Is the Menil Collection Parking Really Free? Lots, Rothko Chapel & What to Know
Parking at the Menil Collection and whether it's free. Visitor lots, street parking near Rothko Chapel, and how to visit both on the same trip.
By Thomas A. · Updated October 27, 2026 · Written with AI assistance
Yes, the Menil Collection has two visitor parking lots, and the Menil's own site lists them for visitors. The site does not say whether the lots are free. The two lots sit at 1515 West Alabama Street and next to Richmond Hall at 1500 Richmond Avenue. Street parking is also available in the surrounding blocks.
Rothko Chapel is a short walk from the Menil campus, and visitors often pair the two on a single trip. The chapel states that street parking is free on Yupon, Branard and Sul Ross streets. The Moran Parking Garage at Graustark and West Alabama charges $10 per car. The chapel's visit page does not list an admission price; check their site before relying on it.
Where to Park for the Menil Collection
The Menil sits on a 30-acre campus in Montrose. Visitor parking lots are at 1515 West Alabama Street and next to Richmond Hall at 1500 Richmond Avenue, and street parking is available in the blocks around the campus. Montrose streets fill up on weekends, so arrive early if you want a spot close by.
The Main Building, the Menil Drawing Institute, the Cy Twombly Gallery, the Dan Flavin installation at Richmond Hall and the Menil Bookstore are all open to visitors. Entry to the Menil Collection is always free, and the museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 7pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Parking for Rothko Chapel
Rothko Chapel is a separate organisation from the Menil Collection, at Yupon and Sul Ross. Street parking is free on Yupon, Branard and Sul Ross streets. The Moran Parking Garage at Graustark and West Alabama is the paid alternative at $10 per car.
The chapel is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm, including holidays, except Thursdays, when its hours table shows 10am to 3pm. Closed Mondays. The chapel closes for public programs or private events approximately twice a month, so check its events calendar before visiting. The grounds are free and open daily from dawn until dusk. Admission price is not stated on the chapel's visit page; verify it before assuming.
Walking Between the Menil and Rothko Chapel
The chapel is a short walk from the Menil's Main Building through the surrounding residential streets, so there is no need to move the car. Park once, see the Menil, then walk over.
Go early on a weekday for near-solitude at the chapel, and avoid Thursday afternoons, when it closes early. Both sites are indoors, which makes the pairing work in August heat or during a downpour.
What Else Is on the Menil Campus
The campus holds more than the Main Building. The Cy Twombly Gallery is a standalone building devoted to Twombly's work. The Menil Drawing Institute is dedicated to modern and contemporary drawings. The Dan Flavin installation at Richmond Hall is a room-sized work in coloured fluorescent light. The Menil Bookstore rounds out the campus.
Plan at least a couple of hours for the Main Building if you move slowly through galleries, and more if you want to see the Twombly Gallery and the Drawing Institute too.
Tips for Visiting
Arrive on a weekday if you want the galleries to yourself. The campus lawns are open to the public, and you'll see joggers, dog walkers and people reading on the grass between buildings.
Food and beverages are not allowed in museum buildings. Complimentary coat check is available for large backpacks and luggage. Photography is not permitted inside the galleries; casual photography is allowed in the entryways and hallways.
Pair the Menil with Anvil Bar & Refuge for a cocktail afterward, a ten-minute walk away in Montrose, or head to Buffalo Bayou Park for a sunset walk along the bayou trails.
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