Parking in Chicago

It is often challenging to find a parking space in Chicago. Below is a list of the most important things that you need to know when looking for a spot in Chicago.

There are 3 main on-street zones in Chicago, their parking rates vary as follows:  

1. If you’re parking in the Loop (red zone), be ready to pay $6.50 per hour from 8am to 9 pm. These rates half during the night to $6.50 for 2 hours from 9pm to 8am.
2. For parking in the Central Business District (yellow zone) – expect to pay $4.00 per hour between 8am and 10pm. Parking is free outside of these hours.
3. Parking in Outer Chicago (green zone) costs $2.00 per hour and is free from 10pm to 8am.

All Chicago parking meters accept credit and debit cards alongside coins. Another convenient method of paying for on-street parking is to use the ParkChicago app – this app will also allow you to extend your time remotely, meaning that you no longer need to run back and forth to the meter to feed it.

Public lots and garages charge $12.00 per hour and $30 per day. The average monthly rate is $225.00.

As with any major city, parking in Chicago follows the rule of “the further from downtown, the cheaper it gets.” Check out these pages to know exactly what to expect when parking near the most popular attractions in Chicago: Millenium Park, Navy Pier, Art Institute or search for your desired location using the search bar.  

In addition, visit the City of Chicago parking page for any questions you might have concerning paying for parking tickets.