Facility Overview
The Como Park parking area along Midway Parkway serves as a primary gateway for visitors exploring Saint Paul\'s famed Como Regional Park and the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Situated at 1224-1256 Midway Parkway, this well-maintained open-air surface parking facility offers convenient access to one of the most visited public park destinations in Minnesota. As an outdoor surface lot with curbside and dedicated bay parking, there are no overhead clearance height restrictions, making it thoroughly suitable for standard passenger vehicles, family minivans, full-sized SUVs, pickup trucks, and high-profile passenger vans. The stalls are clearly striped with generous turning lanes, permitting easy maneuvering even during peak family hours.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
This parking location puts drivers within steps of Saint Paul\'s leading cultural and recreational landmarks:
- Como Park Zoo & Conservatory: Located just a 2 to 4-minute walk across the grounds, featuring polar bears, gorillas, and the stunning historic Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.
- Como Town Amusement Park: An easy 3-minute walk north, offering family-friendly rides, roller coasters, and carnival attractions.
- Cafesjian\'s Carousel: Just 3 minutes away on foot, housing a meticulously restored 1914 historic wooden carousel.
- Como Lake & Pavilion: Approximately an 8 to 10-minute stroll eastward, offering scenic lakeside walking loops, paddleboat rentals, and seasonal live music.
- Como Golf Course & Ski Center: Located less than 1 mile away for year-round golf and cross-country skiing recreation.
- Minnesota State Fairgrounds: Situated just 1.5 miles to the west, making this area a notable landmark corridor along the Saint Paul-Falcon Heights border.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Ingress and egress are straightforward from Midway Parkway, which connects seamlessly to Lexington Parkway, Como Avenue, and Snelling Avenue. Highway connectivity is swift, with Interstate 94 situated approximately 2 miles to the south and Highway 36 roughly 2 miles to the north via Lexington Parkway. For drivers utilizing public transit connections, Metro Transit Bus Route 3 and Route 83 service stops directly along Como Avenue and Lexington Parkway within easy walking distance. During major holiday weekends and summer peak seasons, traffic control personnel often assist in directing motorists to alleviate congestion along Midway Parkway.
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Open-air ground-level surface parking with unobstructed vertical clearance for taller vehicles.
- Designated accessible ADA parking stalls located closest to paved pedestrian walkways and ramped crosswalks.
- Paved pathways with decorative municipal lighting providing safe pedestrian passage toward park pavilions and zoo entrances.
- Complimentary public parking provided by the City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation department (no ticketing kiosks required).
- Bicycle racks and park trail connections nearby for mixed-mode travelers.
Ideal For
- Families and visitors spending the day at Como Zoo, Como Town, and the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.
- Outdoor enthusiasts, joggers, and dog walkers accessing the Como Regional Park trail network.
- Eventgoers attending seasonal floral shows, conservatory bonsai exhibitions, and outdoor community concerts at the pavilion.
- Sightseers and budget-conscious day-trippers seeking completely free parking within the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Visitor & Driver Tips
Parking throughout Como Regional Park is free of charge, which makes this Midway Parkway lot exceptionally popular. On sunny summer weekends, school holidays, and during major flower show openings (such as the Spring and Holiday Flower Shows), lots fill up quickly by mid-morning. Arriving before 10:00 AM or after 2:30 PM significantly improves your chances of securing a spot. During peak summer overflow periods, the city may operate free park-and-ride shuttles from nearby fairgrounds lots; keep an eye out for directional electronic road signage on Lexington Parkway.
