Just Askin': When and where is free (or cheap) parking in downtown Nashville?
Question: More than 40,900 parking tickets were issued in Nashville last year. I want to avoid receiving one, but I also don't want to spend a lot of money on parking. Where can I park for free or cheap in downtown Nashville? And when can I park there?
Answers: According to Nashville Downtown Partnership, there are approximately 1,000 metered parking spaces on downtown Nashville streets. Depending on the space and time of the day, they're also free at certain times. There are also some free and cheap spots at lots and garages. But much of it is changing. Follow along.
Meter parking
Nashville will get more meters added downtown, and with it the reduction of free parking periods.
Currently meters must be paid from 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Hourly rates are $2.25 in the Central Business District and $1.75 on other meters. Time limits are noted on the meters, ranging from 30 minutes to two hours.
Metered spaces, for now, are free after 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, all day Sunday and on 11 holidays. There are restrictions for some meter parking during peak travel volume periods.
What's changing: The city will add approximately 200 meters in Nashville for street parking and replace the city’s coin-operated meter system with multispace meter kiosks that will accept multiple types of payment. Some are already installed but not yet active. The new meters should be operational in the coming weeks, according to the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure. Rates will remain the same for now.
However, the hours that require paid parking at a meter will increase to 24 hours a day, seven days a week inside the Interstate 40 loop up to Harrison Street and 6 a.m.-midnight outside the loop. Those changes are also expected in the coming weeks.
Ways to pay will include coins and cash, a credit card, through an app or a QR code, according to Cortnye Stone of the Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure.
Free and cheap options at lots or parking garages?
Spend and Save: According to the Nashville Downtown Partnership, Fifth and Broadway Garage offers complimentary free parking for up to two hours with a validation sticker from the following businesses, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Hattie B's, Slim & Husky's, Apple, Boqueria, Shake Shack, Tecovas, Blanco Cocina + Cantina, Kendra Scott, Nike and the National Museum of African American Music.
If visits exceed two hours or if motorists do not get validations, they are billed rates posted at the time of entry.
Garages that offer the first hour free: Velocity Garage (320 11th Ave. S.), Laurel Lot (corner of 11th Avenue South and Laurel Street), Contractors Lot (1208 Pine St.), Javanco Lot (1209 Pine St.) , Gulch Crossing (1033 Demonbreun), Pine Street Garage (1055 Pine St. ) and Icon Garage (600 12th Ave. S.).
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Metro Courthouse Garage: With entrances on James Robertson Parkway and Gay Street, this is a relatively cheap option ($5) on Saturdays, Sundays and weekday evenings, except for Titans game days and Nissan Stadium events, when the cost jumps to $15.
The Nashville Public Library garage: The parking lot at 151 Sixth Ave. N. offers free parking for library patrons for the first 90 minutes with a validation stamp. An additional $3 is then charged every half hour. Parking at the library garage is $10 on weekends and during the week from 5 p.m.-5 a.m.
The Bicentennial Mall: Enjoy free street parking along Sixth and Seventh avenues — roughly 40 spaces. However, these streets may close during special events.
Nashville Predators: Free parking for home games is available at Nissan Stadium’s Lot D, with shuttle service available. Fans can also walk using the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. Lot D has more than 570 parking spaces.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Just Askin': Where is there free or cheap parking in downtown Nashville?
