NYC is known for being the city that never sleeps. World-renowned museums, restaurants, and theaters make it a primary tourist spot, while the alluring lifestyle and job opportunities make NYC home to millions of permanent residents. Thousands of cars travel through the cramped streets of NYC every day, making finding limited parking a considerable obstacle. However, don’t let the trouble of finding parking stop you from enjoying all the city offers. If there's a will, there's a way. The clue is knowing where to look.

How to Find the Best Parking Space in New York City.

Aimlessly circling the streets of NYC attempting to secure a parking spot is hectic, especially when you have to worry about making it to work on time or missing an important meeting. NYC is one of the most challenging places to park in, but with a few tips and tricks up your sleeve, you may find a reasonable and safe NYC parking space. Here are some suggestions you can follow to help with your parking struggle.

Always Try to Plan Ahead.

If you are traveling to NYC for vacation, commuting, or are a car owner in the city, the best way to overcome the madness of parking is to plan. NYC is as unpredictable as it gets, but you can rest assured that traffic will be heavy. Like many other busy cities in the United States, living and traveling in the city often results in interacting with unexpected obstacles. Some common occurrences you may face while driving in NYC include: 

Extreme weather conditions

Severe car accidents 

Tons of pedestrians 

Blockage on bridges and tunnels

Stops to pay tolls 

All these circumstances are simply out of your control. All you can do is prepare yourself for these situations by researching the specific areas you’re traveling through, your route, and any accidents or hazards you should be aware of. This can help give yourself enough time to make it to the city safely. 

In addition, you can plan for parking. Instead of wasting time navigating through the crowded streets of NYC, you can look online for areas with open or free parking spaces. Some various apps and technologies have detailed maps of NYC-designated parking areas. Of course, these will be limited, but you may get lucky by planning beforehand. If you’re on vacation in the city and need a vehicle, check to see if your hotel has parking accommodations or make sure you only book a hotel that does. 

Get Up to Date With All NYC Parking Rules 

NYC parking rules are some of the most confusing due to several complex factors, such as regulations for: 

On-street parking

Alternate side parking

One-hour parking

No stopping, standing, or parking

School zones

Holidays

In addition to understanding all of that, drivers must deal with misleading and unclear street signs, contributing to congested roads. Needless to say, it’s not surprising that NYC is the most ticketed city in the U.S., with over 12 million different parking violations so far this year. 

To prevent yourself from illegally parking your car somewhere, get up to date with all NYC parking rules. You can even search up the specifics of the block you're looking to park on by utilizing the Department of Transportation’s virtual map or follow the NYC Alt Side Parking account on Twitter for updates on parking suspensions.

Learn the Ropes of NYC 

New Yorkers always have a certain way of how they operate. As days go on, you’ll start to learn the ropes of different time-saving methods, popular areas, and, obviously, the best spot to find a slice of pizza. When it comes to looking for parking, the same applies. Chances are you'll start to pick up on blocks that are busier than others and the most convenient times to find parking. 

You’ll discover that some car owners in New York have developed skills for avoiding parking tickets and other fines. To get a better insight on parking, start familiarizing yourself with some basics. These include: 

Never stop, stand, or park in a bus stop zone 

Do not stop or park your car within 15 feet of a fire hydrant 

There only has to be one sign per city block regulating restrictions

At no time are you allowed to park in a safety zone 

Avoid blocking someone's driveway 

Always check signs for times allowed to park 

Bonus Tip: Reserve a Monthly Parking Garage Spot with Centerpark 

The stress and inconveniences of parking have led to more and more parking garage pop-ups in many areas near NYC's main attractions. Parking garages at Centerpark are helpful for several reasons, including: 

Protecting your vehicle from weather, cars, and people

Guaranteed spot 

Sanitized facilities

Saves time 

Monitored locations

Daily or monthly rentals

If you spend money on parking, you could use it to reserve a parking garage space to alleviate your parking problems. 

The benefits of Booking with Centerpark are Endless.

At Centerpark, we understand the struggle to find affordable and safe parking in the city. This is why we make it easy to find and book discounted parking in NYC by viewing all our available locations or simply inputting your location and desired radius. From there, you can select the perfect location near you, reserve it, and drive right up to your easily accessible parking garage space.