How to Find Free, Legal Event Parking in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota

Recently, a friend and I were getting ready to attend a Minnesota Twins game at the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis. As we headed to the car to leave, my friend checked the change in his pocket. “We’re going to have to stop on the way and get some quarters.”

“Why?” I asked.

“The street parking meters are the best deal. But we’ll need about $6.00 worth of quarters to cover four hours.”

“We may not need those quarters,” I told him. “I can almost always find a free spot, as long as you don’t mind walking four or five blocks.”

“A free spot? In downtown Minneapolis?” my friend asked.

About a half hour later we were traveling down Fourth Avenue, about four blocks from the Metrodome. In short order, I directed my friend into a free, legal street spot. “Wow,” my friend commented. “Why don’t more people know about this?”

Most people don’t believe that it’s actually quite possible to find free, legal parking spots in downtown Minneapolis, even for big events such as Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Gophers and Minnesota Twins games, plays at the Guthrie Theater, Timberwolves games at the Target Center, etc., etc.

You just have to combine an understanding of the Minneapolis parking signs with a little diligence and common sense.

I’ll never forget the Sunday many years ago when the Superbowl was played at the Metrodome. A friend and I didn’t have tickets, but we wanted to head downtown and “soak up the atmosphere.” I was amazed at the parking prices. There were cars, people and media everywhere. Parking lots were charging double, or triple their usual rates. It didn’t take too long however, for us to find a free street parking spot within a few blocks of the Metrodome. But enough hype. Here are the secrets to finding free parking in downtown Minneapolis.

THE SECRET IS TO READ, AND UNDERSTAND, THE MINNEAPOLIS PARKING SIGNS: In general, you want to look for an unmetered spot near the ends of a particular block. Then read the parking signs. The signs will tell you if, and when you CAN’T park in a certain spot. “No Parking Anytime” means what it says. But in some places there are signs that are more vague. For instance, on many blocks downtown you will find signs that read, “Loading Zone Parking Only, Monday – Friday, 8 – 6.” The key is to read between the lines. In downtown Minneapolis, if there is no sign specifically PROHIBITING parking at a certain time, you can almost always park there legally. After hours, the “Loading Zones” are the absolute best places to find free parking. Although you can’t park in the loading zone during the designated hours (in this case, from 8 until 6), if there is no other sign specifically prohibiting parking at other times, it IS A LEGAL SPOT! That means you can park there after six and leave your car there until eight the next morning, if you’d like.

There are many such loading zones within easy walking distance of the Metrodome, Target Center, Guthrie, etc., etc. Again, the key is to closely read the signs. If there’s no prohibition for the particular time you are there, you can park there safely, legally and free. But don’t these spots fill up quickly? Well, yes and no. I’ve attended dozens of major sporting events downtown, and as long as I arrive about an hour or more before the event, I can almost always find a free spot. At other times, spots are very easy to find, with just a little patience and diligence.

Another great place to find free parking is at the meters themselves. Often overlooked just a few blocks from most major venues in downtown
Minneapolis are meters that are enforced only until 6 p.m., and not enforced on weekends. Always be sure and carefully read the meter, but
if you are outside of the “enforcement” times, the meter is free.

If you enjoy, or don’t mind walking ten or more blocks, you can find free street parking at places like the Stevens Square area (West edge of downtown) or the other side of the Third Avenue Bridge (University of Minnesota East Bank housing area.) Of course, you could also park there and take an easy bus ride to your destination.

So the next time you see someone slowly circling the block, carefully reading those loading zone signs in downtown Minneapolis, you’ll know what there up to! Like you, they’re just looking for the free spot!