Parking at Clarendon
This past week I had to get something down at the Container Store in Clarendon. Normally I don’t like the idea of a store that sells things like boxes to store your boxes in but I had a particular need I was pretty well stymied by. But when I got to the Clarendon shopping area I found myself circling around three times, trying all the side streets within a reasonable walking distance and still not finding a spot to park in.
Sure, I could have used the parking garage there but I don’t feel right about paying to park so I can give more of my money away. The meters don’t bother me so much, being able to take as little as a quarter, but the garages do. I needed a spot for about ten minutes. That doesn’t justify parking in the $2 garage.
So are there any secret parking spots folks know around that area that maybe I just missed?
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I work in the Clarendon area and about the only place I know of that consistently has an open space during a weekday is on Highland Street between Washington and Wilson. The closer you get to that shopping center, the less likely you are to find something.
On weekend, pay the garage fee, because you will spend that much or more in gas.
Depends on your definition of reasonable walking distance. After 5:30pm and on weekends is easy — just use the DHS underground garage on Highland right off of Wilson (official info here.)
Also, you can usually find a street spot if you going down a little farther on Clarendon (towards Cleveland).
“I don’t feel right about paying to park…” Then don’t bring your car into the city. Go drive out to some suburban place where the store is surrounded by free parking.
Arlington as “the city” and not “some suburban place.” That’s funny. — Joe
Most of the stores in the Clarendon Common validate parking to that garage- including the Container Store. So you could have parked for free there.
The worst, when you are driving around there, is having to wait for all the cars as they attempt to park in the Whole Foods parking lot.