When it comes to downtown Winston-Salem, there seems to always be one major “hot” topic of discussion – parking. Whether you aren’t sure about where to park or costs, it can quickly get confusing navigating downtown parking.
That’s why I pulled together this quick downtown parking guide! It shares all the various parking options, as well as when and where you can park for free. There is so much to take advantage of in downtown Winston-Salem, from restaurants to parks, that parking shouldn’t be a reason to stay away!
Parking Decks
Did you know there are 17 parking decks downtown? They are conveniently located throughout the area. Rates vary but usually run between $1-$2 per hour. The City of Winston-Salem has a great map that lists out and shows all the different parking deck locations. It’s important to note many, if not most, have closing hours and are not open 24/7. So, be mindful of what time the deck closes before you park in the evening!
On-Street Parking
The City of Winston-Salem recently took down all the meters for on-street parking spaces and switched to the PayByPhone app. The initial setup of the app takes a little bit of time as you have to register your car with the app, but once that is done, it’s pretty fast to use each time.
The on-street parking hourly rate Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. is normally $1.50. All on-street parking spaces are free after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and all weekend.
If you see parking spaces that do not have PayByPhone signage, those are time-restricted spaces. There will be signs posted for how long people are allowed to park (for free) in those spots. The time slots range, so be sure to closely read how long it’s available since they are monitored.
Off-Street Parking
There are a few off-street parking lots that aren’t decks located in the downtown area, as well. Currently, many of them still utilize the PayByPhone apps or have a gate for payments, like a parking deck. Rates will be posted in the app or by the gates for these lots.
Free, Validated & Valet Parking Options
Certain businesses and destinations provide free parking options; for instance, the Forsyth County Central Library. There is a deck attached to the library and a lot at the corner of 5th & Spring Streets.
Throughout downtown, many places offer validated and valet parking options. Here are just a few you can take advantage of:
- Chill Nitro – They validate for two hours at the lot located at the intersection of Poplar and 4th Streets. Simply, scan the QR code in their shop.
- Thai Harmony – They validate for two hours at the Liberty Plaza Parking Deck. Ask the server or the host there to get your parking ticket validated.
- Camel City BBQ Factory – They validate for two hours at the lot behind the restaurant off Liberty Street. You must take a photo of your license plate and enter the information into the tablet kiosk located inside the restaurant immediately upon arrival.
- Twisted Pine – This is one of the handful of restaurants that has their own parking lot. It’s located off Liberty Street, and parking is free for patrons.
- The Katharine Brasserie & Bar – Provides complimentary valet parking for restaurant diners with validation.
These are only a few of the options as several other downtown businesses also offer free parking.
