San Francisco City multiple day parking

Question

Hello All,

We will be staying in San Francisco for a week in April. We will first be spending a few days in Monterey where we will have the use of a hired car from San Francisco Airport.

We would love to hold onto the car during our stay in San Francisco also, to give us the option of driving outside the city on some days. The only problem is that our hotel doesn't have parking, only valet parking that is $67 dollars a night!

Are there any more affordable parking options in the city that anyone could recommend?

Many thanks and kind regards,

Conor Rowlands

Answer

Keeping a car in San Francisco for a week can get expensive, but there are several strategies and alternatives to consider if your hotel’s $67/night valet seems too steep.

1. Public Garages and Daily Parking Options:

Many parking garages throughout San Francisco offer weekly rates or discounted monthly rates. These are generally cheaper than hotel valet and sometimes easier to access from your hotel. Some options include:

SP+ Parking Garages – multiple locations around the city; inquire about weekly rates.
Impark or City Park (various locations near downtown, SoMa, and Fisherman’s Wharf) – often have weekly passes.
ParkWhiz or SpotHero apps – allow you to reserve parking in advance and can offer significant discounts on long-term stays.

2. Residential or Neighborhood Parking:

Certain neighborhoods just outside the densest downtown areas (like the Mission District, Hayes Valley, or Marina) have street parking or smaller lots with more affordable long-term rates. Be sure to check signs carefully for permit or time restrictions to avoid tickets.

3. Park-and-Ride Options:

You could consider parking at BART stations or other transit hubs outside the core downtown and taking public transit into the city each day. This reduces cost and avoids dealing with city traffic, while still giving you the flexibility to drive on specific days.

4. Alternative Strategies:

If you only plan to drive for specific day trips outside the city, it may be cheaper to return the car for a few days and re-rent for those trips.
Consider a short-term monthly parking garage pass – some garages may allow you to pay for the week at a discounted weekly rate rather than daily valet.

In summary, using public parking garages with weekly rates, leveraging parking apps like SpotHero, or combining park-and-ride options are usually more cost-effective than hotel valet. With careful planning, you can maintain flexibility for day trips while controlling costs.

San Francisco City multiple day parking

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