Nothing is more frustrating than going up and down city streets trying to spot a parking space or garage where you can stow your vehicle for a few hours – or overnight. But in some major cities, visitors and residents alike have an easier time finding that coveted parking space.
To compile a list of the major U.S. cities with the best parking availability, 24/7 Tempo reviewed a report by Zutobi Drivers Ed, an online drivers education resource. The site selected the largest American cities by population according to the World Population Review, then created an index of eight measures for those cities, weighted equally: lowest price for hourly parking, self-park availability, valet availability, number of available garages or covered car parks, number of available lots or uncovered car parks, wheelchair accessibility, EV charging availability, and number of car parks rated “excellent” per square mile.
Zutobi obtained details on parking availability from SpotHero, a digital parking marketplace. Prices used for the ranking are for the generic time frame of 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. as of Sept. 28, 2022. Cities for which parking data was not available were omitted, and only those cities with a score of 6/10 or higher are included. (These are the most expensive cities for parking.)
Click here to see the major U.S. cities where it’s easiest to park
The report reveals that the major American city with the best parking availability is Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Midwestern metropolis topped all other cities with a score of 8.06/10. Parking there is particularly affordable, at $4 for three hours. The city also ranked high for accessible parking, with 23 wheelchair-accessible lots.
New York City has a deserved reputation for congested streets and expensive parking. but its overall parking availability is not so bad. It ranked No. 13 on this list, scoring 6.55/10 – dragged down at least in part by the fact that the lowest available price for three hours of parking is $21. On the other hand, the city has 57 wheelchair-accessible car parks, first among all cities. (New York City easily ranks among America’s worst cities to drive in.)
Source: typhoonski / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
23. Austin, Texas
> Park score: 6.03/10
> Population: 964,177
[in-text-ad]
Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
22. Columbus, Ohio
> Park score: 6.08/10
> Population: 906,528
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Davel5957 / E+ via Getty Images
21. Houston, Texas
> Park score: 6.09/10
> Population: 2,288,250
Source: benedek / Getty Images
20. Dallas, Texas
> Park score: 6.10/10
> Population: 1,288,457
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: UWMadison / iStock via Getty Images
19. New Orleans, Louisiana
> Park score: 6.46/10
> Population: 376,971
18. Nashville, Tennessee
> Park score: 6.46/10
> Population: 678,851
[in-text-ad]
Source: ibsky / iStock via Getty Images
17. San Francisco, California
> Park score: 6.46/10
> Population: 815,201
24/7 Wall St.
Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images
16. Portland, Oregon
> Park score: 6.47/10
> Population: 641,162
Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images
15. Detroit, Michigan
> Park score: 6.50/10
> Population: 632,464
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Allkindza / E+ via Getty Images
14. Chicago, Illinois
> Park score: 6.53/10
> Population: 2,696,555
13. New York City, New York
> Park score: 6.55/10
> Population: 8,467,513
[in-text-ad]
Source: burwellphotography / E+ via Getty Images
12. Washington, D.C.
> Park score: 6.67/10
> Population: 671,803
24/7 Wall St.
Source: ChandraDhas / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
11. Boston, Massachusetts
> Park score: 6.79/10
> Population: 654,776
10. Seattle, Washington
> Park score: 6.85/10
> Population: 733,919
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images
9. Jersey City, New Jersey
> Park score: 6.92/10
> Population: 283,927
Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / E+ via Getty Images
8. Los Angeles, California
> Park score: 7.13/10
> Population: 3,849,297
[in-text-ad]
7. Atlanta, Georgia
> Park score: 7.19/10
> Population: 496,461
Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images
6. Baltimore, Maryland
> Park score: 7.42/10
> Population: 576,498
Source: Tomsmith585 / Getty Images
5. Newark, New Jersey
> Park score: 7.50/10
> Population: 307,220
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: YinYang / E+ via Getty Images
4. Minneapolis, Minnesota
> Park score: 7.59/10
> Population: 425,336
Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
3. Oakland, California
> Park score: 7.76/10
> Population: 433,823
[in-text-ad]
Source: wsfurlan / iStock via Getty Images
2. Miami, Florida
> Park score: 7.78/10
> Population: 439,890
Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images
1. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
> Park score: 8.06/10
> Population: 569,330
Essential Tips for Investing: Sponsored
A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
