Parking suggestions for Downtown or North End for a tourist?

Submitted by mistlet0ad t3_10mr2kh in boston

Planning a trip to Boston in July. Coming from a rural area with not a ton of larger city driving experience. I want to be well prepared and have parking figured out well in advance. We will be visiting historical landmarks Downtown, grabbing some food (food recommendations also welcome), and topping off the evening with a show at Red Velvet Burlesque. Will likely be in town 6+ hours. I would appreciate any parking suggestions for the Downtown or North End areas. I've checked a few apps but not a fan. TIA.

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dpm25 t1_j64ppbx wrote

If you are not confident and capable of driving in the city, the answer is don't

Take the train from Alewife or a commuter rail line on the north shore.

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Junior_Emotion5681 t1_j64qsp7 wrote

Go to Sullivan Station, park there and get on the T from there.

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BreathingPermafrost t1_j64roai wrote

I swear by parking at the Station Landing garage in Medford and catching the T at the connected Wellington station. It literally does not get easier and just barely is it cheaper anywhere else at $5/24 hours.

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hotasspee t1_j64lut5 wrote

in before everyone yells at you for driving

take the train, you rube

ok now that that’s out of the way—use SpotHero to reserve a spot. or just park near the Garden in one of the garages. there is no shortage of parking garage space in downtown Boston outside of the 9-5 rush unless it’s during a bruins/Celtics game.

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zaahc t1_j64pmt9 wrote

Weekday or weekend? As others are saying, parking outside and taking a train in is probably universally your best bet. If there are other considerations that make that a disfavored option, I would highly advise against trying to park in the North End. You won't find any street parking in the part of the city that you're looking at that has 6+ hour parking, so a garage would really be your only option. Metered parking IS free after 8 and all day on Sunday, so you could technically do it from 6:01pm-8pm (it's usually max two hours) and then be fine if you stay longer. If you're coming on a weekend, I've never had any trouble finding parking in the Financial District. That said, there are some very cheap (like $10 all-day) garages that I would still recommend for ease of having an actual address to navigate to.

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QueenOfBrews t1_j64meus wrote

There’s the Boston Common Garage, would probably be most convenient.

If you are in town for multiple days it will be much more convenient to utilize public transportation and avoid driving in town. Especially if you are coming during 4th of July.

is this just a day trip, or are you staying in town multiple days at a hotel or something?

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mistlet0ad OP t1_j64myeh wrote

Staying in Portsmouth, NH and doing a day trip to Boston.

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dirtyoldmikegza t1_j64wxgx wrote

Boston common garage. Fairly easy. Not actually that expensive in relation to other garages . T is right there or just walk the half mile or whatever the north end. I wouldn't drive in the north end for all the tea in China especially if you're coming from a rural area. No room. In a rational world I wouldn't even let non residents drive in there

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bobby_j_canada t1_j678dlo wrote

Different "take the train, you rube" suggestion: park at the Wonderland Garage in Revere and take the Blue Line downtown to State.

The Red and Orange Lines are kind of messy but the Blue Line is clean, reliable, and efficient. And Wonderland is just off of Route 1 where you'll be driving from. The last 5-10 miles into the city can be the most brutal, so this plan lets you avoid it while taking the most reliable train line.

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jjgould165 t1_j66bln8 wrote

Park at Wellington or Sullivan Square and take the t in from there. Alternatively, the commuter rail from Haverhill or any of the northern stops that have parking. The North End is a PITA for parking if you aren't confident in parallel parking or dealing with buses, cars, bikes, pedestrians, and the occasional 3 point turn for the fire trucks in the neighborhood

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rhodie93 t1_j666081 wrote

I would take the Amtrak Downeaster from Dover or Exeter into North Station

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bobby_j_canada t1_j678jul wrote

Problem is it's really infrequent so if you miss your train you're screwed. I'd say drive to Wonderland and take the Blue Line.

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Ville617 t1_j64vdi6 wrote

Use the train if possible. Use Spot Hero if you have to drive.

