Parking near the Seattle Convention Center: garages, clearances and what we offer
Driving to a convention in downtown Seattle is very doable, as long as you know two things before you leave home: how tall your vehicle is and which garage serves the building you need. Get either wrong and you can lose half an hour circling. This guide covers the Convention Center's own garages, the published rates and height limits, and the small garage option at our building, so you can pick the right plan for your car.
The Convention Center's garages at a glance
The Seattle Convention Center operates three public garages close to its buildings. These details come straight from the Center's parking page (seattlecc.com/parking), checked in October 2026. Rates and hours can change for major events, so check again the week of your trip.
| Garage | Vehicle entrance | Height clearance | Hours (published) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arch Garage | 1400 8th Ave | 6'5" | 5:30 AM – midnight |
| Summit Garage | 1009 Olive Way | 8'4" on the entry level, 6'10" on other levels | 5:30 AM – midnight |
| Freeway Park Garage | 1267 Hubbell Place | 6'9" | 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM |
Published sample rates on the same page include $37 for 12–24 hours and a $9 evening rate for cars entering after 5 PM. The Center also lists EV charging and advance reservations through SpotHero. Event-day pricing can differ, which is one more reason to reserve if your show is a big one.
Which garage should you use?
- Your sessions are in Summit: the Summit Garage on Olive Way is the natural choice. Its taller entry level is the friendliest option in the area for vans and lifted SUVs, but anything taller than 6'10" has to stay on that level.
- Your sessions are in Arch: the Arch Garage on 8th Avenue puts you underneath the building. Mind the 6'5" clearance. Roof boxes and bike racks are the usual culprits.
- You're staying with us: the Freeway Park Garage entrance is on Hubbell Place, the same street as our building. Note that it closes at 8 PM.
If you have a full-size SUV, a pickup with a canopy, or anything with a roof box, measure it at home. A tape measure on the driveway is cheaper than a reversing manoeuvre at a garage barrier on a show morning.
Parking at our building: compact cars only
Our building has a small garage, and we can arrange a space on request for compact cars only, at $35 per night, subject to availability. Please be realistic about the size of your car: SUVs and larger vehicles do not fit, and we can't swap in a bigger space on arrival. If you are driving anything larger than a compact, plan on one of the Convention Center garages above.
To request the garage space, ask when you book, or email [email protected] before arrival. Then you'll know it's confirmed before you set off.
Do you need a car at all?
For a lot of convention trips the honest answer is no. From our apartments:
- The Summit building is about 0.22 mi (≈5 min walk) and Arch about 0.26 mi (≈6 min).
- Westlake Station is about 0.44 mi (≈9 min). From there the Link light rail 1 Line runs to Sea-Tac Airport.
- Pike Place Market is about 0.72 mi (≈15 min), and Capitol Hill Station about 0.83 mi (≈18 min).
If you're flying in, skipping the rental car usually saves both the rental and a nightly garage fee. Our walking guide has the details. If you're driving because you're carrying booth materials, look at your event's exhibitor logistics first. Freight normally goes through the official dock and marshalling yard, not a public garage.
When a car does make sense
- Cruise weekends. If you're combining a show with a cruise, a car or rideshare to the piers is easier than transit, especially to Pier 91. See our cruise guide.
- Medical appointments with lots of luggage or equipment. See our First Hill hospitals guide.
- Day trips out of the city. Mount Rainier, the Cascades and the Olympic Peninsula all need a car. In that case a compact car fits our garage and keeps your costs predictable.
A few practical tips
- Reserve on big-show weekends. During Emerald City Comic Con or PAX West, downtown garages fill early. See our 2027 event calendar.
- Screenshot your reservation and your height clearance before you lose signal underground.
- Don't leave anything visible in the car. That's standard big-city advice, and it applies downtown too.
- Plan your exit time. The Freeway Park Garage closes at 8 PM, while Arch and Summit are listed until midnight.
- Check out on time. Checkout is by 11:00 AM, and we can't hold luggage. Load the car first, then go to your final sessions.
Choosing your apartment if you're driving
All three apartments are in the same building and share the same parking options. If you're bringing a compact car and a group of six, the Lumière 2BR or the Two-Bath 2BR each sleep up to 6 and have their own washer and dryer. For up to five guests, the Top-Floor 2BR has the skyline view and uses the building's shared laundry room on the 2nd floor.
Booking direct on this site gets you 10% off our nightly rate and a flat $120 cleaning fee.
Sources: Seattle Convention Center, Parking (seattlecc.com/parking) and Getting Here (seattlecc.com/getting-here), checked Oct 2026; walking distances from OpenStreetMap routing, computed 24 Oct 2026.