Parking Panda Blog Washington D.C. Parking Guide

Washington D.C. is one of the United States largest and most important cities. As our capital, it is the center of the US government. D.C. was created as our capital and named in honor of George Washington in 1790 with the signing of the Residence Act. The centers of all three branches of government are located in D.C. D.C. is also home to hundreds of monuments and museums, namely the Smithsonian museums.There are over a hundred foreign embassies within the city limit. Washington also hosts the headquarters of large international and national organizations like the IMF, The World Bank, the Human Rights Campaign, and Americorps. Millions of tourists, foreign diplomats, and businessmen and women flood the city every single day to attend meetings or visit museums. With all of those people, finding parking can be incredibly difficult. Our Washington D.C. Parking guide will help you find the easiest way to park in the city, regardless of your needs. Whether you're looking for a space on the street for a few hours, or a place to keep your car on a monthly basis, our guide will have your answers. Reserve parking ahead of time with Parking Panda to save time and stress. Street Parking In D.C.It's insanely expensive, hard to find and most of all, it ruins your good mood. Parking. DC is all too familiar with this maddening daily task. Unless you've got a lot of cash to throw around, you'll be circling for hours trying to find something affordable, not to mention missing that morning meeting. Even when you are lucky enough to find a spot, DC parking enforcement is fierce! According to an article from The Washington Post, not only did Washington D.C. set a record in 2011 by collecting $92.6 million in parking citations, but the district collects an average of $370,000 in parking fines every working day of the year-and it's getting worse. Already this year, DC has taken in over $31 million in parking fines and is on track to set another record for 2014. If you find these numbers nauseating, read on. In 2013 alone, the parking-meter violations generated 1,731,861 tickets. In addition to fines, the district also receives about $40 million in parking meter revenue from their 17,000 parking meters. These meters are now easier to feed than ever before with the option to pay by credit card, phone, or online. This isn't a few quarters here or there, it's your hard-earned money going down the drain. Here at Parking Panda, we can help you avoid receiving pricey tickets and paying for over-priced parking by allowing you to compare locations and reserve parking ahead of time for exactly that amount of time you need. Metered Street Parking Hours & RatesNot only is street parking extremely rare and hard to find, most streets have confusing zone-specific rules and regulations. Operating hours and costs for metered parking in Washington DC are listed below: Metered Parking Rates: $2.30 per hour. Metered Parking Hours:Normal Demand Zones: Monday - Saturday (7:00am - 6:30pm)Premium Demand Zones: Monday - Saturday (7:00am - 10:00pm)Metered parking on Sunday's is FREEPremium Demand Zones: Adams MorganPenn Quarter/ChinatownWisconsin Avenue NW (from Van Ness Street to Western Avenue)Georgetown Historic DistrictU Street NW CorridorDowntown Central Business DistrictMaine Avenue and Water Streets SWThe National MallThe rates change based on neighborhood with the busiest areas being the most expensive. Here is a map of the DC parking meter zones. For more information, please visit the District Department of Transportation website. There are restrictions on the street parking around the mall in the morning and during rush hour so be sure to follow the rules as posted in the locations. As always, please be sure to follow the rules and regulations posted on the street. Your vehicle will get ticketed, towed, or booted if you break the rules. Street Parking vs. Garage ParkingThere are around 17,000 on-street metered parking spots in D.C. The District Department Of Transportation launched multiple parking management programs to mitigate congestion problems (including a pay-by-phone parking meter option, residential permits, and visitor permits). The DDOT also accepts out-of-state disability permits and tags and has special ADA accessible meters (designated by a blue dome) and is currently working toward having disability parking available every two blocks.There are a number of parking garages and lots in Washington, D.C. Keep in mind that parking garages are privately owned and not a part of the DDOT. These garages, especially near high-traffic locations, tend to fill up fast. Many parking garage companies around the city have partnerships with Parking Panda for easy, guaranteed parking reservations available online. General State of ParkingParking issues are commonplace in Washington, D.C. With about 400,000 drivers commuting into the capital daily and parking spaces exceedingly difficult to find, it is no surprise that drivers