Top 5 Free Parking Areas Near Campus and Old Town Fort Collins
Anyone who lives and works in central Fort Collins knows that the hardest part about getting around town can often be finding a place to park. Many of the available spaces downtown are dominated by private lots and business-specific spots, and the few lots available to the public often come at a price that is hard for students and young professionals to afford.
However, not all hope is lost in town for the frugal driver. If you’re willing to go the extra mile (sometimes literally) in looking for parking on the cheap, you’ll find that there are several areas near campus and Old Town available to park your car for the low price of free. Read on to learn more about the top five areas for free parking near campus and Old Town in Fort Collins.
5. Ram’s Crossing Apartments
The parking lots of the Ram’s Crossing Apartments are a great place to start if you’re in Campus West. The apartment complex is located roughly two blocks off of Elizabeth on City Park avenue, and the lots are within walking distance of popular destinations like Fuzzy’s Tacos and Krazy Karl’s Pizza. This lot is technically private for residents in the apartments, but the amount of parking available is very generous compared to the amount of apartments, and residents admit that the complex is very unlikely to tow unless spaces get completely full.
4. City Park Ave Elizabeth-Mulberry
While Ram’s Crossing is a good place to start, City Park avenue is a better route to continue on in looking for parking. Between its intersections with Mulberry and Elizabeth streets, City Park avenue runs by mostly apartment complexes and other residential-type areas, which is great for drivers because that means that there’s a lot of curb space available along this stretch of road to park without permits. There are also several side streets connected to this area where anyone can park, as well as several private lots that should be avoided. Depending on how far you get from Elizabeth, the proximity to Campus West won’t always be great, but it’s the best bet to find free parking consistently in an area dominated by private and commercial parking.
3. First Presbyterian Church
The parking lot for the First Presbyterian Church is somewhat of an oasis for commuters downtown.The church’s lot is easily one of the largest downtown and can be accessed via College, Mason and Myrtle streets. Parking during the weekdays is abundant, and while it can get full on some weekend nights, there always seems to be enough spaces for everybody, and then some. However, there is slight risk associated with this area, which is why it’s not higher on this list.The lot is technically a private lot for patrons of the church, and there are several signs throughout the lot that discourage drivers outside the church with the threat of towing. That being said, drivers are very rarely ever ticketed or towed from the lot, and as long as the church has the space open for their services, they’re unlikely to ever take action against non-churchgoing drivers. Avoid this area on Sundays, but otherwise it’s the best area in downtown to find a free space.
2. West Oak Street
This stretch of Oak street, from where it runs southward from its intersection with Mason street is a great place for parking near downtown due to its proximity to College avenue. Side street parking is generally available in fair amounts throughout the day, and the Oak-Mason intersection is a block or less from the heart of Old Town. The parking lot for the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder’s Office can also be accessed in this area, which provides an ample amount of free space in the evening after business hours, and a few two-hour spots during the day, which is convenient since most ticketing and registration issues can be handled at the office, too.
1. The University Center for the Arts
Just as the parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church was described as an oasis for commuters downtown, so too does the area around the University Center of the Arts function for commuter students looking to park near campus. The location, roughly two blocks north of CSU’s main campus, is somewhat convenient for getting to classes, but is not close by to anything else in particular. That being said, this area is the ultimate sanctuary for drivers looking to avoid CSU’s Parking Services, which enforces paid parking aggressively in all other areas nearby campus. The UCA does have a few permit-only spots and a permit lot near the front of its building, but a large majority of all other spots around the building, which constitute about three block’s worth of parking, are free. The UCA is also bordered by neighborhoods, whose streets are also available in the event that spots around the building become filled, which generally isn’t very necessary.
