1650 3rd St Garage

With all of the construction going on around here -- UCSF Weill Center on one side and the Warriors stadium across the street -- it's become really tough to get a parking spot below the fifth level even at 7:20 am due to so many spots taken by construction workers by that time. And there's only one entry/exit that spills onto Third Street, and good luck getting out when a Giants day game has just let out or there are construction vehicles blocking off the street (this happens a lot these days).

I always go for street parking if it's free just to save on parking money even if it involves a longer walk. I didn't have such luck on Saturday because I arrived a bit late and those legal unmetered parking spaces on Brannan Street by the Flower Mart (where I usually park for Saturday afternoon games) were all filled up when I arrived.

I wanted to park at the garage on South St because I always see the sign they put out on 3rd St before a weeknight game for $10 ballgame parking. I was so disappointed that I did not see the sign, and I did not want to take a chance driving in there to park anyway. Therefore I headed for this place. They charge $20, which is the same price I think they still charge on weeknights even though they are pretty much just across the street from the South Street garage. At least this garage is still fairly new and seems designed so that it's easy to navigate. You just keep driving up until you find a space you'd like to park in. There's no need to go up and down different aisles in search of a spot.

Overall advice is that if the $10 parking sign is out for the South Street garage, go for that one and save 50 percent. It even saves you from having to cross 3rd Street because you'll be on the same side of the road as AT&T Park.

This is the UCSF parking garage for Mission Bay. Great for Giants games($20). Also for Niner games can park and take the light rail to Candlestick and from there a shuttle(free). Security is good as UCSF police patrol. Clean and convenient.