You need printer paper, binders, and a decent backpack before the school year starts, and Target has all three in one place. But in Los Angeles, the drive time matters less than what happens after you park. A Target with a cramped lot on a weekday afternoon will eat thirty minutes you don't have, and the stores near freeway exits—the ones that look convenient on a map—tend to have the worst approach angles and the most unpredictable crowding.
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Why parking makes or breaks a Target run in LA
The city's Target locations fall into three categories: the older standalone boxes with generous surface lots, the urban infills wedged into mixed-use developments where you're hunting for validation, and the mid-density neighborhood stores that look fine until you arrive during the after-work rush. For a back-to-school supply run, you want wide aisles, clear sight lines to the stationery section, and a parking layout that doesn't force you into a multi-point turn with a cart full of storage bins. The best stores share a few traits: they're set back from the street, they have at least two entrances, and they're located in parts of the city where traffic peaks don't align with Target's busiest hours.
Highland Park's demographics have shifted over the past decade, and the Target on Figueroa reflects that. It's a smaller-footprint location, and the lot is tight during weekend afternoons. If you're coming from the Eastside or Pasadena, it's tempting because it's close, but the better move is often to keep driving to a store with real space around it. The Glendale or Burbank Targets, for instance, have parking structures that empty out by mid-morning on weekdays, and their back-to-school inventory turns over faster because they serve a higher volume of families.
The anchor stores: where parking is actually easy
Start with the Target on San Fernando Road in Glendale, just south of the 134. The lot is wide, the striping is clear, and the store sits far enough back that you're not fighting cross-traffic from the strip mall next door. Weekday mornings before ten are nearly empty; even weekend afternoons stay manageable because the lot has multiple access points and people move through quickly. The store itself is a full-size layout, so the school supply section is a dedicated aisle, not a seasonal endcap. You'll find the usual assortment—composition books, pens, folders, backpacks, lunch boxes—and the inventory stays stocked through late August because this location serves both Glendale and the northeastern LA neighborhoods.
The Burbank Target on San Fernando Boulevard is another reliable choice, especially if you're coming from the Valley or the western Eastside. It's part of a larger retail complex, but the parking is structured and abundant. The ramps are clearly marked, and the entrance to the store is a short walk from the covered levels. What makes this one work for a supply run is the mid-week restocking schedule—if you arrive Tuesday or Wednesday morning, you're likely to find shelves refilled after the weekend rush. The store's layout puts home goods and stationery near the back left, so you're not weaving through clothing racks to reach the notebooks.
Further west, the Target on La Brea near Sunset has a two-level garage underneath the store, and while the entrance off La Bra can back up during evening commute hours, the garage itself is rarely full. This location draws a mix of neighborhood foot traffic and car trips, but the parking structure design keeps things moving. If you're doing a back-to-school run here, aim for late morning or early afternoon on a weekday. The store gets busy after five, and the garage's interior signage is dim enough that first-timers sometimes miss the exit lanes.
Backup options when your first choice is jammed
If you pull into a lot and see cars circling, don't commit. The Target on Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park has a small surface lot that fills by noon on weekends, and the surrounding streets have two-hour limits that aren't worth the gamble. A better fallback is the Eagle Rock Target on Colorado Boulevard. The lot is long and shallow, which sounds awkward but actually works—there's almost always a spot in the back row, and it's a flat walk to the entrance. The trade-off is that the store's square footage is smaller, so the back-to-school selection can feel picked-over by late afternoon. Verify what you need is in stock before making the trip; the Target app will tell you store-specific inventory, and it's more accurate than calling.
The West Hollywood Target on Santa Monica Boulevard is often suggested because it's central, but the parking garage is confusing and the validation process requires a purchase over a certain amount. Unless you're already in the neighborhood, it's not worth the hassle for a quick supply run. Instead, consider the Target on Vine Street in Hollywood. The lot is elevated, which gives it more capacity than it looks from the street, and the entrance ramp is wide enough that you're not stuck behind someone trying to squeeze a sedan into a compact space.
For South LA and Mid-City, the Target on La Cienega near the 10 has a surface lot that's easier to navigate than the cramped urban locations further east. The lot fills during weekend afternoons, but weekday mornings are consistently open. The store carries a full back-to-school assortment, and the checkout lines stay short because this location has self-checkout lanes that actually work. If you're coming from the Westside or Culver City, this is faster than trying to park at the Targets in more congested corridors.
What to check before you leave the house
Target's hours vary slightly by location, and some stores have adjusted their opening times over the past year. Most open at eight, but a few don't unlock until nine. If you're planning an early run to beat the crowds, confirm what time your chosen store opens—check the store locator on Target's website or call the location directly. The question "what time does target open" gets asked a lot because the hours aren't as uniform as they used to be, and showing up to a locked door wastes the trip.
Closing time matters more than you'd think. Most LA Targets close at ten on weekdays, but some urban locations close earlier, and holiday or staffing changes can shift the schedule. If you're planning an after-work errand, double-check when does target close at your specific store. The Target app and the website both list current hours, but the posted hours on Google Maps sometimes lag behind actual changes. The safest move is to look at the store's page on the official Target site, where the corporate locator tool pulls directly from their system.
Inventory is the other variable. The Target app will show whether an item is in stock at a specific location, but it won't tell you how many are left or where on the shelf to find it. For back-to-school basics like notebooks and folders, most stores stay stocked through mid-August, but specialty items—certain backpack styles, specific calculator models—can sell out quickly. If you're after something particular, call the store and ask someone in the stationery section to physically check. It's faster than driving across town only to find an empty peg.
Traffic and timing matter as much as parking. If you're crossing town, check current conditions before you leave. The 101, the 10, and the 5 all back up unpredictably, and a fifteen-minute drive can turn into forty if you hit the wrong window. For a Target run, aim for mid-morning on a weekday—after nine but before eleven—or early afternoon between one and three. Weekend mornings before ten are also solid, but by eleven the lots start filling and the aisles get crowded. The last move home is always easier when you've left yourself a cushion; don't plan a Target run as the final errand before a hard deadline.
Practical notes
- Weekday mornings between 9 and 11 a.m. offer the emptiest lots and freshest stock.
- Use the Target app to confirm store-specific inventory before driving across town.
- Glendale and Burbank locations have the most reliably spacious parking; Highland Park and Echo Park lots fill quickly.
- Check what time your chosen Target opens and closes the day you plan to go—hours vary by location.
- If your first choice is jammed, Eagle Rock and La Cienega are solid backup options with easier access.
- Structured parking (Burbank, La Brea) beats surface lots during peak weekend hours.
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Sources consulted: Target Store Locator · Metro Los Angeles
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