About this Location

Facility Overview

The Herbert Street Lot, also commonly referenced as the Day Street municipal parking facility, is a public surface parking lot situated in the bustling heart of Davis Square in Somerville, Massachusetts. Nestled between Day Street and Herbert Street just steps from Elm Street, this open-air lot provides straightforward, ground-level access for drivers visiting Somerville\'s premier cultural, shopping, and entertainment hub. Because it is a surface lot without multi-tier structures or overhead ceiling beams, standard passenger vehicles, minivans, full-size pickup trucks, and high-roof SUVs can navigate and park without any low vertical clearance restrictions, though standard stall dimensions apply.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Davis Square is celebrated as one of the most vibrant urban villages in Greater Boston, and the Herbert Street Lot places visitors directly adjacent to its best offerings:

Somerville Theatre & Museum of Bad Art: Located less than a 3-minute walk (0.1 miles) away, this iconic historic venue is the go-to destination for indie films, live music, and festival events.
Dining & Nightlife Hubs: Legendary spots like The Burren, Diesel Cafe, Posto, Foundry on Elm, Five Horses Tavern, and Mike\'s Food & Spirits are all within a 2 to 4-minute radius.
Somerville Community Path: A continuous linear park and multi-use path ideal for strolling, jogging, and cycling connecting directly to Cambridge and downtown Boston.
Tufts University: The Medford/Somerville campus is approximately a 12 to 15-minute walk (or a quick 3-minute ride) north, making the lot a popular auxiliary destination for campus visitors.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicles can access the lot conveniently via Day Street or Herbert Street, which connect directly to Elm Street and Holland Street—the primary arterial streets threading through Davis Square. For regional travelers, the facility is easily accessible from Massachusetts Route 16 (Alewife Brook Parkway) and Route 28 (McGrath Highway), linking directly to Interstate 93. Furthermore, the Davis MBTA Station on the Red Line subway network and a major multi-line MBTA bus depot are barely 300 yards away, making this lot a strategic drop-off point and micro-transit connection for commuters heading toward Cambridge, Harvard Square, MIT, or Downtown Boston.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Easy drive-in/drive-out parking stalls with completely open clearance suitable for tall vehicles.
Accessible Parking: Designated ADA accessible parking bays conveniently located close to pedestrian curb cuts.
Flexible Digital Payments: Multi-space pay kiosks accepting credit and debit cards, with mobile meter payment integration via ParkMobile.
Nighttime Lighting: Perimeter municipal street lamps and overhead lighting for evening visibility and pedestrian security.
Direct Walkability: Immediate, curb-level sidewalk access into Davis Square\'s central retail corridor.

Ideal For

Evening Diners & Pub Goers: Visitors enjoying the vibrant live music, taprooms, and eclectic restaurants of Davis Square.
Theatre & Concert Attendees: Patrons visiting the Somerville Theatre and Crystal Ballroom.
Local Shoppers & Errand Runners: Short-term parkers visiting local boutiques, bookstores, and neighborhood amenities.
Red Line Commuters: Drivers wishing to connect to MBTA rapid transit into Cambridge and central Boston during non-peak or evening excursions.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Somerville parking enforcement is active from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, while Sundays are free. Davis Square is a heavily patronized commercial district; the Herbert Street Lot frequently fills up on Friday and Saturday evenings, so plan to arrive slightly ahead of dinner reservations or curtain times. Always note your license plate number before leaving your car, as Somerville pay stations and the ParkMobile app (Zone details posted on-site) utilize Pay-by-Plate enforcement.