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Parking Structures - oversized vehicles

M

Myxdvz

TUG Member
Joined
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Location
Chicago, IL
Hi,

Yesterday, I was trying to book our 4th of July vacation. I started with DC (I thought watching fireworks at the National Mall might be cool)... but as I was reading between Old Town Alexandria and National Mall, they were both "underground" / "covered" structures -- which could be problematic for our vehicles.

We have a Mercedez Benz Sprinter. It is as wide as other vehicles, BUT it is VERY TALL. Most covered parking structures that have height limits (normally 6-7') are off limits to us. So I thought to start collecting resorts which might be problematic for us. We need about > 9' clearance. We can't do drive thrus with 9' clearance limit.

From those that we've been to: Glacier Canyon, Galena, Newport Inn, Ocean Boulevard, Grand Desert -- I think most would be ok, except for Ocean Boulevard, as that one was tight enough as it was with just our minivan.

We would have to park across the street or in Cottages for that one. Grand Desert had outside parking in addition to the covered one so that's not too bad.

Can anyone chime in on whether or not Old Town Alexandria, National Harbor and/or other resorts will have this issue for us?

Thanks!
 
NHTraveler said:
OTA is low and tight.
Click to expand...
Are there options nearby?

I wanted to book our 4th of July yesterday (to maximize my last remaining RT for the year, and it's only July!) -- I ended up not booking OTA, and going with PCB because of this issue.
 
Myxdvz said:
Are there options nearby?

I wanted to book our 4th of July yesterday (to maximize my last remaining RT for the year, and it's only July!) -- I ended up not booking OTA, and going with PCB because of this issue.
Click to expand...

Because I only used the Wyndham parking garage, I'm not sure about the heights of other garages. There may be a garage at the King St Metro Station that could work. The Metro station is about a block away.
 
Myxdvz said:
Are there options nearby?

I wanted to book our 4th of July yesterday (to maximize my last remaining RT for the year, and it's only July!) -- I ended up not booking OTA, and going with PCB because of this issue.
Click to expand...

National Harbor is also "garage parking" I doubt that your vehicle will fit.

Why not call the resorts and ask about alternatives.
 
Consider parking at Reagan National and take the metro to King Street Station.
 
Of the Wyndham's I have been to you'd be okay at:
Bonnet Creek,
Sedona,
Flagstaff
Sea Gardens but not in the Ocean Palms bldg.
Cypress Palms.

Not okay at:
Royal Vista in the garage, maybe you could park at one of the other resorts nearby, Santa Barbara same issue.
The San Antonio resorts
 
Thanks for ALL the responses! I am annotating the resorts so we can be prepared in the future. I'm hoping we won't have issues with PCB. In looking at the aerial map, it doesn't like it's covered parking, but Ocean Boulevard was so better safe than sorry. I love our vehicle because it makes road tripping so much nicer and more comfortable, but parking is a hassle.

ronparise said:
Why not call the resorts and ask about alternatives.
Click to expand...
I actually DID call yesterday but the resort was kinda clueless. At OTA, they just said that they don't own the parking and there's a vendor for it. They just read some blurb about, parking for "oversized" vehicle has a separate entrance and could be tight.

Except, when they mean "oversize", I don't think they mean my vehicle, they probably just mean the bigger vans and pickups. So I figure, real experience is probably better.

The Reagan suggestion is probably worth considering. As long as there's place where we can do affordable long term parking, we should be ok.
 
Skyline Tower, Oceanside

PCB is in a parking garage. Not sure if more has been added.
 
am1 said:
Skyline Tower, Oceanside

PCB is in a parking garage. Not sure if more has been added.
Click to expand...

Uh oh on PCB -- is this a "covered" parking garage? We may have issues here too?
 
Myxdvz said:
Uh oh on PCB -- is this a "covered" parking garage? We may have issues here too?
Click to expand...

It is...however, there is some outside parking along the pools adjacent to the garage behind the front desk area. Not much, but there is some (maybe 15 spots?). There is also a lot of room between the regular parking garage and the employee parking garage (like an small open field). Call PCB and ask if you could park there if all the uncovered parking is taken.
 
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chriskre said:
.....Not okay at:
Royal Vista in the garage, maybe you could park at one of the other resorts nearby, Santa Barbara same issue.
...
Click to expand...

Royal Vista and Santa Barbara while BOTH have parking garages .. there is LIMITED outdoor spaces for parking at both resorts. At Royal Vista, MOST of the guests prefer the garage as it is easier to get to your room via direct access to the parking garage; at Santa Barbara MOST guests prefer the outdoor spaces as the garage is NOT CONNECTED directly to the resort and YOU have to walk further. Street parking is not allowed near/around either resort.

At Skyline Towers, the valets will park your vehicle elsewhere nearby ... just expect LONGERRRRR to get it and expect them to expect a BIGGER TIP.
 
Last edited:
Myxdvz said:
Uh oh on PCB -- is this a "covered" parking garage? We may have issues here too?
Click to expand...

PCB has covered parking across the street, but also has non covered parking along the left side of the parking structure. I have seen larger vehicles park there. Call the resort to confirm parking for your vehicle.
 
Thanks everyone!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
vacationhopeful said:
Royal Vista and Santa Barbara while BOTH have parking garages .. there is LIMITED outdoor spaces for parking at both resorts. At Royal Vista, MOST of the guests prefer the garage as it is easier to get to your room via direct access to the parking garage; at Santa Barbara MOST guests prefer the outdoor spaces as the garage is NOT CONNECTED directly to the resort and YOU have to walk further. Street parking is not allowed near/around either resort.
Click to expand...

Yeah limited and if you go in peak times it could be a challenge if you go to eat dinner and come back and there is no where to park. The sales center is at Royal Vista so seems like the front lot is always full. Might be because people are "touring" or coming from the Palm Aire resort for the day. :shrug:
 
Smoky Mountain is all outdoor parking.

Bonnet Creek would be fine in some places:
  • Towers 1, 2, and 3 are all outside parking...fine
  • Towers 4 & 5 have some outdoor parking and share a parking garage which might be too tight (don't know the clearance).
  • Tower 6 has a parking garage that might be a problem, but don't know the clearance.

I think you'll be able to tell about most resorts with just a quick look on Google Earth.

And the fireworks on July 4th in DC are amazing!
 
OP, You probably are not the only guest of these places who has a vehicle that won't fit in their parking structure. If nothing else, they will have a service area where contractor/delivery vehicles park to service the facility. The clerks at the front desk may not know about where these places are, but trust me- there IS some place nearby (possibly not in the guest parking structure) for oversize vehicles.

Jim
 
I think I've also seen some notices on some of the resort webpages that no parking was available for oversized vehicles.

But in those locations, I believe they were talking about length, not height -- like someone towing a camping trailer, boat, 5th wheel, etc., or driving a big RV.
 
Correct, most "oversize" mean length or width and not height. Our car is as narrow as a minivan. Not too much longer than most. It's really the height that's an issue.

My hope in compiling this information is to not even book there if we're driving. The last thing I want to do during check in while managing 4 kids and all our luggage is to try and find someone who knows where we can park when we get there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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