Quick read: Thanksgiving Thursday is free at all Austin meters. Sunday is broadly free in key neighborhoods. Friday–Saturday have a powerful daytime free window in East Austin (IH‑35 to Chicon, E 4th–E 7th) before 6 PM. Use the plays below to park free by day and cheaply by night, with wet-weather tips for the current storm pattern. For more ideas to plug this into Thanksgiving‑week plans, see the Thanksgiving Break Family Playbook: 7 weatherproof, budget‑smart Austin plans for kids (Nov 24–Dec 1).

Weather check for planning:

• Forecast: Heavy rain early week, cooling to 63°F by Thu (Thanksgiving), then 69°F Sat and 65°F Sun. If the forecast shifts, you can still pivot to rainy‑day Austin plans with easy parking and the live National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio forecast.
• Street smarts in storms: Avoid low spots near creeks and underpasses, don't park under heavy tree canopies in wind, and give yourself extra time for slick roads. For more on flood safety in Austin, skim the City of Austin flooding safety hub.

What's free and when (Nov 27–30, 2025)

• Thu, Nov 27 – Thanksgiving Day

  • Citywide: All parking meters are not enforced. Translation: Any metered street space is free all day. You can confirm current rules on the City of Austin parking meters page.
  • Still read the pole: Time limits, special use, and tow-away/valet or loading signs can still apply block-by-block.

• Sun, Nov 30 – Sunday free street parking (most meters)
  Confirmed free zones with great access:

  • South Austin (Barton Springs/South Lamar):
    • Barton Springs Rd + South Lamar Blvd area, including Toomey Rd and Lee Barton Dr.
    • Meters normally Mon–Sat 8 AM–Midnight, but free all day Sunday. To see what you’re parking near, check the Zilker Park official page and Barton Springs Pool details.
  • East Austin (IH‑35 to Chicon St, E 4th–E 7th):
    • Free all day Sunday. This corridor is also free all day Monday (see weekday details below). For a visual overview, match this with our Free Sunday Parking Map: South, East, and Downtown Pockets.
  • Downtown/West Austin pockets:
    • Sections of W 5th St and nearby streets are Sunday-free, handy for the Seaholm and 2nd Street District dining strip.
  • Note: "Most meters" are free on Sundays; always confirm posted signs on the block you choose.

• Fri, Nov 28 and Sat, Nov 29 – The weekday/weekend split
  East Austin "daytime-free" corridor (IH‑35 to Chicon, E 4th–E 7th):

  • Meter enforcement runs Tue–Sat 6 PM–Midnight only.
  • Practical takeaway:
    • Friday: Free during the day before 6 PM; paid 6 PM–Midnight.
    • Saturday: Free during the day before 6 PM; paid 6 PM–Midnight.
    • Sunday and Monday: Free all day. Downtown/UT West Campus area rates (central‑north, west of Capitol and UT West Campus edges):
  • Friday: 8 AM–Midnight, typically $2–$5/hr depending on block (verify on the City of Austin paid parking hours and rates table).
  • Saturday: 11 AM–Midnight, typically $2–$5/hr.
  • Sunday: Most meters free.

Insider intelligence: The best plays by day and time

• The East 6th Day-For-Night Play (Fri–Sat)
  1. Park free before 6 PM in the IH‑35→Chicon corridor (E 4th–E 7th). Aim for:
     • East 5th St at Navasota, Comal, or Lydia.
     • East 6th St between Attayac and Chicon (watch business/loading signs).
     • East 4th or East 7th at San Marcos, Medina, or Waller.
  2. At 5:45 PM, pivot:
     • Option A: Move two blocks to a paid lot for the evening (see I‑35 Lot or MACC below).
     • Option B: Use ParkATX to start a paid session if the specific block allows it after 6 PM.
  3. Night out, no ticket. You saved 5–8 hours of daytime meter costs. For more ways to stack this with seasonal nights out, check the Holiday Nightlife Playbook for Miracle on 5th Street and more and broader East 6th options in an area entertainment guide.

• The Zilker/South Lamar Sunday Sweep

  • Park free near Barton Springs Rd, Toomey Rd, or Lee Barton Dr. all day Sunday.
  • Walk 8–15 minutes to Barton Springs, Zilker, or the South Lamar dining row. If you’re building a full South Austin Sunday, pair this with Chicken Sh!t Bingo at C‑Boy's on South Congress.
  • If you're staying late, check Monday morning signage, but note: this zone's meters are typically Mon–Sat only.

• Downtown West 5th Pocket Sunday Strategy

  • Target W 5th St segments and adjacent blocks west of downtown core.
  • Great for a downtown brunch or the Seaholm/2nd Street District—without garage fees. If you’re also visiting the new visitor center and Fareground, layer in the tips from Hack the New Downtown Austin Visitor Center move + Fareground playbook.

• Rainy-day pivot (good any day in storms)

  • If lightning rolls in, skip curbside under trees. Head straight to a lot or garage entrance with open sky and drainage.
  • For East Austin evenings, MACC is a solid, flat-rate fallback with a managed gate and good lighting. When the weather is rough citywide, you can also swap driving for transit on key routes like CapMetro’s Route 20 airport service or plan a route with the CapMetro Trip Planner.

