CONNECT with the CityParking Information for Balboa Park
Updated March 1, 2026
More free parking is now available for verified City of San Diego residents! But you must register in advance and provide proof of residency via our online portal: sandiego.ThePermitPortal.com.
Paid parking for both residents and non-residents will remain in the premium Level 1 lots, which continue to experience the highest congestion, visitor demand and turnover. Retaining paid parking in these locations remains consistent with the original intent of the program: managing demand in the most constrained areas of Balboa Park and providing a dedicated funding source to support the park's operations, maintenance, and long-term sustainability.
Use the Balboa Park payment portal to purchase monthly, quarterly and annual parking passes, and also to register in advance as a verified resident of the City of San Diego in order to receive free parking in the seven general parking lots and discounts on parking passes and daily rates in the five premium lots. You will be required to enter your vehicle’s license plate number and information showing proof of residency.
Paid parking in Balboa Park went into effect Jan. 5, 2026. The parking plan approved by the City Council ensures that verified City of San Diego residents can receive free or discounted parking, and preserves some free parking options for others, including park employees and volunteers. Parking revenues will be used within Balboa Park for improvements and maintenance.
There are monthly, quarterly and annual parking pass options for both verified residents of the City of San Diego and for nonresidents, who pay a higher rate. For those not purchasing passes, please pay at the parking meter kiosks on roads in Balboa Park for $2.50 an hour, and in the lots for daily fees ranging from $5 to $16.
For non-city residents, free parking is available in the Lower Inspiration Point lot on Presidents Way for up to three hours, and a free shuttle is available to take visitors to other areas of the park. Designated spaces are also available for buses and oversized vehicles at Lower Inspiration Point.
Paid parking is enforced daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the exception of the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Parking Meters
Meters have been installed on roads within the park including Balboa Drive, El Prado, Juniper Road, Presidents Way, Quince Drive, Zoo Drive and Village Place. There are also meters on some adjacent roads including Sixth Avenue, from Elm to Upas streets, and Park Boulevard, from Village Place to Presidents Way. Meter rates are $2.50 per hour, up to $10 a day and are enforced between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. Meters outside the park on Sixth Avenue and Park Boulevard are also $2.50 an hour, with a four-hour maximum. Meters take credit cards, Apple Pay/ Google Pay or coins. Download the Park Smarter App to pay using your smartphone.
Learn How to Pay for Parking at a Meter Kiosk
City of San Diego Resident Discount
Verified residents of the City of San Diego are able to park for free in the general Balboa Park parking lots, and in the premium lots at a discounted rate. The discounted rates apply to daily parking in the premium Balboa Park parking lots and to parking passes, but do not apply to parking meters on the roads within or near the park.
Use the online portal to register for parking passes and discounts.
Advance registration via the online portal is required. There is a one-time $5 fee to register, and one form of residence verification is needed, such as a driver’s license, vehicle registration, utility bill or lease agreement. Residents will also be asked to enter their vehicle’s license plate number. The resident verification process could take up to two business days. This timeline could vary depending on the number of applications received. If there is more than one vehicle per household, each will need a separate registration, which is tied to that vehicle's license plate number.
City residents may select the Level 2 and Level 3 free parking pass. Once verified, the account and free pass are valid for three years. Paid premium passes for the Level 1 parking lots should also be purchased via the online portal.
Learn How to Use the Online Portal
Read step-by-step instructions on how to use the online portal to register as a San Diego resident and buy parking passes.
For assistance with the online portal registration, visit or call the Digital Navigator Program at select San Diego branch libraries and recreation centers. With this free service, navigators will walk people through the process, either in person or on the phone. A schedule of locations and times is available on the Digital Navigator schedule web page, or by phone at 1-800-350-6945. Live simultaneous translation services are available for non-English speakers.
Parking Lots
For parking lots within Balboa Park, paid parking is enforced from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with discounts available in the five premium lots for verified City of San Diego residents.
The cost of each parking lot varies, depending on how close it is to the center of the park.
- Level 1 lots: Space Theater, Casa de Balboa, Alcazar, Organ Pavilion and South Carousel
- Verified resident rate: $5 for up to four hours; $8 full day
- Nonresident rate: $10 for up to four hours; $16 full day
- Level 2 lots: Pepper Grove, Upper Inspiration Point, Marston Point and Federal, Palisades and Bea Evenson
- Verified resident rate: Free
- Nonresident rate: $10 per day
- Level 3 lot: Lower Inspiration Point
- Verified resident rate: Free
Nonresident rate: First three hours free; $10 full day
Parking Rates
| Resident Type | Level 1 (Premium) Space Theater, Casa de Balboa, Alcazar, Organ Pavilion, South Carousel | Level 2 (General) Pepper Grove, Federal, Upper Inspiration Point, Marston Point, Bea Evenson, Palisades | Level 3 (General) Lower Inspiration Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of San Diego Resident | $8/day; $5/four hours | Free | Free |
| Nonresident | $16/day; $10/four hours | $10/day | $10/day; first 3 hours free |
Parking fee payments in lots within Balboa Park may be made at meter kiosks. However, to receive the City resident free or discount parking in the lots, users must register online and purchase parking in advance.
