Free Parking in Tacoma, WA: Where to Find It
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Tacoma’s clearest general free option is the three-hour unpaid zone on South 15th Street, South 17th Street, and South 21st Street between Market Street and Tacoma Avenue, except for regulated stalls. Limited free street parking is also available on and south of S 21st Street and on and north of Market Street near UW Tacoma (uw.tacoma.edu).
Parking Near Tacoma
Free Streets and Unpaid Bays Around Downtown Tacoma
Tacoma’s clearest general free option is the three-hour unpaid zone on South 15th Street, South 17th Street, and South 21st Street between Market Street and Tacoma Avenue, except for already regulated stalls.
Limited free street parking is also available on and south of S 21st Street and on and north of Market Street near UW Tacoma (uw.tacoma.edu). The spaces suit short visits, but the unpaid designation does not make every nearby stall free, so a driver should match the space with its posted sign. Tacoma’s paid downtown core runs between South 7th Street, Market Street, South 21st Street, and Dock Street, with the boundary streets included on both sides (tacoma.gov).
Tacoma Time Limits, Permits, and Free-Day Rules
Tacoma’s RPZ 11 and RPZ 12 instead allow anyone without a permit to park for up to two hours, while permit coverage allows parking beyond the limit.
Tacoma’s paid on-street spaces require payment during posted times, require a vehicle license plate, and require moving from the block face when the maximum time expires. Tacoma also bars payment for two hours after posted time regulations, although parking may be allowed before paid hours and during listed free periods (tacoma.gov). Tacoma provides free paid-parking days every Sunday and on listed holidays, including New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day; a holiday falling on Sunday makes the following Monday free.
What to Do When Tacoma’s Unpaid Spaces Fill
Tacoma’s downtown supply is substantial but finite: Parking Services oversees more than 3,000 actively managed on-street spaces, while six off-street facilities provide nearly 2,550 spaces. Demand rises around downtown employment, shopping, and visitor activity, making the three-hour unpaid streets a poor bet when a major event or busy weekend fills short-stay spaces (tacoma.gov).
The options include A Street Garage at 110 South 11th Street, Convention Center Garage at 1500 Broadway, International Museum of Glass Garage at 1801 Dock Street, Municipal Garage and Lot at 728 Market Street, Park Plaza North Garage at 923 Commerce Street, Pacific Plaza Garage at 1125 Commerce Street, and 14th Street Lot at 1401 Pacific Avenue (tacoma.gov). Republic Parking Northwest manages the city’s off-street system for Tacoma.
Parksy Parking Lots and Garages Near Tacoma’s Center
When Tacoma’s free curb spaces are occupied, Parksy lists a secure parking lot 0.7 miles away for $20 a day. The lot suits a visitor who needs a paid off-street space rather than continuing to circle the unpaid streets, and the daily price is easier to compare with a short visit than a monthly commitment.
Parksy also lists a secure 24/7 parking lot 0.7 miles away for $20 a day. Drivers arriving early, leaving late, or needing round-the-clock access can use that option instead of relying on Tacoma’s time-limited curb spaces. For longer stays, Parksy lists a secure parking garage 0.8 miles away for $160 a month and a secure covered garage 0.8 miles away for $170 a month. The two monthly garages suit commuters or residents who would otherwise repeat daily parking charges.
Photo: Pexels / Katie Mukhina 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 Tacoma, Washington?
Tacoma’s clearest general free option is the three-hour unpaid zone on South 15th Street, South 17th Street, and South 21st Street between Market Street and Tacoma Avenue, except for regulated stalls. Limited free street parking is also available on and south of S 21st Street and on and north of Market Street near UW Tacoma (uw.tacoma.edu).
How Long Can I Park Free on Tacoma’s Unpaid Streets?
The unpaid zone on South 15th Street, South 17th Street, and South 21st Street between Market Street and Tacoma Avenue allows three hours, except at already regulated stalls. Limited free street parking is also available on and south of S 21st Street and on and north of Market Street near UW Tacoma (uw.tacoma.edu). Match the space with its posted sign.
Is Tacoma Street Parking Free on Sundays and Holidays?
Tacoma provides free paid-parking days every Sunday and on listed holidays, including New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. If a holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday is free. These rules concern paid on-street spaces, so drivers should still follow each space’s posted sign and restrictions.
Where Is Tacoma’s Paid Downtown Parking Area?
Tacoma’s paid downtown core runs between South 7th Street, Market Street, South 21st Street, and Dock Street, with the boundary streets included on both sides (tacoma.gov). Paid on-street spaces require payment during posted times, a vehicle license plate, and movement from the block face when the maximum time expires.
What Are Tacoma’s RPZ 11 and RPZ 12 Parking Limits?
Tacoma’s RPZ 11 and RPZ 12 allow anyone without a permit to park for up to two hours. Permit coverage allows parking beyond the limit.
What Can I Use When Tacoma’s Free Spaces Are Full?
When unpaid curb spaces are occupied, Parksy lists a secure parking lot 0.7 miles away for $20 a day and a secure 24/7 parking lot 0.7 miles away for $20 a day. For longer stays, it lists a secure parking garage 0.8 miles away for $160 a month and a secure covered garage 0.8 miles away for $170 a month.
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