Phishchica

Que tal todos,

I'm planning a trip up to lovely S.F. I know parking is HORRIBLE! However, bf and I are driving up there. We will be in S.F for 3 days/ 2 nights. I wanted to get some ideas on the parking situation. I really want to use the public transportation, so I don't know what parking garages are good. Or how to even work out the parking issue.

We are staying at the Dakota Hotel on Post. (I think it's near Union Sq (??) )

Thanks for all the help.

-Rita

SAB

Parking here is nowhere near as bad as NYC--it just depends on where you are and whether you want to park cheaply (or for free). Street parking downtown, in Chinatown and North Beach is almost non existent, so you will need to use garage. Overnight gargage parking in the Union Square area can be expensive to some -- the public garages in Union Square are the Union Square garage and Stockton/Sutter Garage. Union Square is something like $25 for overnight, and Stockton/Sutter can be upto $38. Sorry don't know that much about the private garages--I do know that the one a use daily at Market and Third in the financial district is something like $20 overnight.

mlgb

When I stayed at the Savoy, they parked us at a garage on Jones, south of Geary. Now, I let the valet park it, because it was raining. The hotel said that it was $20 a day to self-park there, I assume that didn't include the taxes. Might be a bit far from your hotel.

easytraveler

First off: can I persuade you not to stay at the Dakota? It seems to be located in the Tenderloin or very close by - not a great neighborhood to place yourself.

If you bid on priceline, you can get some wonderful hotels for the same price as what you would pay at the Dakota.

If you don't know how to bid on priceline, just come back here to this forum and ask. I learnt how to use priceline through this forum.

Check out the hotel of your choice on tripadvisor.com. Mostly very trustworthy reviews of hotels.

As for your parking question: there are some hotels, especially along Lombard Street, where the parking is included in the room rate. In other words, parking at these motels are "free".

In the financial district, parking is free at the meters on weekends.

In the Hispanic part of town (Guerrero, etc), parking on the street is free - if you can find an empty space.

All along the beach, parking is free - but I wouldn't want to leave my car there overnight. Furthermore, I've seen only one motel along the beach, can't remember its name.

Likewise, parking is free in Golden Gate Park; but, again, I wouldn't leave my car there overnight.

In most residential areas, street parking is free; however, space on residential streets is at a premium and it's rare that you will find a free space.

I'm certain others can help with more "free" parking areas in San Francisco.

dovima

There ARE residential areas where parking is free and abundant - I often do things like park the car near West Portal Muni station and take the subway from there, or park out in the Richmond and then take the 38 bus in the downtown direction to, say, a concert at the Great American Musichall or the Fillmore. But during the day, if you find one entire side of the street virtually empty, beware of street cleaning times - there's usually a sign that will tell you the day of the week and the time of day when that occurs.

StuDudley

>>Likewise, parking is free in Golden Gate Park; but, again, I wouldn't leave my car there overnight.<<

I'm pretty sure parking overnight in GG park is illegal.

>>In most residential areas, street parking is free; however, space on residential streets is at a premium and it's rare that you will find a free space.<<

In many residentual areas (the oones closest to downtown), there is a two hour maximum parking restriction on weekdays between about 9:00AM & 6:00PM. Once a week, there are also times when you can't park due to street cleaning.

Stu Dudley

AJJ

Hey Stu Dudley. You seem to know a whole lot. Maybe you can answer this question, too. We'll be staying in an apartment in Pacific Heights, two hours parking restriction, residents permit necessary.

My question: IS IT ALLOWED to park a car there OVER NIGHT, lets say from 6 pm to 7 am on days when there's no street cleaning?

My second question: How do parking garages work? If you chose 24 hrs parking, do they allow in/out privileges?

I am from Germany and am practically at a total loss about the whole parking Situation...

Thanks for your help.

Julie

janisj

Welcome to Fodors AJJ. See the + Post A New Topic button? Click that and start a new thread of your own -- this one is more than ten years old and some may not notice the dates and continue responding to the original post.

StuDudley

>>My question: IS IT ALLOWED to park a car there OVER NIGHT, lets say from 6 pm to 7 am on days when there's no street cleaning?>My second question: How do parking garages work? If you chose 24 hrs parking, do they allow in/out privileges?

janisj

OK -- stu found you

DebitNM

On some streets, even though it is "Public parking" you may need a resident permit for over night; it was that way when we stayed at an AirBnB in the Castro. The owner had to get a permit for us, which he was able to do. Not sure if it is like this in many residential areas.

sf7307

A residential parking permit exempts you from parking restrictions (except I think you have to move the car every 72 hours). So if overnight parking is otherwise allowed, then you can park overnight. If overnight parking is otherwise restricted, you can't park for more than 2 hours. You can be certain that if parking is restricted starting at 7 a.m., the tow trucks will be out looking for scofflaws at 9:01 a.m.

In-and-out privileges in garages will be garage specific. For example, in the building I work in, there are no in-and-out privileges except for monthly parkers.

StuDudley

>>We'll be staying in an apartment in Pacific Heights, two hours parking restriction, residents permit necessary.

DebitNM

It was, on the street where you checked out the condo rental for us, Stu. [Duboce]

sf7307

I think overnight parking is restricted in many residential neighborhoods, other than for people with permits. If the OP is going to have a permit, then not a problem.

SAB

OK folks this is how residential parking permits work: without a permit you are only allowed to park on the street for 2 hours between certain times. In my SF neighborhood that time period is between, 9am and 6pm. Monday thru Friday. So no, residential permits do not apply to overnight neighborhood parking. And they do not restrict weekend parking. Some other restriction may apply, but not residential permit restrictions. And yes, even with a permit you have to move your car on street cleaning days.

Also cars are not towed solely for residential parking permit violations, they are ticketed. They can be towed for blocking driveways if someone calls to have the car removed. They can be towed for parking in a bus stop. Cars are towed in areas where no parking goes into effect at certain times--usually rush hour--and the parking lane becomes a traffic lane. Prime examples the Embarcadero, Bush, Pine, downtown SF. And that is where tow trucks and parking control officers are lined up to start removing cars the minute no parking goes into effect.

Michael

The cheapest garage closest to Union Square probably is the Stockton St. garage. It's evening and overnight rates are reasonable ($1.50 and $1 per hr.), day time rates are higher.

https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around...tockton-garage

janisj

>>The cheapest garage closest to Union Square probably is the Stockton St. garage.