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Every beach, every lot, every meter rate. Where the free spots hide, when to arrive, and how to skip a $62 ticket.
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How much does parking cost at San Diego beaches? San Diego beach parking is free at most city lots (La Jolla Shores, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, Coronado Sunset Park, Encinitas Moonlight Beach), metered at $1.25–$2.50/hr in popular strips like La Jolla Cove and Pacific Beach, and $10–$20/day at state beaches such as Torrey Pines, Cardiff, Carlsbad and Silver Strand.
Source: Sandi Spots — Last updated
Free lots: La Jolla Shores (Kellogg Park), Sunset Cliffs Blvd, Ocean Beach Pier, Coronado Sunset Park, Encinitas Moonlight Beach. Meters: $1.25–$2.50/hr, 2–4 hr limits, enforced 8am–6pm. State beaches (Torrey Pines, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Silver Strand): $10–$20/day. Best hack: California State Park Annual Pass ($195) pays off in 10 visits.
Lot/area: Coast Blvd meters + surrounding streets
$2.50/hr metered · 2-hr max
Enforcement: Enforced 8am–6pm daily
Free alt: Prospect St residential (past Torrey Pines Rd) — 2-hr limit but rarely ticketed on weekdays
Strategy: Arrive before 9am for a Coast Blvd spot. After 10am on any sunny day, park up on Prospect and walk down.
Lot/area: Kellogg Park lot
Free — first come first served
Enforcement: Lot open sunrise to 10pm
Free alt: Camino del Oro street parking (2 blocks up)
Strategy: The busiest free beach lot in the city. Arrive by 9am summer weekends or you'll circle for 40 minutes.
Lot/area: Neptune Pl + Nautilus St
Free — residential streets
Enforcement: No enforcement
Free alt: Camino de la Costa (limited)
Strategy: Real neighborhood parking. Be respectful — don't block driveways. Fills by 10am summer weekends.
Lot/area: Boardwalk + Grand Ave meters
$2.50/hr metered · 2–4 hr limits
Enforcement: Enforced 8am–6pm daily
Free alt: East of Ingraham (free but a 10-min walk)
Strategy: Fanuel St and Diamond St meters have longer time limits. Free spots exist east of Fanuel.
Lot/area: Belmont Park garage + South Mission lots
$10–$20/day at Belmont Park lot · Free at Ventura Cove/West Mission Bay lot
Enforcement: Belmont enforced 24/7 · Free lot dawn–dusk
Free alt: West Mission Bay Dr (free but walk 5–10 min)
Strategy: Belmont Park validates for restaurant purchases (Draft, Cannonball). Free lots on the bay side are 5 min walk from the boardwalk.
Lot/area: OB Pier lot + Newport Ave meters
Free at Pier lot · $1.25/hr meters (8am–6pm)
Enforcement: Meters 8am–6pm, lot dawn–dusk
Free alt: Sunset Cliffs Blvd south — endless free parking
Strategy: The Pier lot fills by 10am. Drive south on Sunset Cliffs — you'll find a free spot within 2 blocks any time of day.
Lot/area: Sunset Cliffs Blvd
Free — street parking
Enforcement: Park closes at 10pm
Free alt: Ladera St, Osprey St side streets
Strategy: Best free coastal parking in the city. Bring a headlamp — the path back to your car after sunset is dark.
Lot/area: Ocean Blvd meters + Sunset Park
Free at Sunset Park · Meters $2/hr on Ocean Blvd
Enforcement: Enforced 8am–6pm
Free alt: Neighborhood streets east of Ocean Blvd (3-hr limit, enforced)
Strategy: Sunset Park is a free lot at the north end of the beach — arrive by 10am summer weekends. Neighborhood streets get chalked at 10am and ticketed after 3 hours.
Lot/area: Hotel Del valet + surrounding streets
$65/day valet at Hotel Del · Free 2-hr metered streets
Enforcement: Meters 8am–6pm, valet 24/7
Free alt: Silver Strand State Beach lot (2 mi south) $10/day
Strategy: Skip the Hotel Del valet unless staying there. Park free 2 blocks east and walk over — most beach visitors don't realize Coronado's residential streets are free/2-hr metered.