Exact paid lot options with real rates

• I‑35 Lot (near downtown, pay via ParkATX)
  • Daytime: $2/hr.
  • Overnight: $7 per night Mon–Thu; $8 per night Fri–Sat.
  • Free on Sunday.
  • Enforced Mon–Sat, 7 PM–3 AM.
  • Critical: Vehicles left 3 AM–5 AM Mon–Fri may be towed for routine cleaning. If you plan a late night on a weekday, move by 2:45 AM or choose another lot. You can verify these rules and any updates on the City of Austin I‑35 parking facility details.

• Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) Lot
  • Daytime (8 AM–6 PM): $2/hr.
  • Evening (6 PM–3 AM): $5 flat rate.
  • Enforced Mon–Sat, 8 AM–3 AM. Gate is managed on site; you can confirm details via the City of Austin MACC page.
  • A+ fallback for East 6th/Rainey plans: predictable evening flat rate, easy in/out before midnight.

Precision timing windows you can use immediately

• Thursday (Thanksgiving, Nov 27): Park curbside anywhere meters exist—free all day. Verify local time limits and no‑parking restrictions.
• Friday (Nov 28):
  • 8 AM–5:59 PM: Park free in East Austin IH‑35→Chicon, E 4th–E 7th.
  • 6 PM–Midnight: Either start a paid session there (if posted) or pivot to:
    • MACC lot: $5 evening flat.
    • I‑35 Lot: $8 overnight Fri.
• Saturday (Nov 29):
  • 8 AM–5:59 PM: Same East Austin daytime-free window.
  • 6 PM–Midnight: Same evening pivot as Friday. This pairs well with any late‑night plans from Austin's Holiday Nightlife Playbook or your own East 6th lineup.
• Sunday (Nov 30):
  • All day: Free in South Austin (Barton Springs/S Lamar including Toomey and Lee Barton), East Austin corridor (IH‑35→Chicon, E 4th–E 7th), and W 5th pockets.
  • If you want to leave your car overnight into Monday in the East Austin corridor, this zone is also free Monday—but always re-check block signage for any exceptions.

Block-by-block targets (enter these on your map)

• East Austin free-daytime core (Fri–Sat until 6 PM; free all day Sun–Mon):
  • East 4th St at San Marcos, Attayac, Navasota
  • East 5th St at Waller, Comal, Lydia
  • East 6th St at Chicon (east edge), Comal, Attayac
  • East 7th St at Navasota, San Marcos
• South Austin Sunday:
  • Toomey Rd between Sterzing and Azie Morton
  • Lee Barton Dr near Riverside Dr and Barton Springs Rd
  • South Lamar Blvd near Riverside Dr up to Barton Springs Rd
• Downtown/West Austin Sunday pockets:
  • W 5th St between Bowie and West Ave, and adjacent side streets toward the Seaholm area

Money-saving mini-itineraries

• Family Turkey Trot Morning (Thu):
  • Park curbside near downtown—meters off citywide—then move to Zilker after for a picnic while it's still cool. For more kid‑friendly Thanksgiving week combos, layer in ideas from the Thanksgiving Break Family Playbook.
• East 6th Day Party (Sat):
  • Free park on East 5th by 11 AM. At 5:45 PM, re-park at MACC for $5 flat. Walk 10 minutes to your venue.
• Barton Springs + Lunch (Sun):
  • Free park on Toomey Rd by 10 AM. Walk the trail, lunch on Barton Springs Rd, no meter stress. If the weather turns or you want a calmer reset afterward, you can pivot to a nearby wellness stop like Fairmont Spa Austin’s Saturday PM “City Reset” or browse the Fairmont Spa Austin site for current hours and offerings.

App, rules, and enforcement tips

• Use ParkATX to check your specific block, pay remotely, and set a 5:50 PM "pivot" alarm on Fri/Sat in the East Austin corridor. Full how‑to in How to Use ParkATX Like a Local and on the official City ParkATX page.
• Always read the entire sign stack on your pole:
  • Look for time-of-day restrictions, valet/loading windows, construction permits, and tow-away hours.
• Overnight? Confirm if a block switches to no-parking for cleaning or bike lanes. If unsure, choose a lot (avoid the I‑35 Lot 3–5 AM cleaning window Mon–Fri). For the latest enforcement rules and rate changes, refer back to the City of Austin parking meters, hours, and rates or the broader Austin Transportation and Public Works parking policy page.

Bottom line

• Thursday is a free-for-all (still obey posted rules).
• Friday and Saturday: Exploit East Austin's free daytime window, then pivot at 5:45–6:05 PM to a paid lot or paid meter session.
• Sunday: Park free in the named South Austin, East Austin, and W 5th pockets and enjoy the city without meter anxiety. Once parking is locked in, you can plug in specific plans—from holiday nightlife plays to weather‑smart family outings—without worrying about the meter.