Looking for Free Parking in Downtown Indianapolis?

Parking for the most part is affordable and abundant in downtown Indianapolis when no major event is underway. However, you can do better than affordable if you play your cards right. Here are a few tips to snag free parking downtown:

• Street spaces in areas with new digital meters are free after 9 p.m. and on Sundays and holidays. Spaces with old meters are free after 6 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends. Make sure to look for signs and read instructions on your meter for exceptions. *
• Parking at Circle Centre Mall? Catch a flick at the United Artists Theater or buy a gift card there, and you can get up to four hours of free parking. Remember to bring your parking ticket to the box office for validation.
• Some downtown retailers and banks offer parking validation for customers. Check in advance to see if such an offer applies to your visit.
• A limited number of free street parking spaces are available if you're willing to park on the edges of downtown and walk. Make sure to check for no-parking signs.
* Updated May 2011 for installation of new parking meters.

Parking for the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

Indianapolis is set to welcome an influx of college basketball fans this weekend. There's ample parking for all those going to the games, those who want to come downtown to take in the events or watch the games at a restaurant or nightclub. There are more than 50 garages and lots within just a six-block walk of Lucas Oil Stadium. A few tips from Indianapolis Downtown Inc.:

• Plan your driving and walking route into and through Downtown ahead of time.
• Use interstates to travel to and leave Downtown.
• Enter Downtown from the side on which you plan to park.
• Allow plenty of extra travel time to Downtown.
• Be aware that travel through Downtown will be limited to streets away from the core area due to large crowds and street closures near Lucas Oil Stadium
• Relax during peak exit times.
• Wear comfortable shoes, park once and enjoy the walk.
• Carpool or use IndyGo if possible.
• Downtown parking is abundant. There are more than 72,000 parking spaces Downtown.
• Plan to use a garage or lot. Most meters near the event sites are restricted during this time.
• Some parking facilities and lots may not be open to the public.
  

A list of downtown parking options is here, and more parking tips are here.

Parking downtown for the Circle of Lights

The annual Circle of Lights is expected to draw a crowd of 100,000 people to Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis on Friday, Nov. 27. The event begins at 6 p.m., and the tree lighting is scheduled for about 7:45 p.m. Downtown will be packed for the event since the Pacers also are playing at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Where will everyone park? Here are a few tips:

• The Circle will be closed to vehicular traffic, so parking on the Circle or within a block in every direction will not be an option unless you arrive early and are willing to wait to get out. Avoid it.
• Your best bet may be to reserve a guaranteed space (starting at about $6) at one of several parking lots and garages offering reserved spaces for the evening's Pacers game. To reserve, click here. (Directs to an IndyParking.com partner)
• Your cheapest bet is to find a metered spot a block or so away from the Circle, along one of the major arteries in and out of the city, including Pennsylvania or Delaware streets. The spots probably will be scarce. More on metered parking is available here.
• Other options include nearby surface lots and garages. More than 66,000 total spaces are available. Aim for a few blocks away. The garages can get extremely congested during events when everyone is leaving at the same time. You can find more information about downtown parking here and here.
  
• If you park in a garage, don't go directly to your car. Why not spend a few more hours downtown to grab dinner or a drink?

Post updated Nov. 27, 2015.

Tips to Prevent Vehicle Break-ins While Shopping or Attending Sporting Events

A warning from Indianapolis Downtown Inc.: It seems every year about this time larcenies from vehicles increase as people leave items in plain sight when they park their cars to attend sporting events, conventions or to shop.

There has been a recent rash of vehicle breakins during events including the FFA Convention and the Nov. 1 Colts game. The good news is that IMPD has increased patrols and undercover activity and they have apprehended at least one suspect in some recent break-ins. The bad news is that we know more break-ins are likely to happen.

Please be advised that vehicle break-ins at the last Colts game targeted parking facilities north of Washington Street, most likely due to increased police presence near Lucas Oil Stadium.

As we enter the holiday season and continue with Colts and Pacers seasons, IMPD asks that you remind your customers to not leave items in plain sight in their parked cars and to increase your on-site security to watch for perpetrators. We know that larcenies from vehicles are crimes of opportunity-let's work to reduce the opportunities so we can reduce the number of crimes.

Indiana Pacers Parking at Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Parking downtown is more of an adventure during the Indiana Pacers season and when concerts and other events are planned for Bankers Life Fieldhouse. But even spaces near the arena formerly known as Conseco Fieldhouse can be found for reasonable prices. Here are a few tips:

• For the plan-ahead crowd, you can reserve a spot in advance and remove the hassle of hunting for parking. A handful of garages and lot owners allow you to make a parking reservation (book now) before you head downtown.
• The most convenience place to park is the Virginia Avenue Parking Garage, a 2,200-space garage that connects to the stadium via a walkway over Delaware Street. Prices vary but the standard rate for all day is $12, and some spaces are reserved. If you want a deal, ask for the roof rate.
• Your most frugal bet is to find an empty meter space a few blocks from Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and walk a few blocks. Most meters in the area cost $1.50 per hour until 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and are free on Sundays.
• Privately owned lots and garages near the stadium generally charge between $10 and $20 for special events and high-demand Pacers games.

Indianapolis May Privatize Parking Meters

The city of Indianapolis is considering whether to follow Chicago's lead and privatize its parking meters as part of a plan to raise new funds to pay for infrastructure improvements. The story appears at IBJ.com.

City officials are considering several modernization proposals designed to wrestle more revenue out of the city’s roughly 4,000 parking meters. They’re considering a range of proposals, including the possibility of a long-term lease to a private firm, a move that netted Chicago more than $1 billion last year.

One estimate pegs the value of a long-term lease of Indianapolis’ meters at more than $100 million. The meters already add more than $3 million per year to city coffers,, but proposals from private firms responding to a city request for information say that number should be much higher.

Parking for the Big Ten Tournament

PLEASE NOTE: This is an archive post. For tips on parking at this year's Big Ten basketball tournaments, visit our Big Ten Tournament Parking page.

Heading to the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament? Or the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament? Both tournaments will be played this year (2009) at Conseco Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.

At right is a map showing parking options around the Fieldhouse. You can click for a larger version. Please note prices shown here may not be in effect during game days.

A few tips:

• A great bet for parking is south of the Fieldhouse, at surface lots along Delaware and Pennsylvania Streets. Rates are reasonable and the location provides quick and easy interstate access.
• Metered street parking also is available and is particularly attractive for evening games, since meters are free after 6 p.m. and on weekends.
  
• Another good option is to park at Circle Centre mall. The mall has three giant parking garages with plenty of spaces. The mall often charges a $20 event rate, but if you make a mall purchase before or after the game, show your receipt for the standard, bargain rate that starts at $1.50 for the first three hours.
• For visitors unfamiliar with Indianapolis, the Fieldhouse, hotels and the rest of downtown's attractions are within easy walking distance. So if you're staying in a hotel downtown, no need to get in the car and find a new parking space. Enjoy your visit!