UPDATE: New parking available
Mardi Gras Parking and Transportation
Due to the ongoing renovations at the Mobile Civic Center, the current parking lot is unavailable for parking during the 2024 Mardi Gras season. If you are looking for parking accommodations for a specific Mardi Gras ball, please contact the host organization.
Carpool Discounts
GulfQuest Maritime Museum and designated areas on the map below will offer discounted carpool rates for vehicles with three or more passengers. You can see a list of parking rates for these areas below:
- $20 for all-day parking
- $10 for all day parking to vehicles with three or more passengers
All these designated Mardi Gras parking areas will open for public parking two hours before the first parade of each day and will be staffed until 10 p.m. each night. However, all these locations will remain open after 10 p.m. so those attending Mardi Gras balls and other functions downtown can access their vehicles.
Cash will not be accepted at these lots. Parking can be paid for using the Premium Parking app or debit and credit cards at the Premium Parking kiosk on site. Vehicles with three or more passengers will be given a one-time promo code for the $10 carpool discount at these locations. For parking questions on parade days, contact Premium Parking at (844) 236-2011.
The City of Mobile is in the process of activating additional parking lots in other areas around Water Street. To avoid confusion heading into this weekend’s parades, those locations will be announced after the preparations are finalized early next week.
Downtown Parking
There are nearly 5,000 organic parking spaces throughout downtown owned by Mobile County, the City of Mobile and private operators. The map below shows a comprehensive list of the parking options throughout downtown along with their various parking rates and other information.
CLICK HERE to view a printable PDF version of the map.
Citizens can find pricing information and download the app for Premium Parking here.
Citizens can find pricing information and download the app for Republic Parking here.
You can find additional information about on street parking in downtown Mobile by clicking here.
Parking Restrictions and Towing Information
To maintain safe and accessible parade routes, the City of Mobile restricts on-street parking in areas marked with gold and purple Mardi Gras parking signs. These restrictions go into effect two hours before, during, and after each parade. Vehicles found violating these restrictions are subject to being towed to ensure the safety and flow of the parade.
This Carnival Season, MPD will use a new temporary impound location for towed vehicles at the dead end on S. Royal Street, just south of Monroe Street. The temporary impound facility will close at 10 p.m. on each parade day. Cash, debit cards, Mastercard, Discover cards and Visa credit cards will be the accepted forms of payment at the temporary impound lot. For information regarding towed vehicles, please call (251) 208-1281.
RV Parking for Mardi Gras
Mobile Police Department Issues Parking Advisory for RVs During Mardi Gras Celebrations
As the excitement for Mardi Gras builds, the Mobile Police Department is issuing an important advisory for all attendees planning to bring Recreational Vehicles (RVs) into the downtown area. To ensure public safety and smooth traffic flow during the festivities, parking regulations will be enforced.
Key RV Parking Guidelines:
In accordance with city regulations, no person shall park a motor vehicle, including RVs, on a street or road in such a manner that less than ten (10) feet of the width of the roadway is available for the free movement of vehicular traffic. This regulation is important to ensure that emergency routes remain clear, sidewalks are accessible for pedestrians, and driveways are not blocked. Following these parking guidelines is essential for maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone attending.
If your RV is found parked in violation of these restrictions, it will be towed to the Mobile Police Department Impound at 1251 Virginia Street, Lot B. To retrieve your vehicle, contact the impound lot at 251-208-2585.
The ALDOT Overflow Parking Lot, also known as RV City, located beneath the I-10 Bridge, will be open exclusively for regular passenger vehicles. Please note that RVs and campers are not permitted in this area.
RV owners are advised to use designated off-street, commercial parking lots that are compliant with city regulations. It is important to park your vehicle in an approved and compliant parking lot to avoid penalties.
Parking an RV on unapproved or non-compliant properties will result in enforcement action. Those interested in establishing compliant RV parking areas are advised to contact the City of Mobile Planning and Zoning Department at 251-208-5895, available from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for information on necessary permits and procedures.
The WAVE during Mardi Gras
The WAVE Transit System will be operating throughout the Carnival Season. There are multiple routes that connect to downtown Mobile. You can find maps and information about those and other WAVE Transit System routes here.
You can find information about Mardi Gras related bus route detours on the WAVE’s website here.
Please note that all WAVE routes end at 7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday with the exception of the Dauphin Street and Broad Street routes. The Dauphin Street route operates Monday-Saturday until 9:25 p.m. and the Broad Street route operates Monday-Saturday until 10 p.m.
The WAVE Transit System does not operate on Sundays. As part of its holiday schedule, busses will not be in operation on Fat Tuesday, February 13, and will have holiday hours on Monday, February 12. Click here for a list of holiday hours. For more information about the services and routes offered by the WAVE Transit System, visit www.thewavetransit.com or contact the staff by phone at (251) 344-6600.
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Here's more that you need to know about parking during Mardi Gras, from the Mobile Police Department:
Parking Restrictions and Towing Information
To maintain safe and accessible parade routes, the City of Mobile restricts on-street parking in areas marked with gold and purple Mardi Gras parking signs. These restrictions go into effect two hours before, during, and after each parade. Vehicles found violating these restrictions are subject to being towed to ensure the safety and flow of the parade. This Carnival Season, MPD will use a new temporary impound location for towed vehicles at the dead end on S. Royal Street, just south of Monroe Street. The temporary impound facility will close at 10 p.m. on each parade day. Cash, debit cards, Master Card and Visa credit cards will be the accepted forms of payment at the temporary impound lot. For information regarding toward vehicles, please call (251) 208-2584.
Safety Tips for Golf Carts and Other Vehicles
In the interest of safety, only state-registered Low-Speed Vehicles (LSV) with current tag registration and insurance are allowed on city streets during Mardi Gras. Unregistered golf carts, ATVs, side-by-sides, dirt bikes, and other unregistered vehicles are prohibited from city streets. All registered vehicles must adhere to applicable traffic laws.
Find more Mardi Gras tips on the City of Mobile's Mardi Gras Dashboard.
Photo: Mary