Look, I get it. LA's expensive. Last week I paid $18 for avocado toast that looked like modern art but tasted like regret. But here's the secret: some of the best stuff in this city won't cost you a dime. After living here eight years and surviving on a freelance writer's budget, I've mastered the art of finding free things to do in LA that don't feel like consolation prizes.
Seriously, why do so many guides act like "free" means "boring"? They'll tell you to stare at some random fountain. I'm talking real experiences - the kind that make you fall in love with this messy, glorious city without emptying your wallet. Let's fix that.
Outdoor Adventures That Won't Cost You a Cent
LA's weather is basically showing off. 280 sunny days a year? Might as well use 'em. Skip the expensive tours and do this instead.
Hiking Trails with Postcard Views
Griffith Observatory trails are the obvious choice, but let me save you from tourist hell. Instead of fighting for parking near the observatory (nightmare), enter at Fern Dell Drive. Free street parking if you get there before 9am. The trail to the Hollywood sign view? Takes about 90 minutes round trip. Bring water - I learned that the sweaty way last June.
Fun story: My cousin visited last summer insisting we hike to the Hollywood sign. After 45 minutes of uphill misery, we realized you can't actually touch it. We settled for the view from Lake Hollywood Park instead. Still got the Instagram shot, zero calf pain.
| Trail | Location | Duration | Best Time | Why It's Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runyon Canyon | 2000 N Fuller Ave | 1-2 hours | Weekday mornings | Celebrity sightings, off-leash dog area |
| Eaton Canyon Falls | 1750 Altadena Dr | 2-3 hours | Weekdays at 8am | Actual waterfall (yes, in LA!) |
| Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook | 6300 Hetzler Rd | 40 mins | Sunset | 360° views from DTLA to ocean |
| Temescal Canyon | 15601 Sunset Blvd | 2 hours | Foggy mornings | Ocean views through eucalyptus groves |
Parking tip: Neighborhood streets near Runyon fill up by 10am. Better to take the LA Metro B Line to Hollywood/Highland and walk 15 minutes.
Beaches That Don't Require a Trust Fund
Santa Monica Pier gets all the attention, but the real magic happens away from the crowds. Venice Beach is free to walk obviously, but skip the boardwalk madness and head to Venice Canals instead. Feels like Europe, minus the flight cost.
My personal favorite? El Matador State Beach in Malibu. Yeah it's a drive, but zero entrance fee before 8am (which is when you should go anyway to beat crowds). Crazy rock formations make it look like a movie set - because it often is.
| Beach | Parking Situation | Hours | Secret Local Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will Rogers Beach | Free street parking on Pacific Coast Hwy | 6am-10pm | Less crowded north of the tower |
| Dockweiler Beach | $8 lots but free street spots on Vista del Mar | 24 hours | Bonfire pits available first-come |
| Cabrillo Beach | Free in San Pedro neighborhoods | 6am-10pm | Tide pools at low tide (check schedules) |
| Leo Carrillo Beach | Free along PCH shoulder | 8am-sunset | Explore sea caves at north end |
Honestly, Manhattan Beach Pier is great people-watching, but parking's brutal. Take the Metro E Line to downtown Santa Monica and walk south - free coastal path all the way to Venice.
Culture Without the Price Tag
Turns out you can see world-class art and history for free in LA. Who knew? Most museums have free days if you time it right.
Museum Free Days Schedule (Save This!)
Pro tip: Many require timed tickets now. Book 2-3 weeks ahead online. The Getty Center is always free (parking is $20 though - carpool!). Their gardens alone are worth the trip.
| Museum | Free Day/Times | Reservation Needed? | Best Thing to See |
|---|---|---|---|
| LACMA | 2nd Tue monthly & LA County resident after 3pm Mon-Fri | Yes | Urban Light installation (always free outside) |
| The Broad | Always free general admission | Essential | Infinity Mirrored Room (separate reservation) |
| Natural History Museum | Free first Tue monthly | Yes | Dinosaur Hall |
| CA Science Center | Always free (exhibits extra) | No | Space Shuttle Endeavour |
Last month I dragged my friend to free Tuesday at MOCA. We spent twenty minutes debating whether a trash can glued to a ladder was art. Verdict: maybe? But it was free so who cares.
Self-Guided Movie Location Tours
You know what's cheaper than Universal Studios? Walking around LA spotting famous filming locations. Download the Set Scouter app - it shows you what's filming now and past locations.
- Grease lightning: John Marshall High School (3939 Tracy St) – Rydell High exterior
- La La Land bench: Cathy's Corner near Griffith Observatory
- Blade Runner vibes: Bradbury Building (304 S Broadway) – free lobby access weekdays 9am-5pm
- Pretty Woman hotel: Regent Beverly Wilshire (9500 Wilshire Blvd) – lobby is open to wander
My most surreal moment? Accidentally walking through a live shoot for Westworld downtown. They didn't even kick me out, just told me to "act normal." Mission accomplished.
