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Parking is charged per vehicle on entry with no re-entry — so plan the arrival once and get it right.
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The track sells general parking, valet and a discounted parking book separately for each season and lists current prices on its own parking and transportation page. We do not quote a figure here because the published price changes by meet — check the track's page for the day you are going.
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Del Mar charges for parking per vehicle as you enter the facility, and there is no re-entry once you leave, so decide your lot before you arrive. General parking, valet and a discounted parking ticket book are all sold through the track for each meet; the track publishes current prices on its parking and transportation page rather than holding a fixed year-round rate, so check there before you drive. On big days — opening day, Bing Crosby season weekends, concerts — the Pony Express shuttle and the COASTER to Solana Beach both spare you the lot queue entirely.
| Option | What to know | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| General parking | Charged per vehicle on entry, no re-entry | Most race days |
| Valet parking | Sold through the track by season | Dressing up, big race days |
| Discounted parking book | Ticket packs bought in advance | Season regulars |
| Pony Express shuttle | Runs on published summer and fall dates | Avoiding the lot entirely |
| COASTER to Solana Beach | Train plus a short shuttle or rideshare | Drinking, traffic and holiday weekends |
Rates and availability change daily, so we link the guide rather than quote a price. Each page compares walkable, short-drive and budget options with parking and resort fees called out.
The parking fee is charged per vehicle as you come into the facility, and the track does not allow re-entry. That matters more than the price: if you leave to grab something from a hotel or move the car, you pay again.
Local tip: Load coolers, hats, sunscreen and a phone battery before you pull in.
The standard option on race days, sold at the gate. Arrive well before first post on opening day and stakes weekends — the approach roads back up long before the lots fill.
Offered by the track for its race meets. Popular on the dressier days when the walk in from the far lots in heels has lost its appeal.
General parking ticket packs can be bought in advance through the track. Worth pricing out if you are going more than a couple of times in a season.
The single busiest day of the meet, with hats, crowds and traffic on Jimmy Durante Boulevard well before first post. Transit or a drop-off saves an hour of frustration.
Post-race concerts hold the crowd on site long past the last race, so the exit empties all at once. Getting out by train or rideshare is far faster than the lot queue.
The San Diego County Fair uses the same fairgrounds with its own parking operation and far larger crowds — treat it as a different trip with different rules.
The track runs its Pony Express service on published dates across the summer and the November meet, dropping riders at the track and picking them up after racing. Dates and pickup points are listed with the track's transportation options.
The COASTER stops at Solana Beach, a short rideshare or shuttle from the track, which makes it the cleanest option for a day that involves a drink. Weekend and evening train frequency is limited, so check the return departure before you commit.
Drop-off avoids both the parking charge and the no-re-entry rule. Surge pricing after the last race is the trade-off; walking a few minutes from the pickup zone helps.
The track sells general parking, valet and a discounted parking book separately for each race meet and publishes current prices on its own parking and transportation page. Because that price changes by season, check the track's page for your date instead of relying on an older figure.
No. Parking is charged per vehicle on entry and the track does not allow re-entry, so bring everything you need in with you.
The track charges for parking on race days. Surrounding streets in Del Mar are heavily restricted and are not a workaround — a shuttle, the COASTER to Solana Beach or a rideshare drop-off is the realistic way to avoid paying to park.
It is the track's own shuttle service, running on published dates during the summer meet and the November meet, which drops riders at the track and collects them after racing.
Yes — the COASTER stops at Solana Beach, a short rideshare or shuttle ride from the track. Check the return schedule first, because evening and weekend service is limited.
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