Parents visiting for Family Weekend should not worry about paying too much for parking, said Byron Wills, program manager of GW Parking Services.

GW will offer families a special discount on weekend parking rates in the University Parking Garage Friday through Sunday. The University has offered a parent discount for the past four years during Parents Weekend.

A pass for the weekend at the garage, which has entrances between H and I streets on 22nd Street, and on I St. between 22nd and 23rd streets, will cost parents $7 for the entire weekend, Wills said.

The amount is very reasonable, he said.

To normal weekend rate for the GW garage from Friday through Sunday is $27.

Coordinators of Family Weekend said the special parking rate is lower than anywhere else in the city.

Rodney Johnson, director of Parent Services, said many parents choose to park in the University garage for the weekend instead of paying up to $20 for hotel parking.

Anywhere you can park for three days for $7 in Washington, I want to know about it, Johnson said. That’s a really good rate. Anyone that would complain about $7 doesn’t know the status of parking in Washington.

Another option for families is PMI Parking in Columbia Plaza, located at 2400 Virginia Ave.

Columbia Plaza offers private parking for its residents as well as public parking in a separate lot. The garage charges $5 a day to park on weekends.

GW parking can only accommodate cars, and does not accommodate buses, large recreational vehicles or trailers, according to the Parent Services Web site.

Parents can purchase parking passes from Parking Services during Family Weekend registration at the Marvin Center, Johnson said.

Permits for GW parking will expire Monday, Oct. 16 at 7 a.m.