Overnight Parking at Metro Lots?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: BWI
Programs: Everyone!
Posts: 1,024
Overnight Parking at Metro Lots?
Hi. I searched and didn't see this anywhere (including the Washington Transit site). I am going to be staying downtown for the weekend and would like to avoid having to pay $29 per day for my car to sit unused in the garage. I was hoping that I could drive to a Metro station and park there for the weekend (since it is supposedly free) and take the train to my hotel.
Only thing is it is unclear to me if they allow overnight parking or not? If it matters, I was thinking of using Shady Grove.
Thanks for the advice.
Only thing is it is unclear to me if they allow overnight parking or not? If it matters, I was thinking of using Shady Grove.
Thanks for the advice.
#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: UA 2.5MM; HH Diamond; Hyatt Platinum; MR Gold
Posts: 1,355
This is from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority:
"Multiple day parking is available at three stations: Greenbelt, Huntington and Franconia-Springfield. Each of these stations has between 15 and 17 spaces allocated for multi-day use, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis."
Hope this helps.
"Multiple day parking is available at three stations: Greenbelt, Huntington and Franconia-Springfield. Each of these stations has between 15 and 17 spaces allocated for multi-day use, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis."
Hope this helps.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Greater DC
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Don't know where you'll be downtown but if you come in Friday evening and leave by Sunday, I believe there are plenty of spots near the Rosslyn station. As long as you're in Friday evening, there should be plenty of street parking around the lots, its just a matter of picking ones where it'd be okay and you'd be comfortable leaving that car
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: An NPR mind living in a Fox News world
Posts: 14,165
Originally Posted by GoingAway
Don't know where you'll be downtown but if you come in Friday evening and leave by Sunday, I believe there are plenty of spots near the Rosslyn station. As long as you're in Friday evening, there should be plenty of street parking around the lots, its just a matter of picking ones where it'd be okay and you'd be comfortable leaving that car
#7
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: DC metro
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Originally Posted by jkzahn
Hi. I searched and didn't see this anywhere (including the Washington Transit site). I am going to be staying downtown for the weekend and would like to avoid having to pay $29 per day for my car to sit unused in the garage. I was hoping that I could drive to a Metro station and park there for the weekend (since it is supposedly free) and take the train to my hotel.
Only thing is it is unclear to me if they allow overnight parking or not? If it matters, I was thinking of using Shady Grove.
Thanks for the advice.
Only thing is it is unclear to me if they allow overnight parking or not? If it matters, I was thinking of using Shady Grove.
Thanks for the advice.
I used to live in the apartment complex down from the Dunn Loring station,
when i moved, i kept the parking sticker
so if i am that way, i leave me car in that lot and walk the 1/6th mile to the station
#9
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 952
Originally Posted by crhptic
I have left my car over a weekend at Forest Glen and it was fine. The lots have no staff on the weekends, so even if you aren't officially in a multi day spot there is no one to tell on you.
That said, I have, several times, seen an obviously abandoned stolen car (tags off, radio ripped out, door ajar, mirrors broken), sit there for a week before being towed.
And they're getting a bit more aggressive about ticketing people who park in their own made-up spaces, too....I saw them nab two folks yesterday.
also from the husband of a friend, who's a ffx county officer: people know when the subway shuts down. Cars there after the last train are targets for vandals. I'd also be wary of parking in the long term spots....if you do, it's a signal that you're probably not going to be "right back."
That said, if you're in montgomery county, you'd have better luck in parking in one of the county garages overnight...it's perfectly legal. Of course, free parking times vary.
#10
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Washington DC USA
Posts: 2,571
Originally Posted by joanek
That said, if you're in montgomery county, you'd have better luck in parking in one of the county garages overnight...it's perfectly legal. Of course, free parking times vary.
The Bethesda one is better because you pay upon exit, so you can actually enter ANYTIME and it will be free as long as you leave by 7 AM Monday (or come back during the hours of 10PM-7AM a day later, though I have never left a car there for an extended period, so I don't know what else would happen). The Silver Spring one has meters, which I believe don't cut off until 7 PM Friday, so if you left before then you'd need to feed the meter long enough to get you to 7 PM or you will get a ticket!
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: BWI
Programs: Everyone!
Posts: 1,024
Took 3 weeks, but here is the "official" response:
Multiple day parking is available at three stations: Greenbelt, Huntington and Franconia-Springfield. Each of these stations has between 15 and 17 spaces allocated for multi-day use, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are signs indicating which spaces are reserved for multi-day parking.
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Office of Customer Relations
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Office of Customer Relations
#12
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: SUV
Programs: UA *G MM
Posts: 7,017
Due to the fact that the contract employees were stealing money the collection was automated at metro garages a year or two ago. After 10 pm (or whenever) on Friday it's open season to park over the weekend. They may have staff looking for multiple day parking on weekdays. But you could probably get away with parking on Friday anytime and getting out before Monday am.
I even confirmed that the it is technically legal to park > 24 hours by calling WMATA. During it's max 24 hours -- not sure how it is enforced in practice.
I thought the public garage meters in Bethesda are in operation on Saturdays but maybe I am wrong. They have lots of info on the Montgomery Cty website. If you are driving from Pittsburgh then that's a good place to park.
I even confirmed that the it is technically legal to park > 24 hours by calling WMATA. During it's max 24 hours -- not sure how it is enforced in practice.
I thought the public garage meters in Bethesda are in operation on Saturdays but maybe I am wrong. They have lots of info on the Montgomery Cty website. If you are driving from Pittsburgh then that's a good place to park.
#13
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Washington DC USA
Posts: 2,571
Originally Posted by gnaget
I thought the public garage meters in Bethesda are in operation on Saturdays but maybe I am wrong. They have lots of info on the Montgomery Cty website. If you are driving from Pittsburgh then that's a good place to park.
The website is http://www.dpwt.com - then click on Parking.