How to Get Free Parking by Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver 

Beach season is here! There aren’t many beaches with free parking in Vancouver. We’ve all had those days where we drive to the beach for a barbecue and end up paying a fortune just to enjoy a beach day. 

Here in West Vancouver at Ambleside beach, most parking is restricted to two hours only. Today, we have a little insider secret just for you. In fact, here’s where you’ll find free unlimited parking in the area. Below are step-by-step instructions of where you can park to visit Meinhardt Ambleside before hitting up the beach!

When you are going down Marine Dr, you can turn left/right when you hit 13th street. 

There’s a bit of construction in the area. As you move forward, there’s a little road before the train tracks, turn right (where the right truck is in the picture below). 

Here’s another picture to give you a better idea of what it looks like when you turn right. You have to go between the “Sidewalk Closed” side and blue gates. 

Once you drive past the construction site, you’ll see an entrance to a indoor underground parking lot right before Earls. Enter this indoor parking lot. 

After entering, turn left towards retail parking. You’ll see signs that say retail parking.

There are over 50 spots avaialble in this parking lot. You can park here…

Or here…

Or here! You can park anywhere labeled as retail parking free for two hours. For easy elevator access, you can park between spots #145 – #155.

After you’ve parked your car, you can head towards the bright entrance with the glass door for the retail elevator.

Press “1” on the elevator…

And voila! You’ve made it to Ambleside’s new Grosvenor square. If you look to your left…

You’ll see the side of our store! You’ve made it. 

Welcome to Meinhardt Ambleside. While you’re here, feel free to browse our freshly prepared food, artisan ice cream, specialty grocery items, and more before visiting the beach! We hope this step-by-step plan helped. 

Update: While our store near Ambleside is no longer open, the tips are still useful for today’s visitors and is up-to-date with local information.

Key Updates:

• Limited public parking remains available, but fills quickly on sunny days. District of West Vancouver

• No free unlimited parking zones exist near the beach anymore, however, pay parking has expanded significantly. North Shore News

• District-wide pay parking now affects more parks including Lighthouse and Whytecliff and may extend to Ambleside Park. 

• Physical pay stations are being added to parks to complement app-based systems especially where cellular service is spotty.

other Parking Options

1. Paid Lots Near Ambleside

Paid parking is the most reliable choice during peak hours. Rate: ~$5/hour via app or pay station. Most importantly, watch for expanded zones in commercial areas, including Argyle Avenue. Source.

2. Resident Exemptions

If you’re a West Vancouver resident, volunteer, or in case you hold a veterans or accessible licensing status, you may be exempt from parking fees. Annual resident permits (free) are available via Impark’s website. Source.

3. Transit & Bike-Friendly

Avoid parking hassles entirely and use a public transit (e.g. buses 250/253/255/257) or bike the Spirit Trail to reach Ambleside with ease.

Ambleside Beach Highlights

Ambleside remains one of West Vancouver’s top public parks, offering: (District of West Vancouver)

• A sandy swimming area with summer lifeguards

• Tennis courts, a skate park, outdoor fitness equipment, pickleball, and golf (Par 3)

• Family-friendly concessions and scenic seawall paths. 

Ambleside Park

Address: 1150 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, BC V7T 2Z1 
Hours: Open 24 hours