Parking Passes
Monthly, quarterly and annual passes are available for purchase for frequent Balboa Park visitors. Discounted parking is available to verified residents of the City of San Diego for the five premium lots. Each virtual parking pass will apply to one vehicle.
The rates for the parking passes are:
| Pass Type | City Verified Resident Rate | Nonresident Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Pass | $30 | $40 |
| Quarterly Pass | $60 | $120 |
| Annual Pass | $150 | $300 |
Balboa Park Employees and Volunteers
Verified employees and volunteers of Balboa Park organizations with leaseholds and special use permits may park for free in any Level 2 and 3 lots within Balboa Park, and at metered spots on roads within the park’s West Mesa, while working or volunteering in the park.
ADA Accessible Parking
Parking is free, with no time limit, in all Balboa Park parking lots and at parking meters for those with a Disabled Person license plate or placard. Any space may be used for free ADA parking, not just is the blue parking spaces marked for disabled parking.
Trams and Shuttles
Free tram service continues to serve visitors to Balboa Park. All trams are equipped with ADA-accessible ramps; ask the conductor for assistance. For more information, visit the Balboa Park website.
Trams operate daily and leave from the Inspiration Point parking lot at Park Boulevard and Presidents Way.
Tram service hours run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. An on-call shuttle is available for park-based employees and volunteers from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Special Events in Balboa Park
There are new user fees for organizations holding special events within Balboa Park that either use a parking lot or park road or prohibit access to a parking lot or park road during the event. Those fees vary depending on whether the organization is a nonprofit, the amount of space needed, the duration of the event, and other factors.
San Diego Zoo Parking
For questions related to parking in the San Diego Zoo lot, please contact the Zoo or visit the Zoo’s parking website.
Public Transportation Alternatives
Learn more about how to use the Metropolitan Transit System trolley and buses to visit Balboa Park.
Contact Us
For questions about the payment portal call the Digital Navigator Program at 1-800-350-6945. For all other questions including refund requests, go to sandiego.gov/ContactParking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will parking revenue be used?
Parking revenues collected within Balboa Park must be reinvested in the park, with eligible expenses including park operations and maintenance. Revenues collected from the Sixth Avenue and Park Boulevard meters may be reinvested in the park and surrounding streets, and those funds can only be used for traffic safety, mobility and transportation-related infrastructure needs.
Each parking pass applies to a single vehicle, verified by that vehicle’s license plate number.
The parking passes are virtual. No physical passes will be issued.
Are the parking lot tram and on-call shuttles free?
Yes, the tram and shuttles remain free.
Are the trams and shuttles accessible for handicapped visitors?
Yes, both the trams and the on-call shuttles are ADA-compliant.
Can I register to receive the City resident parking discount at the parking meter kiosk?
No, registration and verification of City residence must be done online in advance. The kiosks are not able to verify residency on the spot. Free parking in the general lots, premium parking passes for the Level 1 lots, and daily discounted parking for City residents need to be purchased in advance, and residency verification could take up to two business days. This timeline could vary depending on the number of applications received.
Are all nonprofit organizations allowed free parking for their volunteers?
Only nonprofits that are based in Balboa Park may offer free parking to their staff and volunteers, and only while they are at the park working. Any other organization that is not park-based does not have access to the free parking for their volunteers/staff except for contractors coming to make repairs on park facilities.
Free parking is available for verified employees or volunteers of clubs and organizations based in the park, while they are working. Members of clubs or organizations that meet in the park may park for free for three hours at Lower Inspiration Point, or pay for parking while visiting.
Free parking is available for verified employees or volunteers of clubs and organizations based in the park, while they are working. Visitors who have an approved ground-use or facility-use permit in the park may park for free for three hours at Lower Inspiration Point or pay for parking while visiting.
Do I have to pay if there are no disabled parking spots left and I have an ADA placard?
No. with a valid ADA placard or license plate displayed, you may park in any of the park's lots or at the meters for free.
How do I obtain the three hours free at Lower Inspiration Point? Do I need to pre-register?
The three free hours at Lower Inspiration Point are for all visitors who are not verified City of San Diego residents. You do not need to pre-register. Simply go to the parking kiosk and follow the instructions to obtain your free three hours.