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75footubi t1_j64vfli wrote

Drive to Newburyport and take the train in

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BesponFatigues1230 t1_j64wz0g wrote

The Post Office Sq garage is right in downtown and is $9 all day on the weekend

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Meat_Popsicles t1_j655w7h wrote

There are several commercial garages in the North End area. There's also a large public lot that is owned by the city but run by LAZ parking underneath Boston Common that might be your best choice for convenience and price. Haymarket Garage is also a block from the burlesque, so it's right next to where you'll be ending your night.

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AutoModerator t1_j64ks6x wrote

Ok. Head on in to Faneuil Hall. Wander around for approximately 5 minutes. Congrats you have seen Faneuil hall. Take a pic or two and post them online. Go to the Dunks at 20 North St and grab an iced coffee. Next you want to see Beacon Hill. Wander up Cambridge St and then poke around Beacon Hill. Take some pics of yourselves. Congrats you have been to Beacon Hill. Reward yourself by going to the Dunks at 106 Cambridge St. get an iced coffee. Next head to the North End. Take a pic of yourself outside of Mike’s Pastry and grab a slice at Regina’s. Then wander to 180 canal st where you will find a dunks. Grab an iced coffee and look at the TD Garden which is across the street. Next go to 22 Beacon St. there is a Dunkin’s there. Grab an iced coffee and check out the state house and then wander through the Common towards the public garden. Take a detour to 147 Tremont St. There is a Dunks there. Grab an iced coffee. Go back into the common and head toward the public garden. Wander through the public garden and check out all the cool stuff there. Wander down Newbury St and then cut over to 715 Boylston St where you will find a Dunks. Get an iced coffee. Now head towards Kenmore Square! Make a stop at 153 Mass Ave and grab an iced coffee at Dunks. Then continue onward to Kenmore. Wander through the edge of the Fens then go past Fenway Park. Hit 530 Comm Ave and get an iced coffee at Dunks. Next you will want to see Harvard Square! 65 JFK St has a dunks. Get an iced coffee. After that, I suppose you can hit the Hong Kong and get smashed. Hope this helps.

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CaptainWollaston t1_j64ns42 wrote

Garage under post office square. It's cheap on weekends, and perfect location

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potus1001 t1_j65i851 wrote

If you’re willing to pay, try the Courtyard North Station garage.

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Quincyperson t1_j65yfso wrote

Park next to the Common on Tremont St. You won’t even have to put quarters in the meter

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BurritoSlayer117 t1_j68ee1l wrote

You could park at mystic mall for free . They have the train to Td and sl3 to seaport there . A couple min walk from there is the sl to haymarket

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BobDylan1904 t1_j69cld6 wrote

Sorry you don't like apps, but I promise you spothero has the best info. Anything real posted here is available on spothero and you can reserve ahead of time and then you don't have to worry about it. I live just outside boston city limits, I use the app any time I need to park downtown and don't want to try and get lucky with a meter spot on the street.

Edit: I see others going with the train option, that is probably best tbh

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pixieanddixie t1_j6mnn44 wrote

Don’t spoil your great trip into town by having to navigate the driving if you’re not comfortable with it.

If trains also aren’t your thing, you can always Uber in from Wellington, etc

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AutoModerator t1_j64ks5o wrote

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bostonbean280 t1_j64rejl wrote

The parking garage at Haymarket is $3 for two or three hours with validation. You could park there cheaply and then find street parking after 6 or leave it but I’m not sure how much it costs past that… Common garage is pretty far from the North End…

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dirtyoldmikegza t1_j64x6um wrote

Pretty far...it's like ten minutes walking..whatareyouacalifornian!?

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bostonbean280 t1_j65zobv wrote

Common garage to the Burlesque show they’re going to is 24 min walking on google maps… If I was getting out of a show late at night after spending the day in town I feel like I would want to be parked closer than a mile and a half and a decent hill away…

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QueenOfBrews t1_j64znvx wrote

They say they are visiting downtown landmarks, so they will probably be around there anyway.

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newcomputer1990 t1_j65jmfr wrote

I can’t tell if you’re trolling because aren’t they tearing this garage down?

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bostonbean280 t1_j65yz7r wrote

No, the one above Boston public market / Haymarket / RMV is relatively unknown and affordable. If they want to go to Quincy market and the North End I don’t think there’s a better place to park…

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