Oakland Chinatown is a very lively area with lots of different communities coming together to share each other's culture. With all the hustle and bustle of the area, parking options can be limited.
The Smarking app can help with your Oakland Chinatown parking to take away the hassle before you arrive, by securing a parking spot in a nearby secure parking garage. By using SmartPass or Flexible parking options you won't have to worry about using a parking meter or double parking anywhere in the area, as you will have secured a space in one of their many parking locations.
Oakland Chinatown
Oakland's Chinatown is located in the east bay area, stretching from near 6th Street to 12th Street, in the downtown area, and is called Oakland Chinatown to distinguish it from the nearby San Francisco Chinatown. It is made up of several different Asian cultures such as Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Thai, Cambodian, etc, because of this many different languages can be heard in the area. The Oakland Asian culture center offers many different cultural programs including performances, festivals, workshops, school tours, classes, and exhibitions.
Some of the annual cultural events and fairs include:
Chinese New Year (also known as Lunar New Year or Vietnamese Tết)
Dragon Boat Races, are held annually at Jack London Square or Treasure Island, California. You will definitely enjoy the activities but be sure to check your parking options near the Oakland Ferry Terminal at Jack London Square and book a parking spot early to avoid any hassle when you get there.
The Oakland Chinatown StreetFest has been held on the 4th weekend of August annually since 1988.
Mid-Autumn Festival (also known as Moon Festival or Vietnamese Tết Trung Thu).
Parking near Oakland Chinatown
With the number of people living and working in the area, parking spaces can be hard to find, especially for free. It is important to have a space ready when visiting this part of the city. Let's take a look at the options available to you:
Pacific Renaissance Plaza
The Pacific Renaissance Plaza is the closest option you can have next to Chinatown being just a one-minute walk away, between Webster and 9th Street. It is very cost-effective for short-term stays as you can stay for as little as $1 for half an hour and an additional $1 for every additional half an hour and has a maximum daily rate of $24, you can also book a 24 stay overnight for $30. There are a total of 356 spaces available in this lot and there is a maximum height for vehicles of 2.08 meters. The opening times for this parking garage are:
Mon - Thu: 7am - 11pm
Fri - Sat: 7am - 12am
Sunday: 7am - 11pm
The plaza is a short 4-minute drive away from Fox Theater. Find Oakland Fox Theater parking here.
Franklin 88
The Franklin 88 garage is located on Franklin Street and 9th Street. Again this is a very close 1-minute walk away from Chinatown. Franklin 88 offers a wide range of options for different prices.
These options range from $1.50 for one hour to $12 for seven hours every day, with an early bird promotion available for $10 Monday to Friday, if you're in by 10 am.
There is a $14 until closing option with an overnight for an additional $10. A flat rate of $6 if you're in after 5 pm Out by 11 pm (Monday - Friday) In after 6 am Out by 11 pm (Saturday and Sunday). This garage is open 6:00am - 11:00pm everyday.
East Bay Parking
Another option in the middle of Chinatown at 726 Harrison St is East Bay Parking, where you can pay $3 for a one-hour stay or $8 for a full daytime rate as long as you are in after 7 am and out before 8 pm. There is also an option for an overnight stay at $4 as long as you are in after 7 pm and out before 8 am. The garage is open all day every day.
Aki Parking
Aki Parking has good options for both short-term parking spots and all-day options. You can park for as little as 30 minutes for $2 with each additional 30 minutes being an extra $1. If you would like to stay for the day you can pay $10 for 24 hours. Evening parking is available for $2 if you arrive after 3 pm. Aki Parking is on 8th Street next to Broadway. This lot is great parking for Jack London Square as it is 4 minutes away.
Old Oakland Lot
The Old Oakland Lot is located at 822 Washington Street and is a few minutes walk from Chinatown. It is open all day every day with different rates for daytime and evenings. The daytime rate for Monday to Thursday is $14 provided you are in after 4.30 am and out by 5 pm. The daytime rate for Friday - Sunday is $10; you are also in by 4.30 am and out by 5 pm. Evening rates are $5, providing you are in after 5 pm and out before 4.30 am, this rate applies every day.
Oakland Museum
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is a tourist attraction right next to Chinatown and is worth checking out if you are in the area. The museum holds more than 1.8 million objects over 110,000 square feet of gallery space and a seven-acre campus and gardens, dedicated to "telling the extraordinary story of California."
It aims to educate about the state's history, art, and natural surroundings as well as teach us about ourselves and each other.
The OMCA garage is located at 1000 Oak St and has entrances from both Oak Street and 12th Street. There is a $5 per hour rate but you can get a discounted longer stay early bird rate of $20 if you are in before 10 am, and out before 5 pm. A short one-minute drive away is a park if you want to spend time doing recreational activities. Discover Lincoln Square Park parking nearby.
Smarking Garages
If you're planning on taking a trip into the area for a day, let Smarking take the stress out of finding a parking spot. With the Smarking app, you can make a reservation for your vehicle in an ideal location with easy access to all the nearest businesses and amenities. Just search for the destination you would like and make a payment online before you arrive to put your mind at ease.