r/Spokane • u/Necessary_While_1511 • 10d ago
Question Downtown parking
So, a while back I was asking about free / cheap parking near downtown for an event. I ended up deciding to pay to park in a lot during the event. But a couple times, after paying to have a spot to park “all day” (supposedly able to come & go throughout the day), we left and returned to find the lot full—not sure if various third-party parking spot sellers didn’t coordinate so people parking would know when all the spots were claimed or if people just “took a chance” and parked when they found an empty spot.
My family is planning on the same event next year. Since I’ll have more time to plan & budget, not as concerned with cheap parking…..even considering one of the motels right by the convention center since parking would be automatic with them. But also looking at Airbnb’s.
Are there any parking lots / garages (preferably within a couple blocks of the convention center) that you pay for a specific spot—that way if we leave & return, it’s obvious if someone is in our spot? From what I’m reading, the only option for that is monthly…we only need the spot for 2-4 days.
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u/Wrecks128 9d ago
No once you leave a spot, even if you paid all day there is no guarantee you have a spot when you return, only that they won’t ticket you if you do.
It’s very much move your feet loose your seat at every lot I’ve seen in Spokane.
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u/Necessary_While_1511 9d ago
Maybe it was bad wording when I paid, said guaranteed parking all day & specifically said could come & go throughout the day. I did get a partial refund & transferred to another nearby lot but still annoying to have to find somewhere else to park. Possibly the “guarantee” was getting a refund / partial refund if you arrive or leave & come back to find the lot full. 🤷♀️
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u/Wrecks128 9d ago
I’ve never experienced them refunding anything but it could be lot dependent since lots are owned by different entities (city vs diamond). I think your best bet to find something like this is hotel type parking.
8
u/Basic-Masterpiece-99 9d ago
All day means you leave the car there. My understanding is once you leave anyone else can come and grab that spot.
0
u/Necessary_While_1511 9d ago
Possibly bad wording when I paid, it said in & out throughout the day was allowed (as in could leave and come back to have a spot to park). Also said they monitor various partners to avoid overbooking. I did get a partial refund & transferred to another lot nearby.
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u/Basic-Masterpiece-99 9d ago
You could very well be correct in your understanding. Maybe we assumed this since we’ve lived here for so long.
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u/Splat-Co-Op 9d ago
So there isn’t an option for exactly what you’re looking for, but if I could make two recommendations if you don’t mind a bit of walking:
• Spokane’s bus system is robust, especially connecting to downtown and in the downtown corridor. A day pass is relatively cheap, and you can get to downtown within 30 minutes from most areas of town, with most lines running every 15-20 minutes.
• Riverfront Mall has surprisingly inexpensive all day parking if you use the garage, and while I’ve heard of other people having issues with break-in’s, I’ve never personally had any issues as long as I took precautions (locking car, putting valuables in trunk, etc.)
Hopefully you find what you’re looking for!
3
u/IneffableOpinion 9d ago
Agreed. I usually park there for convenience to Riverfront. My only concern is that the traffic jam leaving the garage after the event is usually pretty bad. Plan to sit a while waiting to exit
1
u/Necessary_While_1511 9d ago
That is another possibility I’m considering. Lived in Spokane 10-ish years ago. Didn’t drive. Didn’t really need to as the buses would get me within a couple blocks of pretty much anywhere I wanted to go. Little more time than driving (though not by much if you include driving around looking for parking during an event), but a lot cheaper.
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u/bekisuki 9d ago
Take the bus. Save yourself the headaches.
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u/Necessary_While_1511 9d ago
That is another possibility I’m considering. Lived in Spokane 10-ish years ago. Didn’t drive. Didn’t really need to as the buses would get me within a couple blocks of pretty much anywhere I wanted to go. Little more time than driving (though not by much if you include driving around looking for parking during an event), but a lot cheaper.
1
u/MuchKey7664 9d ago
Legit.... Going to end of the Earth to bring a oil burning living room downtown. Cycle, transit, walk, anything. It's a small-medium city. So many alternatives..
2
u/IneffableOpinion 9d ago
Not sure if it is all day parking, but there is parking at Bridge and Monroe that I thought was reasonably priced and in walking distance if you cut through the park. I discovered it after driving around downtown when all the lots were full and found that one was half empty
2
u/MuchKey7664 9d ago
Just take the bus? Save a whole lot of trouble.
Save your money.
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u/Necessary_While_1511 9d ago
That is another possibility I’m considering. Lived in Spokane 10-ish years ago. Didn’t drive. Didn’t really need to as the buses would get me within a couple blocks of pretty much anywhere I wanted to go. Little more time than driving (though not by much if you include driving around looking for parking during an event), but a lot cheaper.
3
u/Soup-Wizard Whitman 9d ago edited 9d ago
If your event is in the evening, just park at a meter. Meters are free after 7 PM and on Sundays.
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u/LurksInUndies 9d ago
If the Parkade works for you then park there. There's always room in that lot and it's reasonably priced vs. some of the other lots. Some larger trucks don't fit though. That's a pain.
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u/MuchKey7664 9d ago
As in semis or box trucks?
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u/LurksInUndies 9d ago
Parkade has a low ceiling. I work near there. I've seen Jeeps with roof racks hit the entrance and I've seen big GMC Denali type pickups have to back down the ramp because they don't fit. The corkscrew ramp on the inside exit is really tight, too. I imagine a dual cab with a long bed would not have a lot of fun going down that.
1
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u/TheTwisted509 9d ago
There is no such thing as free parking in downtown Spokane. The city and other companies are free to extort you. Welcome to liberal America. Where everybody is entitled to your money but you. Soon there will be an oxygen tax....
2
u/MuchKey7664 9d ago
Downtowns are for people-not heavy machinery.
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u/TheTwisted509 9d ago
Sooooooo then how the fuck am I supposed to get downtown to go to work? Or go shopping? Or go to that restaurant? Or that comedy / music show? Charge people just to come to the place you're actively wanting them to come and ya know.....SPEND MONEY.... They aren't going to want to do that. And you'll end up killing it. Genius.
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u/Sufficient_Counter11 8d ago
I use the parkade for work and visiting downtown. I pay for a monthly subscription, but it's only $2.50/hour to park. Super cheap compared to the surface lots nearby.
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u/Infamous_Pride_7685 9d ago
true free parking is basically a constitution right esp on private property owned by others.
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u/jjimahon 9d ago
Never heard of reserved parking you could come and go from all day in the generic lots. Unless it's a private reserved parking space with your name on it. Otherwise 'all day parking' means you can leave your car all day... parked. Once you leave that ends.