Parking Near Santa Monica State Beach, CA
Where Can I Park for Santa Monica State Beach?
Beach Parking Lot 1 North is the closest clearly identified official facility, at State Beach, 1550 Pacific Coast Highway. It opens at 6:30 AM and costs $8 per entry on weekdays or $20 per entry on weekends. For a garage, two Parksy spaces are 0.3 mi from SMSB and cost $3.95 an hour.
- Address
- 1020 Palisades Beach Road
- Closest listed space
- 120 Wilshire Garage - Premium Parking in Santa Monica, 0.3 mi (7 min walk)
Parking Near Santa Monica
Santa Monica State Beach, with private parking spaces bookable nearby on Parksy. Photo: Pexels
Official Beach Parking at Beach Parking Lot 1 North
Beach Parking Lot 1 North is the closest clearly identified official facility for a beach visit, at State Beach, 1550 Pacific Coast Highway. The city lists weekday parking at $8 per entry and weekend parking at $20 per entry, so the day of your visit makes a substantial difference to the budget. (santamonica.gov)
The lot opens at 6:30 AM, giving early arrivals a useful head start on busy beach days. (santamonica.gov) California State Parks lists Santa Monica State Beach parking and outdoor facilities, while its park-hours field has no listed hours. (parks.ca.gov) The site address is 1020 Palisades Beach Road, 0.6 mi from Santa Monica center.
Parksy Parking Spaces Near the Santa Monica Shoreline
Two Parksy garage spaces are 0.3 mi from SMSB: 120 Wilshire Garage costs $3.95 an hour, and a 24/7 parking garage in Santa Monica also costs $3.95 an hour. These are the shortest listed Parksy distances, making them practical for drivers who prefer a garage to searching around the beachfront.
At 0.4 mi, a 24/7 garage and a covered Santa Monica garage each cost $16.25 an hour. Two further garage spaces on or associated with 1299 Ocean Ave are also 0.4 mi away, priced at $9.45 an hour and $3.15 an hour respectively. The $3.15 an hour option is the lowest listed hourly price, while the $16.25 an hour spaces cost the most.
When Santa Monica State Beach Parking Fills Up
Beach parking pressure is highest when visitors arrive together for a full day by the water, particularly on weekends. Santa Monica has multiple beach lots and street parking, with full-day parking costs reported between $6 and $15 by SantaMonica.com. (santamonica.com) The city’s official Beach Parking Lot 1 North rate is separately listed at $20 per entry on weekends. (santamonica.gov)
Street parking is also available around Santa Monica Beach, but the surrounding streets are governed by posted restrictions and payment controls rather than serving as an unrestricted overflow area. SantaMonica.com identifies street parking alongside the beach lots, while the city’s beach permit information is handled through Santa Monica parking services. (santamonica.com) (prdwmq.etimspayments.com)
Other Named Parking Options Around the Beach
Santa Monica Pier Parking is another named option in the area, with beach parking and street parking described by SantaMonica.com. The guide reports full-day beach parking costs ranging from $6 to $15. (santamonica.com) This gives drivers a second beach-focused choice beyond Beach Parking Lot 1 North.
(parking.com) Downtown Santa Monica parking information lists a $1.25 hourly rate, a $16 daily maximum per entry, and a $65 monthly rate. (downtownsm.com) Disabled placards with current and valid status receive one-half of the posted rate in the downtown information. (downtownsm.com)
Walking and Rail Access to Santa Monica State Beach
Santa Monica State Beach is at 1020 Palisades Beach Road, 0.6 mi from Santa Monica center. The beach itself is the main walking destination from central Santa Monica, with the shoreline reached from the downtown area rather than from a remote suburb.
California State Parks lists the beach contact number as (310) 458-8300 and identifies parking, restrooms, and showers among the facilities.
Sources
* Please note: parking prices, time limits and fine amounts change frequently and vary by operator, council and local authority. Everything on this page is indicative and provided on a best-endeavours basis. Always check the sign, the operator or the issuing authority before you rely on a figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can I Park for Santa Monica State Beach?
Beach Parking Lot 1 North is the closest clearly identified official facility, at State Beach, 1550 Pacific Coast Highway. It opens at 6:30 AM and costs $8 per entry on weekdays or $20 per entry on weekends. For a garage, two Parksy spaces are 0.3 mi from SMSB and cost $3.95 an hour.
How Much Does Official Beach Parking Cost?
Beach Parking Lot 1 North costs $8 per entry on weekdays and $20 per entry on weekends. The lot opens at 6:30 AM. The day of your visit makes a substantial difference to the budget, so weekend visitors should allow for the higher $20 per-entry rate.
What Are the Closest Garage Parking Options?
Two Parksy garage spaces are 0.3 mi from SMSB: 120 Wilshire Garage and a 24/7 parking garage in Santa Monica. Both cost $3.95 an hour. At 0.4 mi, two garage spaces cost $16.25 an hour, while spaces associated with 1299 Ocean Ave cost $9.45 an hour and $3.15 an hour.
What Happens When Beach Parking Fills Up?
Parking pressure is highest when visitors arrive together for a full day by the water, particularly on weekends. Multiple beach lots and street parking are available, but surrounding streets have posted restrictions and payment controls. Reported full-day parking costs range from $6 to $15, while the official weekend rate is $20 per entry.
Are There Other Parking Options Around the Beach?
Santa Monica Pier Parking is another named option, with beach parking and street parking described nearby. Reported full-day beach parking costs range from $6 to $15. Downtown Santa Monica parking lists a $1.25 hourly rate, a $16 daily maximum per entry, and a $65 monthly rate.
How Far Is the Beach From Central Santa Monica?
Santa Monica State Beach is at 1020 Palisades Beach Road, 0.6 mi from Santa Monica center. The beach itself is the main walking destination from central Santa Monica, with the shoreline reached from the downtown area. California State Parks identifies parking, restrooms, and showers among the facilities.
Comments