Downtown Santa Cruz Parking
The City of Santa Cruz has 22 parking lots in the downtown area. Sixteen of them are free, with time limits the other six of them are pay parking. The map below shows the locations of the parking lots. Remember your space number and pay at any paystation or pay by phone with Parkmobile.
Free Downtown Parking on Holidays
The free/time limited parking lots and metered parking are not enforced on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King’s Birthday, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
List of Downtown Parking Facilities
The Soquel/Front Parking Garage is located at the corner of Soquel Avenue and Front Street. The lot is paid hourly parking (2 hour minimum), seven days a week, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Keep your ticket with you, and pay at one of the Pay-on-Foot stations (located on the ground floor stair towers) or the cashier’s office before returning to your vehicle.
Lot No. 2: The Walnut Tree Parking Lot
The Walnut Tree Parking Lot is located on Cedar Street between Union and Center Streets. The lot is free and is open 24 hours a day. It has a 3-hour time limit, Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The lot is unlimited all day on Sundays.
The Locust Garage is located at the corner of Cedar and Locust streets. The lot is paid hourly parking, seven days a week, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Keep your ticket with you, pay at one of the Pay-on-Foot stations (located on the ground floor stair towers) or the cashier's window before returning to your vehicle, or you can pay by credit card at the exit gate.
Lot No. 3: The Cedar/Church Garage (800 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Cedar/Church Parking Garage is located at the corner of Cedar and Church streets. The garage is pay-by-space hourly parking with a $.50 per hour/$5 per day rate. The fee is charged seven days a week 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Lot No. 4: The Cedar/Cathcart Parking Lot (610 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Cedar/Cathcart Parking Lot is located at the corner of Cedar and Cathcart streets. The lot is pay-by-space hourly parking with a $.50 per hour/$5 per day rate. The fee is charged seven days a week 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. This lot is closed each Wednesday from Noon to 7:00 PM for the Downtown Farmer's Market, and the second Sunday of each month for the Antique Faire.
Lot No. 5: The Calvary Church Parking Lot (538 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Calvary Church Parking Lot is located next to the Calvary Episcopal Church, at the corner of Center and Lincoln streets. It is pay-by-space hourly parking with a $.50 per hour/$5 per day rate. The fee is charged Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The lot is unlimited all day on Sundays.
Lot No. 6: The Civic Auditorium Parking Lot (711 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Civic Auditorium Parking Lot is located on Church Street (between Center and Chestnut streets), next to the Civic Auditorium. It is a metered parking lot. Parking meters operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Sunday.
Lot No. 7: The Front/Cathcart Parking Lot (505 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Front/Cathcart Parking Lot is located at the corner of Front and Cathcart streets. It is free and is open 24 hours a day. It has a 3-hour time limit, Monday-Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. The lot is unlimited all day on Sundays.
Lot No. 8: The Pearl Alley Parking Lot (710 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Pearl Alley Parking Lot is located at the corner of Cedar and Lincoln Streets. The lot is pay-by-space hourly parking with a $.50 per hour/$5 per day rate. The fee is charged seven days a week 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. This parking lot has electric vehicle charging stations.
Lot No. 9: The Elm Street Parking Lot (120 Elm Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Elm Street Parking Lot is located at the corner of Cedar and Elm streets. The lot is pay-by-space hourly parking with a $.50 per hour/$5 per day rate. The fee is charged seven days a week 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Lot No. 10: River/Front Garage (24 River Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The River Front Parking Garage is located between River and Front streets next to the Galleria Office Complex. The lot is paid hourly parking (2 hour minimum), seven days a week, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Keep your ticket with you, and pay at one of the Pay-on-Foot stations (two stations are located on the ground floor and one is located at the second floor exit) or the cashier’s office before returning to your vehicle. This parking garage has electric vehicle charging stations.
Lot No. 11: The Front Street South Parking Lot (328 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Front Street South Parking Lot is located on Front Street, just north of Laurel Street and next to the San Lorenzo River levee. It is free and is open 24 hours a day. It has a 3-hour time limit, Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The lot is unlimited all day on Sundays. The lot has $10 event parking during events at the Kaiser Permanente Arena.
Lot No. 12: The South Pacific Avenue Parking Lot (902 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA)
The South Pacific Avenue Parking Lot is located on Pacific Avenue, just north of the Pacific Avenue and Maple Street intersection. It is free and is open 24 hours a day. It has a 3-hour time limit, Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The lot is unlimited all day on Sundays. This parking garage has electric vehicle charging stations.
Lot No. 13: The City Hall Parking Lot (809 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The City Hall Parking Lot is located next to the City Hall complex on the north side of Church Street, between Chestnut and Center streets. It provides 3-hour visitor parking and reserved employee parking. The 3-hour time limit is in effect Monday-Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00p.m. The lot is unlimited all day on Sundays.
Lot No. 14: The Central Branch Library Parking Lot (224 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Central Branch Library lot is located on Locust Street (between Cedar and Center streets), next to the Central Branch. It provides 3-hour visitor and reserved employee parking. The 3-hour time limit is in effect Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The lot is unlimited all day on Sundays.
Lot No. 16: The Sentinel Parking Lot (204 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Sentinel lot is located on Church Street between Cedar and Center Streets. The lot is pay-by-space hourly parking with a $.50 per hour/$5 per day rate. The fee is charged seven days a week 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. This lot is subject to closure to public parking for special events.
Lot No. 17: The Laurel Street Extension Permit Parking Lot (200 Laurel Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Laurel Street Extension lot is located at the intersection of Spruce and Laurel Streets Extension. It is a metered parking lot. Parking meters operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Sunday. The lot has persons with disabilities parking during events at the Kaiser Permanente Arena.
Lot No. 20: Birch Lane between Pacific and Cedar Streets (114 Birch Lane, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Birch Lane permit parking is located on Birch Lane between Pacific and Cedar Streets. Parking by permit only for downtown employees and residents.
Lot No. 22: The Upper Front Street Parking Lot (440 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Upper Front Street lot is located on the east side of Front Street, across from the Metro Center. This lot is operated as a private parking lot Monday-Friday. It is a public parking lot on Saturday and Sunday. A 3-hour time limit is enforced on Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lot No. 23: The Front/Laurel West Parking Lot (100 Laurel Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is unlimited all day on Sundays. The lot has $10 event parking during events at the Kaiser Permanente Arena.
Lot No. 26: The Police Department Parking Lot (155 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Police Department parking lot is located on Center Street at Laurel Street, next to the Police Department. It provides 3-hour visitor and reserved parking. The 3-hour time limit is in effect Monday-Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Lot 27: The Front/Laurel East Parking Lot (310 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA)
The Front/Laurel East lot is located at the corner of Front and Laurel streets. It has a 3-hour time limit, enforced Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is unlimited all day on Sundays. The lot has $10 event parking during events at the Kaiser Permanente Arena.