Directions & ParkingDirections
While not located along a high speed interstate highway, it is still quick and easy to get to Downtown Westminster. Some routes are even downright scenic, as you pass through the bucolic farmlands of Carroll County.
Directions from Baltimore & Points East
Take I-695 heading towards I-795 (Northwest Expressway). Take I-795 North towards Westminster. At the end of I-795, take the MD140 Exit to Westminster. Follow MD140 North to Westminster for 11 miles until you come to a traffic light at the corner of MD140 and Center Street. (7-11 store on left corner) Turn left onto Center Street. Follow Center Street 2 blocks until you come to the traffic light at East Main Street. Make a right on East Main Street. Follow East Main Street to the next convenient parking space of your choosing or follow the parking signs to a convenient surface lot or parking deck.
Directions from Frederick & Points West
Take I-70 east heading towards Baltimore. Stay on I-70 until you see the exit for Mount Airy & Westminster (MD27). Take the MD27 Exit. Make a left at the end of the ramp and follow MD27 north into Westminster to Main Street. Follow the parking signs to a convenient surface lot or parking deck.
Directions from Gettysburg & Points North
Take PA97 South (Baltimore Pike) from Gettysburg through Littlestown, PA, to the Maryland state line where PA97 turns into MD97. Follow MD97 South to the MD140 interchange. Continue straight on MD97, which becomes Pennsylvania Avenue, until it dead-ends at West Main Street. Make a left on West Main Street. Follow West Main Street to the next convenient parking space of your choosing or follow the parking signs to a surface lot or parking deck.
Directions from Washington, DC & Points South
(HIGHWAY ROUTE)
Take I-495 to I-95 North. Follow I-95 north approximately 23 miles to I-695 North ramp. Take I-695 north to I-795 (Northwest Expressway). Take I-795 north towards Westminster. At the end of I-795, take the MD140 Exit to Westminster. Follow MD140 north to Westminster 11 miles until you come to a traffic light at the corner of MD140 and Center Street. (A 7-11 store is on the left corner.) Turn left onto Center Street. Follow Center Street 2 blocks until you come to the traffic light at East Main Street. Make a right on East Main Street. Follow East Main Street to the next convenient parking space of your choosing or follow the parking signs to a surface lot or parking deck.
(SCENIC ROUTE)
Take MD97 (Georgia Avenue Extended) north from Washington all the way to Main Street in Westminster. Turn left onto East Main Street. Follow East Main Street through three traffic lights to the next convenient parking space of your choosing or follow the parking signs to a surface lot or parking deck.
(SCENIC ROUTE #2)
Take I-270 north toward Frederick. Take the Father Hurley Boulevard exit to MD27 North. Follow MD27 north through Damascus and Mount Airy into Westminster to Main Street. Follow the parking signs to a convenient surface lot or parking deck.
Parking is Ample
Click here for Parking Permit information
Parking in Downtown Westminster is ample and convenient. More than 2,300 public parking spaces are located downtown within easy walking distance of the Carroll Arts Center, Historical Society of Carroll County, downtown restaurants, specialty shops and most personal and professional services. There are a significant number of private parking spaces available for the customers of the businesses who possess them too.
Finding Parking is Easy
Finding a parking space is easy! Follow the green and white parking directional signs into Downtown where they will lead you to either a surface parking lot or one of our two parking decks. All surface parking lots have color-coded signage that denotes whether it is a free (yellow), metered (orange) or permit (blue or purple) lot. The colors are based on the map in "Parking Made Easy – The Downtown Parking Guide of Westminster, Maryland," which is available at no cost in the City of Westminster offices at 56 West Main Street or the Visitor Information Center at 210 East Main Street. Check out the map below for a quick reference to parking decks and lots in Downtown Westminster.
A Variety of Parking Options is Available
Downtown Westminster offers three types of parking: on-street, surface lot and garage parking. On-Street Parking is best used for your quick, dash-in shopping ventures, especially when it is metered. On-street meters have a 2-hour time limit to encourage continuous turnover of spaces. Surface lot parking is best suited for your everyday business, eating and shopping needs. All surface metered parking lots, except for the Davis Lot, have a 3-hour time limit to ensure you have adequate time to shop, conduct business, grab a bite to eat or get your hair done. The Davis Lot has a 2-hour limit. Garage parking is great for your long-term parking needs and bad weather conditions. With no time limit placed on garage parking, people requiring long-term parking or who are uncertain of the duration of their visit to Downtown Westminster should park in one of the two municipal garages.
Parking is Affordable
Parking is affordable in Downtown Westminster. The rate for all metered and garage parking is $.25 per half hour. The rate is in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Parking, including in the parking decks, is free in the evenings and on weekends. The pay-on-foot machines used in the parking garages accept cash (both bills and coins), smart cards and credit cards, such as VISA, MasterCard and American Express. For frequent, long-term parkers and downtown employees, monthly parking permits are great deals when compared to paying the standard meter or garage fee. Permit purchasers can save between 67% and 78% of the hourly rate, even before taking advantage of the City's discount opportunities for pre-payment or bulk purchases. Permits are available through the City of Westminster's Department of Finance.
Parking Tickets - We are Kind... the First Time!
Perhaps you lost track of time shopping or were having a great time with friends at lunch and were unfortunate to come out to a parking ticket, relax... your first ticket every calendar year is a just warning! However, the next one is not, as the 2nd offense is a $15 ticket; the 3rd is a $25 ticket and the 4th and beyond goes up to $50 each. Consider your parking options before you chose.