Animazement Parking Guide

The good news is that there is plenty of parking near the Raleigh Convention Center (RCC) in downtown Raleigh. If you want to park close to the RCC, you will probably have to pay, but if you are willing to park further away and walk it is possible to find free parking. Remember that like many large cities, downtown parking is not usually free especially during the week. In this article, we have tried to provide you with information about downtown parking options that we hope will be helpful.

Important Note: Wherever you park whether in a paid deck, free deck or on the street make sure that you do not leave any luggage, packages, or valuables (for example, GPS devices) in plain sight. Either take them with you or lock them in your trunk.

For free parking you should park in well-lit areas and exercise caution when out late at night. Downtown Raleigh Safety Ambassadors offer free escort services and can be contacted at 919-368-7962 until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Free Parking Options

Deck Parking

As you get further away from the RCC many of the downtown Raleigh City parking decks are free after 7 p.m. weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday. The only exception is for “special events” which apparently are large events that attract very large crowds such as the New Year’s Eve “First Night” celebration.

The closest deck to the RCC that is probably a good bet for free parking is the City Center Parking Garage, 429 S. Wilmington St, located at the corner of S. Wilmington St and Cabarrus. It is only five blocks from the RCC and has approximately 1,000 parking spaces. As you enter the deck (either from Cabarrus or S. Blount St) you will need to take a ticket but don’t worry as the exit booths are unattended after 7 pm on Friday, all day Saturday and all day Sunday. However, on Friday if you come and go before 7 p.m. this deck will not be free. (If they are charging for “special events” there normally is an attendant who you have to pay $7 as you drive in so look for some other free parking options.)

Other parking deck options further north are the Blount Street Deck at 314 Blount St or the Moore Square Deck at 233 S Wilmington St. (Refer to other maps and resources at the end of this Guide for more specific information and location.) Look for the ParkLink round logo which marks parking decks for the city of Raleigh.

Street Parking

After 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day on Saturdays and Sundays, street parking in downtown Raleigh is free. When parking is restricted during weekdays there is usually a one or two hour limit. But make sure not to park where it is clearly marked that there is never any parking “No Parking” with no day or time restrictions. It will be more difficult to find free parking on Friday, May 22 during the day so you may have to park further or pay. Saturday and Sunday should be easier to locate free parking.

On three sides of the RCC there is street parking available (McDowell St, Davie St and Cabarrus) but this is very limited and you have to get there early. Further away there is parking north on McDowell, S Wilmington St, Blount St and Person St. You might also consider cross streets to the east of the RCC such as Cabarrus, Davie or Martin. These probably will be a longer walk than parking in the City Center Parking Garage described above.

Do not park in areas clearly parked as no parking, monthly only, disabled or tow-away zones. Note: If you park further away and don’t want to walk you can take advantage of a new downtown loop bus service, the R-LINE, which runs every 10 to 15 minutes from 7 a.m. to 2:15 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Bus stops including those for the RCC are marked on the map found on the R-LINE line website.

Paid Parking Decks for Daily Visitors

Performing Art Center Garage

This is one of the easiest and most popular parking decks to find and get into as it is located just across the street from the RCC. It is located at McDowell between South St and Lenoir St with entrances on South St and Lenoir St. It is an above ground multi-story deck and you can’t miss it as you approach the RCC.

There are 1,000 parking places and you will be charged $7 as the daily “special events” fee as you enter the garage. Be prepared to pay the attendant in cash as you first enter. There is no hourly rate just the flat $7 rate. You can exit at any time at the unattended exit gate.

Convention Center Parking Garage

This deck is located next to the Marriott Hotel but is for use by both hotel guests and convention participants. It is located on the east side of the hotel away from the RCC on Lenoir St between Salisbury St and Wilmington St. When you exit the parking garage you can walk through an underground passageway directly into the RCC.

There are 900 parking places and during the convention when there is a notice of “special events” (the Animazement Convention will be a “special event” for this deck) you will be charged $7 as the daily “special events” fee. If there is not “special events” notice at the entrance this deck charges on an hourly basis with a maximum of $12 per day. This deck does have an attendant at the exit who is there in the evening and on weekends.

Surface Parking Lots

There are two surface (non-deck) parking lots located between South Street and Lenoir Street directly in front of the Progress Energy Performing. The charge is $7 per day which you again will pay the attendant in cash as you first enter.

Note: The $7 parking fee is for one continuous period of parking and does not allow you to go in and out. If you exit and want to re-enter, you will have to pay another $7 even if it is the same day.

Paid Parking Decks for People Staying at the Marriott or Sheraton Hotels

Marriott

If you are staying at the Marriott Hotel you can park in the Convention Center Parking Garage which is located below the hotel. Normally the daily cost is $12 per day (maximum) to self-park and $18 per day for valet parking (plus tips). Since the garage is not owned or maintained by the Marriott you have to pay the self-park fee each time you leave to the parking attendant or with the self-pay machine. (The valet parking charge can be billed to your room.) See the above section describing the Convention Center Parking Garage for location information, etc.

During the Animazement convention there will probably be a “special event” rate in effect of $7 for Friday, Saturday and maybe Sunday for people parking who are not staying at the Marriott– this will be clearly marked on a signboard as you enter. You might be able to take advantage of this reduced rate but you should not always count on this as it may not always be in effect.

Sheraton

If you are staying at the Sheraton Hotel it has its own parking deck across the street from the main entrance. The entrance (marked as “Sheraton and Public Parking”) is actually on Gale Street closest to the intersection of Davie St and Gale St. It is referred to as the Salisbury Deck even though there is no entrance or exit on that street. The cost is $10 per day for those staying at the Sheraton with the Animazement group hotel rate. Be sure to check with the Sheraton’s front desk to make arrangements when you check in—it probably is best to unload and check in before parking your car. They do allow you to go in and out and we believe the daily parking fee can be charged to your room bill.

Note: If you are staying at either of these hotels you can also park in other areas as described above which might be cheaper or free if you are willing to walk. You could unload, check in and then park your car elsewhere.

Parking Resources

Refer to the following resources for additional information:

- Animazement Raleigh Convention Center Paid Parking Map
- Raleigh downtown parking website
- Raleigh Visitor’s Bureau Where to Park in Downtown Raleigh brochure