reddit
Yes. When we do visit New Orleans by car, we arrange a place to park near our hotel and spend our entire stay on foot or taking the trolley or bus.
CahabaL@reddit
In Nashville you need to be careful because there are a few companies that operate garages and parking lots that haven’t been fair to customers. https://wpln.org/post/tennessee-gets-free-parking-program-out-of-8-8m-metropolis-settlement/
dbdiver@reddit
Key issues. 1. Never park in front of a fire hydrant - it’s the first ticket they will write. If fireman need it they Will knock out all your windows and run a house through them. They have that right.
You can freely park at any open space on the street unless a sign states limitations. Always look for a sign.
A lot of towns are using electronics
Mackheath1@reddit
In cities you'll see direct signs. Example, here in Austin, Mon-Fri in many places are paid parking you have to download the stupid app or some have a credit card swipe. Sundays in most cities are going to be your free days.
On-street parking is almost always in the direction of traffic, but I've never seen anyone ticketed or towed for facing the wrong way. If you're on private property, make sue you're there for that purpose, just to be safe (going into a store, park on their lot, don't leave your car overnight).
People are itchy about you parking in front of their house, but you absolutely have the right to do so.
Don't leave anything within sight in the car. Cover your luggage if you can, or keep it in the trunk.
zoppaTheDim@reddit
Read the signs. If these signs confuse you, go pay for parking in a garage.
Because parking is a local matter. It varies by cities. Some places, you need a permit to street park, most places you don’t.
Most places parking is free, but in major downtowns, it never is.
bunjywunjy@reddit
You can download the spothero app to find and pay for public parking pretty much anywhere in the US
Dragnil@reddit
Pay attention to signage, and don't park on the street if there's a yellow curb. Also, individual parking meters are gradually being phased out in much of the country. Look around the area you park for a big metal box (looks kind of like an ATM). Generally, you pay at these kiosks for parking. There will often be signs on the telephone poles in these areas telling you to do this.
Curbside parking in residential areas is generally free.
Maleficent-Hawk-318@reddit
It's different in all of them, but generally it's clearly marked. Just really pay attention to signs and you should be fine.
A_Trash_Homosapien@reddit
Also don't park in front of fire hydrants or block driveways if you're parking on the street. Other than that yeah just look for signs and follow whatever they say.
SaguaroDragon@reddit
Good call.
Generally a red curb means don't park
Gothmom85@reddit
To add to this, a Lot of public parking in cities now have scannable signs to pay so you don't need physical money. Screen shot when you pay and save all receipts just in case!
Kossyra@reddit
My city police (touristy beach city) had to put a PSA out about these because scammers were putting their own QR code stickers over the official ones.
Just be cautious about it! When in doubt, use the app. Nothing sucks more than getting hacked AND getting a parking ticket.
ATLien_3000@reddit
The smart ones just overcharge while passing through the underlying parking fee.
That can go on indefinitely.
mfigroid@reddit
The real pro tips are always in the comments.
Fun-Dragonfly-4166@reddit
thanks 4 the scam tip.
Curmudgy@reddit
The two parking apps commonly used in my area for public street parking meters and publicly owned parking lots are Passport Parking, with the Apple link https://apps.apple.com/us/app/passport-parking/id501324867 (no relationship to an actual passport), and PayByPhone Parking, with the Apple link https://apps.apple.com/us/app/paybyphone-parking/id448474183.
Sorry, I can't easily generate an Android link, but might be able to get to it later today.
There might be other apps that are legitimate. Some can be used for private parking lots.
Caveat: Some places also have physical parking meters or central kiosks, and these often take credit or debit cards. When these are available, they're usually cheaper because the phone apps charge an additional, small service charge.
worrymon@reddit
I asked a cop once... It means, up yours, kid
BAMspek@reddit
If you don’t pay attention to the signs, you will be fined.
theflyingpiggies@reddit
Big parking lots at things like strip malls (where you’ll find the likes of walmart, nail salons, a grocery store, etc.) are usually free parking. If you’re in a downtown area that may be different depending on the city. But that’ll be clearly marked.
Parking garages almost always cost money. Parking garages and public parking lots are usually marked with a big P in a blue circle. Signs will be posted about how to pay, or there will be a little gate that only opens once you’ve paid.
