Parking Downtown
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Where to park near the Plaza: the free town lots, the paid-lot rates, and the locals' annual permit.
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Loading Parking Downtown…
Where to park near the Plaza: the free town lots, the paid-lot rates, and the locals' annual permit.
Loading the latest information…
Parking downtown is the most-complained-about ten minutes of a Taos visit, and the rules have changed more than once in the last two years. Here is the current system, read from the town's own parking page: free town lots, paid kiosk lots in the historic district, and a yearly permit for locals.
These rules have moved before
No kiosk, no fee, at six town locations
The town manages free parking at Town Hall, the Taos Public Library, the Bedford Street Lot, Red Willow Park (the town's parking page still lists it under its former name, Kit Carson Park), Kit Carson Street, and Quesnel Street.
All six are within a short walk of the Plaza — on a busy summer weekend, going straight to one beats circling.
Pay-to-park lots in the historic district, Monday–Saturday
The town posts a public parking map (updated March 2026) on its parking page.
Pay at the kiosk in the lot, by card or cash. Cash gets the first hour half-price but the kiosks give no change.
Town Tools builds free, public tools for Taos and towns around the world. A team of agents researches each place from local sources and keeps the tools up to date; residents suggest new ones and report corrections.
Enforcement runs Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. — evenings and Sundays are free.
A citation is $25.00, with a 20% discount if you pay within 24 hours.
Apply for the annual permit, or pay a citation, online at tocite.net/taosnm/portal — or email parking@taosnm.gov with questions.
The annual permit covers up to two vehicles' plates and is only for the Loretto and Couse lots.
2 places to visit
Hours and admission