parking tips for bradley mens basketball v washington state at peoria civic center (peoria il 12/02)

hey everyone, figured i'd share a quick heads up for the bradley vs washington state game on tuesday, 12/02 at 7:00 pm. parking downtown for the civic center can honestly be a headache, especially right before tip-off, so it's good to have a plan.

first thing, check out prked. if you haven't used it, it's a great app where locals rent out their private driveways and garages right next to the peoria civic center complex. you can snag a spot way cheaper than the official lots and skip the main traffic jam entirely, leaving you with just a short walk.

for the official route, the civic center itself has two lots: the marquee lot (off kumpf blvd) is the best one for the arena, and the fulton lot is the other option. they are first come, first serve, and you must pay with a credit or debit card upon entry, so no cash. the price usually runs anywhere from $10 to $25 depending on the event, but sometimes people say it’s closer to $10 for a game. if you need accessible parking, they have ada spaces available in both lots, and you can use the drop-off lane on jefferson ave if needed.

the best budget insider tip is the twin towers garage at 123 sw jefferson. it’s an underground deck that locals love because it’s usually only about $5 and it’s heated which is nice for a december night in central illinois. it’s right across the street and the walk is super easy. you can also look into the mariott deck, or other large public decks like the jefferson street parking deck or the hamilton square deck. the downtown parking situation is full of options (over 30 public and private lots/decks), but be careful because downtown peoria has a lot of one-way streets that can get confusing.

if you’re going for free street parking, tuesday at 7:00 pm is your chance. the meters downtown are only enforced monday through saturday from 8 am to 6 pm. that means if you park on a metered street after 6 pm, it should be free. try the spots on fulton or adams, just south of the civic center. keep in mind that street parking fills up fast, and some areas like harrison street have a reputation for being a bit sketchier, so just be aware of your surroundings.

also, a quick note on the venue itself - they have a no re-entry policy and are strict on bags; no large backpacks, only small clutches or purses are allowed.

hope this helps you save some cash and time before the big game. go bradley!