Parking is free!  Like that?  Good.  And it gets better.

Even as Sea Otter Classic attendance grows, parking is surprisingly rhythmic.  The professional parking attendants serving our event have this figured out!  Please accept the guidance they provide; they will do their best to get you in, and out, promptly. 

Bicycle Parking

Biking may be your first choice for how to get to Sea Otter.  And even if you can't bike all the way, you may want to do the bike-and-ride.  Huh?  Check out our "Ditch the Car" page to learn more.

Bicycle racks are provided at the Athlete Registration building (AKA Trackview Pavilion/Red Bull Energy Center), Food Court, and Sierra Nevada Beer & BBQ Garden.  Remember to lock up your bike.

Bikes may also be locked to a fence, signpost, or other appropriate structure throughout the entire venue.  Have teens or tweens?  Remind them to lock their bikes while watching the Downhill, Dual Slalom, and other events, or even for those few minutes when they dash off to a port-a-potty.

Bike valet service/bike corral is available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  At those times, you may drop off your bike and walk away with a claim check, knowing your bike is under the watchful eyes of the bike valet attendants.  In 2011, the bike valet parking was moved to a new location:  in the Paddock Parking area right next to the Expo entrance.  Look for "Expo Entrance" and "Bike Valet" on the Festival Map.

Vehicle Parking

Triple-up!  Carpools (three people or more), as well as electric or hybrid vehicles, get priority parking at Sea Otter—first-come, first-served, on a day-to-day basis.  Where?  In the Paddock Parking area, adjacent to the Expo area.  You’ll be waived through by the parking attendants; no special parking pass required, since they can identify carpools and EVs/hybrids on sight.  (Or, if you have a cool new electric roadster that an attendant doesn’t recognize, pull over to pop the hood and share the excitement!)  

A busload of friends?  Buses are welcome at Sea Otter, although they cannot be accommodated in the carpool parking lot.  Instead, they will be directed to the larger paddock parking area, where space will be made available for them.  

All general parking is on Wolf Hill, which is clearly marked on the Festival Map.

Athletes’ tip:   In a rush to race, or to get started on your Gran Fondo ride?  Park on Wolf Hill.  From there, the parking attendants can quickly direct you to Athlete Registration, which is in the Red Bull Energy Center.  Beyond that, plan ahead:  Check out the Festival map before even entering Laguna Seca, and allow thirty minutes to get in off the highway, park your vehicle, and bike/walk to Athlete Registration. 

Think riding with someone who’s headed to one of the restricted parking areas, instead of general parking at Wolf Hill, will get you to Athlete Registration faster?  Nope.  Wolf Hill is closer to Athlete Registration than, for example, Expo parking.

That’s why so many signs from Wolf Hill Parking point to places people need to go, many of which are located in the Red Bull Energy Center AKA Athlete Registration building.  To get there, follow the signs along the clearly marked pedestrian pathway that heads down the hill. 

What’s available at the Athlete Registration building?

• You guessed it:  Athlete Registration (on-site registration and packet pick-up, including packets for those who pre-registered).  Athletes refers to the Gran Fondo recreational riders as well as the competitive mountain and road racers.
• Camping Check-In
• Festival Pass sales
• USA Cycling license sales
• Will-Call
• Preordered merchandise you’ve asked to pick up (booth is just outside the building)
• And more

Okay, what about parking passes?  If you have a parking pass of any type, please display it prominently so the parking attendants can immediately see it.  Then, please follow their directions for reaching your assigned parking area. 

• Handicapped:  If your vehicle has a handicapped placard, you will be guided without delay to handicapped parking.
• Exhibitors:  Upon your initial arrival, go directly to Exhibitor/Vendor Check-In.  This is not in the Athlete Registration building/Red Bull Energy Center.  Instead, it’s in a separate area, clearly marked with signs.  Show your Exhibitor Pass to the parking attendants, and they will direct you.
• Other specific:  If you have another type of specific parking pass, the attendants will direct you to your designated area.
• Camping vehicles must all display their parking pass clearly, too.  And there’s more to know about parking for you campers; read on.

Parking for camping check-in

If you are preregistered for a campsite in Campgrounds A, B, or C, go directly to your designated campsite.  Park there, at your campsite, then walk or bike over to Camping Check-In at the Athlete Registration building/Red Bull Energy Center.  There will be camping hosts there to further direct you.

If you are not already registered, or are in Campgrounds D, E, F, G, or H, go directly to the Athlete Registration building on arrival.

Large RVs and trailers are accommodated at the Athlete Reg building in a special 15-minute zone; parking attendants will direct you to this RV holding area.  The area is first-come, first-served, and attendants make every effort to fit everyone in as needed.    This allows you to drive up, park, and take care of business.  After you’ve checked in, no stress; there’s adequate room to turn around in the parking lot when you head out.

Large RVs and trailers are permitted in most, but not all, campgrounds.  Please see campground map for restrictions.

Small truck?   Park on Wolf Hill, then walk or bike to the Athlete Registration building for Camping Check-In. 

Don’t say we didn’t warn you...

Vehicles found in restricted parking areas without the appropriate pass are subject to being towed.  Ouch!

Shortcuts?

Naturally, check the Directions webpage for a map and specifics.  But allow us to give you a heads-up right here: 

Want to turn in to Laguna Seca via Highway 68? Okay, but be sure you're coming from the Salinas side, and in non-peak hours. (See "Directions" page for details.) Traffic coming from Monterey will not be allowed a left turn into Laguna Seca but will instead be required to turn around and follow the event signage they’d ignored earlier. 

So, how can you enter Laguna Seca from the Monterey side?  Take Highway 68 (or Highway 1) to Highway 218/Canyon Del Rey Boulevard.  From there, turn onto General Jim Moore, then make a right on South Boundary Road.  Voila!  You’re in.