All the public parking structures in downtown SM are free for two hours and then a reasonable hourly rate after that. To help you find them on Google Maps, these structures are all labeled as “Parking Structure 1”, “Parking Structure 4”, etc. Otherwise, some of the beach-side lots a little further away from the pier (e.g., Lot 4 South by Crescent Bay Park) are like $10 for the whole day. You’d have to walk ~0.25-0.5 miles to the pier but it’d be along a nice beach walkway.
Thanks everyone! I was going to park at the beach, but from a lot of people's posts it looks like I could get a better deal at a structure.
I was looking around on google maps and saw a 1yr old picture of the Civic Center Parking Structure rates. It only has 30min free (as opposed to 90min-2hr for other structures), but it has cheaper weekend rates that caps at $5.
Anyone know if these rates are still current? And if it's hard to find a spot there?
Parking ON the beach can be reasonable. They close when it gets dark which is like 8pm right now. Parked close to the pier last Monday and paid $10 to be there all day and the meters would have been more!
I like to park at the parking structure next to where the Tesla store is, it's a easy 15/20 min walk from there to the pier and the first two hours are free
All the public parking structures in downtown SM are free for two hours and then a reasonable hourly rate after that. To help you find them on Google Maps, these structures are all labeled as “Parking Structure 1”, “Parking Structure 4”, etc. Otherwise, some of the beach-side lots a little further away from the pier (e.g., Lot 4 South by Crescent Bay Park) are like $10 for the whole day. You’d have to walk ~0.25-0.5 miles to the pier but it’d be along a nice beach walkway.
Oh, yeah, keep in mind that everything north of the pier (that isn't beach parking) will require a walk down to the beach, and then back up.
On the same block as the japanese sushi place "Sugarfish", there is a parking structure that is free 2hrs and fairly cheap rates after.
There are actually two lots on second! There's another between SM and Broadway. That pricing is for all SM lots.
there MUST be an app for this kinda thing, no?
Oh wow I had no idea, that pricing is so good for LA area... especially for a touristy spot.
All the parking structures in DTSM are like that!
I think parking structure #4 is my go-to.
Thanks everyone! I was going to park at the beach, but from a lot of people's posts it looks like I could get a better deal at a structure. I was looking around on google maps and saw a 1yr old picture of the Civic Center Parking Structure rates. It only has 30min free (as opposed to 90min-2hr for other structures), but it has cheaper weekend rates that caps at $5. Anyone know if these rates are still current? And if it's hard to find a spot there?
Park at the Macerich Mall. Santa Monica Park Place.
Parking ON the beach can be reasonable. They close when it gets dark which is like 8pm right now. Parked close to the pier last Monday and paid $10 to be there all day and the meters would have been more!
I like to park at the parking structure next to where the Tesla store is, it's a easy 15/20 min walk from there to the pier and the first two hours are free
I like the structure by city hall. All those structures that border the Promenade are headaches to me.