Griffith Observatory is free to enter, but getting there is the hard part. Griffith Observatory parking is limited, the road up is narrow, and a Saturday at sunset can be legendary for all the wrong reasons.
This guide covers everything people ask before they go: whether it’s free, when it’s open, where to park and what it costs, how to get there without a car, the best time to visit and how long to plan for. Our guides lead tours here every week, so these are the same tips we give our guests.
Short on time or patience? This Griffith Observatory Tour with Planetarium Upgrade covers the highlights in 1.5 hours with a local guide, so you skip the guesswork once you arrive.
Yes. Entry to the building, the grounds and the public telescopes is always free. The only things you pay for are parking and planetarium show tickets.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday–Friday | 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
| Saturday–Sunday | 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
| Monday | Building closed |
| Grounds and terraces | 5:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. daily |
The building is closed on Mondays, but the grounds stay open, so you can still enjoy the views and the Hollywood Sign photo spots.
Planetarium tickets are sold only on site (your guide will take care of it if you book a guided tour). Shows run about 35 minutes, and popular evening times sell out on busy days, so buy your ticket as soon as you arrive. For which show to pick, see our Planetarium Show Guide.
You have four good options. Which one is best depends on when you go and how much you mind walking uphill.
| Option | Cost | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park at the Observatory | About $10/hour, no time limit | Weekday visits, mobility needs | Lot fills fast at sunset, weekends and holidays |
| Park free near the Greek Theatre and walk | Free | Budget visitors, fit walkers | Up to a mile uphill; closed after 1 p.m. on concert nights |
| DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus | 50¢ (35¢ with TAP) | Car-free visitors | Every 20–25 min; exact change |
| Uber or Lyft | Varies | Sunset and night visits | Weak cell signal at the top for the ride home |
Griffith Observatory parking includes the lot next to the building and the roadside spaces on West Observatory Road and Western Canyon Road and all of it is paid. Paid hours are 12 p.m.–10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.–10 p.m. on weekends. Recent visitor guides put the rate at about $10 per hour.
It’s pay-and-display: pay at the machine with a credit card (no cash) and leave the receipt on your dashboard. There’s no time limit, but there are no refunds either, and unpaid cars get ticketed.
One tip that saves a lot of frustration: on West Observatory Road, the right lane is for roadside parking and buses. Stay in the left lane if you’re heading for the main lot.
Arrive before paid hours start, before noon on weekdays or 10 a.m. on weekends, and parking is free. Accessible spaces are at the south end of the lot, first come, first served.
If Griffith Observatory parking is full, or you’d rather not pay, the free lots around the Greek Theatre are the local favorite. From there it’s up to a mile uphill to the Observatory, on the road or the trail. Bring water and comfortable shoes.
From April through October, the Greek Theatre hosts concerts, and this parking isn’t available after 1 p.m. on show nights. Check the Greek’s calendar before you go.
The LADOT DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus is the cheapest and least stressful way up. It leaves from the Vermont/Sunset Metro B Line (Red) station and stops in front of the Observatory every 20–25 minutes.
It runs every day, 10 a.m.–10 p.m., and also stops at the Greek Theatre, Mount Hollywood Drive trailheads and Los Feliz Village. The fare is 50 cents (35 cents with a TAP card), exact change only. There’s no parking at the Vermont/Sunset station, so arrive by Metro, rideshare or on foot.
Prefer to earn the view? Popular trails start at Fern Dell and near the Greek Theatre. The Fern Dell route climbs through a shady canyon and takes most people 30–45 minutes. For more routes, see our Nature Lover’s Guide to Griffith Park.
Rideshare cars drop off in the red zone past the horseshoe driveway, right in front of the lawn. Cell signal can be weak at the top, so plan your ride home before you go. If someone is picking you up at night, they must enter the park before 10 p.m., when the inbound gates close.
The quietest time is a weekday right at opening (noon). The most magical time is sunset, and so is the most crowded. The Observatory says it’s busiest on weekends, in summer, over holidays and at sunset, when lines for exhibits can run 5–15 minutes.
Clear winter days after rain give the sharpest views across the LA Basin, sometimes all the way to the ocean.
Plan on 2–3 hours for a first visit. That’s enough for the main exhibits, a planetarium show and the views from the terraces.
| Visit style | Time | What you’ll see |
|---|---|---|
| Quick stop | 1 hour | Terraces, Hollywood Sign views, the Foucault pendulum and Tesla coil |
| Classic visit | 2–3 hours | Main exhibits, one planetarium show, sunset from the roof |
| Full experience | 4+ hours | Hike up from Fern Dell, the exhibits, a planetarium show and telescopes after dark |
Don’t know which exhibits to prioritize? Start with our list of the top exhibits at Griffith Observatory you can’t miss.
The Observatory has 67,000 square feet of exhibits, and most visitors miss the best ones. Our tours were designed by former Observatory employees, so you see the highlights, hear the stories and find the best Hollywood Sign photo spots without wasting time.
Yes. The building, grounds and public telescopes are free. Parking and planetarium shows cost extra.
About $10 per hour during paid hours (12–10 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. weekends), paid by credit card. Parking is free before and after those hours, and in the lots near the Greek Theatre.
Yes, downhill near the Greek Theatre, up to a mile’s walk away. You can also park free at the Observatory before paid hours start.
Take the Metro B Line to Vermont/Sunset, then the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus to the front door for 50 cents.
The building is closed on Mondays. The grounds, terraces and views stay open.
The building closes at 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The grounds stay open until 10:30 p.m.
About 2–3 hours, including a planetarium show.
Yes. The terraces have some of the best views of the Hollywood Sign in LA.
Yes, for free, on clear evenings when the telescopes are open.
