Attending a concert at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles can be an amazing experience. With its beautiful open-air amphitheater seating and world-class acoustics, the Hollywood Bowl is one of the top destinations in California to see live music. However, the venue’s popularity does mean dealing with traffic, parking, lines and large crowds. Arriving early enough before a show is key to having the best possible time at the Hollywood Bowl.
Check The Start Time
The first thing to do when deciding what time to arrive at the Hollywood Bowl is to check the start time printed on your ticket. Show start times can vary greatly. Many concerts, especially in the summer, start around 8 PM when the sun has gone down and the weather has cooled off. However, matinee shows or children’s events may begin as early as 11 AM. Be sure to know exactly when the performance begins so you can plan your arrival accordingly.
Factor In Traffic
Even if you know what time the show starts, you’ll want to allow extra time to account for Los Angeles traffic getting to the venue. The Hollywood Bowl is located right off the 101 Freeway, but congestion on the 101 as well as other freeways like the 110 or 405 could slow you down. Traffic patterns will also depend on what day of the week it is, as weekends tend to be more crowded. Checking live traffic maps from your phone while heading to the concert can help you identify any trouble spots and adjust your route.
Parking Scenarios
Parking logistics are another big consideration when deciding on an arrival time. There are a few main parking options at the Hollywood Bowl:
- Pre-purchased parking passes – These allow access to the onsite parking garage and surface lots. Spots are guaranteed with a purchased pass.
- Day-of onsite parking – A limited number of onsite parking spots are sold on the day of each show, but these can sell out. General parking usually costs $22-$25 per car.
- Offsite parking – Numerous private lots around the Hollywood Bowl offer day-of parking, typically for $15-$20 per car. These are 1-2 blocks from the venue.
- Nearby street parking – Free parking on residential streets near the Bowl, but very limited number of spots.
Parking passes can be bought ahead of time if you want to ensure easy parking at the Bowl itself. For day-of onsite and offsite parking, the earlier you arrive, the more likely you are to get a good spot. Those hoping to find street parking may want to arrive 2-3 hours before show time to hunt for those free spaces.
Security Lines
Once you park, you’ll need to account for time going through security screening to enter the Hollywood Bowl. Lines at security tend to swell leading up to show time, so you generally don’t want to show up at the last minute. An hour before the performance is usually okay, but earlier is better if it’s a sold-out show. The security process typically moves efficiently with multiple screening areas, but again, crowds will only increase as it gets closer to start time.
Dining
Many people also like to have a nice meal before an event at the Hollywood Bowl. The onsite restaurants at the Hollywood Bowl offer everything from boxed dinners to sit-down dining. Here are the typical opening times for onsite eateries:
Restaurant | Opens |
---|---|
Box Office Bistro | 2 hours before concert |
Rustic Canyon Wine Bar | 3 hours before concert |
Marketplace | 3 hours before concert |
Street Food | 3 hours before concert |
Patina Restaurant | 5:30 PM |
During the busiest nights, restaurants can fill up over an hour before a show. You’ll maximize your dining options by arriving 3-4 hours before start time. Getting to the Bowl by 5:30 PM is recommended if you want dinner at Patina. There are also plenty of bars and lounges like the Upbeat Lounge open for pre-show drinks.
Best Seats
For the best selection of seating, especially for classical and jazz shows that have open seating, you’ll want to get to the entrance gates as early as possible. The first people in line when gates open get first pick of the available seats in their ticketed section. Gates typically open 1-2 hours prior to start time. Lining up well before gates open, such as 3 hours early, increases your chances of grabbing those front row seats.
Avoid The Bottleneck
Entry bottlenecks commonly occur at the Hollywood Bowl right as the show is starting. Large volumes of people all try entering at once during the half hour leading up to start time. This causes long lines and waits to actually reach your seat. Getting to your seat earlier lets you avoid that last minute rush.
Picnics
Picnicking on the grounds before the show is a favorite Hollywood Bowl tradition. Setting up a picnic spot requires extra time. You’ll want to arrive about 3 hours ahead to stake out space on the lawn and get your picnic supplies unpacked and arranged. Popular picnic areas like the north lawn fill up first. Allow enough time to leisurely enjoy your meal outdoors before the concert begins.
Warm Up Acts
Some concerts have opening acts that perform before the headlining artist or group. If you want to see the full show including openers, get details on start times and plan to be in your seat well before the advertised concert start time. Warm up acts frequently go on 30-60 minutes prior to the main show.
Child Considerations
Attending the Hollywood Bowl with kids requires some extra preparation. To allow kids time to burn off energy, arriving 45-60 minutes early is recommended. This gives them time to explore kid-friendly areas like the Ed’s Place playground before settling in for the show. You’ll also want to arrive early to use restrooms and concessions so you don’t have to take little ones out mid-concert. Setting up on the lawn for picnicking and playtime is also a smart move with children.
