As we often say, when you are visiting Los Angeles, the best option is to rent a car (if you don’t travel with your). You’ll need to struggle a bit to free yourself from the city traffic, but it’s still the fastest way to get around seeing all the main attractions of the city (we talked about it in detail in our article on how to get around Los Angeles).
However, one aspect remains quite problematic, and certainly, it is the most annoying thing that those who organize a trip to Los Angeles have to deal with, and that is parking. Finding free parking here, more specifically, finding it close to the main places to visit in Los Angeles, is virtually impossible. All the parking lots require you to pay a fee.
Not only that! If you hope to be able to leave your car at the hotel for free, you may be disappointed: it is likely that your hotel, like most hotels in Los Angeles, will require you to pay a daily rate for parking that is not included in the price of the room… and often it is quite high!
What do you do in this situation? I’d like to say, “in this article, I’ll point out all the free parking in Los Angeles”… but unfortunately I can’t do that, simply because there aren’t any, at least as far as the most popular areas and neighborhoods are concerned. However, I will try to give you some useful tips, pointing out the cheapest and most strategic places to park in Los Angeles.
Contents
Private Parking or Hotel Parking?
In most cases, you will find yourself choosing between 2 options. The first is to leave your car in the parking lot of the hotel guarded by security (paying a daily rate, as I mentioned earlier). The other alternative is to leave your car in one of the many paid parking lots in the surroundings. There are many of them and their rates are less expensive than those of hotels, some of them also have a valet parking service just like in hotels.
Personally, I have used them often and I have never had any major problems, also because there are so many options for parking in the tourist areas, so that it is easy to find a parking area in the immediate vicinity of your hotel. Moreover, the difference is not a matter of a few cents. You can even save 30 dollars a day!
You can safely unload your luggage in the lobby, leaving your car temporarily in front of the entrance of the hotel, and then exit and park that car nearby. Do not worry about the reactions of the hotel staff, they will show you the alternative parking areas.
The Best Areas to Park in Los Angeles
Here are the parking lots in each area of Los Angeles that I suggest you consider:
Parking in Downtown Los Angeles
If you’ve chosen to stay in Downtown, one of the best places to stay overnight in Los Angeles for its strategic position, you’ll have plenty of options for parking, since you’ll soon realize, this area is teeming with paid parking lots. The cost of parking spaces in this area usually ranges between $15 and $30 per day, but there are many variables, such as the day of the week, the time of entry, and even the duration, because prices can vary depending on demand.
A good choice at a low cost is the Pershing Square Garage. It is an underground parking garage with 1,850 spaces and a daily rate of $16 (updated September 2017). Just to give you an idea of what a good deal this is, the daily rate to the park at the nearby Millennium Biltmore hotel is about $45!
The location is central and in a pleasant area (under the public park of Pershing Square) close to many hotels, services, and Pershing Square Station (metro). It can be accessed from 3 entrances:
- 504 S Olive St (between W 6th St-W 5th St)
- 465 W 6th St (between S Hill St-S Olive St)
- 464 W 5th St (between S Hill St-S Olive St)
Parking in Santa Monica
Most Santa Monica parking lots are located in the downtown area of the city, on the 2 blocks east and west of Santa Monica Boulevard and prices are usually around $15-$20 per day.
A very cheap option (first 90 minutes free + $1.25 per hour – updated September 2017) with a very strategic location (one block from 3rd Street Promenade and 10 minutes walk from the Santa Monica Pier) is the Santa Monica Parking Structure 8 managed by SP Plus.
It is located at 215 Colorado Avenue and is certainly one of the most convenient in the city, which also makes it particularly popular. During rush hour, it is not uncommon to have to wait in line and to take a long time to get out. To avoid possible traffic jams, try not to arrive or leave early in the morning and in the evening.
What if you want to park near the famous Santa Monica pier? It is possible! Parking on the pier (accessible by a ramp) is open 24 hours a day at a cost of $3 per hour, or $15 for the day in summer and $12 for the day in winter (updated September 2017). There is also an additional parking area on the pier called Lot 1 North (1550 Pacific Coast Highway) that is open from 6:00 am to 2:00 am.
An interesting option within walking distance of the pier and ideal for short visits is the parking lot at 1640 Appian Way, open from sunrise to sunset and accessible for up to two hours at a price of $1 per hour. All 3 of the parking options that have been mentioned are all managed by SP Plus, owner of the main parking lots in Santa Monica.
All parking lots in Santa Monica
Parking in Hollywood
There are several parking lots around Hollywood Boulevard, the street of the famous Walk of Fame (there are about 2,000 parking spaces), but the most interesting parking option is, in my opinion, the Hollywood & Highland Mall at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard (but the parking lot entrances are on Highland Avenue and Orange Drive).
There are multiple reasons why I recommend this parking lot:
- Price: It is probably the cheapest in the area
- Location: You are on the Walk of Fame, and right in the middle of the main attractions
- View: If you go up to the top level, you’ll get a nice view of the famous Hollywood Sign from a great perspective.
The cost of parking is $3.00 for a maximum of 2 hours (with validation at shops, restaurants, and clubs) and $3.00 for a maximum of 4 hours with TCL Chinese Theatre validation. Subsequently, you pay $2 every 20 minutes up to a maximum daily rate of $17 (there is an “Evening Special Flat Rate” on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays). Prices are subject to change over time.
In general, the average daily rate for parking alternatives is usually between $15 and $20.
Parking in Beverly Hills
In Beverly Hills, there are several public parking garages, but you must arrive early, because you risk not finding a place. Luckily in the surroundings of Rodeo Drive (especially at the intersection of Santa Monica Blvd and Crescent Dr), you can find parking areas with interesting rules, such as “first two hours free”, “payment on exit”, or “three- hour paid parking”.
Among the alternatives that are available, I want to point out 2 parking with 2-hour free parking:
- Beverly Hills Parking Facility (461 N Bedford Dr)
- Beverly South Public Parking (216 S Beverly Blvd).
When parking, pay close attention to the signs because fines are strict and enforced… don’t park on Rodeo Drive because you see others parking on Rodeo Drive. Most likely those cars have special permits!
All parking options in Beverly Hills
Parking at Theme Parks
Each of the theme parks has its own parking lots. Here are the prices:
Universal Studios
Universal Studios has a parking lot with many options and prices. Here is the detailed table below:
General Parking
- Before 6:00 pm: $25
- After 6:00 pm: $10
Preferential Parking – A few minutes walk from the park
- Before 6:00 pm: $35
- After 6:00 pm: $20
Front Gate – The closest parking lot to the park
- Before 6:00 pm: $50
- After 6:30 pm: $30
For more details on parking at Universal Studios, I refer you to our in-depth guide on where to park at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Disneyland
The parking lots for Disneyland Park and California Adventure are well marked and have the following prices:
- $20 for cars and motorcycles
- $25 for RVs or other similar vehicles
- $30 for buses and semi-tractor trailers
At Disneyland, there are many other parking options. If you are interested, read the directions on the official website.
Warner Bros. Studios
Warner Bros. Studios has ample space for parking and the price is $12 per vehicle. The address of Warner Bros. Studios that you should enter into the GPS is 3400 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA.
