Figuring out where to park can make the difference between an easy day in Old Pasadena and spending the first 30 minutes circling crowded blocks. Fortunately, the historic district has thousands of parking spaces, three centrally located public Park & Walk garages, metered street parking, private lots, and two Metro A Line stations that make arriving without a car practical.
For most visitors, the simplest strategy is also the best: choose one central garage, park once, and explore Old Pasadena on foot. The historic district covers about 22 blocks, and restaurants, boutiques, courtyards, Colorado Boulevard, One Colorado, and many other destinations are close enough together that constantly moving your vehicle usually creates more inconvenience than it solves.
This guide explains the major Old Pasadena parking options, current Park & Walk rates, street parking, Memorial Park and Del Mar Metro stations, and how to choose the best arrival strategy for your plans.
If this is your first trip to the district, pair these transportation tips with our Things to Do in Old Pasadena Walking Guide so you can decide where to start exploring after you arrive.
Where to Park in Old Pasadena
Old Pasadena currently has more than 7,500 parking spaces spread among city garages, private structures, surface lots, metered streets, and valet locations. Having many options does not mean every parking location is equally useful, however.
For a visitor spending several hours in the neighborhood, the three Park & Walk garages are generally the easiest starting points. They are positioned around the historic core and use the same straightforward rate structure.
As of August 2026, parking at these facilities costs $1 for the first two hours, then $2 per hour, with a $12 daily maximum. All three are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Parking policies can change, so verify current information before an important trip or major event.
Choose One of the Three Central Park & Walk Garages
The De Lacey Parking Facility is located at 45 South De Lacey Avenue, about half a block south of Colorado Boulevard. This is a particularly convenient choice when your plans focus on the western side of the historic district, Colorado Boulevard, shopping, dining, or nearby entertainment.
The Schoolhouse Parking Facility is at 33 East Green Street at Green Street and Raymond Avenue. Its central location makes it useful for visitors who want to move between Colorado Boulevard, Raymond Avenue, Green Street, restaurants, shopping, and the southern portion of the district.
The Marriott Parking Facility is at 171 North Raymond Avenue between Holly and Walnut streets. It can work well when your itinerary includes Memorial Park, Holly Street, northern Old Pasadena, independent shops, or the northern side of One Colorado.
Pick Your Garage Based on Your First and Last Stop
Do not spend too much time trying to find the garage that is 200 feet closer to every attraction. Instead, think about where your day begins and where you expect it to end.
For a shopping-heavy trip centered on Colorado Boulevard, De Lacey or Schoolhouse may be convenient. If you plan to explore Holly Street, Memorial Park, and northern Old Pasadena before moving south, Marriott may fit better.
If dinner is your final activity, parking near the part of the district where you expect to eat can also make the end of the evening easier. Use our Old Pasadena Restaurant Guide and Old Pasadena Shopping Guide to build your route before choosing a garage.
Understand Street Parking Before Taking a Metered Space
Street parking can be useful for short visits, but a garage is usually easier when you expect to stay several hours. Current Old Pasadena visitor information lists metered parking enforcement from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Current rates listed for the heart of Old Pasadena are $1.25 per hour, while a lower-priced area south of Dayton Street between Pasadena and Raymond avenues is listed at $0.75 per hour. Always read the meter and posted signs where you actually park because restrictions may vary by block.
Pasadena also prohibits street parking between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless signage specifically indicates otherwise. This matters particularly for visitors staying late, attending nightlife or events, or assuming a street space can be used overnight.
The city supports Passport mobile payment for metered parking, allowing drivers to pay and extend eligible sessions from a phone. The City of Pasadena currently notes a small convenience fee for mobile transactions.
Taking Metro and Getting Around Old Pasadena Without Moving Your Car
Driving is not the only practical way to reach Old Pasadena. Metro’s A Line serves Pasadena, and two stations are especially useful for the historic district: Memorial Park Station and Del Mar Station.
For visitors coming from areas already connected to Metro rail, using the A Line can remove parking from the trip entirely. It can be particularly attractive during large events when road traffic and parking demand increase.
Once you arrive, the district itself is highly walkable. Instead of thinking of transportation as a way to move between every restaurant and store, use it to reach Old Pasadena and then experience the neighborhood primarily on foot.
Use Memorial Park or Del Mar Station Based on Your Itinerary
Memorial Park Station is the natural choice for many visitors heading to the central and northern portions of Old Pasadena. Metro’s current information places it on the A Line, and it is only a short walk from Colorado Boulevard and the historic commercial core.
It is especially useful when your plans include Memorial Park, Holly Street, One Colorado, Colorado Boulevard, or an event near the northern side of the district.
Del Mar Station sits farther south near Del Mar Boulevard and Raymond Avenue. It is useful for visitors beginning near Central Park, Green Street, southern Old Pasadena, or destinations around the southern side of the historic district.
You do not necessarily need to return through the same station. Depending on your route and Metro travel direction, you can begin near one side of Old Pasadena and finish closer to the other. Check current Metro service before traveling because schedules, maintenance work, and service advisories can change.
Consider Metro During Major Events and Busy Weekends
Old Pasadena hosts seasonal programming, concerts, celebrations, and events that can significantly increase traffic. Pasadena also attracts very large crowds for events elsewhere in the city, particularly around the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl.
During busier periods, Metro can eliminate the uncertainty of searching for parking. Memorial Park Station is particularly useful because it places riders close to Colorado Boulevard and the historic district.
If you are visiting specifically for seasonal entertainment, check our Old Pasadena Summer Events 2026 Guide and confirm any event-specific street closures or transit changes before leaving home.
Park Once and Treat Old Pasadena as a Walking District
Whether you arrive by car or rail, the same rule improves the experience: walk once you reach the district.
A practical itinerary might begin around Memorial Park or One Colorado, continue south toward Colorado Boulevard, move through Raymond Avenue and Fair Oaks Avenue, stop for lunch or shopping, and then explore Green Street or Central Park later in the day.
Moving a vehicle between every stop means repeatedly dealing with garage entrances, traffic signals, parking availability, and new fees. Walking lets you notice the alleys, historic façades, older signs, courtyards, cafés, and smaller businesses that are easy to miss through a windshield.
Comfortable shoes are more useful here than a perfectly positioned parking space. During warmer months, consider starting earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon, bring water, and use restaurants, shops, or shaded public areas for breaks.
Travelers
Travelers spending an entire day in Pasadena should also think about the daily parking maximum rather than chasing the cheapest possible short-term spot. The Park & Walk garages currently top out at $12 per day, which can make them simpler for an extended visit than monitoring a street meter.
For shorter errands, metered parking may make more sense. If you are staying for lunch, shopping, an evening event, and dinner, the garage-and-walk approach usually becomes easier.
Before your visit, check the official Old Pasadena maps and parking information for the latest garage rates, parking locations, metered-parking rules, and transportation updates. Metro riders should also check current A Line service and advisories before departure.
For a longer itinerary, our Old Pasadena Weekend Guide connects transportation with restaurants, shopping, historic streets, and things to do. You can also use our main Parking & Getting Around hub for updated visitor-planning information.
Getting around Old Pasadena does not need to be complicated. Drivers can use one of the three central Park & Walk garages, while Metro riders can arrive through Memorial Park or Del Mar Station. Once you are there, leave the transportation decisions behind and explore on foot. Old Pasadena is compact enough that walking is not simply a way to get between destinations—it is one of the best parts of visiting the neighborhood.