Did you know that Miami is the only city in the U.S. that’s surrounded by two national parks?
Not to mention that, but the city itself has over 800 parks in total!
We’re going to pivot here away from one of our favorite things: parks, to one of our least favorite things: parking.
Let’s face it, parking in Miami can be a drag. Don’t worry though, because these seven tips can help you out whether you’re trying to find out where to park in Miami Beach, downtown, or anywhere in between.
1. Many Retail Establishments Offer Deals
Looking into parking deals can be well worth it. Most retail establishments have deals where parking is covered for a certain amount of time.
2. There’s an App For That
There are apps you can use that tell you where there are available parking spots in real-time. Many parts of the city use apps so that you can easily pay for parking with your phone.
Actually, Miami is number one when it comes to the utilization of the PayByPhone parking app out of all of the cities in North America.
There’s also an interesting use of technology in relation to parking happening at the mall. The MyPark app allows users to reserve spots at the mall ahead of time. It costs $3, which you can pay through your phone, to reserve a spot for two hours, after that it costs $3 an hour.
3. Street Parking Can Be Tough to Snag
Miami is similar to a lot of urban downtowns in that it isn’t always easy to park. Throughout downtown Miami, there are a lot of parallel-parking street spots. Since there are a lot of people who work downtown, however, finding a spot during the week can be easier said than done.
The best way to pay for your downtown street parking spot if you do happen to grab one is through the Pay by Phone app. If you’re looking for Miami Beach parking, be aware that they use a different app than this one.
The average cost of parking in downtown Miami is $3.50 an hour.
4. Public Parking Lots Are Easier to Find a Spot In
Controlled by the Miami Parking Authority, you’ll have better luck finding a parking spot in one of Miami’s public lots over street parking. They also use the Pay by Phone parking app so you can pay for your parking easily. The fare is the same as most street parking spots, at $3.50 an hour.
Both street parking and public lots have parking enforcement between 6 am and 2 am.
Looking for where to park in Miami Beach? Follow this link to find the best public parking in Miami Beach.
5. Shop Around For Parking Garages
When you park in a parking garage, don’t be too surprised if you find it more expensive than you want it to be. With a little research ahead of time, you can find the most convenient garage that doesn’t burn a hole in your wallet.
Some garages offer the first half an hour of parking for free. Others offer deals for people who show up before 9 am.
When parking in a garage, make sure you don’t lose your ticket. If you lose your ticket, you’ll probably have to pay a lost ticket fee.
6. Be Careful With Private Lots
There are tons of privately owned lots in downtown Miami. There should be signs that indicate that they aren’t lots that are governed by the Miami Parking Authority. However, these signs can often be small or displayed in out of the way spots.
The problem with these lots is that the time limit is strictly enforced. If you are a few minutes late to get back to your car, you might find a boot on your car or even that it was towed away. This is expensive, annoying, and not what anyone wants to deal with.
7. Create a Plan For Special Event Parking
When you’re attending a special event in Miami, parking closest to the event is going to be the most expensive (and the hardest to find). Whether you’re going to a Miami Heat game or a music festival, you’ll want to have a plan ahead of time when it comes to parking.
One way of dealing with this is to park as close as possible to the Adrienne Arsht Center Metromover station and then take the Metromover downtown. You can also take an Uber or a Lyft to this location.
Consider the Alternatives
Sometimes it makes sense to drive, but sometimes it really doesn’t. With the hassle and cost of parking, sometimes it makes sense to seek an alternative form of transportation.
One obvious alternative is to use a rideshare app like Lyft or Uber. You can even snag cheaper fare by walking to a pick-up spot.
Another popular form of transportation in Miami are electric scooters. You can rent scooters docked on the sidewalks of Coconut Grove, Edgewater, Morningside, and downtown Miami. You can simply download the app in order to rent one.
Other options include the Metrorail, the Metromover, and the Metrobus.
Parking in Miami: These Tips Will Help Make Your Parking Experience Easier and Less Stressful
Parking in any urban area can be a real pain. Whether you’ve lived in the city your whole life or just visiting for the weekend, driving around looking for parking can be time consuming and frustrating.
Using these tips to help guide you, you can shave some time off of when you would normally be circling the block.
Did you find this artlice about parking in Miami helpful? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog for more useful and interesting articles!
