Parking tips for Live Racing at Santa Anita Park (Arcadia 03/20)

hey everyone, figured i-d share some advice for the live racing at santa anita park on 03/20 because the parking situation can be a total nightmare if you just wing it. with the first post usually starting early in the afternoon, the traffic around arcadia and especially off the 210 freeway starts getting really bad by late morning.

honestly the easiest move is to check out Prked first. you can rent out a driveway or a private garage from people who live right next to the track. it is way cheaper than paying for the preferred lots at the venue and you get to skip the massive line of cars that always backs up at the main gates. plus you have a much easier walk to the entrance and you can basically avoid the giant gridlock when everyone tries to leave at the same time after the last race.

if you decide to park at the track itself, general parking is usually around ten to fifteen dollars. you should aim for gate 8 off baldwin avenue for the best access to the south admission gate, though you can also try gate 3 or gate 5 off huntington drive if baldwin is too backed up. preferred parking is usually twenty dollars and gets you a lot closer to the grandstand, which is worth it if you do not want to hike a half mile across the dusty pavement. they have valet too for around thirty dollars right at the top, but just a heads up that getting your car back after the final race can take forever since everyone is waiting at once.

one insider tip is to get there way early, like before 9:00 am. parking is often free that early and you can head over to clocker-s corner for breakfast to watch the horses during their morning workouts. it is a super chill experience and you beat all the 210 freeway chaos at the baldwin avenue exit which gets really gnarly around noon on a friday. since it is a friday on 03/20, check the track website because sometimes they offer free general parking and admission on fridays which is a huge win.

definitely avoid trying to park at the westfield santa anita mall next door. they have security patrolling the lots and will tow you if they see you walking toward the racetrack instead of the shops. also do not even bother with the residential streets nearby. arcadia is super strict about permit parking and timed zones so you will almost definitely end up with a ticket that costs way more than a valet spot. taking the metro a line to the arcadia station is another solid backup if you want to skip driving entirely, then just grab a quick shuttle or uber to the gate.

hope this helps and good luck with your picks on 03/20.