Best American Museum of Natural History Parking | Guide & Tips
Parking anywhere in New York City is often a challenge and the American Museum of Natural History is no exception!
We're here to give you the scoop on our best spots to park when visiting the American Museum of Natural History as well as some tips to keep in mind when deciding where to park your car.
Questions We'll Answer About Parking At The American Museum of Natural History:
- Is Parking At The American Museum of Natural History Free?
- Where Are The Best Locations To Park For The Museum Of Natural History?
Is Parking At The American Museum of Natural History Free?
As with nearly every venue in New York City, there is no free parking available at The American Museum of Natural History.
The parking garage adjacent to the museum does not provide free parking and the most accessible lots and garages nearby also don't have any sort of free parking options available.
You may be able to find free street parking near the museum during certain hours or days, but you'll need to pay close attention to the posted street signs for the parking rules - which vary from street to street in New York City.
Of course, your other challenge will be finding one of these free spots open. Free parking in New York City, especially near major tourist attractions, is extremely difficult to find available.
Where Are The Best Locations To Park For The Museum Of Natural History?
Below we've detailed our favorite locations to consider parking your car when visiting the American Museum of Natural History.
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
The best and most convenient spot to park your car is in the parking garage directly attached to the museum.
The parking garage is operated by SP+ and will likely be the safest and most available place to leave your car within a reasonable distance from the museum.
AMNH Parking Garage Located on the north end of the museum off 81st Street
Remember, you'll be spending nearly all day at the museum, mainly on your feet and doing lots of walking, so you'll thank yourself when you have a short walk back to your car at the end of the day.
The proximity to the museum will also come in handy if you're visiting New York City in the late Fall or Winter months and want to spend as little time in the sometimes brutally cold New York weather.
Parking Garage Location: Attached to the Museum of Natural History - accessible via West 81st Street.
CHAMPION PARKING 82ND STREET
Next up is the Champion Parking Garage which is just a block away from the Museum of Natural History.
The Champion Parking Garage is located on the corner of the street right across from Central Park and is easy to find and access.
Champion Parking is located just a block from the AMNH
You'll typically find the prices here to be just a bit cheaper than parking at the museum, but availability is going to be more limited with this garage being smaller in capacity. We recommend double-checking the post rates for the day/time you're arriving as fees can vary at this garage.
At only a block away from the Museum of Natural History you won't have to worry about a long walk or remembering where you left your car.
If you don't mind a slightly longer walk, the Champion Parking Garage is a great way to often save a bit of money, but still have really easy access to the museum.
Parking Garage Location: West 82nd Street just before turning onto Central Park West
SP+ PARKING 80TH STREET
Located about three blocks from the American Museum of Natural History is the SP+ Parking Garage on 80th Street.
While only three blocks away from the museum, you'll need to walk around the footprint of the museum because of where this garage is located (behind the building) which might make the walk feel a bit longer.
Even being the furthest garage on our list from the Natural History Museum, it's only a 10-minute walk from one of the entrances which isn't too bad at all.
SP+ Parking Garage in the top left corner of the map
You'll also most likely find the lowest rates and greatest availability of parking spots here. As with any parking garage in New York City, you'll want to double-check the posted rates/fees when you arrive as things can change from day to day.
While a longer walk from the museum compared to the other two garages on this list, the SP+ 80th Street Parking Garage is a great way to see a bit of New York City on your feet while heading to the museum.
The garage is also in a neighborhood with lots of great shops, bakeries, and restaurants to check out!
Parking Garage Location: West 80th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam
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Parking garage maps photos courtesy of Google Maps