San Diego County has free parking perks for seniors

East County News Service

April 10, 2026 (San Diego County) — While parking prices across the region seem to be climbing faster than a fit hiker scaling Iron Mountain, local seniors can count on San Diego County to give them a break on vehicle parking fees.

San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson sent a notice this past week on his social media account reminding those 62 and older that they are able to get free day-use parking at local parks.

 

The San Diego County Department of Parks and Recreation[1] offer seniors free parking every day, from Agua Caliente to William Heise, with proof of residency.

For those under 62, a standard All Parks Annual Parking Pass currently costs $50, while daily parking at most fee-charging county facilities is $5 per day.

Unlike many modern services, however, the County notes that you can’t simply download a pass to your phone.

To ensure that only residents and eligible seniors use the service, the County requires a government-issued photo ID (driver’s license or passport) that shows your age and address in the county to pick up a physical pass at any of the following 15 parks (or at the Parks and Recreation headquarters at 5500 Overland Ave. in Kearny Mesa):

• Agua Caliente County Park: 39555 Great Southern Overland Stage Route of 1849, Julian;
• Dos Picos County Park: 17953 Dos Picos Park Road, Ramona;
• El Monte County Park: 15805 El Monte Road, Lakeside;
• Felicita County Park: 742 Clarence Lane, Escondido;
• Flinn Springs County Park: 14787 Olde Hwy 80, El Cajon;
• Guajome Regional Park: 3000 Guajome Lake Road, Oceanside;
• Lake Morena County Park: 2550 Lake Morena Drive, Campo;
• Live Oak County Park: 2746 Reche Road, Fallbrook;
• Los Peñasquitos Canyon County Preserve: 12020 Black Mountain Road, San Diego;
• Louis A. Stelzer County Park: 11470 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside;
• Otay Lakes County Park: 2270 Wueste Road, Chula Vista;
• San Dieguito County Park: 1628 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Del Mar;
• Sweetwater Summit Regional Park: 3218 Summit Meadow Road, Bonita;
• Wilderness Gardens County Preserve: 14209 Hwy 76, Pala;
• William Heise County Park: 4945 Heise Park Road, Julian.

For more information, visit sdparks.org/Parking[2] or call (877) 565-3600.