Free Events Worth Planning For
LA's event calendar is insane if you know where to look. My strategy: Follow @welikeLA on Instagram. Their free events roundup saves me weekly.
Seasonal Can't-Miss Happenings
| Event | When | Location | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Concerts at Santa Monica Pier | Thu evenings Jun-Aug | Santa Monica Pier | Arrive by 5pm for parking |
| Grand Park NYE Party | Dec 31 | Downtown LA | Skip driving - Metro runs free after 9pm |
| CicLAvia Open Streets | Multiple Sundays yearly | Varying routes | Rent bikes via Metro Bike Share |
| Hollywood Bowl Rehearsals | Summer mornings | Hollywood Bowl | Check schedule - some rehearsals open |
Free museum nights are awesome but crowded. Last Getty visit felt like the 405 at rush hour. Go right when doors open or last hour.
Farmers Markets as Entertainment
Don't just shop - make it an experience. Sunday Hollywood Farmers Market has free cooking demos. Smorgasburg LA (free entry) feels like a food festival with samples.
Little Tokyo's market on First Street has taiko drum performances monthly. Check their Instagram for dates. Free cultural show with your $5 mochi? Yes please.
Hidden Gems Most Tourists Miss
Beyond the usual suspects, these spots make you feel like you've discovered LA's secrets.
Secret Gardens & Urban Oases
- Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine (17190 Sunset Blvd): Free meditation garden with swans. Feels like Bali in Pacific Palisades.
- The Last Bookstore mezzanine (453 S Spring St): Free maze of book tunnels upstairs.
- Greystone Mansion Gardens (905 Loma Vista Dr): Free access to the grounds of a Tudor mansion.
My happy place? The Huntington Library's free day (first Thu monthly). Book tickets weeks ahead. The rose garden smells like heaven and costs zero dollars.
Street Art Crawls Worth Your Time
Arts District murals change constantly. Best spots:
- Eastside of Hauser & Wirth building (free courtyard access)
- Bliss Crafts alley off Traction Ave
- Whole Foods parking lot at 8th & Figueroa (seriously)
Pro tip: Instagram accounts like @streetartla post new murals weekly. Pack snacks - walking burns calories apparently.
Smart Strategies for Free LA Exploration
Okay fine, some logistics. Because "free" stops being fun when you get a $75 parking ticket.
Getting Around Without Killing Your Budget
LA Metro isn't perfect but it's $1.75 per ride. Free transfers within 2 hours. Download the Transit app - real-time tracking saves sanity.
Free shuttle alert: DASH buses run downtown for only 50 cents. The Hollywood route connects Walk of Fame to Hollywood & Highland for pennies.
Parking hacks:
- Most neighborhoods have free 2-hour street parking if you drive circles
- Parkopedia app shows free lots
- After 6pm? Metered spots often free
Safety Stuff They Don't Tell Tourists
Look, LA's mostly safe but:
- Leave NOTHING visible in your car anywhere near beaches
- Skid Row boundaries: Avoid walking alone east of Main St between 3rd-7th downtown
- Hiking after dark? Bad idea - coyotes are bold here
Last winter I saw a tourist leave a laptop bag on their passenger seat at Venice Beach. They returned to a smashed window faster than you can say "insurance claim."
Free Things to Do in LA: Your Burning Questions Answered
Q: Honestly, is anything actually free at Disneyland?
A: Nope. But you can watch fireworks from Toy Story Parking Lot shuttle pickup for free. Bring snacks.
Q: Free celebrity sightings?
A: Farmers Markets (Brentwood on Sundays) or hiking Runyon early. Saw Jake Gyllenhaal there once buying organic kale. Very LA.
Q: Best free view of the Hollywood sign?
A: Lake Hollywood Park (3160 Canyon Lake Dr) or the end of Deronda Drive. Better than the hike honestly.
Q: Can I visit movie studios for free?
A: Mostly no. But Sony Studios does free tours if you know an employee. Make friends strategically.
Q: Free parking near Santa Monica Pier?
A: Ocean Ave north of Wilshire has free 2-hour spots. Arrive before 10am or prepare to walk.
Look, I love fancy restaurants too. But after eight years here, my favorite memories? Watching sunset from Baldwin Hills with a taco truck burrito ($3), finding hidden beach caves at Leo Carrillo, laughing at absurd modern art for free at The Broad. LA's magic isn't in what you buy - it's in what you discover.
What's your best free LA find? Mine's still that time I stumbled onto an outdoor movie screening in Pershing Square with free popcorn. Felt like winning the lottery without buying a ticket.
Leave a Message