Street parking in cities are almost always timed and/or paid. Often you’ll see things like ‘2 hour parking’. There’s also a lot of spaces that are dropping/loading zones so careful with those.
These days a lot of street (and lot) payments are/can be taken through apps. There will be a sign with a QR code for you to scan. But sometimes it’s a little ticket machine. On the sidewalk.
One way or another, it’s all pretty clearly marked. Just pay attention to any signage.
Also, consider Public Transport for some outings. Never been to Texas or Nashville so I can’t speak to the public transit system or how spread out the cities are for those places, but I know when I was in New Orleans it was often more convenient to take the trolley than it was to be driving around and trying to find parking and navigating through busy areas.
Oh, and final word of advice, don’t keep shit visible in your car. Especially not in New Orleans.
AdKlutzy7336@reddit
Having lived in NOLA I second the advice about taking public transport. The streets are in bad shape and the neighborhoods can go from great to scary quickly. Parking can be difficult to find and expensive.Depending on where you’re staying, you can actually walk to a lot of things. Every tourist should take the St Charles streetcar at least once, and the Magazine St bus and Canal St streetcar are also useful. Would also stongly consider an Uber at night. Your hotel should be able to give you more specific advice. Personally, I would find out where your hotel recommends you park and just leave the car there for the duration. There is an app for the local transit authority.
n00bdragon@reddit
Dallasite here. Do not use public transport in Texas. It's extremely slow, has extremely limited availability and stops, and basically acts like a mobile homeless shelter. The one exception in Dallas is the train lines can be useful for traveling to or from major event centers or the airport, if the parking situation at that location may be crowded/expensive.
m00nriveter@reddit
To add about paid garages—many times if you’re visiting an area business (restaurants in particular), they may “validate” your parking ticket, which means your parking at the paid garage will be free or discounted.
The process typically is:
- Pull a ticket at entrance
- Take the ticket with you to the place of business
- Ask “do you validate parking?” If they say yes, they will either ask for your ticket and stamp or otherwise code it as validated or hand you a second ticket that is put but the pay machine *after* your parking ticket.
If payment is through a QR code, then you will typically be given a validation code to enter into the payment screen.
Mirsky814@reddit
In the garage I use they have plate readers which are linked to your credit card. The first time you go through the gate you add your info into their app. All times after that I just drive in and out and I get a text confirming entry and exist times. Oh and a 50 buck charge for the day.
theflyingpiggies@reddit
Good point!
losthiker68@reddit
Dallas has poor public transit except along light rail lines. For those, there's a kiosk at the station where you pay for your ticket but there may be an app or QR code, its been a few years since I used DART.
pinksparkleberry@reddit
Nashville and those Texas have near zero public transport.
_NEW_HORIZONS_@reddit
Dallas has DART. It's a pretty convenient way in/out of the city center, but there are no cross routes. You ride downtown, change if you need to ride away from downtown. Not super efficient if you need to go from one suburban city to another.
pinksparkleberry@reddit
Is it a solution that allows you to go mostly car free on a visit to Dallas while being a tourist? Including evenings and weekends?
arcticmischief@reddit
Depends what you’re doing and where you’re staying. Downtown, Deep Ellum, Arts District, Uptown, Bishop Arts, etc., plus the GWB presidential library are modestly transit accessible. Wanting to hit a Cowboys game? Arlington infamously has zero public transit. Pick your hotels and restaurants carefully, since many are nowhere near transit lines or would require multiple connecting buses that run infrequently.
Fort Worth is well worth a visit, too, and their downtown is reasonably compact and accessible from Dallas, via transit.
It is possible to do Dallas car free, but you’ll likely need to supplement with Uber for some things.
diadw@reddit
We took a bus to the Alamo and all of the other Missions and it was fine.
pinksparkleberry@reddit
That is a very small routed designed only to take tourists to a few spots. I assume you arrived and left that bus stop in a car? Or did you take public transportation from the airport to hotel to dinner and everywhere else? No. You did not.
diadw@reddit
We flew there and did not rent a car. Probably took a taxi to our hotel. Walked to dinners and sights. Did the bus route to the Missions. Took a bus to a shipping store to send home something we bought at a Mission gift shop.
