Santa Monica Parking Tips

While Santa Monica is a pedestrian-friendly city, if you'll be driving here, these Santa Monica parking tips for the beach, downtown, and metered parking can help.

Don't even think about forgetting to feed any Santa Monica city parking meters you encounter, even for a quick in-and-out cappuccino run. Unless you'd like an expensive souvenir of your pitstop - your very own Santa Monica parking ticket - that is.

Since you'd probably prefer to choose your own tchotchkes, this parking guide can help.

Technology Meets Real Time

The City of Santa Monica parking system uses technology and real-time information to keep cars moving on central boulevards and limit the impact of traffic on local streets. 

This includes a comprehensive street wayfinding system, including signs directing motorists to off-street parking and displaying real-time parking availability at many public parking facilities and Santa Monica city parking meters.

Real-time parking availability and rates can be found on this interactive, real-time Santa Monica parking map or downloading this free smartphone parking app.

Santa Monica Parking at the Pier

Parking is available on the Santa Monica Pier deck, accessed via the ramp at Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue. This parking lot is open 24 hours a day. Rates are as follows:

Parking is also available at Lot 1 North, located immediately north of the Pier at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway.

Lot 1 North is open daily from 6 am to 2 am.  Please see the rates for Central Beach parking below.

Short-term parking is available at 1640 Appian Way. The lot is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The rate is $1.00 per hour with a 2-hour maximum.

Beach Parking 

Parking is available at beach lots from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, except for Lot 1 North, which is open from 6 a.m. to midnight. Rates and locations are as follows:

Annenberg Community Beach House

*  Annenberg Beach House - 415 Pacific Coast Highway

North Beach Zone (Lots 4N - 9N)

Summer:  $12 per entry weekends; $10 per entry weekdays. Buses (per entry) 6x daily rate. RVs (per entry): 4x daily rate. Disabled Placards/Plates:  Free.

Winter: $10 per entry weekends; $7 per entry weekdays. Buses (per entry) 6x daily rate. RVs (per entry) 4x daily rate.  Disabled Placards/Plates:  Free.

Downtown, the Third Street Promenade, and the Civic Parking Structure

Parking is available at downtown structures 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are 13 structures/garages and five surface lots throughout the area. Locations are as follows:

Downtown Lots 27, 29 & 30

Civic Center and Main Library Parking

Parking is available at the Civic Center structure, 24/7. The entrance is off 4th Street between Pico Boulevard and Olympic Drive.

Main Street Parking

There are four Main Street parking lots:

• Lot 9: 110 Hill Street
•  Lot 10:  111 Hill Street 
• Lot 11 - 170 Hollister Avenue
• Lot 26 - 150 Strand Street. 

Additional parking is available at beach lots 4 South and 5 South, two blocks west of Main Street. These lots are open daily from sunrise to sunset. 

Every Sunday the Farmer’s Market takes place at the California Heritage Museum parking lot.

Attendees are encouraged to park at Lot 5 South, located at 2600 Barnard Way, where parking is free until 1:30 p.m. with proof of purchase and a parking voucher from the Farmer’s Market.

Mid-City

Parking is available at our Mid-City lots, located on Wilshire Blvd, between Euclid and 16th streets.. The rate is $1.00 per hour.

• Lot 7 - 1217 Euclid Street

• Lot 8 - 1146 16th Street

• Lot 12 - 1211 14th Street
  

EV Parking Stations

If you have an electric car, there are several places for you to charge up your car while exploring the city on foot.

The Civic Parking Structure contains 45 charging ports for electric vehicles, and Parking Structure 6 holds 30 electric vehicle charging ports.

Downtown lot 29 now offers six public EVgo stations. Many other parking structures and stations around Santa Monica offer free charging stations, check out this page for electric vehicle parking options.

Final Tips For Your Visit

Remember to always keep your valuables out of sight. Take your valuables with you or place them in your trunk before you arrive at a location where people might be watching.

Santa Monica has on-street parking meters throughout the city, all of which accept payment via coins or credit card.

On-street parking meters and pay machines at City lots are $2.50 per hour in the Downtown and beach meter zones and $1.25 in other citywide meter zones.

To avoid a ticket when meter parking, keep in mind that there is no free parking in Santa Monica on Sundays, so don’t forget to pay the meter on your weekend outing.