Top parking garages near me — comparison
The table below highlights the top-rated parking garages in Denver and Chicago by location, rate, and amenities.
| City / Garage | Lot Type | Hourly | Daily Max | Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver — 1601 Wazee (LoDo) | Covered garage | $3–5 | $18–25 | Gated 24/7 |
| Denver — Republic Plaza | Covered garage | $4–6 | $22–30 | Staffed 24/7 |
| Denver — Union Station | Covered garage | $3/hr | $22 | Gated 24/7 |
| Denver — Denver Pavilions | Covered garage | $3–5 | $18–25 | Staffed |
| Denver — 1401 Larimer | Covered garage | $3–5 | $15–22 | Gated 24/7 |
| Chicago — Poetry Garage | Covered garage | $6–8 | $28–36 | Gated 24/7 |
| Chicago — Grant Park North/South | Underground | $7–10 | $32–42 | Staffed |
| Chicago — Millennium Park | Underground | $8–12 | $38–48 | Staffed 24/7 |
| Chicago — 55 E Monroe | Covered garage | $6‐9 | $30–38 | Gated 24/7 |
| Chicago — Water Tower Place | Covered garage | $8–11 | $36–46 | Valet + self |
Rates effective 2026. Sources: operator rate cards, SpotHero, ParkWhiz published pricing.
Top Denver parking garages
- 1601 Wazee (LoDo): The workhorse LoDo garage. Covered, gated 24/7, walk to Coors Field and 16th Street Mall. $3–5/hr, $18–25/day, $200/mo.
- Republic Plaza: 16th Street Mall high-rise garage, staffed 24/7, EV charging, valet on request. $4–6/hr, $22–30/day, $250/mo.
- Union Station garage: Flat $3/hr, $22 daily max, walks to Whole Foods, Ball Arena, and A-Line to DIA. $220/mo. The best LoDo value.
- Denver Pavilions garage: Shopping/dining validation available. $18–25/day, covered, central to 16th Street Mall events.
- 1401 Larimer: Cheapest downtown at $15–22/day. Early-bird entry before 9am saves another $3–5.
- Other notable: DCPA garage (serves theater events), Tabor Center, 17th & Wewatta (near Union Station A-Line).
Top Chicago parking garages
- Poetry Garage (201 W Madison): Best Loop value. Covered, gated 24/7, pre-book for $14–18 via SpotHero. Walk to Willis Tower, Art Institute, Grant Park.
- Grant Park North/South: Underground Loop garage connecting to Millennium Park. $32–42/day, event-night surge to $60–80 for Taste of Chicago and Lollapalooza.
- Millennium Park Garage: The “Bean” garage. Underground, staffed 24/7, EV charging, $38–48/day. Most central of all Loop options.
- 55 E Monroe: Covered, gated, $30–38/day, walk to Art Institute and Millennium Park.
- Water Tower Place: Mag Mile mall garage, valet + self-park, shopping validation knocks $10–20 off.
- Other notable: AMC River East (with movie validation), 10 E Grand (River North), 900 N Michigan (Gold Coast), 300 N State (Riverwalk).
Coming Soon
Pre-book a garage spot and save 15–40%.
Windy Parking compares every Denver and Chicago garage in one place. Join and get 25% off your first booking.
Monthly vs daily garage parking
If you park in the same downtown garage 10+ times per month, a monthly pass is almost always cheaper:
- Denver monthly: $150–275 for unlimited 24/7. Break-even around 10–14 days at daily rate.
- Chicago monthly: $300–500 for unlimited 24/7. Break-even around 10–12 days at daily rate.
- Weekday-only monthly: Many garages offer cheaper 5am–7pm weekday-only monthlies at 20–30% off.
- Where to book: SpotHero Monthly, CIP Parking, ABM, or directly with the operator.
Covered vs open garage parking
Covered garages run $2–5 more per day than open/rooftop but pay back quickly if Denver hail hits or Chicago snow dumps:
- Denver: Covered is worth it May–August for hail protection. A single golf-ball hail storm can total a car.
- Chicago: Covered protects from snow, ice, road salt, and bird mess around the river.
- Tradeoff: Rooftop garage parking is sometimes cheaper by $3–5/day, with a view bonus in Denver, but no hail protection.
EV charging garages
Most new downtown garages in Denver and Chicago offer Level 2 EV charging at $0.35–0.55/kWh. Key EV-friendly garages:
- Denver: 1601 Wazee, Republic Plaza, Union Station garage, Denver Pavilions, DCPA garage, Commons Park garage.
- Chicago: Millennium Park Garage, 55 E Monroe, Poetry Garage, Grant Park North/South, Water Tower Place, and nearly all River North garages.
- Tesla Supercharger co-location: Four Seasons Chicago, Conrad Chicago, Denver Downtown Hyatt, Ritz Denver.
Valet vs self-park
Self-park is $5–15 cheaper per day and faster on exit. Valet makes sense for:
- Hotel check-in: Skip the bellhop luggage shuffle, worth the $10–20 premium.
- Event venues: When self-parking would mean 3 loops of the block.
- Luxury garages: Water Tower Place, 900 N Michigan, Ritz hotels — valet is only $3–5 more and saves 10+ minutes.
- Tipping: $3–5 on valet retrieval is standard; $5–10 for luxury or inclement weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find parking garages near me?
Search Google Maps for “parking garage” + your destination to see nearby garages with live pricing, hours, and user reviews. For Denver and Chicago specifically, Windy Parking compares every major garage side-by-side with hourly, daily, monthly, and event-day rates. SpotHero and ParkWhiz are also strong for pre-booking a garage spot and locking in the discount rate.
How much does a parking garage cost?
Parking garage rates vary by city and location. Denver downtown garages charge $3–5/hr with $15–30 daily max and $175–275 monthly. Chicago Loop garages charge $6–10/hr with $35–45 daily and $350–500 monthly. Pre-booking via SpotHero, ParkWhiz, or the operator app typically saves 15–40% vs walk-up rates. Event-day surges of 2–3x apply near Wrigley, Ball Arena, and Soldier Field.
What's the difference between covered and open garage parking?
Covered (indoor) garages protect your car from weather, hail, sun, and bird mess. Open/rooftop garages are typically $2–5 cheaper per day but expose the car. In Denver, covered is especially valuable during summer hail season (May–August) when a single golf-ball storm can total a car. In Chicago, covered matters most in winter for snow and salt protection.
Which parking garages have EV charging?
Most new and recently renovated downtown garages in Denver and Chicago offer EV charging. In Denver: 1601 Wazee, Republic Plaza, Denver Pavilions, Union Station garage. In Chicago: Millennium Park Garage, 55 E Monroe, Poetry Garage, Grant Park North/South, Water Tower Place, and most River North garages. Tesla Superchargers are co-located at many hotel garages in both cities.
Should I valet or self-park at a garage?
Self-park is cheaper ($5–15 less than valet) and faster on exit since you don't wait for an attendant to retrieve your car. Valet is better at hotels during peak check-in times, at event venues where finding a spot is impossible, and at luxury garages like Water Tower Place where valet is only a $3–5 premium. Tip $3–5 on valet retrieval as standard.
Can I book a monthly pass at a parking garage?
Yes. Most downtown Denver and Chicago garages sell monthly passes directly or through SpotHero Monthly, CIP Parking, or ABM. Denver monthly rates run $150–275/month for unlimited 24/7 access. Chicago Loop monthly passes run $300–500/month. Many operators offer 10–20% discounts for 3-month or annual commitments. Great for downtown workers and nightly commuters.