Team503@reddit
The light rail for Dallas - DART - is pretty darn good, if somewhat limited in destinations. I can't speak to other types of transit.
Special-Reindeer-178@reddit
While unlikely, it is also worth noting that parking lots for Walmart, CVs, other stores like that are implied reserved for customers.
Less of an issue in more rural areas but if youre traveling to a touristy area, CVS might see your car parked there for an extended time and have it towed
woodsred@reddit
Only thing I would add is that cities usually only have 2-hour parking on commercial streets. Residential streets are usually less regulated unless they are very dense or very close to a busier commercial area. So if you're not downtown, you can usually just park further away to avoid paying.
There are often "overnight parking bans" for these streets but most places have a simple online or phone system to get parking authorization for up to a few nights per month
somecow@reddit
Houston here. HIDE YOUR SHIT. Or better yet, just don’t bring shit.
ThePurityPixel@reddit
Nashville is a place where the far right lane sometimes becomes a parking lane. It's really annoying for drivers who aren't expecting to suddenly come upon a parked car, but there you have it.
Parking is usually not hard to find in Nashville unless you go downtown. (I lived there, so I knew some secret areas to find free parking if you didn't mind a little walk.) But also… downtown is lame unless you really really want to see the tourist spots.
ParfaitMajestic5339@reddit
Read the signs. Look at your watch. Apply the rules to the time.
touyungou@reddit
You might also wander around on Google Maps and go through the streets/neighborhoods you plan on visiting. That can help you get a feel for what you might encounter without the pressure of trying to do that while driving in an unfamiliar place. You can study the signs for street parking to see if you understand what they're trying to convey - sometimes they can be confusing.
NPHighview@reddit
Welcome, and enjoy your visit!
ATLDeepCreeker@reddit
I'm not sure I understand the question.
Whatever rules there are, will be posted on an official sign in the area, such as when it's legal to park in the area.
If you use a parking garage, it will clearly states how much you are being charged.
I'm not sure what else you need ti know.
manon_o23@reddit (OP)
That’s it! :)
I just overthink and want to know what to expect whether that’s signage that’s clear or whatever. I just don’t like not knowing. So thank you! :D
ATLDeepCreeker@reddit
There is overthinking, and then there is OVERTHINKING. You are doing the latter.
It's odd how you are coming to a different country, driving with presumably, different rules, but the thing you are worried about is parking.
Concentrate on minutia much?
Aggressive_FIamingo@reddit
This is a weird thing for you to get so worked up about.
Curmudgy@reddit
No, it's not. There are enough variations in local laws that it's always worth asking something like this.
For example, someone else mentioned curbs being painted red to indicate no parking. That's not commonly used here in the northeast and someone unfamiliar with it might be caught off guard in other parts of the country. Also, the prohibitions against parking too close to the corners might have different distances and certainly have different levels of enforcement.
JayPlays40k@reddit
Oh hey, my town! For San Antonio, do NOT try parking downtown, it's a major pain. Instead, you'll want to grab a Via pass (bus pass, like $3 for a day of unlimited rides and transfers) and find what's called a Park and Ride. Generally free or very very cheap parking, then take the bus wherever you're heading. Via has pretty good coverage, so you'll almost certainly be able to find a bus stop nearby!
losthiker68@reddit
The Fort Worth Zoo is a top ten in the US and one of the few with bonobos, the Dallas Zoo is meh. Using DART to the TRE will get you within a few miles of the zoo, bus the rest of the way. If you're doing the Texas thing, you really HAVE to visit the Fort Worth Stockyards. Drop in to Billy Bob's. Go have a beer or three with the locals in the biggest honkytonk in the world - music, beer, indoor bull riding, live music, ride the mechanical bull, do a cowboy dress-up. I don't even like country music with a rare exception and I think the place is a blast, but not too often. :) I'm just not the "bar" type.
roguedevil@reddit
In San Antonio, you can find free parking just about everywhere. In Austin/Dallas, you'll pay a lot at the meter or in a garage.
brzantium@reddit
Austinite here! We have a variety of parking scenarios. If you're downtown, free parking is hard to come by. Your options are typically parking garages, managed parking lots, paid street parking, or valet parking. You can, however, find free street parking in the residential areas immediately adjacent to downtown. Be cautious, though, much of the street parking in these areas is reserved for local residents. There will be signs indicating such - they're typically white with red text. Stores and restaurants will also have free parking especially as you move out of downtown. However, keep an eye out for towing enforcement signs. Businesses aren't keen on someone else's customers using their parking spaces. The further you are from downtown, the less likely you are to pay for parking. If you think you've found the perfect parking right up front, it's likely a handicap spot, but that should be clearly marked. You'll need a handicap license plate or placard to park there.
