If you struggle to find parking in downtown San Antonio, chalk it up to user error. A new study says there’s no shortage of parking spots in the city’s tourism hub, but whether or not locals agree — or find parking downtown convenient or justifiable for the price — is a different question entirely.
Downtown San Antonio parking study reports no shortage of spots
Downtown advocacy nonprofit Centro San Antonio’s recent study of downtown parking found that it “does not currently face a systemwide parking shortage.”
The study, which Centro says is the first full assessment of downtown parking in a decade, reports that “perception, not supply, is the primary challenge.” In other words, residents tend to believe that downtown parking is more scarce than it actually is. To that point, the nonprofit noted that during Fiesta 2025, peak occupancy during Saturday night events was only 53 percent.
However, the study did find that “existing technology and infrastructure are outdated, limiting customer convenience and operational efficiency,” pointing to a need for modernizing the system. Centro’s suggestions included real-time parking technology, digital payment, a more efficient use of existing parking structures through shared parking agreements, and “policy tools that support long-term investment in infrastructure and operations.”…