Facility Overview
Situated in the heart of one of Somerville’s most vibrant cultural and dining districts, 15 Chester St Parking offers premier, accessible parking right off Elm Street in Davis Square. This open-air surface parking facility provides convenient, flat-level parking spaces designed to serve both short-term visitors and commuters. Because it is an outdoor surface lot, vehicles do not face the restrictive low-clearance ceilings common to underground urban garages, allowing high-profile SUVs, light pickup trucks, and roof-rack-equipped passenger vehicles to park with ease without headroom concerns.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
The lot’s location in Davis Square puts visitors within immediate walking distance of top dining, entertainment, and academic destinations:
- Somerville Theatre & Museum of Bad Art (MOBA): Located just a 2-minute walk away (approx. 400 feet), this historic venue is an anchor for movies, live performances, and the celebrated Crystal Ballroom.
- Davis Square Dining & Nightlife: Direct steps to beloved local institutions, including The Burren, Five Horses Tavern, Foundry on Elm, Posto, Dragon Pizza, and Diesel Cafe.
- Tufts University: The Medford/Somerville campus is approximately a 12 to 15-minute walk north (less than 0.8 miles) along College Avenue, making this an ideal auxiliary spot for campus visitors.
- Somerville Community Path: Less than a 2-minute stroll to this scenic multi-use path connecting Davis Square to Cambridge, Alewife, and Boston.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Accessing the parking area is straightforward via Chester Street, accessible from Elm Street or Herbert Street. Drivers arriving from Route 2, Massachusetts Avenue, or Interstate 93 will find smooth routing along local Somerville and Cambridge thoroughfares. For multimodal commuters, the facility offers exceptional transit connectivity: the MBTA Red Line Davis Station is just a 2-minute walk away, providing direct, high-frequency subway service to Harvard Square, Kendall Square/MIT, and downtown Boston, alongside several major MBTA bus routes (87, 88, 89, 94, 96).
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Open-air surface layout with clear line of sight and easy turnaround space.
- Unrestricted vertical clearance, accommodating taller vehicles, crossover SUVs, and small vans.
- Convenient digital mobile reservation and on-demand payment accessibility.
- Paved, clearly marked stalls with adjacent pedestrian sidewalks into central Davis Square.
- Well-illuminated surrounding streetscape for evening arrivals and departures.
Ideal For
- Patrons dining, shopping, or catching live music and comedy in vibrant Davis Square.
- Moviegoers and concert attendees visiting the Somerville Theatre and Crystal Ballroom.
- Commuters seeking seamless park-and-ride connectivity into Boston via the MBTA Red Line.
- Visitors, alumni, and families touring or visiting nearby Tufts University.
Visitor & Driver Tips
Davis Square is an energetic pedestrian and cycling area; drivers should proceed cautiously along Chester Street and yield to cyclists along cross streets. While spaces turn over regularly during the day, evening hours on Thursday through Saturday see heavy dining traffic. Using parking navigation apps to reserve your spot ahead of time ensures guaranteed parking during peak weekend dinner rushes and sold-out theater performances.
