Driving and parking are inevitable parts about visiting and living in LA. Looking for a free spot? Free parking is available, but parking in one may take a little patience and some know-how! We’ve rounded up our top free parking tips below, plus a bonus tip on how to reserve a parking spot in the city.
1) Free Parking in LA: Nightly Metered Parking
If you’re heading out at night in LA, you can take advantage of free metered parking. Depending on what part of the city you’re in, the hours of operation for each meter varies. Metered parking enforcement begins at 8 a.m., and can end as late as 2 a.m. depending on the area. Make sure to look very closely at the parking signs by the meters to make sure you’re following the rules. Check out the different parking signs you will see in LA here.
2) Free Parking in LA: Short-Term Parking On Green Color Curbs
Los Angeles has many colored curbs around town. The green ones are what you should be paying attention to while looking for free parking. Green curbs outside of metered areas are specifically designed for short-term parking.
These are effective between 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday. All other parking regulations are enforced outside the hours posted. Metered areas with green curbs will either have a 15-minute or 30-minute time limit.
For more information on color curb rules, click here. If you’re looking to park for more than 15-30 minutes, however, you may find it easier to reserve a parking spot on SpotHero.
3) Free Parking in LA – Major Holidays
On major national holidays, the city of Los Angeles doesn’t require you to pay the meters. Major holidays include New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. But be aware, these spots will be hard to find during busy holidays and if the sign near the meter says “Holiday Enforcement,” normal meter regulations will be enforced.
If you want to guarantee your spot ahead of time, you can use an app like SpotHero to reserve a parking spot in advance.
4) Free Parking in LA – Hotel Parking
Los Angeles has many hotels that offer free parking for guests. If you are staying at Best Western Plus LA Mid-Town or Comfort Inn Santa Monica for a few nights, take advantage of the free parking offered. You can find more information on LA hotels with free parking here.
5) Free Parking in LA – Sunday Street Parking in West Hollywood
For those hanging out in West Hollywood on Sunday, there is free metered street parking on Fairfax Ave and La Brea Ave. These spots can be in very high demand though, so a little patience may be necessary to find a spot.
Below is a map of where you can find street parking in West Hollywood. For more information on West Hollywood parking, click here.
BONUS TIP: Use Parking App SpotHero to Find and Reserve Parking in LA
If you’re going to park for more than two hours in the city or having trouble finding free parking around LA, check out SpotHero. SpotHero is an app that helps you find and reserve parking in hundreds of garages and lots around LA.
Visit the SpotHero website, or download the app (iOS | Android) to book your parking reservation. Explore more affordable LA parking in the map below.
