Overnight parking rates by city & lot type
Overnight rates vary widely based on the type of lot and the city. The table below summarizes typical 2026 rates from 6pm to 9am for standard passenger vehicles:
| City / Area | Lot Type | Hourly | Overnight | Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver — LoDo / Downtown | Public garage | $3–5 | $15–28 | Gated 24/7 |
| Denver — RiNo / Ballpark | Surface lot | $2–4 | $10–18 | Cameras |
| Denver — residential street | Street | Free | $0 | Well-lit |
| Chicago — Loop | Public garage | $6–10 | $25–45 | Gated 24/7 |
| Chicago — River North | Public garage | $5–8 | $20–35 | Gated 24/7 |
| Chicago — residential (zoned) | Street permit | $0 w/ permit | $0 w/ permit | Well-lit |
| DIA off-site | Shuttle lot | N/A | $7–12 | Fenced + patrol |
| ORD off-site | Shuttle lot | N/A | $7–11 | Fenced + patrol |
| MDW off-site | Shuttle lot | N/A | $8–12 | Fenced + patrol |
| Hotels (national) | Garage | N/A | $25–50 | Valet/gated |
Rates effective 2026. Sources: Denver Parking Ops, Chicago Dept. of Finance, operator rate cards.
Airport overnight parking (DIA, ORD, MDW)
Every major off-site airport lot runs 24/7 with free shuttles every 10–15 minutes — the cheapest overnight parking in either metro, whether you're flying or not (some lots allow non-flyer overnight bookings).
- DIA off-site: Canopy $8–10, ParkDIA $7–10, Park2Jet $8–11, WallyPark $9–12, Fine $7–9. All with free 24/7 shuttle to every DIA terminal.
- ORD off-site: Park 'N Fly $9–11, FastTrack $7–10, Avistar $8–11, The Parking Spot $10–12. Free shuttle every 10 minutes.
- MDW off-site: FastTrack $8–11, WallyPark $9–12. Single-stop shuttle runs every 10 minutes.
- On-airport: DIA economy $10–15, ORD economy $22, MDW economy $18. Shuttle is slower during peak hours.
Downtown Denver overnight garages
Most downtown Denver public garages allow overnight parking at the daily max rate, typically $15–28. Gated card-access is standard after 10pm.
- 1601 Wazee (LoDo): $20 overnight, gated 24/7, covered.
- Republic Plaza (16th St Mall): $25 overnight, staffed late.
- Union Station garage: $22 daily max, 24/7 access, safe and central.
- Denver Pavilions: $18–25 overnight, covered, shopping validation weekday evenings.
- 1401 Larimer: $15–22, early-bird entry before 9am saves $3–5.
Downtown Chicago overnight garages
Chicago overnight garage rates in the Loop and River North run $20–45. Pre-booking via SpotHero or ParkWhiz can cut the walk-up rate nearly in half.
- Poetry Garage (201 W Madison): Loop overnight $22–32, pre-book for $14–18.
- 55 E Monroe: Loop overnight $28–38, covered, 24/7.
- Grant Park North/South: Overnight $25–35, connects to Millennium Park.
- 10 E Grand (River North): Overnight $20–30, covered, evening-entry flat rates.
- AMC River East: Overnight $22–32, movie validation knocks it to $12–18.
Free overnight street parking rules
Knowing city-specific overnight rules saves you a $75–150 ticket or, worse, a $300+ tow.
- Denver: Most residential neighborhoods allow free overnight street parking with no permit required. Exceptions: posted street-cleaning days (usually 1st/3rd Tuesday), some close-in LoDo blocks, and game-day restricted zones near Coors Field / Ball Arena.
- Chicago: Most residential blocks require a ward-issued zone permit from 6pm–6am. Posted signs show the zone number. Unpermitted overnight parking risks a $75+ ticket plus tow risk on permit-only blocks.
- Suburbs: Most Colorado Front Range suburbs (Aurora, Lakewood, Thornton) allow free overnight residential. Most Chicago suburbs (Oak Park, Evanston, Naperville) ban overnight street parking citywide 2am–6am — verify before leaving your car.
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Hotel overnight parking
Hotels charge the highest overnight rate in either city, typically $25–50/night. Downtown Chicago luxury hotels (Peninsula, Ritz, Four Seasons) charge $65–85 for valet-only overnight. Denver downtown hotels (Brown Palace, Ritz, Four Seasons) run $35–55. Most hotels sell overnight parking to non-guests when space allows at the same daytime rate — a hack for event-goers who can't find curb space near Ball Arena, Wrigley, or the United Center.
RV & oversized vehicle overnight options
Standard downtown garages rarely accept vehicles over 6'8" tall. RV/oversized overnight options:
- Truck stops: Pilot, Flying J, Love's, TA allow free overnight stays for trucks and RVs. Showers, fuel, and food available.
- Walmart / Cracker Barrel / Cabela's: Many locations allow overnight RV parking with manager permission — policy varies by store.
- Off-site airport lots: Canopy, WallyPark DIA, and Park 'N Fly ORD accept RVs at roughly 1.5–2x the standard daily rate.
- RV parks: Dedicated RV parks in Commerce City, Aurora, and Chicago's south suburbs charge $35–65/night with full hookups.
- Rest areas: CDOT and IDOT rest areas allow up to 8 hours overnight for truckers and RVers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does overnight parking cost near me?
Overnight parking typically costs $15–30 in downtown garages (Denver $15–28, Chicago $20–45), $7–12/day at airport off-site lots including DIA, ORD and MDW with free 24/7 shuttle, and $25–50/night at hotels. Residential street parking is free in most Denver neighborhoods and on select Chicago blocks with posted overnight hours.
Can I park overnight on residential streets?
In Denver, free overnight street parking is allowed in most residential neighborhoods with no permit required — always check posted signs for street-cleaning days. In Chicago, most residential zones require a ward-issued permit for overnight parking from 6pm–6am; unpermitted cars risk tickets or tow. Always verify the zone number on the block before leaving your car overnight.
Do airport lots allow overnight parking?
Yes. Every major off-site airport lot at DIA, ORD and MDW operates 24/7 with free shuttles running every 10–15 minutes. Typical overnight rates run $7–12/day with multi-night discounts. Operators include Canopy, ParkDIA, Park2Jet, WallyPark and Fine at DIA; Park 'N Fly, Avistar and The Parking Spot at ORD; FastTrack and WallyPark at MDW.
Where can I park an RV or oversized vehicle overnight?
RV overnight parking is available at many Walmart, Cracker Barrel and Cabela's stores (always ask the manager), most truck stops (Pilot, Flying J, Love's, TA), 24-hour Cabela's/Bass Pro lots, and designated RV-friendly hotels. Most airport off-site lots accept oversized vehicles but charge 1.5–2x the standard daily rate. Call ahead to confirm height and length limits.
What's the cheapest overnight parking near me?
The cheapest paid overnight parking is almost always an off-site airport shuttle lot at $7–12/day, even if you aren't flying. Downtown-adjacent surface lots (RiNo, West Loop) run $10–15 overnight. Free options include Denver residential streets, RTD Park-and-Rides if you're riding transit, select Walmart/Cracker Barrel lots, and most truck stops for RVs.
Is overnight parking safe?
Staffed or gated garages and major airport off-site lots (Canopy, WallyPark, The Parking Spot) are the safest overnight options — all feature 24/7 cameras, fenced perimeters and security patrols. Avoid unlit surface lots. For overnight street parking, well-lit residential streets with heavy foot traffic are statistically safest. Always lock valuables in the trunk before leaving.