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Informally known as The Met, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest museum in the USA. It presents millions of works and over 5,000 years of art separated into nearly 20 curatorial departments. The departments include the American Wing, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Egyptian Art, Greek and Roman Art, Contemporary Art, and so on. The museum also showcases collections of costumes, musical instruments, and antique weapons. It’s certainly worth visiting, and our Metropolitan Museum of Art Parking Guide is going to help you plan your visit, purchase tickets, and find an affordable and convenient parking spot nearby!
The Met has two locations in the City of New York — the main one is at 1000 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, while the smaller location, The Cloisters, is at Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan.
How Much Are Tickets to the Metropolitan Museum of Art?
Unless you’re a member, you must make an advanced reservation online to get your general admission ticket. The museum offers timed tickets that you can purchase online in a few simple steps — choose one of the two Met locations and enter the date and time.
The list below shows the general admission prices.
| Adults | $25 |
| Seniors | $17 |
| Students | $12 |
| Children(under 12) | Free |
However, this price list doesn’t refer to New York State residents. In fact, New York residents and students from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are allowed to pay less. And the amount you pay for general admission is up to you! Make a reservation, bring your ID, and pay what you wish at the museum admissions desk.
Visitors who want to go on a fun tour of the city and its attractions should buy a New York CityPass, which helps you save more than 40%! This pass allows you to visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Empire State Building, and the American Museum of Natural History. You can also choose three other attractions, such as the Guggenheim Museum, Ferry Access to Statue of Liberty, and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Parking Options
If visiting The Met at 1000 Fifth Avenue, you may use the museum parking garage, which is open around the clock. The garage is placed at Fifth Avenue and 80th Street and offers discounts to anyone with a membership. Alternatively, guests may look for a parking space in the area or use public transit to reach the museum. We’re going to go through each Metropolitan Museum of Art parking option and help you choose the most suitable one for your needs and budget.
How Much is Parking at The Met?
When it comes to Fifth Avenue garage parking, the parking cost varies based on the time of your arrival and the duration of your stay. The list below gives you all the information.
| Hours(12 AM–5 PM) | Rate |
| Up to 1 | $23 |
| Up to 2 | $31 |
| Up to 3 | $39 |
| Up to 5 | $45 |
| Up to 10 | $50 |
| Hours(5 PM-12 AM) | Rate |
| Up to 1 | $19 |
| Up to 2 | $25 |
| Up to 5 | $34 |
| Up to 10 | $46 |
| Maximum daily rate | $55 |
Visitors to The Met Cloisters have a much better option; you can use free city parking available in Fort Tryon Park. Apart from public parking spots around the museum, there’s another free parking area inside the Margaret Corbin Circle entrance (across from the restaurant).
ADA Parking
Accessible parking at the Metropolitan Museum of Art parking garage is available for anyone who owns a disabled parking permit or license plate. The clearance is 6′ 6”, but you can make alternate arrangements if traveling in oversized vehicles by calling 212-570-1437. The Met Cloisters guests with disabilities can park in the designated spaces in front of the museum.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Parking Alternatives
As we’ve already mentioned, The Met Cloisters has plenty of complimentary spots in the area, but let’s see if there are any cheaper alternatives to the official museum garage.
Off-Site Parking
The Met parking garage charges $39 for three hours of parking; the list below gives you several nearby lots and their rate for the same amount of time.
| Parking Lot/Garage | Rate |
| Valet Garage at 9 E 83rd St. | $30 |
| Valet Garage at 35 E 85th St. | $28 |
| Select Garage at 30 E 85th St. | $27 |
| Garage at 111 East 87th St. | $25 |
| SCR Parking Corp Garage at 169 E 87 St. | $25 |
| Garage at 160 East 88th St. | $25 |
| Valet Garage at 303 E 83 St. | $20 |
| 436 E 83rd St. Valet Garage | $15 |
| 245 E 90th St. Garage | $13 |
| 230 E 92nd St. Garage | $13 |
To use the cheaper parking facilities from the list, allow yourself up to 20 extra minutes to walk to the museum. Visitors who are thinking of using on-street parking services should pay attention to the car parking signs. We suggest that you check out the NYC street parking rates before your trip.
Public Transportation
There’s a wide range of public transport options that can take you to The Fifth Avenue Met. Depending on your location, you can use various MTA trains or buses or bus tours like Gray Line NY Sightseeing Tours. The Metropolitan Transit Authority can help you get to The Met Cloisters, too. Hop on the A train to get to the 181st Street Station and then transfer to the M4 bus that runs along Fort Washington Avenue. If coming from The Met Fifth Avenue, feel free to take the M4 bus directly from Madison Avenue/83rd Street and ride to the last stop.
Bottom Line
Overall, locating a convenient Metropolitan Museum of Art parking spot isn’t difficult at all, but finding a reasonably-priced spot can be a hassle. That’s why our guide gave you all the options, and you may consider using one of the city parking structures near the Met. Also, you can use public transit and avoid parking altogether; the choice is yours! There’s no need to worry when going to The Met Cloisters; simply use one of the numerous free parking spots and have a stress-free visit!
If you plan on visiting a New York City ballpark or arena to check out a baseball or basketball game, take a look at our helpful event parking guides: Citi Field Parking, Yankee Stadium, and Barclays Center. Parking Access can also help you out whenever flying out of JFK or LaGuardia; pre-book your LaGuardia or JFK parking to travel without worries.