Tennis court guide

Griffith Park Tennis Courts

4669 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA

Courts: Hard blue
Hours: 5am-10:30pm daily
Setup: Outdoor · Lights
Pricing: Free to play

Hidden gem surrounded by park grass and trees · Near the Merry-Go-Round

The Griffith Park tennis courts off Crystal Springs Drive are a small set of four public courts tucked into the heart of the park, a few steps from the 1937 merry-go-round, the pony rides, and the miniature railroad. You play surrounded by mature trees rather than in a fenced municipal lot, which makes this one of the more pleasant casual places to hit in Los Angeles.

Courts and surface

Four hard courts
Set among the trees, so expect the occasional leaf or acorn on the surface
Low-key and casual, much quieter than the larger 12-court Vermont Canyon courts elsewhere in the park

Booking and fees

These courts are free and first-come for open play, so you can usually show up and take an open court. Los Angeles Recreation and Parks also runs a paid, reservable system for its designated pay-tennis courts (you book online and pay an hourly rate), but unlike the staffed Vermont Canyon center, this in-park cluster reads as free, walk-on tennis.

Getting there

The courts sit inside Griffith Park near the merry-go-round. Follow the merry-go-round signs to the closest lot, with overflow parking by the pony rides when it fills. Transit into this part of the park is limited, so most players drive.

When to play

Because the courts sit in the family-recreation core of the park, the area gets busy with parkgoers on weekends. Weekday mornings are the calmest time to find an open court. The setting is exposed and gets hot in summer, so bring water and sun cover.

Around the courts

Between games you are steps from the merry-go-round, the pony rides, and the miniature railroad, with Griffith Park's trails and picnic areas spreading out around you.