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Directions & Parking

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is located at: 400 Beach Street in Santa Cruz, California

The Boardwalk is a popular destination on weekends and holidays, so we suggest arriving early to ensure onsite parking.
Park Hours
Parking FAQ

Directions

Take Highway 17 or scenic Highway 1 to Santa Cruz and follow the street signs to Santa Cruz Beach.

Get Directions

Boardwalk All-Day Parking*

  • Summer Weekends & Holidays: $35
  • Summer Weekdays (Memorial Day-Labor Day): $25
  • Spring & Fall Weekends: $25
  • Weekdays: $20
  • Limited Ride Days: $15
  • Rides Closed: $5

*Subject to change. No overnight parking. 

Boardwalk Map
Santa Cruz City Map
Santa Cruz County Map

Parking FAQs

Parking in all Boardwalk Parking Lots is available on a first-come first-served basis in open-air lots along Beach Street. Parking fees are charged at a flat rate per day. There are NO in-and-out parking privileges. Please see our Park Map for parking lot locations.

  • Main Lot: Opens at 6am
  • River Lot: Opens 2 hours before rides open. 
  • Leibrandt & Park Place Lots: Opens 2 hours before rides open Saturday-Sunday and holidays. Closing times vary.
  • All vehicles must be out of all parking lots by 2:30am. No overnight parking or camping. Vehicles will be towed at owners expense.
Please check Ride hours on our Operating Calendar. 
The price of parking cars and motorcycles at the Boardwalk is subject to change and depends on the day of your visit: Please see list above.
  • Spring: Starting with full operation in February until the weekend before Memorial Day Weekend.
  • Fall: After Labor Day until full operation ends in October.
  • Main Lot: Please pay after you park by scanning the QR code on your parking ticket using a smartphone, or at a Parking Lot Pay Station (Main Lot: main entrance, Beach Street at Cliff Street, or Beach Street at Riverside Avenue). River lot pay stations are located near the parking lot entrance.
  • River, Liebrandt, and Park Place Lots: Please pay a Parking Lot Attendant at the entrance of the lot.

NOTE: All parking lots accept cashless payments only including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay.

When a Season Pass is redeemed, you will receive a coupon sheet containing four (4) $5 discount coupons, each for use on separate visits. The coupon sheet cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Coupons may be redeemed at automated Parking Lot Pay Stations or with a Parking Lot Attendant.

For Deluxe Season pass holders, free parking is available Monday-Friday, exclusions apply.

Free Parking Monday-Friday—NEW FOR 2026
(Excludes 5/25, 6/19, 7/3, & 9/7)

School buses may park for free, but must use the River Lot (past section 4) at the corner of Beach and Third Street. Space is limited and not guaranteed.

On days of full operation, RVs must park in the River Parking Lot by the section 4 pole (space is limited and not guaranteed). Parking Rates for Oversized Vehicles: $40-$50 weekdays and $50-$70 weekends.

NO; overnight parking is not allowed, except for paid participants registered to attend Overnight Campout events on specific dates.

For vehicles displaying a disabled placard or license plate, there are designated parking spaces in the front rows of our Main Parking Lot. Regular fees apply and availability is not guaranteed. Please see the Accessibility Information flyer for more information.

We do not offer EV chargers for electric vehicles.

  1. Go to any Pay Station in the parking lot.
  2. Select the “Lost Ticket” option on the screen.
  3. Complete the payment as prompted.
  4. A replacement ticket with a barcode will be printed for you.
  5. Proceed to any exit gate and scan the barcode to exit the lot.

A Parking team member is available via the Help button at any pay station if you need assistance.

Unfortunately, we do not provide towing or car unlocking services. Please contact a towing company of your choice or contact your insurance.

For assistance, please press the HELP button at any Parking Lot Pay Station (Main Lot entrance, Beach Street at Cliff Street, or Beach Street at Riverside Avenue) or Main Lot Exit (Riverside Avenue, Second Street, or Cliff Street) or call the Boardwalk at (831) 423-5590.

Upon entering the Main lot, your ticket is timestamped. You have a 15-minute grace period to exit without charge if you leave within 15 minutes of entry. 

If you are parked in one of our automated parking lots, and have lost your paid parking ticket, you can request assistance by pressing the Help button an any of the pay stations or exits.