Highway 1 From San Francisco

Take Highway 1 South.

Highway 1 leads into Santa Cruz on Mission Street. Stay on Mission Street through shopping area and get into the right lane, (do not go toward Highway 17 from the left lane.)

Stay in the right lane as Highway enters major intersection. Veer straight/right through intersection, Mission turns into High Street for about a block. High Street turns into Water Street as it descends from Holy Cross Church and Mission Plaza (which you’ll see on your left).

At the bottom of the hill, turn Right onto Front Street, opposite Town Clock. You will see the Post Office on your immediate left (the post office is on the corner of Front and Water Streets.)

Proceed to Local Directions below.

Take Highway 880 to Highway 17.

As you come into Santa Cruz, stay on highway in left lane to Ocean Street (Highway 17 leads onto Ocean Street in left lane).

Turn Right on Water Street.

Stay in left lane. At second traffic light turn Left onto Front Street.

Proceed to Local Directions below.

Take Highway 1 North into Santa Cruz.

As you come into Santa Cruz, follow signs to Highway 1 North/Half Moon Bay. When the freeway ends, your first stoplight is River Street.

Turn Left on River Street.

Two stop lights later, veer Right onto North Pacific.

Next light is Water Street (you’ll see the Town Clock on your left). Veer slightly Left through intersection onto Front Street.

Proceed to Local Directions below

Immediately on the left hand side you will see the Post Office on the corner of Front and Water Streets. The Veterans Memorial Building is the next building on your left.

The City of Santa Cruz three-level River/Front Parking Structure, Lot #10 is one block past the Veterans Memorial Building, between River and Front Streets next to the Galleria Office Complex and next to the Wells Fargo Bank. To enter the lower street level of the garage, turn left onto River Street immediately after the Comerica Bank. Then take an immediate right into the parking structure. To enter the upper levels, continue on River and veer right in front of Wells Fargo at the river levee. The entrance is 100 feet up on the right, immediately after the Wells Fargo back entrance.

According to the City of Santa Cruz Parking website:

Parking on the ground floor of the River/Front Garage is free and is open 24-hours a day. The ground floor level has a 3-hour time limit, Monday through Saturday, 8am to 6pm. The garage has no time limits on Sundays. Permit parking restrictions on the second and third level are enforced Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm. Daily permits for the second and third level cost $2 per day and may be purchased in advance at the Parking Office in the Locust Garage (124 Locust Street).

The Comerica Bank lot next door is also available for parking outside of normal bank hours: Monday-Thursday after 5pm, Friday after 6pm, Saturday after 1pm and Sunday and holidays all day.

All-day metered parking (meters with blue poles that accept quarters) is also available along River Street and in front of the Wells Fargo Bank.