A system forecasts parking availability for a time in the future based on driver-reported estimations of how long each vehicle in the parking area will stay and on forecasted arrivals. Current conditions in a parking area might misrepresent parking availability at the time when a driver will arrive. When accessing parking, drivers need a data input mechanism to report their expected stays, such as a smart ticket dispenser or parking meter. The data goes through a computer algorithm to forecast parking availability. This forecast can be communicated to remote parking access points.