Paid parking is mostly cashless these days. There will either be a kiosk for you to pay at or a sign directing you to use an app or visit a website to pay. In any case, you'll enter the car's license plate number and pay for the amount of time you need to park. If you use a valet, be sure to have cash on hand to tip, though, I've found many valets use Cash App these days. Revolut is almost unheard of here.
I visit San Antonnio a few times a year and have the parking situation to be the same there.
GSilky@reddit
Read the signs. Everywhere is different.
Ok_Depth_6476@reddit
Parking is different in every town even in the same state. In cities you can expect to pay. You can find either a garage, a parking lot, or on-street parking. Usually for a garage or a lot, you'll see a sign for parking or it might just say "P". On a street you might find meters, or you might find numbered spaces where you will have to look for a place nearby to pay. Sometimes there's an app to download to pay. In smaller towns you might find free parking, but typically in more residential areas. Always read signs for restrictions on times (some places might be free on nights and weekends, or only allow parking during certain hours). And if you think you've found a free (non-paid) spot, check that you don't need a permit to park, which would typically be for residents only.
originaljbw@reddit
Parking in the city center is going to be more challenging and expensive compared to parking in the suburbs or smaller towns.
Street spots are generally have signs saying when and where parking is allowed. These will generally be accompanied with a QR code sign directing you to a parking app on your smartphone. It may vary by city and situation, but street parking will generally have a hard limit at 2-3 hours because these spots are ment for people running errands or shopping and not people working a full day job.
Parking garages and urban paid lots will generally charge by the hour up to a daily maximum. They usually have rates posted right at the entrance where you either take a ticket or scan a credit card. "First hour $1, each additional hour $5, daily maximum $25" as an example. For most people and situations it's assumed the daily max is what you are paying. These are mostly privately owned vs publicly owned on-street parking. Your vehicle will be better protected from the elements and accidents. Increasingly, lots will charge a huge premium if you lose the ticket (because people will park for multiple days and try to claim they only parked that afternoon and should only pay for 1 day instead of several).
Your other option in a city venter is valet parking. It's usually the most convenient and expensive option, unless you can find a restaurant or business that validates-provides a big discount.
Ok_Orchid1004@reddit
Read the signs. And read them very carefully. Everywhere you go is different. And even within cities, every neighborhood is different.
Signal_Transition664@reddit
Don’t park in the lot of any business you are not visiting - restaurants, stores, bars, etc. In the bigger cities, available parking can disappear quickly. You’ll get desperate. Don’t think these businesses won’t notice you park and walk off. They have tow trucks on stand-by. You’ll come back to a missing or booted car. It’s predatory as hell and the tow companies make a killing.
SonuvaGunderson@reddit
I’ve traveled extensively in The Netherlands and I can say that parking in the US isn’t much different. Big blue P signs mark parking areas, particularly in bigger cities. Where, it’s also likely you’ll pay to park in garages.
Outside of cities, you’ll find more free parking lots, like you might find at the Appy or Lidl.
Areas where you shouldn’t park are usually marked as such. Don’t
Living_Fig_6386@reddit
In the US, you are allowed to park in areas marked for parking (there's lines painted on the ground, maybe a sign). Free parking is more common in the US. There are pay lots and parking garages in more crowded areas. These days, they usually have a gate where you receive a little ticket, and there's an automated kiosk you pay with phone or credit card just before you leave.
In cities, there may be on-street pay parking. The spaces will have a sign or device next to the space. You pay by whatever method they specify. In the old days, you'd put coins in the little timer, but today it's more common that you make payment through an app or website (annoying to set up).
