- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Navigation Apps Fail to Factor in Parking Hassles
MIT study shows tools could save travelers time and frustration by accounting for parking
Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:04am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A new MIT study argues that popular navigation apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps give too little thought to the last part of a journey - finding and accessing a parking spot. Researchers used detailed parking occupancy data from Seattle to model how apps could steer drivers toward spots that balance distance and availability, potentially saving up to 35 minutes per trip compared to heading for the nearest lot and waiting.
Why it matters
The frustration of finding parking is a real pain point for many drivers, and accounting for this 'missing time' in travel apps could not only improve the user experience but also encourage a shift toward more sustainable transportation options like mass transit or bikes.
The details
The MIT team's model shows that navigation apps could factor in parking availability and walking time to provide a more accurate 'time to arrive' metric. In the most congested areas, this could cut the total travel time by up to two-thirds. The researchers have shared their findings with app makers and are now looking at other 'missing time' factors in travel apps, such as ride-hail wait estimates.
- The MIT study was published on March 22, 2026.
The players
Cathy Wu
Paper co-author and MIT researcher who has been studying the 'time to arrive' metric that is not uniformly presented by navigation apps.
Cameron Hickert
MIT researcher who says the frustration of finding parking is 'real and felt by a lot of people.'
Navigation app that has folded its Gemini AI into Maps to highlight garages and enable hands-free parking tips.
Apple
Navigation app that offers coordination with SpotHero to book parking spots in advance.
What they’re saying
“What my colleagues and I have been calling 'time to arrive' is a metric that is not uniformly presented.”
— Cathy Wu, MIT researcher
“This frustration is real and felt by a lot of people.”
— Cameron Hickert, MIT researcher
What’s next
The MIT team is now looking at other 'missing time' factors in travel apps, such as ride-hail wait estimates, and has shared its detailed findings with app makers in hopes of spurring improvements.
The takeaway
Navigation apps have long prioritized estimated time of arrival, but this MIT study shows they could provide a much more valuable service to drivers by also factoring in the time and hassle of finding a parking spot. Addressing this 'missing time' could not only save travelers significant time and frustration but also encourage a shift toward more sustainable transportation options.
