Visiting downtown Mystic is always a treat, with its charming shops, endless dining options, and iconic drawbridge. If you’re not familiar with the area, parking can be a challenge, especially during summer, fall, and weekends. The good news? With these insider tips, you can park in Mystic like a local!
Know the Best Free Parking Spots
Downtown Mystic has a few free places to park, but they go quickly. Arriving earlier in the day, before 11 AM, increases your chance of getting a spot. The best free places to park include:
- Streetside Parking: Main Street, Cottrell Street, Holmes Street, Pearl Street, and many other little side streets in the downtown area. Some of these spaces are marked with 2-hour time limits, and others have no limit. A few spots have 15-minute limits, so be sure to look at the signage before parking. Be sure not to block any driveways or fire hydrants to avoid being towed.
- Holmes Street Lot – Behind the long white building at Schooner Wharf, there is a big dirt and stone parking area. This lot is for patrons of the tenant businesses, so if you park here, grab a bite to eat at Karma Kitchen or Lis Bake Shop, poke around the Marine Consignment shop, or rent a kayak or paddle board from Adventure Mystic.
- River Road Boat Launch – There is a large sand and gravel roadside lot. From this spot, it’s a scenic 1.4-mile walk to downtown Mystic, so wear comfortable walking shoes. This is a great option for those interested in enjoying beautiful scenery while getting in a bit of exercise prior to exploring downtown.
Use Paid Lots as A Back-up Plan
Paid parking is available in a few places in downtown Mystic. If you’re visiting during super busy times such as July, August, October, and summer holiday weekends, this is a great option to avoid wasting time driving around waiting for a free spot.
- St. Patrick’s Catholic Church – To use their lot, they ask that you make a donation to their new parish center and have a QR code to enable you to do so. They also ask that you do not use the lot when they are having services on Saturdays from 4pm-6pm and Sunday mornings.
- St. Mark’s Episcopal Church – Located at 15 Pearl Street, the church asks for a donation to park in its lot. The church does lots of good work for the local community, and donating supports this work.
- Mystic Museum of Art Lot – Located on Water Street, this large parking lot is managed by LAZ. On last check, the rates were: first 1/2 hour: free; 1/2 hour to 1 hour: $5; each Additional hour: $5; daily maximum: $25
- 21 East Main Street – $21 for the day; managed by LAZ
- Mystic Seaport Museum – From their parking lot, it’s a half mile (11-minute walk to downtown); $10 for the day.
With these local tips, you’ll be able to park easily and make the most of your time in downtown Mystic!
