When visiting York, one of the cheapest and stress free ways to see the city is to use the park and ride service which allows you to park, often for free, outside of the city centre and use the low cost bus service to travel in.
The park and ride sites across York are all conveniently located close to the outer ring road and easily accessible from the main routes into York such as the A64 and the A59.
How many park and ride sites are there in York
York has six park and ride sites with direct routes into the city; Askham Bar, Designer Outlet, Grimston Bar, Monks Cross, Rawcliffe Bar and Poppleton Road (temporarily closed).
Askham Bar Park and Ride
Askham Bar park and ride is located close to the A64, making it the ideal option for those travelling from the Leeds direction.
Askham Bar park and ride is just 2 minute drive from the A64 so you don’t need to travel into any busy areas of York to reach the park and ride site.
Askham Bar park and ride is perfectly situated for York Racecourse, so if you’re heading to the races, it’s the ideal place to leave your car.
Address: Tadcaster Road, York, YO24 1LW
Serves: Railway Station, Shops, Central Interchange
Spaces: 1,100
Designer Outlet Park and Ride
Located just off the junction where the A19 meets the A64 South of York, Designer Outlet park and ride best serves those travelling from Selby and Goole areas who don’t want to battle through rush hour traffic.
The route from the Designer Outlet park and ride takes just 10 minutes to Piccadilly (central shopping areas) and has some bus lanes so you can zip past the cars.
Address: Saint Nicholas Avenue, York, YO19 4TA
Serves: Central Interchange, Cliffords Tower
Spaces: 600
Grimston Bar Park and Ride
Grimston Bar park and ride is ideally situated just where the A64 meets the A1079, so ideal for those travelling from Hull, Bridlington, Driffield and Beverley direction, as well as those living in nearby Elvington and Stamford Bridge.
The journey into York from Grimston Bar park and ride should take no longer than 10 minutes and the bus will drop you right in the city centre.
Address: Hull Road, York, YO19 5LA
Serves: Piccadilly
Spaces: 920
Monks Cross Park and Ride
If you’re heading in to York from the East (Malton, Scarborough, Pickering), Monks Cross park and ride is the most accessible option as it’s just 2-3 minutes from the outer ring road.
Monks Cross park and ride is separate from the main car parks at both Monks Cross shopping park and Vangarde shopping park.
Address: Martello Way, York, YO32 9JU
Serves: Stonebow, Central Interchange
Spaces: 800
Rawcliffe Bar Park and Ride
Rawcliffe Bar park and ride is located just off the A19 North of York, so ideal for those travelling from Easingwold, Thirsk and Northallerton.
Rawcliffe Bar park and ride is accessible from the main roundabout on the outer ring road, close to Clifton Moor shopping park.
Address: Shipton Road, York, YO30 5XZ
Serves: Museum Gardens, Railway Station
Spaces: 1,000
Poppleton Road Park and Ride
Poppleton Road park and ride is the newest site in York which opened back in 2014 and has recently been used as a coronavirus testing facility so may not offer parking at full capacity.
If you’re heading in to York from the Harrogate or Knaresborough direction, Poppleton Road park and ride is the most accessible option.
Address: Roman Road, Upper Poppleton, York, YO26 6QF
Serves: Railway Station, Central Interchange
Spaces: 600
Cost to park at park and ride sites in York
Parking at all park and ride sites across York is free of charge. In order to take advantage of these park and ride car parks, you will need to purchase a bus ticket or cycle into the centre of York.
York park and ride ticket prices 2025
Buses generally run every 10 minutes Mondays to Saturdays and every 10-12 minutes on Sundays and bank holidays. This bus service is run by First Bus covering the York area.
2025 ticket prices for the park and ride service in York is as follows:
| Ticket Type | 2025 Price |
| Adult Return | £3.60 |
| Child Return | £1.80 |
| Concession | £1.30 |
| Weekly | £14.40 |
| Monthly | £57.60 |
| Annual | £576.00 |
Park and ride vs car parking in York
If you are travelling alone or as a couple, park and ride definitely works out to be the cheapest option as it will cost either £3.50 (for 1 traveller) or £7 (for 2 travellers) using the park and ride service in York.
It also means you are closer to the main routes in and out of York, rather than having to sit in traffic which can become tedious, especially during rush hour and on a weekend.
