Parking in Salem, MA in October 2026: Garages, Rates, the Free Lot, and When to Skip the Car
Published September 19, 2026 · Updated September 19, 2026
Short answer: On October weekends, park at the Museum Place Garage or South Harbor Garage before 10 a.m. and expect higher special event rates that change with the day. You can also use the free lot at 108 Jefferson Avenue (weekends only, and no shuttle in 2026), or skip the car and take the Commuter Rail, which is 30 minutes from Boston. On Halloween, Saturday, October 31, don’t drive into downtown at all.
More than a million people visit Salem every October, and the city has about 44,000 residents and one small downtown. Parking is the thing that ruins the most trips. Here’s how to get it right in 2026.
What’s new for October 2026
- No city shuttle. For the first time in years, the City of Salem is not running a park-and-ride shuttle. Any remote lot means walking in.
- A free lot close to downtown. 108 Jefferson Avenue is free on Saturdays, Sundays, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Monday, October 12). It’s about a five-minute walk to downtown, but spaces are limited, so arrive early.
- Halloween is on a Saturday. Last year about 96,000 people came on Halloween, and that was a Friday. With Halloween on a weekend in 2026, expect even more.
- Harder barricades. Street closures on Essex Street now use heavier barriers, so once a street is closed, it stays closed.
Where to park: garages and lots
Pay at every city lot and garage with the Passport Parking app. Download it before you arrive.
| Where | Address | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Museum Place Garage | 1 New Liberty Street | Closest garage to the Essex Street pedestrian mall and the Peabody Essex Museum. Fills first. |
| South Harbor Garage | 10 Congress Street | Near Pickering Wharf and Derby Street. Easier to leave heading south. |
| MBTA Salem Station Garage | 252 Bridge Street | Next to the train station. Closed 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Halloween night. |
| Front Street Lot | 48 Lafayette Street | Small downtown lot; October rates are higher than usual. |
| Wharf Street Lot | 199 Derby Street | Waterfront, walkable to Derby Wharf. |
| Church Street lots | 72 Church Street / 15 Federal Street | North side of downtown, near the Witch House. |
| Sewall Street Lot | 8 Sewall Street | Small; worth checking on weekdays. |
| O’Keefe Lot | 225 Canal Street | Open October weekends only. Farther out, so plan on a longer walk. |
| 108 Jefferson Avenue | 108 Jefferson Avenue | Free on weekends and Monday, October 12. No shuttle. |
Rates vary. On October weekends, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and Halloween, the city garages and many lots switch to special event rates, sometimes a flat fee, and they can change from day to day. Weekdays cost less. The Passport Parking app shows the current rate when you park, and the City of Salem’s October parking page posts updates. Budget for noticeably more than a normal visit on weekends.
When the garages fill up
On October Saturdays and Sundays, the downtown garages are usually full by late morning. If you’re driving:
- Arrive before 10 a.m. You’ll get a space, beat the traffic on Route 114 and Route 1A, and get the downtown before the crowds.
- Or come after 5 p.m. on a weekday. Evening ghost tours and dinner are much easier on a Tuesday than a Saturday.
- Have a backup lot in mind so you’re not circling downtown while the streets fill up.
Don’t park on residential streets
Many Salem streets are resident-permit only in October, and the fine is $75. Towing is also enforced on parade day and around closures. If a street has no meters and isn’t a public lot, assume you can’t park there.
Road closures to plan around
- Thursday, October 1, Haunted Happenings Grand Parade (6:30 p.m.): Route 1A from Derby Street to Brown Street closes from 4 to 9:30 p.m., along with Congress, Washington, Central and Front streets and the Washington Square streets. Tow zones are enforced that morning. Cars can’t leave the South Harbor Garage until about 9:30 p.m. See our parade guide.
- Every October weekend: Essex Street is closed to cars through the downtown pedestrian area, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, starting at noon on Fridays.
- Heaviest traffic: Saturday and Sunday, October 24–25, Friday, October 30, and Halloween, Saturday, October 31.
- Halloween: Downtown streets, including Essex, Washington and Federal, close to all traffic no later than noon, and earlier if crowds build. Bridge Street closes from 9:15 to 11:30 p.m. for the 10:15 p.m. drone show.
Skip the car: the better options
Commuter Rail. The MBTA Newburyport/Rockport Line runs from Boston’s North Station to Salem in about 30 minutes, and the station is a short walk from downtown. The MBTA has added extra weekend trains during October in recent years, and the MBTA’s weekend pass is usually the best value for a Saturday or Sunday round trip. Check mbta.com for the current price. Full details are in our guide to getting to Salem by train.
Park in Beverly, then take the train. The Beverly MBTA garage charges $2 on weekends, and Beverly Depot is five minutes from Salem by train. This is the smartest parking move for October weekends and Halloween.
Salem Ferry. Seasonal ferries run from Boston’s Long Wharf to Salem’s Blaney Street Wharf in about an hour, through the end of October. It’s a scenic way in that avoids traffic entirely. Book ahead on weekends.
Rideshare. Drop-off and pickup zones are at Riley Plaza (1–21 Margin Street) if you’re coming from the south and the Old Salem Jail lot (161 Bridge Street) if you’re coming from the north. Expect surge pricing and long waits after dark on weekends.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free parking in Salem in October? Yes, but it’s limited. The lot at 108 Jefferson Avenue is free on October weekends and Monday, October 12, and is about a five-minute walk from downtown. There’s no shuttle in 2026.
How much does parking cost in Salem in October? It varies. On October weekends, Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Halloween, the city garages and lots switch to higher special event rates, sometimes a flat fee. Weekdays are cheaper. Check the Passport Parking app or the City of Salem’s October parking page for the current rate.
Is there a shuttle from remote parking in 2026? No. The city isn’t running a shuttle this year, so any remote lot means walking.
Should I drive to Salem on Halloween? Not if you can avoid it. Downtown streets close by noon, the station garage closes in the evening, and 2026’s Saturday Halloween will be one of the busiest days Salem has ever had. Take the train, or park in Beverly and take it from there.
Where should I park for the Grand Parade? Park outside the route, like the Church Street lots or the Jefferson Avenue lot. The South Harbor Garage won’t let cars out until about 9:30 p.m. on parade night.
Planning the rest of your trip? Once you know how you’re getting in, build your day with our Salem trip planner, see what’s on in the Salem in October events hub, and read our guide to avoiding the October crowds.