About this Location

Facility Overview

The 3940 Market Street Lot (also recognized locally as City of Riverside Lot #18) is a centrally situated, open-air surface parking facility in the vibrant heart of Downtown Riverside, California. Conveniently located along Market Street between 9th and 10th Streets, this paved lot offers direct, street-level vehicle access and easy maneuverability. Because it is an outdoor surface lot, there are no overhead clearance height restrictions, making it exceptionally well-suited for high-profile vehicles, including lifted pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, commercial cargo vans, and vehicles equipped with roof-mounted cargo racks or bicycle carriers. Drivers should note that standard reservations at this facility do not permit in/out privileges.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Positioned right within Downtown Riverside\'s civic and entertainment corridor, this parking lot serves as a prime base for accessing top cultural, civic, and dining destinations:

Riverside City Hall & Civic Center: Situated only one block east along Main Street, reachable in under 3 minutes on foot.
Riverside County Superior Court & Legal District: Located just 2 to 4 blocks away (4–6 minute walk), ideal for attorneys, jurors, and county agency visitors.
The Historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa: Only a 5-minute walk (0.3 miles) north, making it an affordable self-parking alternative for hotel guests and diners visiting Duane\'s Prime Steaks or The Mission Inn Restaurant.
Fox Performing Arts Center: Located approximately 4 blocks away (under 7 minutes on foot), providing convenient parking for Broadway touring productions, concerts, and comedy shows.
Riverside Municipal Auditorium (RMA): An easy 8-minute stroll north, perfect for evening concerts and live music events.
Riverside Convention Center: Located roughly 0.5 miles north, easily reachable within a 10-minute walk or a 2-minute rideshare.
Main Street Pedestrian Mall: Steps away from dozens of local eateries, brewpubs, boutiques, and the Riverside Art Museum / The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward via designated curb cuts along Market Street. The Downtown Riverside street grid offers smooth traffic distribution, allowing motorists to easily circumvent event congestion along Mission Inn Avenue or University Avenue. For regional commuters, the lot offers immediate access to major Southern California freeways, sitting less than a mile from State Route 91 (Riverside Freeway) with swift connections to Interstate 215 and State Route 60. Public transit riders can connect to multiple Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) bus routes stopping along Market and Main Streets, and the Riverside-Downtown Metrolink rail station is located roughly one mile to the east.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Headroom: Zero vertical height limit, accommodating large pickups, roof racks, and high-clearance vehicles.
Digital Payment & Booking: Seamless mobile payments and advance space reservations supported through platforms like ParkChirp and Park Riverside.
Accessible Parking: Designated ADA accessible parking spaces conveniently situated near street pedestrian exits.
Well-Lit Grounds: Dusk-to-dawn municipal area illumination ensuring visibility for evening and late-night returns.
Paved Surface: Fully paved asphalt with clear lane demarcations and stall striping for effortless parking.

Ideal For

Court & Civic Visitors: Fast, reliable daytime parking for visitors heading to Riverside City Hall or the County Courthouse.
Theater & Concert Goers: Convenient alternative to congested parking structures when attending performances at the Fox Performing Arts Center or Riverside Municipal Auditorium.
Mission Inn Visitors: Cost-effective walk-up parking for dining, weekend browsing, and seasonal events like the Festival of Lights.
Downtown Commuters & Remote Workers: Affordable daily and monthly permit parking for local office staff and professionals.

Visitor & Driver Tips

While the lot offers generous capacity during typical business hours, spots fill up rapidly during high-profile Downtown Riverside events, particularly during the annual Mission Inn Festival of Lights in the winter and weekend theatrical performances. Drivers are encouraged to pre-purchase parking passes online through ParkChirp to secure their stall ahead of time. Please remember that single-entry passes do not permit in-and-out access; plan your arrival and departure accordingly so your session remains uninterrupted.