When it comes to parking in York, council run car parks are considerably more expensive, with city centre car parks in York coming in at some of the most expensive in the country.
Parking for 5 hours:
Castle Car Park – £15.00
Coppergate Centre Car Park – £15.00
Nunnery Lane Car Park – £13.50
St George’s Field Car Park – £13.50
York park and ride timetable
If you are planning on using the park and ride service in York, you can plan your journey and decide which site to use based on the timetable. York park and ride sites are open everyday and opening until late so you don’t need to rush back.
| Park and Ride Site | Frequency |
| Askham Bar | Mon – Fri Before 7am – 15 minutes After 7am – 10 minutes After 6pm – 15 minutes Saturday Before 8am – 30 minutes After 8am – 10/15 minutes After 6pm – 15 minutes Sunday All day – 10 – 12 minutes |
| Designer Outlet | Mon – Fri Before 8.30pm – 10 minutes After 8.30pm – 30 minutes Saturday Before 8am – 30 minutes After 8am – 10/15 minutes After 8.30pm – 60 minutes Sunday Before 4.30pm – 12 minutes Before 6.30pm – 15 minutes After 6.30pm – 30 minutes |
| Grimston Bar | Mon – Fri Before 7am – 30 minutes Before 6pm – 12 minutes Before 7.45pm – 15 minutes After 7.45pm- 30 minutes Saturday Before 8am – 30 minutes Before 9am – 15 minutes Before 4.30pm – 12 minutes Before 7.45pm – 15 minutes Before 9.15pm – 30 minutes Sunday Before 4.30pm – 12 minutes After 4.30pm – 15 minutes |
| Monks Cross | Mon – Fri Before 6pm – 8 – 10 minutes After 6pm – 15 minutes Saturday Before 8am – 30 minutes Before 9am – 15 minutes Before 5pm – 10 minutes After 5pm – 15 minutes Sunday Before 4.30pm – 12 minutes After 4.30pm – 30 minutes After 6pm – 15 minutes |
| Rawcliffe Bar | Mon – Fri Before 6pm – 10 minutes After 6pm – 15 minutes After 8.20pm – 30 minutes Saturday Before 8.30am – 30 minutes Before 9am – 15 minutes Before 6pm – 10 minutes After 6pm – 15 minutes After 8.30pm – 30 minutes Sunday Before 5.50pm – 10 minutes After 6.15pm – 15 minutes After 8.20pm – 30 minutes |
York park and ride opening times
Each park and ride site across York has its own opening and closing times, so depending on the nature of your visit, you can choose which site is best for you.
| Park and Ride Site | Opening Times |
| Askham Bar | Mon – Sat: 5.45am – 11pm Sunday: 9.15am – 11pm |
| Designer Outlet | Mon – Sat: 7am – 10.30pm Sunday: 9am – 10.30pm |
| Grimston Bar | Mon – Sat: 5am – 21.55pm Sunday: 9.30am – 6.25pm |
| Monks Cross | Mon – Sat: 6.30am – 8.30pm Sunday: 9am – 7.20pm |
| Rawcliffe Bar | Mon – Sat: 7am – 10.45pm Sunday: 9.30am – 10.45pm |
Motorhome parking at York park and ride sites
If you’re bringing a vehicle larger than a campervan and want to use the park and ride sites in York, you must stop before entering and press the button so a member of staff can come and raise the barrier for you.
Some park and ride sites in York have dedicated spaces for campervans and motorhomes:
Askham Bar – 10 spaces
Designer Outlet – 50 spaces
Grimston Bar – 20 spaces
Rawcliffe Bar – 11 spaces
Bike parking at park and ride in York
Cycling is fully encouraged in York, so parking your bike safely is not a stressful situation, it’s just knowing where the safest bike parking is in York City Centre.
There are over 1,000 designated bike parking spaces in and around York. Secure cycle lockers are available at all 6 park & ride locations but they do have a charge involved.
York Park & ride sites:
- Askham Bar
- Designer Outlet
- Grimston Bar
- Monks Cross
- Poppleton Bar
- Rawcliffe Bar
| Key deposit (refundable when you return your key) | £15 |
| Pay monthly | £12 |
| Pay for a full year (get 12 months for the price of 10) | £120 |
We always recommend looking out for newly installed road signs as permitted parking can change quickly.