Public parking rates by city — 2026 comparison
The table below shows typical public parking rates across Denver, Chicago, and the major airports. Prices reflect standard weekday rates — expect event-day surges of 2–3x at venues like Ball Arena, Wrigley, and Soldier Field.
| City / Area | Lot Type | Hourly | Daily Max | Monthly | 24hr Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver — Downtown / LoDo | Public garage | $3–5 | $15–30 | $175–275 | Most gated |
| Denver — RiNo | Surface + garage | $2–4 | $10–20 | $150–225 | Mixed |
| Denver — Cherry Creek | Public garage | $2–4 | $12–22 | $150–250 | Yes |
| Chicago — Loop | Public garage | $6–10 | $35–45 | $350–500 | Most 24/7 |
| Chicago — River North | Public garage | $5–8 | $30–40 | $300–450 | Yes |
| Chicago — Mag Mile | Public garage | $7–12 | $38–48 | $350–500 | Yes |
| DIA (off-site public) | Shuttle lot | N/A | $7–12 | $180–275 | Free 24/7 |
| ORD (off-site public) | Shuttle lot | N/A | $7–15 | $190–290 | Free 24/7 |
| MDW (off-site public) | Shuttle lot | N/A | $8–14 | $180–260 | Free 24/7 |
Rates effective 2026. Sources: Denver Parking Operations, Chicago Dept. of Finance, operator published rates.
Denver public parking options
Denver operates a mix of city-metered street parking and privately run public garages. The cheapest everyday public parking is metered street — $2–4/hr depending on zone — free on Sundays citywide and after 10pm most weekdays.
- Downtown / LoDo: Public garages at 1401 Larimer, 1601 Wazee, Republic Plaza, and the Denver Pavilions all offer $15–30/day max with early-bird pricing under $15 if you enter before 9am.
- RiNo: Surface public lots along Larimer and Walnut between 27th–36th run $2–4/hr. The RiNo ArtPark garage charges $10–20/day.
- Cherry Creek: Cherry Creek Shopping Center offers free public parking for shoppers (3hr validation common). On-street meters run $2/hr.
- Union Station: The Union Station public garage charges $3/hr / $22 daily max and connects to A-Line train to DIA.
Chicago public parking options
Chicago public parking is split between LAZ-operated metered streets, private public garages (SP+, ProPark, InterPark), and city-managed Millennium / Grant Park garages. Downtown meters are the priciest in the Midwest at $6.50/hr in the Loop.
- Loop: Public garages at Poetry Garage (201 W Madison), 55 E Monroe, Millennium Park Garage, and Grant Park North/South all offer $35–45 daily max. Pre-book via SpotHero for $12–22.
- River North: Public garages at 10 E Grand, 300 N State, and AMC River East run $30–40 daily. Evening flat rates after 5pm typically $12–18.
- Mag Mile / Gold Coast: 900 N Michigan, John Hancock garage, and Water Tower Place garage at $38–48/day. Shopping validation available at most.
- Wrigleyville / Lincoln Park: Residential permit zones dominate. Public paid lots at DeVry Field and Addison Red Line run $15–40 depending on Cubs game schedule.
Airport public parking (DIA, ORD, MDW)
Every major airport offers public parking in two forms: on-airport garages/economy lots run by the airport authority, and off-airport public shuttle lots run by private operators. Off-airport is always cheaper and usually faster thanks to frequent private shuttles vs. congested airport garage exits.
- DIA: On-airport economy $10–15/day, garage $25/day. Off-airport public lots (Canopy, ParkDIA, Park2Jet, WallyPark, Fine, USAirport) run $7–12/day with free 24/7 shuttle.
- ORD: Economy remote lot $22/day, garages $32–42/day. Off-airport public lots (Park 'N Fly, FastTrack, Avistar, The Parking Spot) start at $7–11/day.
- MDW: Economy $18/day, garage $30/day. Off-airport public lots start at $8–12/day with free shuttle.
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How to find and book public parking
- Search Google Maps for “public parking” + your destination. Live pricing shows for most garages.
- Compare on Windy Parking, SpotHero, or ParkWhiz — all three aggregate public garage inventory with advance-booking discounts of 15–40%.
- Pre-book if possible. Public garages near stadiums, airports, and downtowns nearly always have lower online rates than drive-up.
- Check free public options. Denver metered streets are free Sundays. Chicago has free parking at most North Side residential zones after posted evening hours.
- Confirm 24hr access if you need overnight — not every public garage stays staffed, though most now use gated card-access after hours.
Free vs paid public parking
Truly free public parking is rare in Denver and Chicago city centers but common in outer neighborhoods and at suburban transit stations. Options include:
- Free: Denver metered streets on Sundays, most Chicago residential zones after 9pm, RTD Park-and-Ride lots along A/B/E/G/H/N/R lines (free for rail riders), most Metra stations in outer Chicago suburbs on weekends.
- Paid: All downtown garages, all airport lots (on- and off-site), event venues, and weekday metered street downtown Denver and all Chicago Loop/River North blocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find public parking near me?
Use Google Maps and search “public parking” to see nearby street meters, public garages, and surface lots with live pricing. For Denver and Chicago, Windy Parking compares off-street public garages and airport off-site public lots side by side with hourly, daily, and monthly rates — so you can pre-book and skip the drive-around.
How much does public parking cost?
Public parking rates vary by city and location. Denver street meters run $2–4/hr and downtown public garages charge $15–30/day. Chicago meters run $4–7/hr in the Loop and River North, with public garages at $25–45/day. Airport off-site public lots (DIA, ORD, MDW) start at $7–12/day with free 24/7 shuttle.
Is public parking safe?
Most city-operated and major private public garages (SP+, Laz, ProPark, ABM) are well-lit, have 24/7 camera coverage, and many have on-site attendants. For overnight stays choose a staffed or gated garage rather than an open surface lot. Airport public off-site lots include fenced perimeters and security patrols as standard.
Can I reserve public parking in advance?
Yes. Most public garages in Denver and Chicago accept online reservations via SpotHero, ParkWhiz, or the operator's own app, and pre-booking typically saves 15–40% over drive-up rates. Airport off-site public lots near DIA, ORD, and MDW all accept advance reservations and reward early bookings with the lowest daily rates.
Is public parking cheaper than private or street parking?
For short stops (under 2 hours) in most downtowns, street meters are cheapest. For 3+ hour visits, a public garage usually beats stacked meter fees. For overnight or multi-day stays, public off-site lots (especially near airports) are far cheaper than private valet or on-airport garages. Street parking is also free on Sundays in Denver and many Chicago residential zones after posted hours.