Planning To Park In Chicago - When, Where And How Much?

A trip to the heart of any city requires planning ahead of time

, whether visiting tourist attractions with the family or simply running errands. While some people may choose public transportation to avoid the stress of driving downtown, there are situations in which driving is inevitable and can even be more convenient. In these cases, a major consideration to take when planning your trip is parking your car.

When to Park:

The time of day or night for which you plan your trip will affect where and when you can park your car. Planning to park in a Chicago parking garage is a good idea; however, you should know which garages are open during the hours you plan to park. While some parking garages may operate 24 hours a day, others are built to serve mainly Chicago commuters and close not long after business hours, sometimes as early as 7:00 p.m. These hours would not work if you wish to park for a Friday night out in the city. In order to avoid driving around downtown in search of an open garage, a Chicago parking map can help you determine garage hours ahead of time.

Determine Your Route:

Chicago is a big city, and even if you plan on driving and parking, you should also plan on a lot of walking. It might seem more convenient to simply drive to each different location that you plan on visiting, but that can take up a great deal of time and end up being costly and stressful. A good way to plan for parking in Chicago is to map out your route before getting in the car. If there are several places on your route that are close together, use a Chicago parking map to find a central location to park so that you can just park once and walk to each different place nearby. This can save you time, money and headaches.

Evaluate the Costs:

Unfortunately, it is very unlikely that you will find free Chicago city parking. Many garages might charge a flat rate for a certain amount of hours parked, while others might charge hourly rates or even offer monthly rates to regular commuters. Whatever the case, be sure to check whether the garage accepts cash, credit or both, and prepare accordingly. Some garages may have special rates for certain hours or events. There is often an "early bird special" that is generally more affordable than the regular hour rates. If you'd like to save money on parking, try to get there early.

Having to park your car in the city shouldn't deter you from enjoying the many conveniences of driving downtown. If you make sure to plan ahead, your trip to Chicago can be fun and relaxing.

by: Natalie McHale

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