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One of the favorite subjects for locals visiting downtown is talking about parking. Many spring and summer visitors head straight for Hillman Parking Garage or the City Dock parking lot.

Others have what they refer to as their secret spots. This usually refers to a two-hour limited space on a nearby residential street, a nine-hour space on King George Street along St John’s College, etc.

Parking availability shifts in downtown Annapolis depending on the season of the State House being in session or it’s a perfect weather day to head toward downtown to enjoy shopping, ice cream and outdoor cafes.

This typically does not mean that parking is full throughout town, but it may mean the closest parking lot/garage to a primetime destination maybe full. One example of this is when the State House is in session the closest parking garages typically fill up daily while the City Dock parking lot is typically empty.

In the spring and summer this trend reverses and City Dock parking can fill up quickly while West Street and Calvert Street garages typically have space available. The distance between these two areas is only about a five-minute walk.

The Downtown Annapolis Partnership offers parking tips for those headed to downtown Annapolis to enjoy a nice spring or summer day. Recommendations for those coming in for a short visit to your favorite store or restaurant might be a 2-hour on-street parking spot.

Many times, once you arrive and see a neighbor and join them in a conversation or you start window shopping or exploring farther out on Maryland Ave or West Street, you will wish you headed to an all-day parking spot as you arrived into downtown. That means heading to a parking garage.

The first tip is that most of the downtown parking garages are an easy walk to anywhere else downtown. The second is that the city has a free circulator bus that recently expanded its route to include all seven parking garages and it can be tracked via GPS on the Annapolis Parking website. When you see the Circulator Bus just waive it down.

Third is that there are several options to avoid paying to park in downtown parking garages and also ways to get a good discount on parking. Here are the Downtown Annapolis Partnership’s favorite parking tips for those visiting downtown Annapolis:

Free parking

Calvert Street Garage, aka State Garage (19 St. Johns St.) Free weekdays starting at 6pm and free all-day Saturday and Sunday

Whitmore Parking Garage (25 Clay St.) is free on Sundays until 4 p.m. and just $2 after 4p.m.

Hillman, Gotts, Knighton and Park Place Parking Garages are free on Sunday mornings if you exit by 1 p.m.

Free two-hour garage parking for City of Annapolis residents. Visit Annapolis Parking offices at 60 West St. for parking passes for Hillman, Gotts Court and Knighton Parking Garages. Visit the Park Place Parking Garage office for parking passes there.

Earn free parking with Park and Shop. Make a purchase from select retailers and restaurants and they will each give you vouchers for one to two hours free parking in city-owned parking garages. Visit annapolisparking.com for participating businesses.

Low rates

$2 parking every evening at Whitmore Parking Garage starting at 4 p.m. every day.

$4 parking until 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday until 4 p.m. at Whitmore Parking Garage.

$5 evening parking after 8 p.m. at Gott’s Court Parking Garage.

The six parking garages beyond Main Street are all cheaper than Hillman Parking Garage,Park Place, West Garrett, Knighton, Whitmore, Calvert Street and Gotts Court Parking Garages.

The free circulator shuttle runs along West Street, Calvert Street, State Circle, Duke of Gloucester and Main Street every 20 minutes stopping by all seven downtown Annapolis parking garages, the visitors center and five of the major downtown hotels.

Employee parking

Employee Parking starts at just $2 all day if you park at Park Place Parking Garage plus you can get a free circulator shuttle to downtown.

Gotts Court Parking Garage and Knighton Parking Garages offer discounted $2 evening employee parking starting at 3 p.m.

Hillman Parking Garage has discounted evening employee parking for $5 after 3 p.m. Employers can sign up their employees at 60 West St.

With so many different parking specials downtown Annapolis just became even easier to navigate.

Of course, you could also go car-free with Annapolis Bus Transit, taxi, Uber, Lyft and the new bike share program.