Free Parking in Des Moines, IA: Where to Find It
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Downtown Des Moines parking is free Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. and all day on weekends at the listed meters and facilities (catchdesmoines.com). The Court Avenue bridge and the Polk County Amin and Election Office Lots are free after 5 p.m. and on weekends (dsmpartnership.com). DART also provides free parking at nearly all Park & Ride locations (ridedart.com).
Parking Near Des Moines
Free parking locations in downtown Des Moines
Downtown Des Moines has more than 900 free off-street and on-street parking spaces during select times, according to the City of Des Moines (dsm.city). The Court Avenue bridge and the Polk County Amin and Election Office Lots provide free parking after 5 p.m. and on weekends (dsmpartnership.com).
Downtown Des Moines meters and city garages or ramps are free on Sundays. Meters covered by a green bag are also free, while downtown parking is free Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. and all day on weekends (catchdesmoines.com). These periods apply to the listed downtown parking facilities and meters, not automatically to every curb space in Des Moines. A driver looking for a free stay should distinguish an unrestricted space from a timed space and use the applicable free period for the specific facility.
Paid Parksy parking near Grand Avenue, 5th and Walnut
Parksy lists three priced garage spaces at 701 Grand Avenue in Des Moines: Secure Parking Garage at 701 Grand Avenue, 701 Grand Avenue Garage Parking, and Convenient Parking Garage at 701 Grand Avenue. Each is 180 yards away and costs $135 a month. The listings identify the spaces as garages, their location as 701 Grand Avenue, and their monthly price, making them paid options near downtown when free spaces are unavailable.
Parksy also lists Convenient Parking for 5th & Walnut in Des Moines, IA, at 239 yards for $1 an hour. Secure 9th & Locust Garage Parking and Convenient 9th & Locust Garage are both 249 yards away and cost $1 an hour.
Free DART park-and-ride options outside downtown Des Moines
DART provides free parking at nearly all of its Park & Ride locations in the Des Moines metro area (ridedart.com). A driver can park at one of those locations and use DART rather than searching for a downtown curb space.
The Iowa Department of Administrative Services points drivers to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Statewide DOT Park and Ride Interactive Webmap for urban and rural lots where commuters may park when carpooling, vanpooling, or taking public transit (das.iowa.gov). The Capitol Complex also has designated parking for employees and the general public. Reserved Capitol Complex spaces are available for state-employed vanpool drivers and carpool drivers with three or more employees commuting daily to the Capitol Complex, with permits handled by DAS General Services.
Downtown Des Moines free periods and restricted spaces
Downtown Des Moines parking is free Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. and all day on weekends at the meters covered by the cited downtown guidance (catchdesmoines.com).
These locations and periods are separate from the general downtown total. A parking space reserved for a particular user is not a general free option, and the Capitol Complex’s reserved spaces are for state-employed vanpool drivers or carpool drivers with three or more employees commuting daily.
Photo: Pexels / Tnarg Sources
* Please note: parking prices, time limits and fine amounts change frequently and vary by operator, council and local authority. Everything on this page is indicative and provided on a best-endeavours basis. Always check the sign, the operator or the issuing authority before you rely on a figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find free parking in Des Moines, Iowa?
Downtown Des Moines parking is free Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. and all day on weekends at the listed meters and facilities (catchdesmoines.com). The Court Avenue bridge and the Polk County Amin and Election Office Lots are free after 5 p.m. and on weekends (dsmpartnership.com). DART also provides free parking at nearly all Park & Ride locations (ridedart.com).
When is downtown Des Moines parking free?
Downtown parking is free Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. and all day on weekends at the meters covered by the downtown guidance (catchdesmoines.com). Downtown meters and city garages or ramps are also free on Sundays. These periods apply to the listed downtown facilities and meters, not automatically to every curb space.
Which downtown Des Moines lots offer free parking after 5 p.m.?
The Court Avenue bridge and the Polk County Amin and Election Office Lots provide free parking after 5 p.m. and on weekends (dsmpartnership.com). Drivers should distinguish an unrestricted space from a timed space and use the applicable free period for the specific facility, because free periods do not automatically apply to every curb space in Des Moines.
Does Des Moines have free park-and-ride parking?
DART provides free parking at nearly all of its Park & Ride locations in the Des Moines metro area (ridedart.com). A driver can park at one of those locations and use DART rather than searching for a downtown curb space. The Iowa Department of Administrative Services points drivers to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Statewide DOT Park and Ride Interactive Webmap.
Are green-bagged parking meters free in Des Moines?
Meters covered by a green bag are free (catchdesmoines.com). Downtown parking is also free Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. and all day on weekends at the meters covered by the cited downtown guidance (catchdesmoines.com). These locations and periods are separate from the general downtown total, so check the specific space.
Can anyone use reserved Capitol Complex parking for free?
A parking space reserved for a particular user is not a general free option. Reserved Capitol Complex spaces are available for state-employed vanpool drivers and carpool drivers with three or more employees commuting daily to the Capitol Complex, with permits handled by DAS General Services. The Capitol Complex also has designated parking for employees and the general public.
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