Pasadena [Free] Parking
Well fellas, I pulled the trigger. Took a couple shots of jack and talked myself into spending way too much on a Rose Bowl ticket. Am I going by myself? Yes. Do I plan to drive down from the Bay Area to save a little on flights? Yup. Will I be basically roadtripping overnight to make it there in time after family Christmas travel? You know it. Should I probably tell my wife all of the above since she’ll have to watch the kiddos? Tomorrow problems.
What I’m wondering is, can some of the locals point me toward a not-too-close neighborhood or parking garage where I should be able to park for free, or maybe at most $50, with easy in and out of town? I don’t mind a 1-2 mile walk to the stadium and back if it means less head ache afterward. I should be there plenty early.
December 7th, 2023 at 6:52 PM ^
Arroyo Park is probably your best bet in terms of having a decent walk. But the park might fill up.
Highland Park/Garvanza is probably your best bet for finding a decent street spot but the walk will be longer. You’ll have to find a way over the 110 (there are a few streets that go over it) then walk up through Arroyo Seco (a good hiking spot). I used to live in Highland Park and it’s one of the best LA neighborhoods to find street parking and I don’t remember any big restrictions the day of the Rose Bowl.
There’re a lot of residential areas in South Pasadena or Pasadena proper with street parking but I’m not sure what the parking laws are there (there can be laughably complex signage in LA) or if they add any restrictions on gameday.
Best of luck! I’d offer to drive you from Silver Lake but my car is already full with visitors coming.
December 7th, 2023 at 6:56 PM ^
Awesome, thank you!
December 7th, 2023 at 6:58 PM ^
Just to add, be careful when mapping out a walk because this is a very hilly/canyon-y area so what looks like a decent walk might be murder.
December 7th, 2023 at 6:53 PM ^
Enjoy the game! Can’t help you except to say this has been my home game parking strategy for 30 years - park 20 minute walk away and get out without traffic issues. Feels kinda silly now that we only live 6 miles away, but it works.
December 7th, 2023 at 7:57 PM ^
I usually do the same. If one is open to walking after the game, it's often win (free) - win (easy exit).
December 7th, 2023 at 6:53 PM ^
Interested in hearing the responses too. Just pulled the trigger on me and my 8 yr old. Flying into Vegas a few days before, leaving a few after. Doing the alumni tailgate too, but curious what locals might have to add for ease of experience!
December 7th, 2023 at 6:54 PM ^
If you want a Pepsi, pal, you're gonna pay for it.
December 7th, 2023 at 7:00 PM ^
Hey there, LA County resident here. I'd park somewhere along the LA Metro rail line. Union Station parking is like $6/day, I believe. The other stations are in the ballpark of that.
Then you just hop on the A (Blue) Line to Memorial Park Station and walk from there or sometimes Metro has a free shuttle bus as well from that station to the stadium.
Happy to provide more insight if you need, but any parking along the Metro A Line or at Union Station would suffice. You'd just need to do one transfer from Union Station to get to the A Line.
Here's the list of parking along the A Line: https://www.metro.net/riding/parking/lotsbyline/#a-line
https://www.metro.net/riding/parking/lotsbyline/#a-line
[Edited 8:54 pm to add a clickable link -rob f]
December 7th, 2023 at 7:10 PM ^
If you wanted to park in Highland Park, this is probably your best bet. It’s $1.75 to ride the metro and instead of walking along the Arroyo you could take the A Line (formerly Gold Line) to Memorial station from the Highland Park station which is in an area that will have a lot of street parking (you may have to look for a bit but shouldn’t have to walk more than 4 or 5 blocks to the train station).
December 7th, 2023 at 7:56 PM ^
For clarification, Memorial Station is a two mile walk to the Rose Bowl. But, you can walk a few blocks from Memorial Station to Parsons and take the Rose Bowl shuttle. From the Rose Bowl website:
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) operates a light rail service to Pasadena via the Metro Blue Line. If you would like to take the Metro Blue Line to the game, exit the train at Memorial Park Station in Pasadena. Follow the signs for two blocks to the Rose Bowl Game shuttle pick-up location at Parsons. This shuttle will take you directly to the Rose Bowl Stadium. After the game, simply reverse your route.
Alternatively, you could pay $60 to park directly in the Parsons garage and use the shuttle.
December 8th, 2023 at 12:19 AM ^
Highland Park is good and South Pasadena is another station that typically has a lot of free street parking available on side streets. I live halfway between the two stations (Hermon). My plan is to maybe walk up Arroyo Seco all the way (about 4 - 5 miles) but I get that's not everyone's cup of tea. If I make it to the Rose Parade, I'll probably street park at S. Pasadena station and take the A line.
FWIW, Union Station is $8/day in the East lot, the West lot is $15/day.
Can't wait!
December 7th, 2023 at 7:32 PM ^
This is great, thanks guys. I used to ride the metro way back in the day so I’ll probably opt for this. 👍🏻
December 7th, 2023 at 7:48 PM ^
Awesome, glad we could help out! Your familiarity with Metro is good, just know that the old Gold Line did a switcharoo with the Blue Line and then they abandoned the color names and now it's the A Line.
None of it makes any sense, but A Line to Memorial Park is the goal.
Hope you have a GREAT time and wish I could go as well, but those tickets are just a bit too rich for my blood, LOL.
