As part of the greater Boston area, parking in Cambridge can feel a bit intimidating. The city is dense and competition for street parking spots can be ruthless. Luckily, with these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to find a free parking spot near your destination in no time.
To find those free street parking spots, here is what you need:
- An understanding of where those spots exist. (Check out this free map!)
- Familiarity with parking rules in Cambridge so you’ll know that free spot is actually free.
Map of Free Parking in Cambridge
Find a free spot by changing the time filters and navigating to your desired area. The free map updates in real-time, so simply type in the address you’re parking near and the time of day to find free parking near you.
Cambridge Parking rules
Free Parking Near Harvard
- There is plenty of metered parking near Harvard Square, but you’ll be hard pressed to find any actual free parking, unless:
- Every Sunday parking is free in metered spaces and in neighborhoods that typically require residential permits.
- If you’re lucky enough to find a broken meter, the city allows you to park for free up until the stated time limit (so you’ll get 2 hours of free parking at a 2 hour meter).
Free Parking Holidays
Cambridge has free parking days! Here they are.
| Start Date | Parking Holiday | End Date |
| 2024-01-01 | New Year's Day | 2024-01-01 |
| 2024-01-15 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | 2024-01-15 |
| 2024-02-19 | Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) | 2024-02-19 |
| 2024-04-15 | Patriots' Day | 2024-04-15 |
| 2024-05-27 | Memorial Day | 2024-05-27 |
| 2024-07-04 | Independence Day | 2024-07-04 |
| 2024-09-02 | Labor Day | 2024-09-02 |
| 2024-10-14 | Indigenous Peoples' Day | 2024-10-14 |
| 2024-11-11 | Veterans day | 2024-11-11 |
| 2024-11-28 | Thanksgiving Day | 2024-11-28 |
| 2024-11-29 | Day after Thanksgiving | 2024-11-29 |
| 2024-12-25 | Christmas Day | 2024-12-25 |
To know which specific regulations are suspended on these days, please check the SpotAngels app.