Parallel parking doesn’t have to be the thing that rattles your nerves before a drive test. Whether you’re a teen just starting out, a parent helping behind the wheel, or someone brushing up after years off the road, knowing where to practice is half the battle. Fortunately, Salida offers a handful of easygoing, low-traffic spots where you can focus more on your technique and less on who’s watching. In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly where to go and how to make the most of your practice time.
The Short Answer: Where You Can Safely Practice Parallel Parking in Salida
For a low-stress place to build your parallel parking skills in Salida, the public lot at First and D Street is a great starting point. The nearby residential blocks around G and I Streets also offer quiet stretches with enough space to practice without pressure.
Map & Parking Lot Overview
If you’re practicing in Salida, two public parking lots are especially helpful for parallel parking. First up: the temporary lot at First and D Street. It’s got about 40 spaces and includes some clearly defined parallel stalls. Even better, it’s usually quiet in the early mornings and evenings, great times for low-stress practice. Just a few blocks over, there’s another solid option: the lot between 1st and 2nd on G Street, right near the Monarch Spur Trail. It’s tucked out of the way, but still easy to get to. You’ll also find mellow side streets, like I and J Streets, that work well if you’re ready to move beyond marked spaces and practice on the fly.
Why These Locations Work
We like these spots because they hit the sweet spot between structure and real-world practice. In the First and D lot, the curb stops and white lines help you judge your position without guessing. It’s like having visual training wheels for your parking. On G Street and nearby residential blocks, the pace is slower, fewer cars, fewer distractions, more space to think things through. You’re not trying to impress anyone out here. It’s about getting the feel of the turn, the angle, the distance. Practicing in a low-pressure place like this builds real driver awareness, the kind that sticks past the drive test.
Step‑by‑Step Parallel‑Parking Tutorial
Parallel parking can feel like threading a needle with a steering wheel, but with a bit of patience and repetition, it becomes second nature. Here’s how we teach it during behind-the-wheel lessons in Salida:
- Find your spot. Look for a space at least 2 feet longer than your car.
- Line up. Pull up next to the car in front of the space, so your rear bumpers are even. Leave about 2 feet of room between vehicles.
- Reverse into position. Turn your wheel sharply toward the curb and begin backing in slowly.
- Straighten out. When your front bumper clears the back of the parked car, start straightening the wheel and continue reversing.
- Adjust as needed. Once in, center yourself and make sure you’re within 18 inches of the curb—Colorado’s standard.
Tip: In the First and D Street lot, use the curb stops and painted lines to help visualize angles and spacing without the pressure of traffic.
Legal & Safety Considerations
Salida may be laid-back, but parking laws still apply. In Colorado, your car should sit no more than 18 inches from the curb when parallel parked. Blocking driveways, bike lanes, or hydrants is a quick way to earn a ticket and a lesson you don’t want to learn the hard way.
We also remind our students to check for pedestrians and cyclists, especially near trailheads like the one off G Street. If it’s icy or wet, take it slow; your tires won’t grip the same way. Practicing with caution now builds habits that pay off long after the drive test is done.
Additional Practice & Resources
If you’re looking to branch out beyond public lots, there are a few other options around Salida that can give you a solid feel for parallel parking. The DMV location on E 1st Street has a wide lot that’s sometimes open for practice outside regular business hours—just be sure not to block access. School parking lots (when school’s out) also work well for setting up cones to simulate parking between two cars.
If cones aren’t handy, a couple of backpacks or water jugs can work in a pinch. The point isn’t perfection, it’s building muscle memory. We’ve seen students improve fast by pairing this kind of practice with a structured driver awareness course or guided sessions. Even one or two short practice rounds can make a big difference in confidence behind the wheel.
Peak Times & Seasonal Variations
You’d be surprised how much easier practice gets when you time it right. In Salida, mornings between 7–9 a.m. tend to be calm and open, especially on weekdays. The lots around D and G Streets are mostly clear then, and you’re less likely to run into delivery trucks or tourist traffic.
Weekends pick up fast, especially after 10 a.m. during summer months when river visitors and farmers’ markets bring more activity downtown. On winter mornings, icy patches along curbs can mess with tire grip and depth judgment, so wait until mid-morning when things warm up.
If there’s an event downtown, like Art Walk or F Street festivities, avoid those zones altogether. It’s not just about space; it’s about finding time when your brain has the quiet it needs to focus and learn.
Common Questions and Smart Workarounds
If you’re wondering whether you need a permit to practice in the public lots around Salida, the answer is no. These spaces are open to the public and generally fine for driving practice—just be sure you’re not blocking entrances, driveways, or marked access lanes.
Practicing at night might sound like a good way to avoid traffic, but we recommend sticking to daylight hours, at least while you’re getting the hang of things. Low lighting makes it harder to judge distances, and shadows can play tricks on your depth perception, especially near curbs.
As for whether parallel parking is still part of the Colorado drive test, it’s not, at least not officially. According to the state’s DMV guidelines, parallel parking isn’t a required maneuver during testing. Some online guides still include it, but we always lean on what the state says directly. Either way, it’s still one of the most valuable skills you can carry into real-world driving.
And if you don’t have cones handy, don’t sweat it. Two backpacks, water jugs, or even sticks placed a few feet apart can help you visualize spacing. It doesn’t have to be precise—it just needs to give you a sense of where your car fits.
Final Thoughts on Best Places to Practice Parallel Parking in Salida, CO
The best practice doesn’t happen in a rush. If you’re in or around Salida, carve out some time to visit these lots and side streets. Make it part of your routine. Parallel parking is one of those skills that builds layer by layer—quiet practice now makes a big difference later.