If you have ever tried to park at a busy shopping center in Montgomery County, chances are you have had a frustrating experience. Over the years, we have heard from countless readers about which lots are the most chaotic, confusing, or downright dangerous. Based on that feedback and our own observations, here is an updated list of some of the worst offenders, in no particular order.
Costco (Gaithersburg)
No “worst of” list is complete without Gaithersburg Costco. The original inspiration for this series came from Fox 5’s Jim Lokay, who once tweeted, “What is the most lawless frontier in the DC region and why is it the parking lot at the Gaithersburg Costco?” Over a year of construction has not made things easier. As one reader put it: “Gaithersburg Costco makes me want to claw my eyeballs out, but I still go at least twice a month.”
Woodmoor Shopping Center (Silver Spring)
This historic center may have charm, but its triangular front lot is a nightmare. CVS, Chipotle, and Starbucks keep demand high, and while the back lot exists, it fills quickly too.
Olney Gardens
Narrow lanes give this center, home to Cava Mezze, Cafe Rio, and CVS, the edge over Olney Village and Fair Hill for worst parking in Olney.
Chick-Fil-A (Germantown)
The traffic for this Chick-Fil-A’s drive thru on Century Blvd is so bad that it often times closes all lanes of the parking lot. This center also has a Carrabba’s, Panera, Taco Bell, Walgreen’s, and the Germantown Transit Center.
Fallsgrove (Rockville)
Traffic flow is the biggest complaint. With Safeway, Bethesda Bagels, and Starbucks drawing heavy crowds, gridlock builds at the single entry and exit point. One reader summed it up: “Funnel everyone in thru one spot and no one knows who goes first.”
Every Trader Joe’s
Some speculate that Trader Joe’s intentionally selects locations with limited parking to drive customer traffic during off-peak hours. Montgomery County locations include:
7900 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda
10741 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring (Shoppes of Burnt Mills)
12268-H Rockville Pike, Rockville (Federal Plaza)
10076 Darnestown Rd, Rockville (Travilah Square)
NEW: 225 N. Washington St., Rockville (Rockville Town Square)
Glenmont Shopping Center
Known for its iconic arcade sign, this 1950s-era center holds fond memories but has outdated parking that is tight and frustrating.
Firstfield Shopping Center (Gaithersburg)
The Starbucks drive-thru here is so busy that cars often back up onto the main road. The lot also includes Einstein Bagels, Roaming Rooster, and Jimmy John’s.
Manhattan Pizza/Upcounty Beer & Wine (Clarksburg)
A notoriously tight lot that makes it hard to get in or out. Locals suggest parking near Subway and walking over.
Shady Grove Home Depot (Gaithersburg)
Readers called it a major oversight when this store was left off previous lists. The Home Depot on Shady Grove Road has developed a reputation for bottlenecks.
Leisure World (Silver Spring)
The closer you get to Giant, the worse the experience. Many readers recommend parking farther away and walking.
Cabin John Village (Potomac)
The fast-casual restaurants on one side create traffic from every direction. With Giant, CVS, and Colony Grill all drawing crowds, it is rarely a smooth trip.
Montgomery Village Center
Once considered a “dead” shopping center, it is now packed with Aldi and Starbucks. New townhomes and construction are adding even more congestion.
Norbeck Center (Rockville)
This center has several incredibly popular restaurants (Full On & Big Greek Café) and only a handful of parking spots. Full On has even devoted of a portion of their website (www.fulloncraft.com/parking/) to helping guests with the parking situation. “While there are only a few spots in front of Full On, the lot in front of White’s Hardware Store is public space. 46 spots are open to the public at all times. Follow the sidewalk that runs parallel to Norbeck Rd which takes you directly to our door!”
Plaza Del Mercado (Layhill/Silver Spring)
Between Aldi, LA Fitness, and CVS, this lot is always busy. Narrow spaces and oversized medians make it even harder to navigate safely.
Wheaton Park
With H-Mart, the Dollar Store, and AutoZone next to each other, the narrow lanes fill fast and stay crowded.
Germantown Plaza
Between Little Caesars double-parkers and Planet Fitness overflow, both sides of the lot can be chaotic.
Aspen Hill Shopping Center
With Giant, Panera, Chipotle, and Wingstop spread across a wide layout, driving from one end to the other takes patience. McDonald’s traffic only makes it worse.
Gaithersburg Square
The revitalized center now draws steady crowds to Chipotle, Panera, Oak Barrel & Vine, and Marhsalls. The result is constant congestion.
Wildwood Shopping Center (Bethesda)
Parking in the front is a gamble, but the back lots fill quickly too. The short columns frustrate even seasoned drivers. According to a commentor on Reddit, “You could sit outside of the CVS or Bethesda Bagels and every hour watch someone different grandmother get in an accident.”
Potomac Village
Parking in front of Giant is particularly difficult, especially during peak hours.
Rio AMC (Gaithersburg)
The Rio garage is everyone’s favorite headache. The bottom level near Guapo’s is a local favorite spot, but even that fills fast.