Facility Overview

The March Field Air Museum Parking lot serves visitors to one of the largest historic aviation collections on the West Coast. Situated directly off Van Buren Boulevard adjacent to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, this facility offers an expansive, single-level outdoor surface parking lot. Designed to accommodate everyday museum traffic, educational group excursions, and large-scale aviation events, the lot features wide driving aisles and clearly marked stalls. Because it is completely open-air with no overhead structures, multi-level decks, or low-clearance barriers, the facility offers unlimited vertical clearance. This makes it an ideal stop for full-size pickup trucks, passenger vans, large commercial motorhomes, RVs, travel trailers, and full-length tour and school buses.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Conveniently situated right at the threshold of the museum entrance, the parking lot offers immediate pedestrian access to more than 80 historic aircraft, including the iconic SR-71 Blackbird, B-17 Flying Fortress, and B-29 Superfortress, as well as extensive flight simulation exhibits and heritage hangars. Beyond the museum itself, the lot is located within moments of several notable Inland Empire destinations:

• Riverside National Cemetery: Located less than two miles west along Van Buren Boulevard, accessible in approximately 3 to 5 minutes by car.
• March Air Reserve Base: Direct proximity to active military air operations, providing exceptional views of military flight patterns for spotters and aviation enthusiasts.
• Moreno Valley Community & Dining: A quick 5 to 7-minute drive north connects visitors to diverse shopping centers, casual eateries, and service plazas along Alessandro Boulevard and Cactus Avenue.
• Lake Perris State Recreation Area: Situated approximately 15 minutes southeast, offering boating, fishing, camping, and hiking opportunities.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Access to the March Field Air Museum Parking lot is exceptionally straightforward from Interstate 215 (I-215). Motorists can take the Van Buren Boulevard exit and proceed directly eastward toward the base, where dedicated turn lanes and prominent directional signage guide vehicles into the museum’s entryway. The spacious access aprons facilitate smooth entering and exiting, even when traffic peaks during special weekend exhibits or fly-in events. For regional public transportation, the Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) operates bus routes along Van Buren Boulevard, and the Moreno Valley/March Field Metrolink Station on the Perris Valley Line is situated roughly 1.5 miles to the north, offering rail transit across Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Complimentary Visitor Parking: Free self-parking available to all paying museum guests, tour groups, and aviation enthusiasts.
• Oversized Vehicle Accommodation: Dedicated extended spaces along the perimeter for buses, RVs, motorhomes, and vehicles hauling utility trailers.
• ADA Accessible Stalls: Designated accessible parking bays placed directly adjacent to the main ticketing pavilion and gift shop breezeway with flat, barrier-free access.
• Open-Air Maneuverability: Generous turning radii and zero height restrictions allow hassle-free driving for high-roof commercial vans and lifted trucks.
• Gated Security: Secure perimeter fencing adjacent to military reserve boundaries with monitored operating hours aligned with museum operations.

Ideal For

• Aviation Enthusiasts & Photographers: Immediate walk-up access to historic military aircraft and active airspace photography vantage points.
• Families & School Field Trips: Safe, dedicated bus disembarkation zones with no street crossings required to enter the museum.
• Roadtrippers & RV Travelers: Convenient freeway-adjacent stop with stress-free pull-through room along the I-215 corridor between Riverside and Temecula.
• National Cemetery Attendees: Convenient nearby staging area or gathering point for families visiting the nearby memorial grounds.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Museum operating hours run Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day), and the gates to the parking grounds are locked at the close of each operational day; overnight parking and unauthorized camping are strictly prohibited. In the Inland Empire’s hot summer months, surface temperatures can rise rapidly—drivers are encouraged to deploy windshield sunshades and bring interior vehicle cooling accessories as natural shade across the tarmac is limited. If arriving in an oversized recreational vehicle, aim for the perimeter spaces farthest from the main entrance pavilion to allow seamless maneuvering.