In residential areas, on-street parking is common. You are allowed to park at the edge of the street unless there's a sign that say otherwise. Unless you are in a city, residential areas don't usually have lines painted on the ground to make spaces, you simply park where you can -- just be sure not to block an entrance.
You are not allowed to park withing 15 feet of a fire hydrant (place for firetrucks to connect to water), or within 15' of a corner / intersection (unless there's a space there).
There are parking spots that are marked with a blue box and white wheelchair that indicate that they are only for people that have a recognized disability (that is, they have a special license plate or sign on their dashboard or mirror that says they can use that spot). Don't park in those spaces.
Lastly, there are sometimes spaces set aside for EV charging. Don't park their unless you are actively charging the car.
rawbface@reddit
What makes you think it's any different here? Use a garage, or a paid parking alternative. It's exactly the same.
manon_o23@reddit (OP)
Just wondering :) if it’s the same than that’s the answer :)
flapjack_fighter@reddit
I hope you're doing this over at least 2 weeks. The shortest route to do all 5 of those cities is nearly 20 hours of JUST DRIVING.
manon_o23@reddit (OP)
Yes! 3 weeks :)
BreadfruitRegular631@reddit
The signs or presence of parking meters, or not, will tell you the rules. I live in Boston and 'rules' are different from Street to street, day to day and hour to hour. Loading zone, meter, meter certain hours free other times, handicap only, resident only, resident only except Sunday, visitor parking, 2 hour limit and on and on. No blanket statement will cover the same street nevermind the whole country.
TheJokersChild@reddit
You'll see garages like you're used to in bigger cities, but out of town, most stores and other businesses have their own lots with lines for spaces painted in. Downtowns have streetside parking, usually with meters, and not all meters take cards, so bring a roll of quarters.
The only generally applicable rules with any of these are:
- don't park in a blue handicapped space because you'll rightfully get fined
- don't park over a line and take up two spaces
- stay out of lots marked Private
NeverFailBetaMale@reddit
It will be different in every city and often different for each parking area in each city. Plus you will find some parking areas run by the municipality and others that are privately owned. But there will be signs and just follow the signs. And if you pick up a couple tickets hell who cares, you'll be back in a civilized country and can just ignore them! Have fun! BTW New Orleans is a fantastic city. The key is to just stay off bourbon street, it's like a preserve for all the bloated suburban morons who visit, the rest of the city is a gem.
MileHigh_FlyGuy@reddit
Use an app like spot hero to find the best prices and locations
No-Lunch4249@reddit
Might be best to ask in a local sub specific to each city. Theres no one national parking rule and it's going to vary a lot from city to city
Theycallmesupa@reddit
I'd use lots and garages. Im not sure about Nashville and New Orleans, but if your Texas stops are anything like Houston then the tow companies are very predatory in the way they operate and you might end up towed for something minor, if there's even a real violation.
CheeseMongoNJ@reddit
Parking? Hahaha! Seriously, just look at the signs. Everywhere can be a bit different. For example in many places like NYC they have alternate side parking, where on certain days you can't park in one side of the street. This allows street sweepers, garbage trucks, etc unblocked access.
otbvandy@reddit
Download ParkMobile. It’s the contracted vendor for most city’s parking meters.
semichaels@reddit
I use the SpotHero app when I travel. It helps you find cheaper parking.
EffectiveRelief9904@reddit
Idk about those places, but if the meter’s broken: it’s free.
Red top meters are 6 wheel commercial vehicles only
Yellow tops are for vehicles with commercial plates
If the curb isn’t red, or colored, and the sign doesn’t say you can’t park there: you can park there
If you can’t find a spot but are just stopping off for a few minutes: just double park and turn on the hazards, walk with a sense of urgency, and act like you know what you’re doing
People will judge you based on how well you park within the lines
Do not leave ANY valuables in the car, especially in plain sight. Good chance you’ll come back to a broken window and your stuff gone
m00nriveter@reddit
OP, please do not do the “double park and put your hazard lights on” nonsense. Yes, it’s absolutely done. AND it’s not legal parking and you could be ticketed and/or towed. You’re on vacation and in cities with generally okay parking situations; you don’t want to be dealing with a towed rental car in a foreign country because you wanted to save $5 or three blocks of walking.
