SAN ANTONIO – Finding affordable parking in downtown San Antonio can feel overwhelming, but the city says cheap options exist if you know where to look.
“How are you supposed to enjoy the city if you got to pay $40 just to park?” said Johnny Reyes, who works downtown.
Reyes is not alone in his frustration. Parking prices vary widely depending on location, and a difference of just one block can mean significant savings.
A parking lot near the River Walk runs nearly $40 for the day. But the city-owned Houston Street Garage, about a block from the Majestic Theatre, costs just $3 an hour — or $10 for the full day.
For visitors like Sam Abrahamson, that kind of price gap matters.
“I feel like $20 is reasonable for the day,” Abrahamson said. ”Anything really over 30, unless it’s like an event, is just kind of unnecessary.”
The City of San Antonio operates 13 parking lots and garages that it says are the most affordable options downtown. A city map highlights those locations and is available online.
Parking is free in city garages on Thursdays. Special events may impact prices.
Whether heading to a restaurant or catching a show, downtown Operations Director John Jacks said planning ahead is key.
“It’s not like going to the grocery store where you just drive up, and you park in a parking space right in front of the grocery. It should be part of your planning process,” Jacks said.
Project Marvel, future parking plans
With a proposed Sports and Entertainment District coming near the Alamodome, questions remain about how downtown parking will keep up with increased demand.
City officials say additional parking is part of the plan.
“So obviously it will be at times very busy,” Chief Downtown Officer Shanon Miller said. ”Not to mention the fact that it’s in largely in Hemisphere Park, which we want people to use all the time.”
Miller said the city is already looking at the bigger picture of downtown mobility.
“The city is currently in the process of the Downtown Accessibility and Mobility Study,” Miller said. ”That’s really intended to look at overall how people are accessing downtown.”
The Downtown Accessibility and Mobility Study is designed to identify the best ways people can get around downtown, with the goal of improving overall traffic flow on a daily basis.
Results from the study are expected this fall.
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