Parking tips for ShamRock at Gaslamp Quarter (San Diego 03/16)

figuring i would share some thoughts on parking for shamrock on 03/16 since the gaslamp gets absolutely insane during this street festival. if you have been before you know it is basically a gridlock nightmare once the sun goes down especially with it being a monday night this time around.

first off i highly recommend checking out Prked before you head down. it is an app where you can rent out people's private driveways or garages right near the gaslamp. it is usually way cheaper than the public lots and you get to skip the massive traffic lines when everyone tries to leave at the same time. it is just a short walk and way less stressful than hunting for a spot in a packed garage.

if you do not use Prked then you have a few other choices but they all have some downsides. the padres parkade on 10th and j is a huge garage but it fills up fast and getting out after the event can take forever. there is also the convention center parking across harbor drive which is usually safe but pricey and involves a bit of a walk across the pedestrian bridge. some people try the hilton bayfront garage too but that is also pretty expensive and gets backed up.

honestly if you are trying to find street parking you should probably just give up now. most of the streets like 5th and 6th are closed off for the stages and vendors on 03/16 and the surrounding meters are almost always taken by noon. if you really want a street spot you might find something in east village near the ballpark but you will be walking 15 minutes and you have to be careful about where you park at night.

another solid move is the trolley. the green line drops you off right at the gaslamp quarter station which is literally at the entrance of the event. you can park for free at one of the transit centers further out like old town or hazard center and just ride in for a few bucks. this saves you from dealing with the downtown traffic entirely which is a huge win for a holiday event.

be careful about parking in any of the retail lots like ralphs because they are super aggressive with towing during shamrock. also keep an eye on the signs for temporary no parking zones that they put up specifically for the festival because they will tow you in a heartbeat if you are in the way of a shuttle or emergency lane. try to get down there before 4pm if you want any chance of a decent garage spot because once the after-work crowd hits on 03/16 it is game over. hope this helps and stay safe out there.