An honest comparison — including the times we're not the cheapest option. (Yes, really.)
| Option | Weekdays | Weekends | Time limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ParkInBoulder | $5 flat, all day | $15 flat, all day | None — pay once, done |
| City garages | $1.75/hr, up to ~$16/day | Free | None |
| City surface lots | First 90 min free, then $1.75/hr | Free | 3 hours max |
| Street meters | $1.50–$3.00/hr | $1.50–$3.00/hr | 3 hours max |
City rates per bouldercolorado.gov — check current rates before you go.
Staying downtown more than three hours on a weekday? Meters cap out at three hours, surface lots too. That leaves garages at $1.75/hour — about $14 for a work day — or $5 flat here, three blocks from Pearl Street. If you're working, shopping, or making a day of it, the math does itself.
We could hide this, but you'd find out. City garages are free on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays — and on a nice Saturday they fill up while you're circling the block watching pedestrians carry burritos. Our $15 weekend rate buys you a real space on a quiet street with no ramps, no ticket machines, and no circling. If the garages have room, take the free spot. If they don't, you know where we are.
Meters mean re-parking every three hours or eating a ticket — Boulder parking fines start around $25, which is five days of parking here. Flat-rate means you pay once and forget your car exists until you need it.