Where, Oh Where To Park At The LA Auto Show
You can pay $40 or more, or you can pay nothing. The choice is yours.
For years, LA Car photographer Albert Wong had been paying $20 for a choice space at the West Hall end of the LA Convention Center parking lot where the LA Auto Show is held. Last November, he received a bit of a seismic jolt when the Convention parking attendant wanted $35 - a 75 percent increase during the course of one year.
By Roy Nakano
Sun, Nov 3, 2024 05:46 AM PST
Featured image above: Finding parking the old fashion way (dry brush rendering of Petr Kratochvil’s “Parking Meter”, courtesy of publicdomainpicures.net).
No one should have to pay $35 for a half day of public parking at the LA Convention Center. Okay, there was that one year when it hailed large, Texas-size pellets. The convention center parking will at least protect your car from the elements. But that parking is not enough to fit everyone attending the show.
What the LA Auto Show Recommends
Even the LA Auto Show organizers show sympathy to attendees about parking to see the event. Here’s what the LA Auto Show site says about parking: “LA Convention Center offers non-reserved parking on a limited basis at South Hall, West Hall, and Venice Garage for between $25-35 per day. For parking at LA Live, across the street from Chick Hearn Court from the Los Angeles Convention Center, spaces are available in Lot W and Lot E. For school and tour buses, please contact Show Management to make arrangements in advance at 310.444.1850. More parking information here. That link will lead you to two lots in the LA Live vicinity:
The East Garage (AKA Lot E) is on Olympic Boulevard. To get there, direct your GPS to 888 W Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 91005.
The West Garage is located on Olympic Boulevard. Direct your Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to 1005 Chick Hearn Ct, Los Angeles, CA 9001.
Note that both lots have a clearance height of 8 feet 2 inches. And in case it applies to you, passes not valid for limos, buses, sprinter vans, and oversized vehicles.
Can You Find Parking For Me?
Suppose you don’t want to go through the trouble of finding a parking space? There’s an app for that. LA Car’s Reed Berry points to Spot Angels. “You type in where you're going, and it shows you free and cheap parking options in the area.”
The apps can also help you reserve parking at or very near the LA Auto Show for $20 to $40 or more, depending on the spot you seek. If this is your cup of tea, take a look at Spot Hero.
Finding Parking the Old Fashion Way
Where’s ample parking at reasonable prices if you’re willing to venture outside the circle of the LA Auto Show vicinity. It may require walking a little further, but you can chalk it up as part of the day’s exercise.
Reed says he’s found parking for free at curb space not too far from the LA Convention Center—for free, all day, with no time limit. “I'm not saying where, or all the spaces will be taken! I do the same for any event I attend at the convention center.”
The Public Transit Alternative
“Might a parking article include public transit advice?,” asks LA Car’s Chuck Dapoz. Chuck admits, “Public transit to an auto show feels wrong.” But adds, “Exorbitant parking prices are just as wrong.”
Last year, Chuck took a Metro commuter bus to the LA Auto Show. “They run through ‘distant’ neighborhoods, then onto freeways nonstop until downtown. One-way fares are $1.75. Round trip is less than parking, isn't it? Seniors pay 35 cents off peak and 75 cents peak.”
LA Car’s John Grafman echoes Chuck’s sentiment about the public transit alternative. “Here’s my parking suggestion: Park at or near a local Metro station. Parking is often free. The rail isn’t much money and takes riders just a couple blocks of walking to the convention center. Go with a friend. It makes the trip that much more enjoyable. Let Metro Rail do the driving and enjoy the view through town without risk of getting into an accident. The downside is, riders need to mind the return train times, so they don’t miss a trip back. Also, weather can be a little bit of an issue.”
About the Metro
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority, known to Angelenos as simply as the Metro, proudly boasts that it serves as transportation planner and coordinator, designer, builder, and operator for the most populous county in the country. According to its site, more than 10 million people – nearly one-fourth of California’s residents – live, work and play within our 1,433-square-mile service area.
Chuck and John recommend taking a serious look at the Metro alternative.
About The Author
Roy Nakano gave birth to LACar in the late '90s, having previously delivered LA Audio File back in the '80s. Aside from the occasional review, Roy likes to stray off the beaten automotive path: "Six Degrees of Reparations" reflected on the regretful ethical paths taken by car companies throughout history. "Traveling Through the Past and Present of the Green Book" looked at businesses that took a stand against racism and the man that wrote the book on where to find them. "Best Cars to Drive in Rush Hour Traffic" was an LACar guide published in the pre-GPS era. "In Search of the First Datsun 510 Tuner" looked at one of the milestones in the origin of import tuners.
