If you’re a NAIT student, you know how much of a hole in your wallet the NAIT parking fees can cause. Most parking lots require you to pay more than $13 just for a day. If you want to knock down your parking fees, here are some easy ways you can get away with parking at Kingsway.
The best place to park at Kingsway Mall is Walmart, since it’s closest to NAIT with more lenient parking rules. To minimize risk of getting caught, follow these steps we’ve lined out.
- Start by using NAIT’s two-hour free parking and drop off your bags in school
- Move to Walmart before the two hours of free parking ends. This works best if your classes start after 10 a.m. and the Mall is busy
- Park between other cars, preferably as far away from Walmart as possible. Briefly enter the store before going to class. Avoid wearing a backpack. Walmart allows 2 hours of free parking for customers but has no reliable way of tracking it.
- Head to NAIT directly after leaving Walmart
This method provides around four hours of free parking at low risk, which can extend to six if you’re careful. For extra security, consider switching spots during breaks.
Parking at NAIT can be a costly endeavor but a necessary expense for students and visitors. Daily rates range from $6 to $15 depending on the time and day. The cheapest parking option is at the S building listed at $6. All the other parking areas at NAIT are priced at the highest available from $12.75 to $14.75. With limited parking during peak hours of the day, students can find themselves arriving late to classes because of attempting to secure a parking spot. NAIT’s parking options can be a hassle to find, or a price many students would find unreasonable. Macewan’s average price per day can trickle down to $12.25 which would be more expensive than every other option excluding the S building at NAIT.
Parking at NAIT versus Kingsway Mall is a battle of cost and convenience with a tint of risk. With NAIT’s parking prices being normally $6-$15 per day, Kingsway Mall seems to be the better option with it potentially being free with a little finesse. Students can bypass the initial 2-hour time limit at risk of being ticketed or towed. NAIT’s parking, despite being significantly more expensive, is safe and without risk whereas Kingsway can be a gamble. Ultimately, the choice comes down to whether or not you want to pay for peace of mind or save money.