Here’s the first thing to know about parking downtown: There nearly always are going to be spots available if you know where to look.
“The biggest thing we hear is there’s not enough parking, and we know there’s adequate parking to meet demand,” said Matt Nelson, the city’s public parking facilities manager.
“It might not be directly in front of the business you’re visiting, but chances are there’s a spot waiting for you within a very short walk no matter what time of day you visit.”
Follow this go-to guide to find your parking space of choice:
Quit circling
We likely all have fallen into this habit: Looking for an on-street parking spot as close as possible to our downtown destination.
“I’ve been guilty of it too, but often it’s actually easier to quit driving up and down popular downtown streets and go straight to a ramp,” said Joe Batcheller, president of Downtown Sioux Falls Inc.
“You have so much access with our ramps within such a short walk of your destination, and on nights and weekends, I’ve rarely ever seen a full parking ramp – maybe just for the largest parades of the year.”
From Phillips Avenue
Downtown’s busiest stretch, from Ninth to 12th streets along Phillips Avenue, is filled with easily accessible parking.
“If you’re going to the stores and restaurants at 10th and 11th and Phillips, for instance, we absolutely recommend the First Avenue ramp,” Nelson said.
“It’s located directly east of the Shriver building at 110 E. 11th St. You get in, and we have allocated hourly parking in the most convenient spots literally right next to the exit onto the street.”
With more than 600 spots in that ramp, you’re going to find one – especially after hours.
Going closer to Eighth and Phillips? The new Mall Avenue parking ramp at 110 S. Mall Ave. offers more than 500 spots, and again “the easiest spots are right there at ground level and often a three- to five-minute walk to where you’re going,” Nelson said.
For the Washington Pavilion
The Washington Pavilion and areas on the south end of downtown are served by multiple parking ramps – especially after 5 p.m. when many people visit for entertainment.
“The Pavilion ramp is a great options, and Washington Square’s parking ramp is free after 5 p.m., and it’s literally directly across from the Pavilion,” Nelson said.
“Plus, adjacent churches typically offer overflow parking for a small fee.”
For Levitt and Falls Park
If you’re heading to the north side of downtown, life gets easier after hours and will get even better soon with the opening of The Steel District.
“Once the ramp fully opens there, we’ll have 1,000 more spots available on nights and weekends, plus additional public parking,” Nelson said. “For now, we’d suggest the ramp at Eighth and Dakota, and after hours, there’s a lot of surface parking in the area, including at Raven.”
Want a preview of how you can navigate the new Steel District ramp? Watch the video below:
On East Eighth Street
Still really prefer surface parking? You’re in luck on Eighth Street, where all the stores and restaurants typically have access to at least some surface parking.
If you’re there on nights and weekends, don’t forget the ramp at the Hilton Garden Inn and CNA Surety Building, which puts you within an easy walk of 8th & Railroad Center and lots of food and beverage activity.
The expanded Cherapa Place development also is served by a new ramp that connects its office and retail spaces, in addition to new surface parking.
“Throughout downtown, unless there’s a business with a sign that says no parking or customer only or they will tow, they’re pretty much open to the public after 5 p.m. and on weekends,” Nelson said. “There are a handful, so just watch the signage as you’re entering or parking.”
By the numbers
The numbers definitely are in your favor, Nelson added.
“On an average night downtown, about 25 percent of our available parking is used, meaning 75 percent of public and private parking is open and available,” he said.
“On an average weekday, we’re more like 70 percent full, but that still means there’s absolutely parking available in every corner of downtown.”
Once you learn the options, it becomes easy, Batcheller said.
“There are more than 1,000 parking spaces within a half-block of Lewis Drug, for example,” he said. “You just need to learn where to look.”
Get connected
To see a full map of city parking ramps, click here.
Plus, download the Park Smarter app to make locating and paying for parking even easier. You can find that and more information on transportation downtown here.
“The app is super-easy and user-friendly,” Batcheller said. “And once you’re set up, you won’t have to worry about getting a ticket if your time goes longer downtown because it will alert you. Save time, discover the ramps and your visits downtown will get even better.”