Like in most metropolitan cities, finding a parking spot anywhere near downtown is difficult. Those who choose to drive in San Francisco instead of taking public transportation like Muni or BART are now faced with the challenge of locating that elusive real estate. Street parking is also scarce, made all the scarcer by weekly (or twice- or thrice-weekly) street cleaning. If you park in these areas during a street cleaning, you might find yourself with a parking ticket. Other times, you might find yourself with a fake parking ticket.

Unlike many other cities, though, many locals see an ecological and social advantage in making parking difficult. With parking being difficult, residents and tourists alike are much more likely to take advantage of alternative and more environmentally sound transportation methods, including public transport, bikes and carshares.

Garages and Lots

24-hour garages and lots are marked with an asterisk.

The Castro

  • 17th and Castro lot
  • 18th and Collingwood lot

Chinatown

Civic Center

  • Civic Center Garage (355 McAllister Street)
  • Performing Arts Garage (360 Grove Street)

The Marina

  • Lombard Street Garage (2055 Lombard Street)
  • 3252 Pierce Street lot

The Mission

  • Mission Bartlett Garage (3255 21st Street and 90 Bartlett Street)
  • Mission Otis Garage (1660 Mission Street)
  • 16th and Hoff lot (Valet only)
  • Mission and 24th lot
  • Mission and Norton lot

North Beach

  • North Beach Garage* (735 Vallejo Street)
  • Vallejo Street lot* (766 Vallejo Street)

SoMa

  • Fifth and Mission Garage* (833 Mission Street)
  • Moscone Center Garage (255 Third Street)
  • Seventh and Harrison Garage (415 7th Street)

The Sunset

  • Sixth and Irving lot
  • Seventh and Irving lot
  • Eighth and Irving lot
  • 20th and Irving lot

Tenderloin

  • Polk and Bush Garage (1399 Bush Street)
  • Japan Center (1610 Geary Blvd.)

Union Square

West Portal

  • Claremont and Ulloa lot
  • West Portal and Vicente lot

Also, the San Francisco General Hospital has a 24-hour garage.

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