Los Angeles is a sprawling metropolis as infamous for its cultural scene as for its traffic jams. Often hours long, these notorious gridlocks can turn even the shortest of road trips into a grueling affair. For anyone organizing to tour LA by renting a charter bus, finding parking can be nothing short of an ordeal. But don’t despair! This Bus.com guide to Los Angeles charter bus parking provides flexible transportation solutions to these exceptional navigation challenges.
This practical guide to parking charter bus rentals in Los Angeles outlines various stops you are likely to visit. Whether you have decided to rent a coach bus, school bus, minibus, sprinter van, or mini coach bus as your mode of transportation in the Greater Los Angeles Area, the information contained in this guide can prove invaluable to how you approach your Los Angeles charter bus rental. Parking in LA: it’s an adventure!
Pickups and Drop-offs at LAX for Charter Bus Rentals
Each terminal at Los Angeles International Airport provides designated spots for charter bus pickups and drop-offs on the Arrivals level, via the lower roadway of the complex. LAX comprises eight terminals in total, which means eight possible spots for charter bus rental pickups or drop-offs.
Make sure all passengers are aware of which terminal they’re arriving at in order to avoid delays. Traffic in the City of Angels can get congested, pretty fast. Renting an LA shuttle service, especially when an airport is involved, can drastically improve the group’s chances of remaining on time with their itinerary.
Parking Charter Bus Rentals in Beverly Hills
When it comes to fame and fortune in Los Angeles, nothing says you’ve made it like an address in Beverly Hills. The aura surrounding this legendary neighborhood also makes Beverly Hills a popular tourist attraction with countless charter bus rentals pouring through its streets daily so visitors can take in upscale boutiques and celebrity homes. And that means parking a coach bus in Beverly Hills can be difficult.
As Bus.com’s professional bus drivers are well aware, charter bus rentals are not allowed on Park Way or any residential streets north of Santa Monica Boulevard. Although there are multiple pickup and drop-off points in the vicinity, the sole location in Beverly Hills that permits daily charter bus parking is situated on the south side of Third Street, between Civic Center Drive and Foothill Road. This area is available for charter buses for up to two hours, between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. To access the Third Street Tour Bus Zone, charter bus rentals must take the designated route, which is via North Santa Monica Boulevard eastbound to Civic Center Drive.
Beverly Hills: Passenger Loading Zones
The other loading zones in Beverly Hills are generally subject to more restricted times and permit the loading and unloading of passengers only. Here is a list of the alternate passenger loading zones for Los Angeles charter bus rentals visiting Beverly Hills:
- 400 block of North Crescent Drive adjacent to City Hall, Saturdays and Sundays only from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- 9300 block of Burton Way, adjacent to the Beverly Hills Courthouse, available on Sundays only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the Sunday Farmers’ Market.
- 400 block of North Rexford Drive, adjacent to Beverly Hills Library, available on Sunday only from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- The north side of North Santa Monica Boulevard, between North Canon Drive and Crescent Drive, available at the bus cut-out daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Parking Charter Bus Rentals at Los Angeles’ Museums
The iconic museums of Los Angeles represent an extensive cultural network beloved by locals and tourists alike. That means large tour groups must navigate their charter bus rentals through a nearly endless stream of museum traffic every day. These museum locations, however, do not always provide adequate parking for all their visitors.
What follows is a list of recommendations for parking, pickup, and drop-off points for charter bus rentals at the main museum hotspots of LA. While the history of humankind may be full of mystery, knowing where to park a Los Angeles charter bus rental shouldn’t be!
Parking your bus at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
Charter Bus Rental Drop-offs and Pickups
Imagine pulling up to the illuminating art installation “Urban Light” at the charter bus cut-out at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Wilshire Boulevard. The hypnotic sequence of vintage street lamps also serves as a mesmerizing backdrop for dramatic photo shoots. From here, the tour group will have easy access to LACMA’s main entrance and the Smidt Welcome Plaza.
Charter Bus Rental Parking
If you plan on parking a Los Angeles charter bus rental for a visit to LACMA, the driver can head either to Curson Avenue on the eastern border of Hancock Park or Sixth Street, one block north of Wilshire Boulevard. Since parking is on a first-come, first-served basis, we advise keeping some extra dollars in your budget in case all charter bus parking spots happen to be occupied upon arrival and you need to find parking elsewhere.
J. Paul Getty Museum: Getty Center and Getty Villa Museum
Charter Bus Rental Drop-offs and Pickups
If your charter bus rental is heading to the Getty Center, you’ll find the visitor loading area towards the museum entrance, just off the 405 Freeway. From here, visitors will be able to enjoy a short and scenic tram ride from the parking garage up the hill to the Getty Center. For those stopping at the Getty Villa Museum, charter bus rentals can enter exclusively from the northbound lane of Pacific Coast Highway, one mile north of Sunset Boulevard.
Charter Bus Rental Parking
Larger rentals like coach buses, mini coach buses, and school buses will be subject to a parking fee at J. Paul Getty Museum. Parking reservations and rates can be secured by contacting Getty Visitor Services ahead of time.
The Huntington
Charter Bus Rental Drop-offs and Pickups
Located on Orlando Avenue, there’s only one way in for charter bus rentals heading to The Huntington. Access to the library, art museum and botanical gardens will be via the Sierra Madre Boulevard exit from the 210 Freeway. From there, charter buses will head west on California Boulevard and then south on Allen Avenue to the gate. Please note, charter buses that do not follow this specific legal route are subject to being ticketed by police.
Charter Bus Rental Parking
Parking for charter bus rentals is free at The Huntington, but spots should be booked in advance. Travel organizers should contact The Huntington as soon as they know their dates and times to ensure a parking spot for their Los Angeles charter bus.
