Long Beach Parking Pro-Tips

With so much to see and do in Long Beach, it helps to know about the best options for parking your car. Here are our pro tips for parking, including how to get the best rates and where to look for convenient parking near some of they city’s most popular attractions and shopping districts.

For an overview and maps of parking options in Long Beach, visit parklb.com.

LONG BEACH CONVENTION & ENTERTAINMENT CENTER

The Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center hosts events throughout the year in the convention center, Terrace Theater, Long Beach Arena, and Beverly O’Neill Theater. Each venue has its own paid parking lot. For a map and details visit the center’s parking and directions webpage, where you can also reserve parking in advance for some events.

QUEEN MARY & CRUISE TERMINAL

The parking lot at the Queen Mary is available for hotel guests and visitors at a daily flat rate. Consider taking the free Passport bus to save on the cost of parking. Parking for Carnival Cruises is available at a daily flat rate in the LB Cruise Terminal Parking Garage.

CREDIT: Long Beach Transit

METERED PARKING

You can download the Passport Parking app to make mobile parking payments for on-street metered parking in Belmont Shore, Downtown, Retro Row, the Waterfront, and participating beach parking lots. Instead of rushing to feed the meter, use the app to add to your parking time. Smart meters that accept credit cards are now available, and the City offers the first 15 minutes free. To activate, press the green “OK” button.

WATERFRONT ATTRACTIONS

If you are visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific, park in the structure across from the Aquarium and scan your parking ticket inside the Aquarium’s front entrance to receive a flat rate of $8 that covers a full day. The same full day rate is available in the parking structures at the Pike Outlets with validation from Cinemark, Pier Point Landing, and Yacht Cruises. Retail shops in the outlet mall offer two hours free with validation and a discounted hourly rate after that.

CREDIT: Anitza Valles

DOWNTOWN

For shopping and dining in Downtown Long Beach, the best option is the three City Place lots, which offer the first two hours free. These lots include City Place A (50 E 6th St) west of Pine Avenue with entrances on 5th and 6th Streets, City Place B (50 E 5th St) just to the south of that with entrances on 4th and 5th Streets, and City Place C (185 E 3rd St) at 3rd Street by the Promenade.

TRANSIT OPTIONS

Metro offers parking lots at the Willow and Wardlow stations, allowing passengers to park and ride the A Line light rail into Downtown Long Beach. A single fare is $1.25 and you can use the Moovit app to plan your trip. Long Beach Transit also operates a free bus service called Passport throughout downtown Long Beach on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays with stops at the Queen Mary, Pine Avenue, and Shoreline Village. Buses come every 15 minutes between 10AM and 8PM. Visit ridelbt.com/passport for details.

WATER TAXIS

During the summer, Long Beach Transit offers two water taxis: the AquaLink and the AquaBus. You can ride the AquaLink water taxi from Alamitos Bay Landing to the Aquarium and the Queen Mary for $5. The AquaBus carries passengers to stops around Rainbow Harbor, including the Aquarium, Shoreline Village, and the Queen Mary. Tickets are $1 and one full round trip lasts about 20 minutes.

CREDIT: Long Beach Transit

About the Author

Claire Atkinson

Claire Atkinson is a Southern California native who has lived in Long Beach for 20 years. She spends her free time visiting local parks, farmers markets, and museums, and loves learning about Long Beach history and culture.