paid almost $100 million in parking tickets alone last year. Officials are actively making the city more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, and on-street parking accessibility is taking a direct hit. On-street parking requires drivers to abide by confusing rules compounded by multiple signs on a single block. Just last year, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic, the District Department of Transportation issued 1.8 million parking tickets, totaling $92.5 million. For the almost 75% of the 150 million annual visitors who drive into the capital, unfamiliar parking restrictions and confusing signs lead to parking violations that can run up to $500. For daily drivers and visitors alike, taking time to figure out the best way into the city can save money, gas, and time.How to Avoid DC Parking TicketsThe best way to travel around DC may be to park in a secure parking garage and then travel within the city using the capital's easily-navigated transportation systems such as the Metro and DC Circulator. If you are lucky enough to park in one of the coveted on-street parking spaces, there are some tips to keep in mind. Don't forget, if you ever have doubts or questions about a location, contact DDOT at (202) 671-2700.Carefully check the signs:Rush hour restrictions are strictly enforced between the hours of 7 and 9:30 a.m., and from 4 to 6:30 p.m. All meters are enforced Monday-Saturday and most of the free on-street parking is restricted to two hours. If the coin-meter is broken, you may call the DDT number at 202-541-6030 and they will give you a code that you can display on your car. However, the DDOT has announced that there is no guarantee that a ticketing officer will exempt the motorist from a ticket.Ticket Facts:District of Columbia does not require meter fees on official holidays. The list of official holidays can be found here. Perhaps surprisingly, parking ticket peaks come at the beginning, not the end of the month. Tourists were hit the hardest during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, with almost 68,000 tickets. According to the Washingtonian, most tickets were cited near Georgetown University campus, Lincoln Park, and the Congressional Cemetery.How to pay for ticketsIf you feel that the ticket was cited unlawfully, you can contest the parking ticket. Data from 2010 showed that 41% of the motorists beat their contested tickets. One of the best ways to win such a case is to gather concrete evidence by taking photos of where/how you were parked and conflicting or missing signs, if available. Also, look for mistakes on the actual citation - any incorrect information may be grounds for dismissal.If you are ready to pay for a ticket, there are four options laid out by the DDOT:online, by mail, in person, or by phone at 866-893-5023. Don't forget that tickets must be paid within 30 calendar days of the citation to avoid a penalty.How Parking Panda Can Help ~ Guaranteed Parking ReservationsYou can now compare parking facilities based on distance, amenities, and price, from your computer or on your smartphone. Know which neighborhood you're heading toward? Check out parking options that are 100% guaranteed in each neighborhood. Washington D.C. Parking By NeighborhoodAdams MorganAdams Morgan is a fun, culturally diverse neighborhood located centered at the intersection of Columbia and 18th Street. It is well known for it's great night-life scene, funky, global restaurants, quirky boutiques, and hispanic infused culture. Capitol HillCapitol Hill is a largely residential neighborhood centered around the US Capitol Building. The Hill, as it is more commonly referred to as, is an actual hill, rising slightly above the rest of the city. Important features include the US Capitol Building, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, the Marine Barracks, and many senate and house office buildings. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. Chinatown DCChinatown is a small, asian influenced, neighborhood located on H and I streets between 5th and 8th Streets Northwest. It is comprised of small restaurants and businesses. It is known for the annual Chinese New Year Parade. Other popular attractions include Verizon Center, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Downtown Washington D.C.Downtown is the central business district located in the northwest quadrant of the city. Popular attractions include The National Archives, The National Aquarium, The National Portrait Gallery, and Ford's Theater. Dupont CircleDupont Circle is located in northwest DC. It is named after Dupont traffic circle, which is at the center of the neighborhood. It is in the historic district of Washington D.C and is bounded by 16th St NW, 22nd St NW, M St NW, and Florida Ave. Dupont Circle, home to many foreign embassies, is where Embassy Row is located. Other popular attractions include the National Museum of American Jewish Military History and the Loagai Museum. Falls ChurchFalls Church