About this Location

Facility Overview

The Wichita Parking Lot (often referenced locally as the Wichita Lot or Wichita Metro Parking Lot) is a convenient municipal open-air surface parking facility situated at 708 Manitou Avenue in the heart of historic downtown Manitou Springs, Colorado. Nestled at the base of Pikes Peak, this paved, street-accessible lot provides essential visitor parking for the lively downtown corridor. Because it is an open-air surface lot without structural overhead beams or parking garage ceilings, it offers open vertical clearance, accommodating standard cars, station wagons, compact SUVs, full-size pickup trucks, and high-roof adventure vans with rooftop racks or outdoor equipment.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Positioned right along Manitou Avenue, this lot places drivers steps away from the town\'s premier historical, dining, and cultural attractions:

Historic Downtown Manitou Springs: Direct walking access to artisan boutiques, galleries, confectioneries, and craft cafes lining Manitou Avenue.
Manitou Springs Penny Arcade (Arcade Amusements): Located just a 3- to 5-minute walk west, featuring hundreds of vintage and modern pinball machines, skeeball lanes, and classic arcade games.
Historic Mineral Springs: Close proximity to the naturally carbonated mineral springs that define the area, including the neighboring Wichita Spring and Cheyenne Spring.
Manitou Incline & Pikes Peak Cog Railway Access: While located further up Ruxton Avenue, visitors frequently park in downtown lots like Wichita to board the free Mountain Metropolitan Transit (MMT) Route 33 shuttle heading directly to the Manitou Incline and Cog Railway depot.
SunWater Spa: Just a 5-minute walk away for travelers seeking mineral soaking tubs and wellness treatments.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicles enter and exit directly via Manitou Avenue near the intersection with Wichita or neighboring municipal connectors. The lot features clear drive aisles designed for orderly two-way circulation. Due to high pedestrian and vehicular traffic during summer weekends and holiday festivals, traffic along Manitou Avenue can move at a leisurely pace, though exiting toward US-24 (West Cimarron Street/Pikes Peak Highway) is direct and fast. For public transit, the Mountain Metropolitan Transit (MMT) bus stops along Manitou Avenue, offering effortless links to Old Colorado City, downtown Colorado Springs, and local Manitou tourist circulators.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Paved, open-air surface parking with clearly delineated stalls.
No low-overhead height restrictions, making it suitable for high-clearance passenger trucks and vehicles with roof cargo boxes.
Designated ADA-compliant accessible parking stalls.
Multiple payment choices, including modern multi-space walk-up payment kiosks and contactless mobile payment via ParkMobile.
Well-illuminated premises with pedestrian sidewalk connections leading straight to downtown storefronts.

Ideal For

Day-trippers and tourists exploring downtown Manitou Springs shops, dining, and natural mineral springs.
Families spending an afternoon at the famous Manitou Springs Penny Arcade.
Outdoor adventurers catching the local shuttle up to the Manitou Incline or Barr Trailhead.
Evening diners visiting local pubs, microbreweries, and bistros along the avenue.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During peak summer months, weekends, and major community events (such as the Emma Crawford Coffin Races or summer craft fairs), parking in central Manitou Springs fills up very quickly by mid-morning. Drivers are advised to arrive before 10:00 AM or in the late afternoon to secure a stall. Have the ParkMobile app pre-installed on your smartphone to pay or extend parking sessions without needing to return to physical kiosks. Always check posted municipal signage for current enforcement hours and stay within designated parking lines.