Parking

If you're feeling unsure about the parking situation at Balboa Park, you are not alone. We know it's more complicated than usual this year, and we appreciate your patience and understanding.

The City of San Diego has decided to enforce their parking fees for the remainder of the year, with no exceptions made for nonprofit charity events like Walk4ALZ. We know this adds an extra challenge and complication to the event, and we are grateful for your participation in supporting families impacted by dementia in San Diego County.

To prepare for the event, we have included a breakdown of the parking options at Balboa Park so that you can feel more prepared for October 17.

Parking Options

FREE parking until 11am:

• Free parking is available in the Lower Inspiration Point lot for up to three hours, beginning at 8 am.
• When you arrive, Alzheimer’s San Diego volunteers will give you a bright pink slip of paper to display on your car dashboard after you park.

Street parking:

• If you would like to park on the street (ex. Park Blvd), please use the parking meters or download the city app to pay for parking.
  • Meters accept credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, coins, or you can download the Park Smarter App to pay using your smartphone.
• There is a 4 hour maximum parking limit for all street parking near and in Balboa Park.

Purchasing a parking pass for a Balboa Park parking lot:

• If you would like to pay for a parking pass to use in another Balboa Park parking lot, you can register your vehicle using the online portal.
• You will be required to pay a $5 registration fee and then you can purchase one of the parking pass options.
• The closest lots are Upper Inspiration Point and Lower Inspiration Point.

Handicap (ADA) Parking

If you have a Disabled Person license plate or placard, parking in a Balboa Park parking lot is free with no time limit.

Any space in Balboa Park parking lots can be used for free ADA parking (not just the blue parking spaces designated for disabled parking).

• The closest accessible lot to Walk4ALZ for ADA parking is the Federal parking lot.

San Diego City Resident Option
If you are a San Diego City resident, you can get free parking throughout Balboa Park through the end of the year by registering your car through this link.

• If you intend on visiting Balboa park for the holiday festivities, museums, or any other activity in the remaining months of 2026, registration is a worthwhile one-time hassle.
• Registration for free parking requires you to pay a one time registration fee of $5 and provide a copy of your drivers license.

Please note: the registration process can take up to 72 hrs to finalize so we strongly recommend registering your vehicle early.
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View More Balboa Park Parking Info

 
We know the parking situation is more complicated than usual this year, and we highly encourage you to carpool with friends and family to Walk4ALZ 2026. If you have any questions about parking, please do not hesitate to reach out to us by calling the Walk Hotline at 858.966.3319 or emailing us at walk4alz@alzsd.org.