Parking inside Central Park is not permitted in 2026, as the park’s interior drives have been permanently closed to vehicular traffic for several years. On Sundays, the most convenient places to park are commercial parking garages located on the Upper West Side (along Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues) or the Upper East Side (along Madison and Lexington Avenues). While street parking is technically free on Sundays in New York City (meters are not in effect), finding a spot near the park is notoriously difficult and can take hours. Many frequent visitors use parking apps like SpotHero or ParkWhiz to reserve a spot in a garage near the 72nd Street or 79th Street entrances. On the West Side, the American Museum of Natural History has its own garage, while the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers parking on the East Side, though both can be expensive. Always check for "No Parking" signs related to street cleaning or special events, even on Sundays.