USDGriffith Observatory, at 2800 E Observatory Rd in Griffith Park, is one of the few world-class Los Angeles attractions with free admission — but parking is anything but free, and at sunset on a weekend it can be the hardest part of your visit. The essentials: meters charge $10 per hour, the lot fills 60–90 minutes before sunset on clear days, and a 50-cent bus runs right to the front door.
How much does it cost to park at Griffith Observatory?
The Observatory's own lot and the metered curb parking on West Observatory Road and Western Canyon Road charge $10 per hour. Payment is enforced from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends — and the meters run even on days the Observatory building itself is closed (it's closed Mondays).
Payment is by pay-and-display kiosk along the roads, and the kiosks are card-only. Outside enforcement hours the same spaces are free — which is why dawn hikers park at the top for nothing.
Where can I park for free near the Observatory?
The classic local move is the Greek Theatre lot at 2700 N Vermont Ave, lower down the same hill. On days with no Greek Theatre event, parking there is free, and from the lot you can either walk up the hill (about 15 minutes, steep but manageable) or hop the DASH Observatory bus, which stops at the Greek and runs up to the Observatory's front driveway.
Two caveats: check the Greek Theatre calendar first — on concert nights it becomes paid event parking — and don't leave a car in the park past posted road-closing times.
| Option | Cost | Distance to Observatory | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Observatory top lot & Observatory/Western Canyon Rd meters | $10/hr (weekdays 12–10 p.m., weekends 10 a.m.–10 p.m.) | 0–10 min walk | Short visits, mobility needs, off-peak weekdays |
| Greek Theatre lot (non-event days) | Free | ~15 min uphill walk, or DASH up the hill | Budget visits, anyone happy to walk |
| DASH Observatory bus from Vermont/Sunset Metro station | 50¢ (35¢ with TAP) | Drops at the front driveway | Sunset and weekend visits — skips the traffic entirely |
What's the smartest strategy for sunset and weekends?
Sunset is the crunch. On clear evenings — and almost any Saturday or Sunday from late morning onward — the top lot and the curb spaces fill well before golden hour. A realistic plan:
- Arrive 90–120 minutes before sunset if you insist on driving to the top. Arriving 20–45 minutes before sunset usually means full lots, stop-and-go traffic on the climb, and drivers competing for curb space.
- Have a bail-out plan. If the summit looks jammed, don't circle — drop down to the Greek Theatre lot or Vermont Avenue and walk or ride DASH up. Circling the horseshoe wastes 30+ minutes at peak.
- Come after 8 p.m. on nights the Observatory is open late; the sunset crowd thins out and spaces reopen, and the telescope and city-lights views are arguably better anyway.
- Weekday mornings are the easy mode: weekday meter enforcement doesn't even start until noon.
Can I get towed or ticketed on the roads up to the Observatory?
Yes, and enforcement is active precisely because so many people gamble at sunset. The rules of thumb: red curb means no stopping, ever; tow-away signs on Western Canyon and Observatory Roads are enforced; and curb paint and posted signs both apply — if either says no, it's no. Cars angled into dirt shoulders or blocking fire lanes get cited and towed during peak periods, and a tow from Griffith Park costs far more than any number of hours at the meter. If signage is ambiguous, park somewhere it isn't.
How do I get there without a car (DASH bus, Metro, rideshare)?
The DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus is the best deal in LA transit: it runs daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., every 20–25 minutes, from the Vermont/Sunset Metro B (Red) Line station up through Los Feliz, past the Greek Theatre, to the Observatory's front driveway. Fare is 50 cents cash or 35 cents with a Metro TAP card; seniors and riders with disabilities pay 25 cents, and kids 4 and under ride free. It runs even on Mondays when the building is closed, so grounds and trails stay reachable.
Rideshare drop-off is at the front horseshoe driveway. The catch is the ride home: sunset pickup demand surges and your driver crawls up the same congested road — walk down to the Greek Theatre or Vermont/Sunset for a cheaper, faster pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is admission to Griffith Observatory free?
Yes — the building, exhibits, and public telescopes are free. Only parking (and planetarium shows) cost money.
How much is parking at Griffith Observatory?
$10 per hour at the top lot and the metered stretches of West Observatory Road and Western Canyon Road, enforced 12–10 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.–10 p.m. weekends.
Is there any truly free parking?
Yes: the Greek Theatre lot on non-event days (then walk ~15 minutes or ride DASH up), and the metered areas outside enforcement hours — popular with early-morning hikers.
How much is the DASH Observatory bus?
50 cents, or 35 cents with a TAP card, running daily 10 a.m.–10 p.m. every 20–25 minutes from the Vermont/Sunset Metro station.
Do the meters take cash?
The pay-and-display kiosks on the roads are card-only, so bring a credit or debit card.
Is the Observatory parking lot open on Mondays?
The grounds, trails, and parking stay open (and meters stay enforced) on Mondays even though the Observatory building is closed.