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Summary
  • Studies recommend different methods to find the best parking spot. You can be prudent. Don’t settle for the first available spot but don’t circle the area several times either.
  • You can also pick a row in the parking area and park in the first available spot you see.
  • Arriving early, using apps, observing people, checking the spots furthest to the destination, and being patient are also good strategies.

An article published by CNN back in 2023 revealed that there are over 2 billion parking lots in the United States. Despite this number, many still struggle to find parking spaces.

It’s usually a matter of demand. Parking lots near places that many people go to like malls and parks are often packed, especially during peak hours. If you often find yourself in this scenario, having a strategy when searching for a parking spot can help you save time.

What’s the Best Way to Find a Parking Spot?

The best strategy typically depends on the driver and the situation. Here are two takes on how to find the best spot from published studies.

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Be Prudent

In 2019, physics professors Sidney Redner and Paul Krapvisky published a study in the Journal of Statistical Mechanics, where they identified the most effective strategies for finding the best parking spot in a mall.

For the sake of the study, the “best” spot is defined as the one closest to the mall entrance. They divided drivers into three categories: meek, optimistic, and prudent:

Meek

Meek drivers will settle for the first spot they find and won’t bother looking at spaces closer to the entrance.

Optimistic

Optimistic drivers won’t settle for the first space they see. Instead, they’ll look for a space close to the entrance, even if they have to circle around the entire parking lot.

Prudent

Prudent drivers split the difference. They’re more aggressive than meek drivers but won’t repeatedly circle the entire lot for a space closer to the entrance like optimistic drivers.

Krapivsky and Redner used different techniques to weigh the benefits of each strategy. Ultimately, they found that the prudent strategy was the best because it got good results in the least amount of time. Meanwhile, the optimistic strategy was second, while the meek strategy was deemed the worst.

Choose a Row

While the study discussed above is valid, a paper published in the journal Transportation Science offered a different strategy. According to the study, it’s best to randomly pick a row and park in the first available spot you see instead of driving around looking for a closer spot.

This is because some people spend too much time looking for the “closest” spot when it’s likely unavailable. Some drivers try to look for the perfect space, which is right in front of the entrance, instead of settling for spots that are available and close enough.

Picking a row and parking in the first available spot is a method that saves you time since you won’t need to circle the lot.

Tips to Find the Best Parking Spot

Other tips you can keep in mind to find the best parking spot include arriving early, using apps, and observing people, among others. Note that these won’t always help, as they’re case-to-case basis and won’t be applicable at all times.

tips in finding the best parking spot
Other tips you can keep in mind to find the best parking spot include arriving early, using apps, and observing people, among others.

Arrive Early

Arriving early or during non-peak hours means there is a higher chance no one is parked at the best spot. And even if there are, the lot shouldn’t be crowded. Non-peak hours generally depend on where you’re parking.

If you’re going to a mall, expect the lot to be close to full when the mall has just opened or during lunch or dinner time. Meanwhile, peak hours in office parking spaces depend on what time the employees get in. If you want to avoid the trouble of looking for a spot, arrive earlier than the crowd.

Use Apps

Some apps will help you look for a spot close to your destination. Apps are useful when you’re in a rush and don’t want to circle a couple of lots to find a place to park. These apps use GPS to guide you to available spots and even let you pay the parking directly from your phone, making them convenient and time-saving.

Observe People

Observing people will help you predict which cars are leaving. In a mall or grocery parking lot, people putting groceries in their trunks are likely leaving and freeing up an open spot. Of course, the easiest way to confirm is to ask if they’re on their way.

Check the Spots Furthest Away

As mentioned in the study discussed above, some people look for spots closest to the entrance or exit. This usually frees up the spaces furthest away from either the entrance or the exit. The only downside is you’ll have to walk more to get out of the parking area.

Be Patient

Lastly, it all comes down to patience. Whether it’s circling the parking lot or checking if certain vehicles are leaving, you need to stay patient and wait for a safe and convenient place to park your car.

Different Ways to Park Your Car

There are four main ways you can park: parallel parking, perpendicular parking, angled parking, and reverse parking. Make sure you know which one to utilize based on the parking space.

Parallel Parking

Parallel parking is a method of parking a vehicle parallel to the road, in line with other parked vehicles. It requires driving past the parking space and then slowly reversing into the space.

One advantage of parallel parking is it lets you park your car in a smaller space. On the other hand, it’s a difficult maneuver to pull off, so you need to be aware of your surroundings while maintaining full control of your car.

Perpendicular Parking

Perpendicular parking is the most common parking technique. It involves parking the car perpendicular to the curb or parking line spaces. Unlike parallel parking, this method is relatively straightforward and allows for easy entry and exit from the parking lot.

Angled Parking

Angle parking is when a vehicle is parked at an angle relative to the curb or space lines. It’s a technique that maximizes parking capacity and better visibility when exiting the spot.

Reverse Parking

Reverse parking is when you back into the parking spot. It’s considered the safest way to park because you won’t have to back out of a parking spot blind, where you could potentially hit another car or a pedestrian.

About The Author
Written By Automotive and Tech Writers

The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.

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