Snezzy_9245@reddit
Sounds like Boston. Don't park in Boston. Just don't. Take the T instead. Walking through Boston you can laugh at the drivers trying to park, especially the losers double parking. You'll know you're in Boston when you have to back in to double park. Don't plan on cycling there either. It's not NL. I gave up cycling in Boston after someone threw a beer bottle at my head.
sgtm7@reddit
Most places have big free parking lots.
theoldman-1313@reddit
One of the most important things is to pay close attention to "No Parking" signs. Even if a business is closed, if they have sign stating that parking is just for that business you risk getting towed. Also, look on the pavement for handicapped markings. There is supposed to be a regular sign for handicapped spots, but some places just paint the pavement and call it good.
TheBimpo@reddit
While you are in cities, just park wherever your lodging is/where the host recommends and use public transportation to get around.
Odd_Mathematician654@reddit
I have visited and driven in every city on your list. If you are staying at a hotel in the city "downtown" area, you'll need to pay for parking at your hotel and most will be valet which means every time you want your car, you need to call for it. Or you can ask about near by parking lots that allow overnight self parking and that will be cheaper and I personally think more convenient. However if you are staying at a hotel outside the downtown area, parking at the hotel if often free. Most businesses, attractions or museums will have their own parking lots or garages, sometimes paid and sometimes free. They will have the info on their website. In New Orleans, we normally stay in the Arts District. We parking our car and usually walk, Uber, or use the trolley to where we want to go because parking in the Quarter, CBD, Warehouse and Arts Districts can be challenging and expensive. But we will drive to the Audubon, Mid City, or City Park areas as parking is easier in those areas.
Ok-Koala2257@reddit
Parking will typically be free in those cities if you are doing business where you park. The closer to the city center the more restrictive it will be, especially in Austin and Dallas, and maybe New Orleans. If you are just looking to park and walk around the city your best bet is probably to find aa parking garage or you'll see parking on some streets with meters you have to pay with a credit card for an hour, 2 hours, etc.
eloquentgiraffe@reddit
I haven’t seen anybody else mention this: If you are parking on the street (parallel parking), your car must face the same direction as the traffic in the nearest lane.
HoyAIAG@reddit
Everywhere is different.
cavall1215@reddit
I'd recommend asking this in these city's subreddits. Not only does parking vary by city but it varies by part of the city. Where I live, there may be free street parking, metered street parking, paid garages, etc. depending on the neighborhood. And it'll even vary on day of the week because some metered parking will be free on Sundays or certain times of day and upcoming city events can impact parking and costs, too.
Top-Web3806@reddit
Every place is going to have different “rules”. Even down to one street over from another. Just follow signage.
Rock-Wall-999@reddit
Be especially careful of “No Parking” signs where authorization or a sticker is required, particularly if “All Others Will Be Towed” is part of the signage. Many towing companies patrol these areas or are in “under the table” partnerships with these businesses and get a percentage of the towing and impound fees, which can be several hundred dollars!
TillPsychological351@reddit
So... there are no consistent rules about parking, other than a few obvious ones, like don't park in front of a driveway, bus stop or fire hydrant. And generally, if you're not allowed to park somewhere, there will be some visual indication of this, either a sign, or by painting the curb yellow (occasionally red as well).
In some locations, you can park on any street free of charge, barring the above exceptions. Sometimes, in busier areas, you may need to pay. Some coin-fed meters still exist, but more often today, you pay with a credit card or through your phone.
Paid Parking garages and lots are usually limited to the downtown core of cities or airports.
Like Europe, most suburban shopping areas will have large parking lots that don't charge.
We don't use those little parking placards that people place on their dashboards in Europe.
Of the cities you listed, if you visit the French Quarter of New Orleans, there's virtually no street parking. I'm not sure where most visitors park, but I know my hotel offered it.
West_Guidance2167@reddit
It’s literally going to depend street by Street.
Neferknitti@reddit
One side note: if the curb along the street is painted orange/yellow don’t park there. That denotes the walkway or driveway and you are not to block those. Don’t even let your bumper hang over by a few inches. You will get a parking ticket.
Frankjc3rd@reddit
For most street parking that is covered by signs there are two types, the red sign will tell you what you can't do and the green sign will tell you what you can do. If you are colorblind the red signs are usually the ones above the green signs.
