Parking in downtown Bethesda on Saturday

[Anonymous]

I'm driving to downtown Bethesda on Saturday for the first time. The Post had an article yesterday on the funding of Bethesda parking garages, and said there are garages that are free on weekends but they fill up. Two questions: 1) Where are the free garages? 2) Are there paid garages nearby if the free ones are filled? Any other parking advice appreciated -- I'm fine walking a few blocks if there is outlying parking.

[Anonymous]

There is plenty of parking in Bethesda. Google is your friend.

[Anonymous]

Got it. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

You are looking at free vs about 6 bucks tops, all within a block

[Anonymous]

I was in Bethesda on a Saturday around 10 AM during the holidays. Parking was free in the garage down the street from Barnes and Noble. It was very crowded, because anytime a car is blocking part of the driving lane, traffic in the garage stops. It took us 15-20 min to park, so keep this in mind if you need to be somewhere on time. (We were late to a birthday party.)

[Anonymous]

There is a really nice metro station in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Locals know to park on either the side streets or garages that are a few blocks away...easy in and out.

[Anonymous]

Here is a map of all the garages--

http://www.bethesda.org/bethesda/parking-map

The one between Bethesda Ave and Elm is the most popular/busy for people going to Bethesda Row. The one on Woodmont towards Leland is brand new and likely would have room. The one on Waverly is less used on weekends but isn't far.

[Anonymous]

There is a new garage that just recently opened in the new development across the street from Barnes and Noble - free every day until March.

[Anonymous]

The garage next to Imagination Stage (between Del Ray and Auburn) is metered parking Mon-Fri. The meters are not in effect on Sat or Sun. It's been that way for years (and I just went a few weeks ago).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Locals know to park on either the side streets or garages that are a few blocks away...easy in and out.

And they also know they have to feed the meters on the side streets Saturdays and Sundays with a maximum of one hour parking while the garages are free with no time limits.

[Anonymous]

The garage on Elm fills up by 11am on Saturdays usually. Also even if you get a spot up on the 5th floor, budget 15 minutes to make it back down again -- lots of traffic of people searching for spaces. It has a counter outside the garage, so if the free spaces number is under 20, skip it.

Capital Crescent garage just opened and is currently free all the time. Entrance near Ourisman Honda. Easy parking there.

I normally park at the garage across from Bethesda Metro (Woodmont and.. err.. Edgemoor?) and it's free on weekends and easy to get spaces there.

Also look up the Bethesda Circulator. Free shuttle bus to take you around Bethesda, so you can park at a faraway garage and take the bus to your destination. Useful if parking on the Rugby Ave garage which will have plenty of spaces.

It'll be cold this weekend, so bundle up if you expect to walk a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Locals know to park on either the side streets or garages that are a few blocks away...easy in and out.

And they also know they have to feed the meters on the side streets Saturdays and Sundays with a maximum of one hour parking while the garages are free with no time limits.

Street parking is free with no time limitations on Sundays.