City of Chicago: Parking In Chicago For Visitors
You can park for free on Chicago streets if it is not prohibited.
And there are many prohibitions, so
read the signs,
and
check these tips.
Many residential streets restrict parking to people living in the area and their guests.
If you can be a guest, ask your host to purchase Residential Parking Daily Permits ($8.00 for 15 permits).
Besides free parking, this is the cheapest option.
For hourly parking, you can park on streets with a meter or paybox. The closer you are to
the Loop area, the higher the cost ($6.50 vs $2.00 per hour in the outer area).
Find metered parking here.
If you need to park a little longer, your best choice in Chicago is to find a
parking garage. All day parking will
cost over $30, but most garages have hourly, early-bird, evening and discount rates,
especially with nearby attractions.
Are you staying in a hotel in downtown Chicago? Expect to pay
from $50 to over $60
for an overnight parking with in and out privileges. There is one gem exception,
the Best Western River North -- it is
located in the heart of the Loop, and is the only downtown hotel with FREE parking.
If you are willing to stay farther from the Loop, you have other free parking options.
Last update: 09/27/14