Parking? Should we come to Laguna?

Question

Our family would love to travel from Monrovia to Laguna for a Beach Day. Our plan is to go to Main Beach (thanks to so many here that have helped me figure that out) and possibly Shaw's Cove in the morning for snorkeling.

From everything I've read, parking is very challenging in Laguna. I've read that the options are 3-hr metered spots or all-day parking lots a good ways away that require a trolley.

We will have picnic gear, boogie boards, etc..., so a trolley seems like it wouldn't work with so much stuff! We also have a pre-teen son with autism so it would be ideal to have a parking spot very nearby after a day at the beach, rather than having to trolley over to our car.

Does this exist in Laguna?

Someone mentioned parking at Wells Fargo. Can we pre-reserve parking spots close by for extended time somewhere? A 3-hour meter for Shaw's Cove would work for the morning (plan to arrive by 10am), but we'd need all day parking near Main Beach, as we plan to stay until 7pm.

Because of my son's needs, I really don't think we can do a beach that doesn't have a parking lot near the beach. Is Laguna just not the beach for us? Should we just go to Malibu (that seems to have more options for beach parking nearby)?

Thank you soooo very much for all of your incredible help so far. This is a very generous, kind group of people.

Answer

Laguna Beach is a beautiful destination, but parking can indeed be a challenge, especially if you are planning to stay the entire day and have a pre-teen with autism who may need quick access to your car. Main Beach and Shaw’s Cove are the most popular spots, so early arrival is key.

For Shaw’s Cove, arriving by 10am should give you a reasonable chance at finding one of the metered 3-hour spots along Coast Highway or nearby streets. However, these will not accommodate a full day.

For Main Beach, if you need all-day parking without using a trolley, your options are more limited. Here’s a breakdown:

Main Beach Parking Lots: There are municipal lots such as the North Beach Parking Lot, City Hall lot, and Heisler Park lot. These are often filled early in the morning and can be expensive for all-day parking.
Private Lots: Some private businesses or banks, like Wells Fargo, have parking, but these may not be available for public use all day, and reserving a spot in advance is generally not standard. You may be able to check apps like ParkMobile or SpotHero to see if any nearby lots allow pre-booking.
Street Parking: Metered street parking exists but is mostly 2-3 hours, so this is not ideal for a full day unless you plan to move your car or risk a ticket.

Alternative strategies:

Arrive very early (before 9am) to secure a spot in one of the city lots close to Main Beach.
Consider staying at a hotel or Airbnb in Laguna Beach with included parking and walk to the beach.
Explore nearby beaches like Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach, or Malibu, which have larger parking lots and more predictable all-day parking if ease and accessibility are essential.

Given your family’s needs, Laguna can be done but requires careful planning. If minimizing stress and ensuring close access to your car are top priorities, beaches with larger lots and easier all-day parking, like those in Malibu or Newport Beach, might provide a smoother experience for your day at the beach.