There are ways to avoid the high-traffic areas during Sundance
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Many would consider all of Park City a high-traffic area during the Sundance Film Festival.
But City Hall says there are several locations that are especially busy during the festival, which opens on Thursday and runs until Jan. 31.
The municipal government recently posted a community guide to Sundance that provides information about navigating Park City during the festival as well as tips for attending Sundance.
The section about high-traffic areas would be especially useful to someone attempting to move about Park City without becoming caught in the heavy traffic.
The high-traffic areas are:
"Locals travel this road to get to work, skiers use it to access Park City resorts, and students and parents use this road to navigate busy daily school scheduled," the guide says.
The guide, meanwhile, suggests people driving to the post office on Main Street do so by 1 p.m. or walk there.
Traffic during Sundance is notoriously bad as large crowds of film lovers, celebrity gawkers and others drive to Park City alongside commuter and skier traffic. Terrible backups are commonplace, particularly during the especially busy opening weekend of the festival.
"Driving is difficult around town, especially near Main Street and in the Old Town area. Many areas are closed to parking and additional parking fees apply in others. Your best option is to avoid driving, but if you do decide to drive please plan plenty of time for traffic and congestion," the guide says, adding that it is better to carpool or take a bus.
Parking possibilities
Parking is tight in the Main Street area throughout the winter, but it is especially challenging during Sundance as some spots that are normally available are restricted.
City Hall offers paid parking in the China Bridge garage for $25 per entry starting on Thursday. The price drops to $10 per entry on Jan. 26.
There is free parking available in the Sandridge lots off Marsac Avenue and in Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Lodge lots 5 and 6 from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m. The lot at Treasure Mountain Middle School is available on the weekends.
The satellite parking lot at Richardson Flats, located off S.R. 248 along the Park City entryway, will be made available for carpools without charge. There is no bus service to the lot, however. It is closed from 2 a.m. until 6 a.m.
Parking on neighborhood streets surrounding Main Street is restricted to permit holders. There are also private parking garages or lots on or close to Main Street.
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