Natural History Museum
Charter Bus Rental Drop-offs and Pickups
Right around the corner from the front entrance of the Natural History Museum, you’ll find the passenger loading zone on the corner of Exposition Boulevard and Bill Robertson Lane. Charter bus passengers will have a chance to enjoy the pristine greenery outside the Natural History Museum before going inside to see all the dinosaur fossils and other wonders.
Charter Bus Rental Parking
Parking for the Natural History Museum is available at the car park on Bill Robertson Lane, south of Exposition Boulevard. Additional parking spots for parking charter buses can be found in the blue structure parking lot on Figueroa Boulevard at 39th Street. For current parking rates at the Natural History Museum, please refer to their Visitor Information page.
Parking your bus at The Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM)
The Broad
Charter Bus Rental Drop-offs and Pickups
When visiting The Broad, charter buses can pull up in front of the museum along Grand Avenue to drop off and pick up passengers. Charter bus passengers will have a chance to enjoy The Broad’s lovely manicured garden before admiring the contemporary artworks housed within.
Charter Bus Rental Parking
Since The Broad cannot accommodate vehicles taller than 7 feet 2 inches, most Los Angeles charter bus rentals will have to find suitable parking nearby. Just a couple of blocks away, for example, Grand Park offers multiple parking options.
General parking at The Broad, however, is subject to fees for the underground car park. You can find current parking rates on The Broad’s visitor information page.
Parking your bus at The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
Charter Bus Rental Drop-offs and Pickups
The Museum of Contemporary Art is well suited for drop-offs and pickups. The passenger loading zones are located in front of MOCA Grand and near The Geffen Contemporary.
Charter Bus Rental Parking
MOCA does not provide parking services for charter bus rentals. Several parking lots in the vicinity can accommodate charter bus parking however.
The Griffith Observatory
Charter Bus Rental Drop-offs and Pickups
At Griffith Observatory, charter buses can drop off and pick up passengers in the designated area only, just around the bend on West Observatory Road. All charter bus rental passengers must be picked up by 10 p.m.
Charter Bus Rental Parking
Whether it’s a sprinter van or a coach bus, charter bus rentals are not allowed to park at Griffith Observatory. Parking for any shared ride is generally available by the Greek Theatre nearby. For details, please visit the Getting to Griffith Observatory page.
California Science Center
Charter Bus Rental Drop-offs and Pickups
Charter bus rentals access California Science Center via the designated oversized vehicle entrance off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and north onto South Hoover Street. Passengers can be dropped off right at the front door of the California Science Center after curving about halfway around the eastside of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum onto Exposition Park Drive.
Charter Bus Rental Parking
After dropping their passengers off at the California Science Center, charter bus rentals will then circle around the westside of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to a designated parking lot close to the oversized vehicle entrance on South Hoover Street, south of BMO Stadium. Parking rates for yellow school buses differ from other charter bus rental types. For current information, please visit California Science Center’s Directions, Parking and Transportation page.
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
Charter Bus Rental Drop-offs and Pickups
Drop-off and pickups are a breeze for charter bus rentals visiting La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. The access point is located in the parking lot just a three minute walk from the entrance.
Charter Bus Rental Parking
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum’s parking lot is located off Curson Avenue, on the corner of 6th Street, directly behind the museum. If the charter bus rental is parked on an adjacent street, all parking signs should be read carefully to avoid unnecessary fines. For parking rates and details at La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, please visit their Parking and Directions page.
Norton Simon Museum
Charter Bus Rental Drop-offs and Pickups
Charter bus rentals are required to load and unload passengers on Colorado Boulevard, along the south side of Norton Simon Museum. Charter buses may not make use of the museum parking lot for pickups and drop-offs.
Charter Bus Rental Parking
After dropping passengers off, charter bus rentals can then park on Colorado Boulevard or on Walnut Street according to the posted signs. Please note that groups of over 15 guests will be asked to break into smaller groups while visiting Norton Simon Museum. For all independent tours, please be sure to submit a request at least two weeks prior to the visit via the museum’s Tours and Group Visits page.
Japanese American National Museum
Charter Bus Rental Drop-offs and Pickups
The charter bus passenger loading zone for the Japanese American National Museum is located directly in front, on First Street. It’s a simple stop, drop and go from here.
Charter Bus Rental Parking
From the entrance at First Street, charter bus rentals will have to move on to find suitable paid parking in the vibrant Little Tokyo area of Los Angeles. Be sure to contact JANM ahead of time for any group visit so they can notify you of any current stipulations.
Parking your bus at the Marciano Art Foundation (MAF)
Charter Bus Rental Drop-offs and Pickups
Charter bus rentals going to Marciano Art Foundation can conduct all drop-offs and pickups from a point in the parking lot, directly behind the building off Lucerne Street.
Charter Bus Rental Parking
Parking for Los Angeles charter bus rentals is readily available in the MAF parking lot. Please note that all visitors must have a timed reservation and parking is limited to two hours per vehicle. For details or updates, please refer to MAF’s visitor’s info page.
Booking your Los Angeles Charter Bus Rental
Now that you have an overview about the types of parking challenges faced by Los Angeles charter bus rentals as they visit key touristic sites, you are better informed to make your decision. Of course, we couldn’t mention every parking spot for every tourist attraction in The Big Orange, but at least you have an idea of how hectic – and specific – parking in LA can be for a coach bus, mini coach bus, minibus, school bus, or sprinter van.
Contact a Bus.com booking expert today! Tell them how many people require transportation in LA, where they are going, and what their requirements are for customizable onboard technology, amenities, and perks. We’ll work with you and your budget to ensure everyone rides on time and in the optimal bus type – while hopefully avoiding any parking snafus along the way for the perfect Los Angeles charter bus rental.
