El Presidio Parking Garage, Downtown Tucson, AZ, Early Dec, 2025…read more
We were visiting Tucson for the first time, and needed parking downtown. Our first stop would be the Southern Arizona Heritage and Visitor Center, and we identified this underground garage, with 556 designated parking spaces, as the closest public garage near our destination. Our GPS directed us to the garage's non-congested Alameda St entrance, where it was easy to enter and later to exit. (There is also an entrance from Pennington Street). Parking rates were posted on large signs before you entered the garage (see below). This is a day-use garage, with no overnight parking. It's open Monday-Friday, 6 am to 8 pm, and Saturday-Sunday, 9 am to 6 pm. They're closed on legal holidays.
Per the garage's website, "The downtown Tucson Pima County El Presidio Parking Garage is a three level underground parking structure. It is located beneath El Presidio Park, between Tucson City Hall and the old Pima County Courthouse. Pedestrian access/egress is via four elevators or stairwells located in the park. This garage is located near Superior Court, Administration and the Historic Courthouse (Attractions and Tourism, Visit Tucson, and the Gem and Mineral museum) buildings. It is adjacent to City Hall and close to the Federal Office Building."
Note that garage height clearance is 6 feet, 2 inches, and tow trailers are not permitted.
Security is provided by uniformed officers on patrol. (We did see a uniformed officer, twice in fact, in the courtyard directly above the garage).
Parking rates. The minimum parking rate is $2 (for 0 to 2 hours), increasing hourly by $1 to a maximum daily rate of $8 (for 7+ hours). Payment is by cash or credit card. NOTE: you can get free parking with a $20 purchase at the nearby Southern Arizona Heritage and Visitor Center or by buying tickets to the Gem and Mineral Museum ($15, for adults 13-64; $10 seniors 65+).