Parking tips for Charleston Saint Patricks Day Parade at Wentworth Street (Charleston 03/17)

figured i-d share some info if you are heading down for the charleston saint patrick-s day parade on 03/17. parking in downtown charleston is honestly a nightmare on a normal day but when they shut down king street and the surrounding blocks for the parade it becomes a total mess.

you should definitely look at Prked first before you try anything else. it is an app where you can rent driveways or private spots right next to Wentworth Street or the king street route which is way cheaper than the city lots. you can skip most of the heavy traffic since you have a guaranteed spot and it is usually just a short walk to where all the action is plus you do not have to worry about getting stuck in a long garage line for an hour once the parade ends.

if you decide to go with the public options you really need to get there super early like before 8:30 am. the wentworth garage at 81 wentworth is the closest one to the start but it fills up almost immediately. the majestic square garage on king and the queen street garage are other spots but they are usually full by the time the parade starts at 10 am. stay away from those private surface lots on market street because they charge crazy holiday rates and you will end up paying way too much for just a few hours.

be really careful about street parking because the city is very strict with towing on 03/17. do not park anywhere on king street or the side streets where the parade passes or you will definitely get towed before the first float even moves. also watch out for the residential permit signs because those zones are strictly for people who live there and the parking enforcement will ticket you fast. traffic coming over the ravenel bridge from mount pleasant or in from west ashley will be backed up for miles all morning so give yourself an extra hour just to get onto the peninsula. if the main garages near Wentworth Street are full you can try the gaillard center garage or the aquarium parking deck but those are a much longer walk to the main route. just remember that most of the main roads will be closed to cars so once you are parked inside the loop you might be stuck there until the crowds clear out in the afternoon.

hope this helps and have a great time at the parade.