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Headed to Huntington Beach for July 4th? Here’s some tips to navigate

by in News

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to flock to Huntington Beach on the Fourth of July, some lining Main Street early in the morning for the holiday parade, others showing up for the fireworks over the Pacific Ocean after the sun sets.

If the past is any indication, the town will be jam-packed for the holiday. So if you’re headed to Surf City for the festivities, here are some tips on how to navigate the crowds:

Get there early

You won’t be the only one trying to find a parking spot near the sand. The beach parking lots will open at 5 a.m. on July 4th for those early-risers who don’t want to miss out on a prime parking spot. Be warned – they fill up fast.

If you’re driving in, know that Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street will be closed for the city parade until about 2 p.m.

To avoid searching for parking, consider taking the Surf City USA Shuttle, which provides a free park-and-ride shuttle service to First Street and Pacific View Avenue. It will run every half hour from the OCTA Golden West Transportation Center (7301 Center Ave.) from 8 a.m. until midnight; and from the Huntington Beach Civic Center (2000 Main St.) from 1 p.m. until midnight.

The last shuttle leaves downtown at 11:30 p.m. You can track the shuttle live online at surfcityusashuttle.com.

Parking

Bring some extra money, as parking prices are hiked up for the holiday. The Main Promenade parking structure, for example, will be $27 and valet $35, with an all-day flat rate. And it’s cash only, so make sure you have some bills on you.

Prices at state beaches, usually $15 a day, will increase to $25. So, if you’re planning on posting up at Huntington State Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach lots, make sure you bring enough to get in. The Strand Parking Structure is $30 and accepts cards and cash.

You could always try to score a meter, so bring quarters because not all meters accept cards. And be aware of time limits at meters.

Tip: Grab an Uber or Lyft and don’t even deal with searching for parking.

Parade and pancakes

An estimated 300,000 people show up just for the annual parade, marking its 115th year. The theme is “Sweet Land of Liberty.”

This year’s grand marshal is Lorenzo Lamas, and the teen grand marshal is Gabriel Bateman. The parade steps off from Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway and heads north to Yorktown Avenue and Main Street; it starts at 10 a.m. and wraps up by noon.

You might as well get a workout in while you wait. Join the Surf City 5K Run and Sports Expo that kicks off at 7 a.m. from Worthy Park at 17th and Main streets.

Then, you’ve earned your pancake breakfast at nearby Lake Park, 11th and Main streets, hosted by Kiwanis from 7 to 10 a.m..

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Fireworks

If you’re only coming to town for the nighttime festivities, seating on the pier starts at 7 p.m. for the best viewing, but be ready to fork over $10. You can also purchase stadium seating at Lake Park for $20. Buy tickets here. 

But pulling up a chair or blanket and finding a spot on the sand is a great strategy for watching the fireworks go off over the Pacific Ocean. Keep your fingers crossed that clouds will stay away. The show starts at 9 p.m.

Another 300,000 people are expected to show up for this part of the festivities, so know that you’ll be dealing with crowds and a lot of traffic after it ends.

And remember – keep the beach clean and take all your trash home with you.