Parking in Little Italy is easy on a weekday morning and hard on a Saturday or a Friday night. Here are the garages, lots, valet stands and street meter rules, with prices as listed by official sources, plus when the trolley is the smarter choice.
Quick answer
- Cheapest for a few hours on a weekday: the County parking structure at 1536 Kettner Blvd, listed at $5 an hour with a $15 daily maximum Monday to Thursday.
- Saturday Mercato morning: the Washington Elementary lots open on Saturdays only, from $15.
- Dinner on India Street: valet is $15 per vehicle at several stands from 5 p.m.
- No car hassle at all: take the trolley to County Center/Little Italy station.
Garages and lots
| Where | Rates as listed | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| County of San Diego Parking Structure 1536 Kettner Blvd |
Mon–Thu, 6 a.m. to midnight: $5/hour, max $15. Fri and Sun, 6 a.m. to midnight: $5/hour, max $20. Overnight flat rate $30. Lost ticket $30. |
Saturday daytime rates are not listed on the association’s page; check the signs at the entrance. |
| County Waterfront Parking Garage 1600 Pacific Hwy (underground) |
Weekday flat rate $10. Weekend flat rate $15. Special events $20–30. Lost ticket $20. |
Under Waterfront Park, a short walk west of India Street. |
| Piazza della Famiglia Underground 1730 Columbia St |
Rates vary: 2 hours $10–15; 4 hours $14–20; 8 hours $18–25; 12 hours $24–26. | Right under the piazza, the most central option. |
| Washington Elementary North Lot 400 W. Fir St |
$20 per vehicle. | Saturdays only, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. No overnight parking. |
| Washington Elementary South Lot 248 W. Date St |
$15 per vehicle. | Saturdays only, 6:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. No overnight parking. Next to the Saturday Mercato. |
Valet parking
Blue Water Valet is the official valet provider for the Little Italy district. The rate is $15 per vehicle, and it accepts major credit cards, Zelle, Venmo and cash. Stands and hours as listed by the Little Italy Association:
| Days | Stands (hours) |
|---|---|
| Monday and Tuesday | India St between W. Fir and W. Grape; Kettner and W. Grape (5–10 p.m.) |
| Wednesday | As Monday, plus India and W. Fir (5–10 p.m.) |
| Thursday | As Wednesday, plus Kettner and W. Ivy (5–10 p.m.) |
| Friday | India and W. Fir, India between W. Fir and W. Grape, Kettner and W. Ivy, W. Date and Columbia (5–10:30 p.m.); W. Kalmia and India (5–10 p.m.); Kettner and W. Grape (5–11 p.m.) |
| Saturday | India between W. Fir and W. Grape (11 a.m.–10:30 p.m.); W. Kalmia and India (5–10 p.m.); India and W. Fir, Kettner and W. Ivy, W. Date and Columbia (5–10:30 p.m.); Kettner and W. Grape (5–11 p.m.) |
| Sunday | India between W. Fir and W. Grape; Kettner and W. Grape (11 a.m.–10 p.m.) |
Full list with landmarks for each stand: Little Italy valet parking.
Street meters: the rules
According to the City of San Diego:
- Most meters are enforced Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Meters in the Downtown Hospitality Zone run until 8 p.m. Always read the posted sign on your block.
- You can pay with coins, credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover), the Park Smarter app, or tap-to-pay on supported meters.
- Since 1 November 2025, card payments carry a $0.35 transaction fee, at the meter, in the app or by text. Paying with coins avoids it.
- The City does not use QR codes for payment, only for downloading the app. Be wary of QR stickers asking for card details.
- If a meter is broken, move to another one and report it to Parking Meter Operations at 619-744-1705, noting the meter number.
When to take the trolley instead
The Little Italy Association recommends the Green Line to County Center/Little Italy station. It makes sense when:
- it’s a Saturday and you’re going to the Mercato (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.);
- it’s a Friday or Saturday evening and you’re having dinner on India Street;
- there’s a big event, such as the Little Italy Tree Lighting on Saturday 5 December 2026 (4 to 8 p.m.), which is the same evening as Balboa Park December Nights.
Check fares and times on the MTS website.
Tips
- Saturday mornings: the Mercato fills six blocks of West Date Street, so plan your route around it.
- Keep your ticket. Lost-ticket charges are $20 to $30 at the County garages.
- Overnight: the Washington Elementary lots don’t allow it; the Kettner structure lists a $30 overnight flat rate.
FAQ
Is there free parking in Little Italy?
Street meters are free outside their posted enforcement hours, which for most San Diego meters means after 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and all day Sunday. Some downtown meters run until 8 p.m., so always read the sign. Garages and lots charge at all times.
How much is valet in Little Italy?
$15 per vehicle with Blue Water Valet, the district’s official valet provider.
Where should I park for the Little Italy Mercato?
On Saturdays, the Washington Elementary South Lot at 248 W. Date St ($15, 6:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.) is next to the market. The County garages on Kettner Blvd and Pacific Hwy are short walks away.
Can I pay for parking with my phone?
Yes. City meters with a blue sticker accept the Park Smarter app. A $0.35 fee applies to card payments.
More: things to do in Little Italy, our Little Italy guide with a map, and the parking and trolley guide for other neighborhoods.