Parking tips for Beyond Wonderland SoCal at National Orange Show Event Center (San Bernardino 03/27)

figured i would share some thoughts for anyone heading to beyond wonderland socal on 03/27 and 03/28 because parking in san bernardino is always a mess. it is one of those festivals where the logistics can really ruin your vibe if you do not plan ahead.

honestly the best move is to check out Prked first. it is an app where you can rent out driveways or garage spots from people living right next to the national orange show event center. it is usually way cheaper than the official premier lots and you get to skip the massive traffic lines trying to get into the venue lots. it is just a short walk and feels a lot safer than parking on a random street in that area.

for official parking insomniac usually has free lots but they are almost always far away and require a shuttle. the carousel mall lot or the san bernardino baseball stadium are the usual spots but expect to wait in long lines for the shuttles both coming and going. if you arrive after 5pm on 03/27 those lots might already be full so get there early. the traffic on the i-215 and the i-10 is absolute hell starting around 4pm so give yourself way more time than you think you need. premier parking is an option if you want to be right there but it sells out in minutes and it is a total pain to exit at 2am when everyone leaves at once.

one big warning for san bernardino specifically is that car break-ins are super common around the nos center during festivals. never leave anything visible in your car not even a charging cable or a sweater because people will smash your window for anything. if you decide to park in the neighborhoods avoid the dark side streets and try to find a paved lot with a visible attendant. the streets like e street and arrowhead avenue get very crowded and the police often close off certain intersections near mill street which makes navigation a nightmare. some people try to park at the inland center mall but they are known for towing during events so i would avoid that entirely.

uber and lyft are basically impossible when the show ends on 03/28. the surge pricing can get up to a hundred dollars and the wait times are easily over an hour in the designated rideshare zone. if you are staying further away the official city shuttles from riverside or ontario are actually a decent deal because you do not have to worry about driving back tired. just make sure you check where the shuttle drop-off point is so you do not get lost at the end of the night. if you are driving your own car try to park facing the exit so you can leave faster once you get to your lot.

hope this helps you guys have a great time and stay safe out there.