December 7th, 2023 at 8:11 PM ^
This will be my first time making the trip, and this is basically my plan after spending way too much time online looking for this exact answer. Thanks for the confirmation that this is viable! Any idea how early the parking at any of the stations is likely to fill up?
December 7th, 2023 at 9:12 PM ^
EARLY.
Remember, this is also the route of the Rose Parade, so folks start lining up for that early as well.
The farther out you go, the easier to park though.
December 7th, 2023 at 9:44 PM ^
We’re thinking of boarding at Monrovia or Duarte/City of Hope. I see Monrovia has 350 parking spots. Hoping we can find something out that way.
December 7th, 2023 at 7:06 PM ^
Free parking in Pasadena on NY day during the Rose bowl parade and game?
December 7th, 2023 at 7:13 PM ^
The parking situation is less than ideal. There’s really no choice to pay and park anywhere near the stadium except on the golf course. There’s one entrance in and out, that being a winding road down a hill. There’s no side streets or local tricks to getting in or out quickly, and it’s fenced in.
The local neighborhoods that are walking distance usually have strict rules for Rose Bowl day that involve tickets ($$$) or towing. It’s best to ready yourself now for a long wait getting in and out of the place. Here’s hoping Michigan has put me in a good mood and I don’t care about the long wait on the way out!
December 7th, 2023 at 7:39 PM ^
Question for you or anyone else that I posted in another thread: What is the optimal spot for a post-game pickup?
We're going to have a non-football person in our traveling party pick us up after the game. We're envisioning a walk of at least a mile in a to-be-determined direction (probably away from the SE vector) to meet them.
Where could a car get relatively (a mile+ from the stadium) close -- and then easily away -- after the game? The neighborhood to the NW looks interesting, as does the one to the NE, but I don't know much about post-game traffic patterns.
December 7th, 2023 at 7:30 PM ^
I used to park in the neighborhoods to the (Will have to check a map) NW of the stadium. No big deal. Free. Howver, seeing posts above, they might’ve put a stop to that.
December 7th, 2023 at 7:39 PM ^
I live in the neighborhood.
Google Rockwood Road and La Loma Road. Park on Rockwood. It'll be a two mile walk, but there aren't parking restrictions there for the Rose Bowl and it's about as close as you can get to the stadium without navigating the snarl.
The walk is mostly-flat and there's a sidewalk on the east side of Arroyo Blvd for a good portion of the walk. It meets your criterion for hassle-free. Plan on getting there early, though.
As you are mapping your approach, you'll want to come in from the west side. Do NOT attempt to come in from the east and cross over the Arroyo via automobile. It'll be a nightmare.
Go Blue!
PS: I'm not sure if this is totally current, but here is a list of streets with posted "NO PARKING" restrictions during the game: https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/city-tightens-rose-bowl-loop-arroyo-area-parking-restrictions
January 2nd, 2024 at 8:16 PM ^
We parked on your street. Took the tough uphill climb coming back but it was all good. Thank you and hope you see this. Go blue!
December 7th, 2023 at 7:40 PM ^
the better to ask for forgiveness than permission method?
with those balls, just pull in someones drive way, park and walk to the stadium!
kidding aside, enjoy the game!! Go Blue !
December 7th, 2023 at 8:41 PM ^
Iv’e exaggerated a tad, but tbh what I wrote is not too far off ha
December 7th, 2023 at 7:43 PM ^
Many residential streets in Pasadena allow for free parking during the daytime -- but not at night. Usually the cutoff time is 6PM. So study the signs carefully.
December 7th, 2023 at 7:44 PM ^
We're flying from the Bay Area. Knowing that parking at the Rose Bowl can be challenging, I went onto the official Rose Bowl website and bought a parking pass for $55.
December 7th, 2023 at 10:21 PM ^
Same. Also bought a Alumni tailgate ticket today too.
December 7th, 2023 at 8:00 PM ^
I am sure some of the locals can help you pick up your pace from a brisk walk. Enjoy. I am jealous.
December 7th, 2023 at 9:25 PM ^
Great work. I support your decision making.
December 7th, 2023 at 9:36 PM ^
Park in the Municipal lot in Arcadia near Dennys in front of the Arcadia post office. It’s free and safe. Walk one street North of the Post office and catch the Gold Line train west into Old Town Pasedena which is 3 stops. Walk over to catch the Rosebowl Shuttle down to the game. Go early and catch the parade or some food.
December 7th, 2023 at 9:39 PM ^
If you come in after the parade you can get spots when people leave the parade.
December 8th, 2023 at 9:42 AM ^
Some good nuggets of parking advice here, if only I could find an affordable ticket...
December 8th, 2023 at 1:10 PM ^
Hear ya. Had to give up the tix I had because airfare from Michigan is RIDICULOUS. Could not find a plane ticket for under $1600. Tickets to Houston are MUCH cheaper, now I just have to talk my radiation oncologist to work around a football game schedule. Lol.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:38 PM ^
I suppose it won't hurt to ask: Do you still have any of your tickets available?
December 8th, 2023 at 6:19 PM ^
Good luck Rob, hope you make it there
December 8th, 2023 at 6:19 PM ^
I'm gonna be section 21-L, row 55 if anyone is near btw.
Go blue!