If you see a sign that says something like 2-hour parking that ends at 10:00 p.m., don't get all happy because there's probably no parking that starts at 10:00 p.m. and goes till maybe 6:00 a.m.
One rule of thumb to follow is if no one else is parked where you are at the present time and it's really busy, move your car because parking is probably restricted. You did not I repeat DID NOT find the secret free parking space in the city.
Despite what you will probably see in an average city, flashers mean NOTHING!
bh0@reddit
It’s usually paid parking in cities or bigger towns, and often a time limit for parking on the road. And even more annoying now when they want you to use random apps to pay. If you find a parking garage, you can usually pay with cash or card still, and usually no time limits. I’d probably use garages in bigger cities assuming you have a rental car.
If it’s a smaller town, they might only have paid parking on the immediate main roads. You can usually just go a few blocks away or to some side street and find free parking.
Just look for signs when you park. Sometimes there’s not a lot of them.
mooshinformation@reddit
The assumption is generally that parking is allowed on the street unless otherwise marked, and that it's free unless there's a parking meter, or ticket machine or instructions to pay to park. You also can't park in front of a fire hydrant or too close to the corner where you'll obstruct traffic or obviously in front of a driveway. Generally anywhere you'll be in the way you probably can't park. Exactly how far from fire hydrants and intersections you need to be varys by town, but a car length is a good rule of thumb. If you don't see anyone else parked on the street, it's a good idea to check the local laws.
When you do park, look for signs along the road (they're usually kind of small imo). There might be rules restricting the days and times you can park, or something like "no parking from this sign on". " No standing" means you can't even pull over there if you're in your car, and definitely can't park. If you have to pay to park somewhere it will say something like "metered parking only" and there might be a time limit.
There are also plenty of free public lots, but again, read the signs. There are also paid lots and garages, especially in busier areas.
Djinn_42@reddit
If you're shopping put your bags in the trunk.
MessoGesso@reddit
Parking is decided by city or the park or structure next to you. If there is a sign, that takes. Precedence over everything.
Two universal laws: If the curb is red, or you see a fire extingisher (little (usually yellow) mushroom looking feature) nearby don't park there. If your car is in the way during a fire, they will runva firehose through your car windows, if necessary.
Vast-Combination4046@reddit
New Orleans is so old it's a very similar setup as you are used to. The French quarter is the most walkable. If you go to the Audubon park/zoo you can park free. Check out the tree of life there, it's older than America.
Rockerstar33@reddit
Honestly the biggest rule is read the signs carefully. US parking can feel random but it’s all posted so meters, time limits, tow zones
davideogameman@reddit
Lots of good advice so far. A few common sense rules to add, which may or may not be common outside the US - - don't park in front of fire hydrants or driveways - if the curb is painted a color, it often mean no parking. Eg it could indicate a bus stop or a space for emergency vehicles. If you really want to know for sure, look up what the color means in that city.
Mite-o-Dan@reddit
How do you park in the Netherlands?
Same thing applys.
gujwdhufj_ijjpo@reddit
In my state, you can pretty much park anywhere there isn’t a sign posted. An example being a fire lane which is also marked with a red curb. You also aren’t to park in front of a fire hydrant
14bk41@reddit
Check the signs if park in downtown areas. There are 3-4 different parking apps that you might need to download in order to pay.
Zestyclose_Space7134@reddit
If you see a sign that says " [business] PARKING ONLY - ALL OTHERS TOWED " and you are not going into that business, you are OTHERS.
Many places have on-street parking. Pay careful attention to any NO PARKING or signs that specify a time of day or length of stay.
Metered parking on some streets is either paid by coin or by card.
OrdinaryCrow3677@reddit
Yeah just follow signs it varies a lot. Youll find probably paid parking in big cities in garages and general street parking in smaller areas
Vulpix_lover@reddit
It'll be different all over, we have garage parking in some cities, others you park on the street, there are lots to park in, ect ect. They're pretty well marked so you'll know where and where not to park. If you get confused, ask a local
ChipsAhoyMccoy14@reddit
Maybe I'm the one overthinking this but you just park in designated parking spots and read the nearby signs. Parking lots and parking garages are all over the place.