The First Barrier to Care: The Parking Garage

Four emerging trends in healthcare parking

Whether visiting a loved one or attending their own appointment, the last thing people want to deal with at a hospital is parking. Truthfully, aimlessly circling around a parking deck hunting for a spot is never an enjoyable experience, but for many patients and caregivers, it can escalate anxiety at a moment when emotions are already high.

The parking experience is often the very first interaction visitors have with a healthcare facility, and it sets the tone long before they reach the front desk. Confusing layouts, limited space and unclear payment systems can contribute to late arrivals and unnecessary stress even before stepping through the front door. 

Healthcare workers feel these challenges as well. Arriving late for a shift due to parking congestion or access issues can undermine morale and add strain before the workday even begins, particularly for staff working overnight or off-peak hours.

All this to say, efficiently managed and well-designed parking facilities play a larger role in patient care than they are given credit for. When parking is intuitive and accessible, patients and staff are more likely to have a positive overall experience. In this sense, parking functions as an extension of the care environment itself.

Despite this, parking has historically been overlooked by facilities focused on rolling out new patient experience initiatives and access strategies. However, that is beginning to change as hospitals increasingly explore real-time occupancy tools, contactless entry and more intentional approaches to pricing and allocation.

Against this backdrop, several key parking trends are emerging as healthcare facilities rethink how access begins. Here are four parking trends shaping healthcare campuses in 2026.

Ticketless Entry and Exit 

Ticketless parking systems are rapidly gaining traction across facilities. By replacing traditional gated entry and payment kiosks, technologies such as license plate recognition (LPR) enable vehicles to enter and exit parking facilities seamlessly, eliminating the hassle of dealing with cumbersome payment machines or mobile apps.

In hospitals and other patient-facing healthcare facilities, frictionless entry reduces physical and cognitive barriers at what is sometimes an already stressful moment. Automated systems also reduce confusion around payment and validation, particularly for repeat visitors or those with language barriers who may find traditional ticket-based models confusing. Employees also benefit, as medical staff arriving for early or late shifts are spared the inconvenience of waiting in lines or worrying about badge access.

From an operational standpoint, parking automation cuts maintenance costs, reduces cash handling, and decreases the need for on-site staff at entry and exit points.

Real-Time Occupancy 

Using sensors, cameras and LPR, real-time occupancy systems provide facility management teams with live visibility into the number of cars in a garage or surface lot at any given moment. More advanced platforms can even layer predictive analytics on top of this data, using historical trends and event calendars to anticipate peak periods.

For patients and caregivers, the most immediate benefit of real-time occupancy models is reduced uncertainty. Instead of circling a garage or guessing where space might be available, real-time updates, gathered by ground sensors and overhead cameras, can be displayed on digital signage or in mobile apps, quickly directing drivers to more open areas. This shortens the time it takes to find a spot and makes the overall process more seamless. Over time, this data can also inform decisions about lot allocation or the need for alternative transportation options

Immediate Violation Detection

With LPR and camera-based monitoring technology, facilities also benefit from automated violation detection. By immediately identifying and cataloging issues such as overstays in short-term zones, unauthorized use of reserved spaces, or vehicles blocking critical access, businesses are notified of any issues. Unlike traditional enforcement models that rely on manual patrols and windshield citations, automated systems operate continuously and at a lower cost. 

Beyond benefiting businesses, automated enforcement also improves safety and prevents misuse of high-demand areas, benefiting visitors and employees.

Smart Drop-Off Zones

Emergency departments present unique parking and arrival challenges, and many healthcare facilities are turning their attention toward smart drop-off zones designed for urgent arrivals. Technology plays a key role in making these drop-off areas effective. Digital signage can direct drivers to available curb space, while sensors or LPR systems help prevent congestion without relying on active enforcement. Some systems also integrate with security or intake workflows, alerting staff when vehicles arrive.

For patients and caregivers, smart ER drop-off zones shorten the time between arrival and clinical assessment. For staff, they reduce unsafe stopping behaviors, improve traffic flow, and limit conflicts between private vehicles, ride-share services and emergency medical services. 

Parking as Part of the Holistic Patient Experience 

While parking may not be the first thing that comes to mind when discussing patient experience, it’s one of many factors that holistically shape it, and healthcare facilities should have it on their radar. From the moment a patient or employee arrives on campus, parking is the first touchpoint that impacts stress levels, punctuality, safety and perception.

Emerging trends in healthcare parking in 2026, from ticketless entry and real-time occupancy to automated violation detection and smart ER drop-off zones, signal a broader commitment to people-first design. By adopting advanced parking technologies and progressive policies, hospitals can ease entry for patients and staff alike, reducing barriers and supporting a positive experience before anyone even steps inside the facility. Realizing these benefits starts with partnering with a parking provider that understands your organization’s unique challenges and can adapt as your needs evolve.