This may sound like a no-brainer, but when it comes to parking on St. Patrick’s Day, the earlier the better.
The parade starts at 10:15 a.m. but that's long after the early arrivals flood into downtown. Thousands stake out their spots along the parade route in the pre-dawn hours, with the squares opening to St. Patrick's Day squatters at 6 a.m.
Entry into parking decks is guaranteed to monthly cardholders up until 8 a.m. Thursday, advised Savannah’s parking director, Sean Brandon. After that, all parking decks will be open to the general public.
Typically, Brandon said, the Liberty Street parking garage fills up first as it is the farthest away from the parade route. “That is simply because people don’t want to be in the heart of everything, which I completely understand,” he said.
Brandon warned those parking at the Bryan Street and State Street decks that they are not allowed to leave once the parade starts. “Those garages are pretty much locked in. No cars will be able to get in or out until the parade has passed.”
For the first time this year, the Eastern Wharf deck will be available for parking. The price ranges from $20 to $25 dollars — typical for St. Patrick’s Day.
Residents can also prepay for a parking spot by calling 912-651-6470. Those spots are limited, Brandon said.
In the past, the city has partnered with Chatham Area Transit to offer shuttles in and out of downtown and remote locations such as the Savannah Mall but are unable to do so this year because of CAT staff shortages.
“That’s pretty significant because they would move several thousand people in and out of the area,” Brandon said. This means more cars will likely be on the road.
Street parking will also be available, but Brandon said make sure your car is not parked along the parade route or staging area. He estimated the city tows between 30 and 40 cars for this violation.
The city will not charge for street parking but will be checking for safety violations such as parking on or blocking a crosswalk or parking in front of a fire hydrant. Word to the wise: You'll want to scope out your parking possibilities early — maybe even the night before — and get in place by 6 a.m. Street parking goes quickly.
Taking a rideshare service into town is encouraged, but Brandon advised folks to be mindful of a surge in prices and suggested it may be worth walking a few feet outside of the high traffic areas to get a lower price.
What it boils down to, Brandon emphasized, is “Have fun, but have a plan. This isn’t the sort of situation where you can just drive in and decide what you’re going to do when you get there.”
Raisa is a Watchdog and Investigative Reporter for The Savannah Morning News. Contact her at rhabersham@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: How to find the best parking spot in time for Savannah's St. Patrick's Day parade
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