Monthly Parking Downtown Oakland - How to Park Safely and Efficiently

When looking for long-term parking in Oakland, things might get slightly complicated - especially if you are looking for monthly parking garages in downtown Oakland.

That area can be expensive, so you may have to pay quite a lot unless you get good monthly parking deals.

But where can you even find some good monthly parking in Oakland? Are there any safe options in the long term? Well, we are about to find that out.

How to Reduce Your Monthly Parking Rates

Regardless of where you are booking your parking options, there are several ways for you to save some money on the Oakland monthly parking. Here are a few tips for some good monthly Oakland parking deals.

Move Farther from the Heart of the City

The closer you are to the city center, the more expensive it will be to find the cheapest monthly parking.

As a result, you might want to find monthly parking options slightly farther away from downtown Oakland.

The parking garage at Oakland City Center is in downtown, for instance. However, it is still a couple of minutes away from the center - which is just enough to get you a reasonable price.

Look for Timing Discounts

Depending on the monthly parking app that you use or the garage where you choose to park your car, you may be able to find some timing discounts. You may want to choose your monthly parking in Oakland locations based on how much of a discount you can get.

For instance, some garages offering monthly parking may offer you a discount if you make the reservation in advance.

Some will also lower the monthly rates if you park there for more than one month at a time. Find the ones that work best for you.

Get a Good Monthly Parking App

Downtown Oakland is a very big place, but there are few places where you can get good Oakland monthly parking.

An excellent monthly parking app such as SmartPass can tell you where those parking spaces are. You may want to go for the location covered by the apps, as it will make the passage easier for you.

Book Only When Needed

You may be around for a month, but this doesn't mean you will park daily. For instance, say you live in Oakland and come back home during the weekend.

You won't need a weekday pass, but you can certainly use a weekend pass. You can book multiple weekends in a row with monthly parking in Oakland provided by Smarking.

Best Oakland Monthly Parking Options

Downtown Oakland has many parking options where you can leave your car, most of them set around public spaces (such as theaters or shopping malls).

Searching an interactive map can usually show you where every parking space is. Here are the most advantageous solutions:

Street Parking

You can easily find a parking spot in downtown Oakland by going for street parking or parking meters. The advantage is that these locations usually charge daily parking.

Therefore, if you plan on visiting other nearby cities overnight, you won't have to pay extra for the "base" monthly parking location.

Depending on the location that you go for, you can end up paying as low as $5 per hour. Even if you are staying in the long term, it won't cost you as much to maintain that parking spot.

Parking Garages

Street parking can be very convenient if you drive your car a lot. If you only leave it there for a couple of hours at a time and continuously visit within the Oakland range, little can happen to your car.

However, if you plan on visiting more, you may want to rent a parking garage instead. Monthly parking garages are convenient because they are more secure and protect your car from the elements.

You have many options, such as Ace Parking or Walnut Creek, but perhaps the best you can go for is the Oakland City Center public parking garage. There are many parking spaces, and you can use SmartPass by Smarking to enter.

How to Park with Smarking

If you are parking in locations such as the Oakland City Center or other areas covered by Smarking, here are the steps you should follow:

Scan the QR Code with SmartPass

Once you are at the gate, you must scan the QR code with the app. You won't need any proxy card for monthly parking, just your smartphone will do.

Make the Payment

Choose the timeframe that you want and make the payment for it. You can choose a flexible day pass or weekend pass.

However, if you are looking for long-term parking, you may use the flexible weekend pass. The monthly rates are around $300.

Access the Parking Lot

Once you pay, enter the parking lot and find your parking space. The parking garage is large - so those going for monthly parking have multiple options.

Scan the QR Code Again and Exit

Once you pay for monthly parking, you will be registered with the company. You can exit with your QR code and enter as many times as needed within the timeframe.

FAQ

Whether you are looking for monthly parking in Oakland or daily parking options, you may have a few questions. Here are some of the most common parking questions asked by drivers in downtown Oakland.

Are There Any Oakland Monthly Parking Apps?

Multiple parking apps are available, but SmartPass provided by Smarking is one of the best for monthly parking.

You will no longer have to pay daily for your parking spot, and you may also save money with the Oakland monthly parking.

What Is the Average Cost of Parking in Oakland?

Prices for monthly parking start at around $100, but you shouldn't always choose the cheapest monthly parking options.

Make sure they have proper security as well. For daily parking, you can expect to pay between $5 and $20.

Discover more options and how much it costs to park your car in Downtown Oakland here.

Can I Park Oversized Vehicles?

Some monthly parking spots allow you to park oversized vehicles, but those are usually outdoor parking spots.

Parking garages normally have height restrictions of a little over 2 meters. Make sure you are aware of these restrictions.

Can I Go for Long-Term Parking at the Oakland International Airport?

Long-term parking is available at the Oakland International Airport if you make a reservation. However, this can be rather expensive, there is an overnight parking option available in Downtown Oakland near the Oakland International Airport.

And you can find cheaper Oakland monthly parking options such as the Oakland City Center, where you can secure better parking rates for the chosen spot.

Can I Park At Any Hour?

When you don't have your own parking garage, you will have to respect the access hours provided by your parking location of choice.

Most locations offer 24/7 access, but not all of them do. Some will have a limited open-gates program, so you need to be aware of them.

For instance, the Oakland City Center Garage has limited hours of operation when you can buy a pass. However, if you opt for Oakland monthly parking, you will be granted 24/7 access based on your QR code.

This way, you will have more freedom of movement with your vehicle.

The Bottom Line

Parking in Oakland can be challenging, especially when you don't live there and do not have your own parking spot. Finding a spot downtown is even more challenging, as the area is packed with cars to the brim.

You just need to be smart about the monthly parking location of choice. Check out the best Oakland parking lots and select one with an excellent daily rate or even a monthly fee, depending on how long you plan to stay. Smarking can help you out with its user-friendly app.