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 parking lots are the most chaotic, confusing or downright difficult to navigate. Based on that feedback and our own observations, here is an updated look at some of Montgomery County’s worst parking lots, in no particular order.
Costco (Gaithersburg)
No “worst of” list would be complete without the Gaithersburg Costco. In fact, the original inspiration for this series came from FOX 5’s Jim Lokay, who once asked, “What is the most lawless frontier in the DC region and why is it the parking lot at the Gaithersburg Costco?” As one reader put it, “Gaithersburg Costco makes me want to claw my eyeballs out, but I still go at least twice a month.”
Colesville Center (Colesville)
Located along New Hampshire Avenue, this shopping center is anchored by Giant and has long been a source of parking frustration for shoppers. A busy mix of businesses, tight areas of the lot and steady traffic can make getting in, finding a space and getting back out more difficult than expected.
Germantown Square (Germantown)
This one comes with an important qualifier: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, when the extremely popular Lancaster County Dutch Market is open. Located at the intersection of Great Seneca Highway and Wisteria Drive, the center is also home to Dollar General, Ledo Pizza and Dairy Queen. Starbucks is expected to open in a former drive-thru bank space in 2027, potentially adding another busy destination to the center.
Kenwood Station (Bethesda)
Whole Foods anchors this River Road shopping center and generates much of the congestion. The combination of heavy grocery traffic, limited spaces near the most popular businesses and cars constantly circulating through the lot can make even a quick stop more complicated than it should be.
Woodmoor Shopping Center (Silver Spring)
This historic shopping center has plenty of charm, but its triangular front parking lot can be a nightmare. CVS, Chipotle and Starbucks keep demand high, and while additional parking is available in the back, those spaces can fill quickly as well.
Fallsgrove (Rockville)
Traffic flow is the biggest complaint here. With Safeway, Bethesda Bagels, Starbucks and other popular businesses drawing steady crowds, backups can develop around the center’s primary access points. One reader summed up the experience: “Funnel everyone in thru one spot and no one knows who goes first.”
Every Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s and frustrating parking lots have become something of a running joke among shoppers. Montgomery County locations include Bethesda, the Shoppes of Burnt Mills in Silver Spring, Federal Plaza and Travilah Square in Rockville, and Rockville Town Square. Whether intentional or not, finding a convenient space during busy periods can feel like part of the Trader Joe’s experience.
Firstfield Shopping Center (Gaithersburg)
The Starbucks drive-thru is a major source of congestion here, with lines sometimes backing up through the shopping center. The center also includes Einstein Bros. Bagels, Roaming Rooster and Jimmy John’s, creating plenty of traffic in a relatively compact area.
Potomac Village (Potomac)
The parking areas around Giant can be particularly difficult during peak hours, when shoppers compete for spaces close to the grocery store and surrounding businesses.
Rio AMC (Gaithersburg)
The Rio parking garage has earned its own reputation for frustration. The lower level near Guapo’s is a favorite among some regular visitors, but even that area can fill quickly during busy evenings and weekends.
Olney Gardens (Olney)
Narrow driving lanes give this shopping center the edge over Olney Village and Fair Hill when it comes to the most frustrating parking in Olney. The center is home to Cava Mezze, Cafe Rio and CVS, among other businesses.
Chick-fil-A (Germantown)
The Chick-fil-A drive-thru on Century Boulevard can generate enough traffic to clog the surrounding parking lot, with lines sometimes interfering with vehicles trying to navigate through the center. Carrabba’s, Panera, Taco Bell and Walgreens are also nearby, along with the Germantown Transit Center, creating plenty of competing traffic.
Manhattan Pizza/Upcounty Beer & Wine (Clarksburg)
This notoriously tight parking area can make getting in and out challenging, particularly during busy periods. Some locals recommend parking closer to Subway and simply walking over.
Shady Grove Home Depot (Gaithersburg)
Readers made it clear that leaving the Home Depot on Shady Grove Road off previous versions of this list was an oversight. The sprawling parking lot has developed a reputation for bottlenecks and frustrating traffic patterns.
Montgomery Village Center
Once viewed by some as a relatively quiet shopping center, Montgomery Village Center has become much busier. Aldi, Starbucks and the recently opened Burlington draw steady traffic, while nearby residential development and ongoing construction have added even more activity to the area.
Norbeck Center (Rockville)
This parking lot has been infamous for years. Full On Craft Eats, which previously operated at the center, once devoted a portion of its website to explaining the parking situation and directing customers to additional public spaces near White’s Hardware. Maman Joon is expected to take over the former Full On space, while Full On has relocated to Rock Creek Village Center.
Plaza Del Mercado (Layhill/Silver Spring)
Between Aldi, LA Fitness and CVS, this parking lot stays busy. Narrow spaces, large medians and steady traffic can make navigating the center particularly frustrating during peak periods.
Wheaton Park (Wheaton)
H Mart, Dollar Tree and AutoZone are among the businesses generating traffic here. Narrow lanes and a steady stream of vehicles can quickly make the parking lot feel crowded.
Germantown Plaza (Germantown)
Between New Grand Mart shoppers, Little Caesars customers making quick stops and Planet Fitness traffic, both sides of this shopping center can become chaotic during busy periods.
Aspen Hill Shopping Center (Aspen Hill)
Giant, Panera, Chipotle, Wingstop and other businesses are spread across a large shopping center, meaning simply driving from one end to the other can require some patience. Traffic around McDonald’s adds another wrinkle.
Gaithersburg Square (Gaithersburg)
Chipotle, Panera, Oak Barrel & Vine, Marshalls and Ross help keep this shopping center busy throughout the day. With several popular destinations concentrated in the same center, congestion can be a regular occurrence.
Leisure World (Silver Spring)
The closer you try to park to Giant, the more difficult the experience can become. Several readers have suggested saving yourself the trouble by parking farther away and walking.
Cabin John Village (Potomac)
The concentration of fast-casual restaurants and other popular businesses creates traffic coming from seemingly every direction. Giant, CVS, Colony Grill and the center’s numerous restaurants and shops keep the parking areas busy throughout the day.
Wildwood Shopping Center (Bethesda)
Parking in front can be a gamble, while the lots behind the center can fill quickly as well. The layout and short concrete columns add to the challenge. One Reddit commenter jokingly suggested that if you sat outside CVS or Bethesda Bagels long enough, you would regularly see someone’s grandmother get into an accident.
