[smackfu]

Anyone have some hard-earned wisdom on New Haven parking?

Personally, I'm surprised many people don't know that the Yale lots are free in the evenings and weekends. There's one next to the Yale gym if you are going up that way, and one on Temple. You do have to walk across the green which can be a little sketchy but it's free.

If you don't want to walk, the Temple St. garage is more convenient but a bit pricey at $3 / hr, although it maxes out at $12. If you are around during the day on a weekend, the Crown St. garage usually has a "shopper's special" that is a flat $3 for a few hours so that's usually a better choice.

Any more tips?

[AnonChick]

I know a few secrets to free parking but if I told y'all, I'd never find a parking space again!

However - here's a little known fact:

The strip on Howe, near College, before you see the old YMCA on the left (which is now a housing-subsidized apartment building), has no parking meters and parking IS permitted for up to 3 hours on weekdays.

Most people won't park there because it looks like the type of area where you wouldn't find the car there when you got back. But I parked there on Saturday and it was totally fine. There's this little hand-detail shop on the same block and they park the Mercedes and BMWs right out front, and no one gives it a second thought.

It's actually safer than most of the more congested areas for the reason that it's just plain less congested. Less chance you'll find a ding in the door, less chance you'll back up into a guy trying to front out, less chance you'll be stuck with a double-parker (like they do on Chapel..UGH)..

It's a walk, to be sure, if you're going toward the Green. But if you're planning on walking around anyway, it's a great starting point.

[smackfu]

I've had pretty good luck finding street parking on Orange and Court behind the courthouse. It can be a bit deserted at night but it's not a far walk from the bars.