P-Town Municipal Parking
 

This is an unusually specific query, related to my upcoming trip with my husband to Provincetown in August for my 50th birthday. We know how we're going to get there, we have our lodging picked out (but not yet reserved-- that's coming soon) and are firming up the actual itinerary; we have set dates for getting to Massachusetts and getting back home to California, but we have to devote a couple of days to visiting family in the lower Cape. We have a couple of ideas for dining and activities (beach, breakwater hike, Dina Martina, maybe Sandra Bernhard), but this will be a "relax and toast my entrée into Old Age" (ha ha, just kidding!) trip.

Anyway, here's the issue: The B&B at which we're planning to stay does not have on-site parking. The last time we went, we used a lot a few blocks away next to a gym, but this time their website suggests that we're on the hook to use municipal parking.

WHAT municipal parking? We'll be on the west side of town (200 block of Commercial St.), a little west of the Pier. Are there long-term parking lots in that area? Does anyone here know? Or have an idea as to cost?

The P-town websites aren't particularly helpful in this issue, so I put it out to you, gentle Fodors Forum contributors. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Provincetown has two huge municipal parking lots. One is by the pier and costs $30 per day. The other is just off Commercial and costs $20 per day. It's near the Atlantic House, but I can't recall exactly where the entrance is ... it's not off Commercial but probably off Bradford.

That was quick...!

Thanks, Doug. The lot by Atlantic House will be our best bet, I would assume. Quick follow-up: Do these lots accept credit cards, or are they cash only...?

Thanks, vjp! All is explained.

Hopefully there will be space in those municipal lots when we're there...!

July and August are peak season in PTown, but there always seem to be spots in the lots when I've needed to park there. At least I've never had a problem before, even during the busy July 4th weekend. The lots tend to clear out during the evening hours, so you can always come back in then (and many people drive to the beach during the day). So I've never had a problem in the big inland lot. I've never tried to park down by the ferry dock.

Now the smaller lots always seem to be full, and I've never had luck at any of them when things were busy.

If you want to park at the big lot near the water and it is full, we have always found good signage to an alternate lot. Have been to Provincetown multiple times in highest season and never had a problem finding legal public parking in one of the lots.

If by some chance you have a National Park Service annual pass bring it - it lets you park for free at National Seashore - entrance and parking in Eastham.