Pre-Parties
If you want to attend any official pre-parties at the Hollywood Bowl, be aware these usually begin 2-3 hours before each show. The Invited dress rehearsal events start 2 hours before gates open. Most other special events like wine tastings, cocktail hours and DJ sets kickoff 3 hours pre-concert. To partake in the full experience, aim to arrive to the Bowl grounds at least 3 hours before start.
Avoid Disappointment
Nothing can ruin a night out like showing up too late and missing part of the event or not getting in at all. Don’t cut timing too close and risk disappointment. Leaving extra time cushions you from variables like traffic, parking and lines.
Weather Changes
Southern California weather can be unpredictable. It might be wise to check forecasts and plan for weather adjustments. Arrive early if extreme heat, cold, rain or high winds are forecast so you have time to take shelter or handle other issues. The show will go on through most conditions, so build in a time buffer.
Opening Acts
If there are opening acts or guest performers, you’ll usually need to be seated 30-60 minutes before the main act, even if your ticket says showtime is later. Research ahead of time if the concert has openers you want to catch. Arriving early ensures you get to see the entire show, not just the headliner.
Time Of Year
The Hollywood Bowl season runs from May through September. June to August are the busiest months with the most consistent crowds. May and September concerts attract smaller audiences. You may be able to arrive closer to showtime during off-peak times versus peak summer months when earlier arrival is recommended.
Day Of The Week
Concerts on weeknights like Tuesdays through Thursdays tend to be less crowded than Friday to Sunday shows. Patrons also tend to arrive later on weeknights. Weekend shows attract larger audiences and require earlier arrival for best parking, dining and seating options.
Ticket Type
Those with general admission lawn tickets need to arrive as early as possible to claim a good spot on the lawn for sitting and picnicking. Front section reserved seating ticket holders can show up later since their spot is already assigned. But premium ticket holders may still want to arrive by showtime for the full experience.
Touring Act
The type of artist, band or show touring will impact timing. Well-known mainstream acts performing limited engagements will draw bigger crowds that necessitate earlier arrival. More niche performers likely require less advance timing. Gauge arrival time based on how popular the performer is.
Special Events
Certain nights are specially-themed events, like Movie Night, and draw larger audiences. July 4th and other summer holidays are also very busy. Treat these dates like weekends and allow extra arrival time for traffic, parking, lines and crowds.
Travel Distance
Those traveling longer distances to get to the Hollywood Bowl will need to allot extra time to get to the venue safely. If driving an hour or more, build in contingency time in case of delays en route. You’ll have more peace of mind arriving earlier from out of town.
Group Size
If attending as part of a large group, especially one with kids, it’s smart to build in extra arrival time. Coordinating parking, tickets, food and seating for a large group just takes longer when there are more people to account for. Arrive early so everyone is together before showtime.
First Time Visitors
If it’s your first visit to the Hollywood Bowl, an earlier arrival of at least 1 hour pre-concert is recommended. You can get acclimated, scout everything out and ask staff questions without time pressure. Unfamiliarity causes delays, so pad your timing if the Bowl is new to you.
Pre-Purchasing
Take advantage of advance ticketing and parking passes online to save time day-of. Prepaid reservations let you skip ticketing lines. Parking passes offer easy dedicated lot access without waiting or hunting for a space. Online perks reward early planners.
Traffic Patterns
Hollywood Bowl traffic comes in waves, so choose your arrival time wisely. The first rush is 2 hours pre-show when lots of people arrive early for dining. Another wave hits 30-60 minutes before show when everyone else shows up. Arrive before or after these peaks.
Plan For Encores
If you want to catch any potential encores at the end of the show, don’t rush out too soon. Many bands return to play 1-2 closing numbers after their “last” song. Stick around 15 minutes after the concert finishes just in case.
Reserve Parking Early
Prepaid reserved parking through the Hollywood Bowl website is the best way to guarantee easy parking close to the entrance. These limited spaces sell out weeks or months in advance for the most popular shows. Reserve the second you have your tickets.
Check Set Times
For concerts with multiple acts, research exact set times online from prior tour stops. This gives you an idea of when each will realistically start and finish. You can then plan to specifically catch your favorite performer’s set time.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the earlier you can arrive before a show at the Hollywood Bowl, the better experience you will have getting into the venue and enjoying everything it has to offer. Build in buffer time for traffic variables, parking, box office lines, dining, and claim prime seating. While every concert and crowd is slightly different, you’ll never regret getting to the Bowl a little bit earlier. For most shows, plan to arrive anywhere from 1-3 hours prior, with more time being preferable over less with large crowds. Use your best judgment based on the specific event. With smart early timing, you’ll be well on your way to a phenomenal night under the stars at this iconic Los Angeles destination.