City of Santa Monica – Parking Structure 5

Short of free parking, this is the best deal around. First 90 min free. No attendant on duty, but a helpful voice was only a phone call away. Our car battery died, and the voice helped us get a free jump-​start from the city of Santa Monica. It only took 10 min for help to arrive, and we were driving out a few minutes later.

We were lost, couldn’t find our car, couldn’t find our parking structure! We pushed the button with the ear on it and the nicest man in all of Santa Monica answered our call. He gave us directions! What a nice and helpful man. Thank you! «And also parking is overpriced.» Said the cheap driver.

I am not a big fan of Downtown Santa Monica because of the parking situation; now add it being the weekend and this is a recipe for keeping me away. Well last night (07-​20-​2013) I decided to test my theory when I purchased tickets on ‘Living Social’ for Magicopolis which is located a few doors down from this parking structure.
Prior to arriving in Downtown Santa Monica I called Magicopolis and the staff suggested I park in this parking structure (Parking Structure #5). I exited the 10 freeway at 4^th street; I went right off of the freeway which leads directly to Parking Structure #5.
Prior to pulling into Parking Structure #5 there is a digital display outside indicating how many open parking spaces are available. How they go about doing this I am not sure.
I pulled into the Parking Structure #5 and despite it being after 7:00pm I was able to locate a parking space within eyeshot of the entrance.
The first 90 minutes of parking at this location is free. After that you are charged $ 1.50 for every 30 minutes afterwards. Be advised there is no parking attendant on duty here and there is no validation of your ticket. When you leave your car take you ticket with you because you will be required to pay your ticket at an automated kiosk before you exit, remember there is no attendant on duty, so make sure you have change to pay for your ticket before you arrive at the exit. The total cost of parking in Downtown Santa Monica on a Saturday night was $ 1.00.
As you are exiting if you are in the left lane this only allows you to turn left on 4^th street away from the freeway. This confusion causes quite a bit of backed up traffic so know before you go. If you need to go back toward the 10 freeway make sure you are in the right lane as you exit.

Let’s say you’re planning an outing to Santa Monica. I know what you’re thinking. «What’s the parking going to be like?» or «Where will I park?» or «Which of the many structures will it be?» That’s your number one priority right?
Well if it is then you’re weird but hey Santa Monica has you in mind. Check out the website:
. Its real time parking space availability.
FYI bring $ 3 for the flat rate after 6pm or else you’ll have to make everyone go in reverse that’s behind you in line while you park your car on the side, trek up the 2 blocks to WaMu to get a $ 20 bill to pay the $ 3 because you never carry cash and you thought you had 2 hours free all the meanwhile the cashier is giving you the fuchi-​face because you should have read the sign as you entered and because you are making people honk at you and have 5 cars going reverse up the parking structure.