It’s the end of another decade…and here’s everything you need to know to Go Metro to the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1, 2020.
Photo via Rose Parade Official Instagram.
Street and paid parking is limited near the parade route and traffic is usually extremely congested after the parade — just when people start arriving for the game. If you drive, expect it to take up to an hour or more to escape Pasadena. But you can bypass all of that by taking the Metro Gold Line.
- Del Mar Station (walk two blocks north to the parade route)
- Memorial Park Station (walk two blocks south of the parade route)
- Lake Station (walk four blocks south to parade route)
- Allen Station (walk four blocks south to parade route)
The rest of Metro Rail will also run enhanced service on Jan. 1 through 9 p.m. Due to the large crowds expected to come out for the Rose Parade, large items such as umbrellas, chairs and coolers will NOT be permitted on the trains that day.
There is parking available at many Metro Rail stations, including Gold Line stations. Some lots are paid, some are free, be sure to check here before you head out. It’s eight dollars a day to park at Los Angeles Union Station. There are also many paid parking in lots in downtown Los Angeles that are near the Red/Purple Line subway that can be used to connect with the Gold Line at Union Station.
Getting to the Rose Bowl
Take the Metro Gold Line to Memorial Park Station in Pasadena; then it’s just a short walk to Parsons Parking Lot B for the free shuttle that drops you off next to the stadium. Rose Bowl shuttle service begins at 9 a.m. on Jan. 1 and runs until two hours after the game.
If you are riding a Metro bus after the game, please check the individual timetables for last bus times leaving Pasadena as buses will be operating on a Sunday/Holiday schedule. Game day parking at the Rose Bowl or the Parson’s lot starts at $40.
Getting to the Post Parade Area for Float Viewing via Metro
After the parade, floats are displayed near Victory Park in Pasadena. To view the floats, take the Gold Line to the Sierra Madre Villa Station. Go the first level of the adjacent Gold Line parking garage to board a shuttle to the float viewing area.
On Jan. 1, shuttle service to the Post Parade viewing area runs from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Return service to Sierra Madre Villa Station will continue until 5:30 p.m. On Jan. 2, shuttle service from the station to Post Parade Park will begin at 7 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. Return service to Sierra Madre Villa Station will continue until 5:30 p.m.
Purchasing Metro Fare
Fares on Metro Rail are loaded on reusable TAP cards which can be purchased at all Metro Rail stations for $2; the machines at Metro Rail stations accept cash and credit cards. The regular one-way fare is $1.75 and includes two hours of free transfers. Some tips to speed your journey:
- Load your TAP card with $3.50 round-trip fare in stored value when starting your trip to avoid long lines at TAP vending machines after the event.
- A Day Pass is $7.
- TAP cards cannot be shared; each person must have their own TAP card. Two children four and under can ride free with each paying adult.
More fare information can be found here.
Other Transit Options
Below is the Metro and Metrolink map for our area. Metro runs the area light rail, subway and bus system that criss-crosses Los Angeles County. Metrolink runs commuter rail that serves the five-county area in addition to one station in northern San Diego County (Oceanside). The best way to take Metrolink to Pasadena is to take the Antelope Valley Line or San Bernardino Line to Union Station, then transfer to the Gold Line. Click here for more Metrolink service information.
Categories: Go Metro
Any chance of getting ridership stats for Jan 1 vs Dec 25 and Thanksgiving? I wonder just how many extra riders there are on Jan 1 compared to a similar holidays (especially on the Gold line). Also, what about running some special express bus lines from a couple of places on the route to El Monte station. Also a modified 501 that stops a Metrolink station and the North Hollywood Red/Orange. The routing would have to be modified. But it could leave from near Parsons to Maple and then on to the 134. Could even run it on Union with stops at Hill, Lake, Marengo, & Fair Oaks.
I don’t have access to the day-by-day ridership stats but I can tell you that ridership is higher on New Years than Christmas Day or Thanksgiving. That’s because of public events happening — the big New Year’s celebration in downtown and the Tournament of Roses parade and game.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
Map is out-of-date and shows the Expo Line (or whatever it’s called these days) ending in Culver City.
I see you’ve fixed that now. Thanks.
I may use Metro this time.
George Vreeland Hill
Did you? How did it go?
I miss the very old days when the 81 and the 93 would have express specials from the San Fernando Valley to the Rose Parade.
The operation at the Lake Ave Gold Line Station is really good. One thing that could help is signs further down Lake to point to the western side being the entrance. Huge crowds passing through quickly. Also, maybe the people selling the TAP cards could also set up on the broad sidewalk just south of the freeway. A Metro pop-up with the staff there would make it very visible.