Affordable and Simple Ways to Enjoy the Rose Parade

If you want to watch the Rose Parade in person, you don’t have to sit on Colorado Boulevard all night with the folks throwing marshmallows and spraying Silly String. Moreover, you don’t have to spend lots of money on bleacher seats and parking. In fact, a little preparation and some insider tips are all you need to enjoy the parade for free, minimizing hassle and expense.

If You’re Reading This on New Year’s Day, skip down to the next section. You need to get started before it’s too late.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The Rose Parade route is 5.5 miles long, starting at Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard at 8:00 a.m., with the last section reaching about two hours later.
• You may have heard about the crowd camping out overnight or seen the grandstand seating on television. Both are located near the starting point at Orange Grove and Colorado Boulevard.
• Crowds typically thin out as you move further down the route.

Best Location

Parade veterans recommend watching from the street near Pasadena City College, between S. Hill Avenue and S. Allen Avenue on Colorado Boulevard. If you find it crowded, simply walk east until you discover an available spot.

The suggested location below is an excellent compromise. You could watch from anywhere along the route, but don’t venture too far. While the floats keep going, the marching bands and dancers might become fatigued, often slowing down or walking the rest of the way.

The parade route turns north at Sierra Madre Boulevard and continues beyond I-210. However, tall floats have to bend or retract to fit under the freeway overpass. Consequently, when that happens, they also turn off their animation, making them less exciting to view.

If You’re Reading This on New Year’s Day

Unless you woke up very early, you might have missed the chance to see the parade in person. That said, if January 1 falls on a Sunday, the Rose Parade takes place on January 2 for consideration of the local churches along the route.

The parade kicks off at 8:00 a.m. sharp. Don’t worry about being on the street that early; if you can reach Union Station in downtown LA by 8:30, you can witness most, if not all, of the parade using the directions provided.

If you’re motivated and want to try a last-minute dash to see it, here’s what to do:

• Visitors often complain about the cleanliness of the porta-potties along the parade route. It’s advisable to “go” before you head out.
• Grab your sunscreen and a hat. The viewing location you’re heading to faces directly into the sun.
• If you have a selfie stick for your phone camera, take it along. This will help you capture photos of the floats without the backs of other people’s heads appearing in your shots.
• Bring some cash. It will expedite the Metro ticket-buying process.
• Avoid driving into Pasadena. Instead, opt for public transportation.
• If public transit isn’t feasible for the entire trip, consider driving to Union Station downtown, where parking is accessible. Use the app ParkMe—or visit the ParkMe website—to locate parking lots with reasonable rates and available spaces.
• Utilize the Metro Gold Line train from Union Station to Pasadena for a hassle-free journey to the parade route. You can also take other lines from your starting point and transfer to the Gold Line in downtown LA.
• Ensure you allow enough time to make this work. If you can’t reach Union Station by 8:30, you may miss part of the parade. If you arrive after 9:30, it may be best to enjoy the parade from the comfort of your home instead.

Here’s How to Get to the Parade Route:

Experienced parade-watchers advocate for public transportation, which is a wise choice. This approach helps you avoid traffic hassles, closed streets, and high parking fees—often $20 or more once you arrive in Pasadena.

On parade day, LA Metro Gold Line trains operate to Pasadena from Union Station downtown approximately every 7 to 8 minutes, starting around 5:00 a.m. For a complete trip plan, utilize the Metro trip planner, entering your current address as the starting point.

Arriving at Union Station by 8:30 a.m. will get you to the parade route by around 9:00 a.m.

The Gold Line entrance can be found about halfway down the tunnel in Union Station. If you’re equipped with an LA Metro card, be sure to use it. If not, don’t waste time figuring out the ticket machines; look for individuals at a nearby table who sell pre-loaded cards that will facilitate your journey to the parade and back.

Disembark at the Allen station. Many will get off at Memorial Park, claiming it’s the optimal stop. However, it’s proven that continuing onward yields better results.

Upon exiting the train, walk south for approximately 10 minutes (about a mile) toward Colorado Boulevard. If you’re unsure of directions, ensure you are walking away from the mountains.

To get even closer to the action, consider this slight detour: Turn left on Walnut, then right on Parkwood to Colorado.

If driving is your choice, approach Pasadena from the east on I-210 and look for street parking south of I-210 and Sierra Madre Boulevard. Then, head to Sierra Madre and hope you arrive in time to catch the parade as it ends.

If you do miss the start, post-parade viewing occurs on Sierra Madre just north of the 210, where you can see the floats up close for a nominal admission fee (less than the cost of a movie ticket).