Lot/area: Powerhouse Park + 15th St meters
$2/hr meters · $10/day at Powerhouse lot
Enforcement: Enforced 9am–6pm daily
Free alt: Camino del Mar side streets (residential, 3-hr limit)
Strategy: Powerhouse Park has 100 spots and a launch ramp — arrives full by 9:30am. Coaster train is a great alternative from Downtown ($5.50 one-way).
Lot/area: State Park lot (bottom) + North Beach lot
$15–$20/day state park fee · Cash or card at kiosk
Enforcement: Park open 7:15am to sunset
Free alt: Carmel Valley Rd shoulder (free but 15-min walk)
Strategy: State park pass ($195/year) pays for itself in 10 visits. Free option: park on Carmel Valley Rd and walk in — legal but adds mileage.
Lot/area: Reserve upper lot
$15–$20/day (same as beach)
Enforcement: Reserve 7:15am–sunset
Free alt: Walk up from the beach lot for free
Strategy: One entry fee covers both lots. Pay at the bottom, drive up (or hike up).
Lot/area: Torrey Pines Gliderport (top of cliff)
Free at gliderport lot
Enforcement: Dawn–dusk
Free alt: None nearby — it's a cliff
Strategy: The free gliderport lot fills up. It's a 20-min steep hike down to the beach. Bring water.
Lot/area: Fletcher Cove Park lot + street
Free lot · Free 2-hr street
Enforcement: Enforced 8am–5pm
Free alt: Neighborhood streets uphill
Strategy: Free lot fills by 10am summer. Coaster train stops at Solana Beach station — walk 5 minutes to the beach.
Lot/area: Moonlight Beach lot + B St meters
Free at Moonlight lot · $2/hr meters
Enforcement: Lot enforced 5am–10pm, meters 8am–6pm
Free alt: Neighborhood streets 2 blocks up
Strategy: Best free beach lot in North County. Fills by 9:30am summer weekends. Try 3pm+ and use the after-work window.
Lot/area: Cardiff State Beach + Seaside
$10/day at Seaside lot · $15/day at main state lot
Enforcement: State lot 7am–sunset
Free alt: PCH shoulder parking (limited, ticketed)
Strategy: State park pass ($195/year) works here too. Seaside lot is $5 cheaper and same beach access.
Lot/area: Pier View Way lot + Strand meters
$1.50/hr meters · $2/hr at Strand lot
Enforcement: Enforced 8am–8pm
Free alt: Wisconsin Ave residential (2-hr limit)
Strategy: Cheapest beach city parking in the county. Free after 8pm — perfect for sunset dinner at the pier.
Lot/area: Tamarack + Ponto lots
$15/day state fee
Enforcement: Sunrise to sunset
Free alt: Village side streets (Carlsbad Blvd) — 2-hr metered
Strategy: State park pass is the move for Carlsbad regulars. Downtown Carlsbad Village has free 2-hr street parking within a 10-min walk.
Lot/area: Main state lot
$10/day
Enforcement: 8am–7pm
Free alt: None — highway shoulder ticketed
Strategy: Cheapest state beach lot. Great alternative to Coronado on a busy day.
| Violation | Fine | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Expired meter | $62.50 | Most common ticket. Some meters take longer — pay for what you'll actually use. |
| Overtime in a time-limited zone (2-hr, 3-hr) | $62.50 | Enforcement officers chalk tires. Move your car every 90 min or park somewhere with no limit. |
| Street sweeping violation | $77.50 | Check the signs — many beach neighborhoods sweep 1x/week. Painful if you leave the car overnight. |
| Blocking a driveway | $115 | Fastest ticket you can get. Neighbors call it in immediately. |
| Red curb / hydrant zone (15 ft) | $115 | Also common in tight beach neighborhoods where locals repaint curbs. |
| Handicap zone without a placard | $440+ | Never do this. Serious fine and possible tow. |
| Vehicle for-sale on the street | $62.50 | 'For Sale' signs are prohibited on parked cars in San Diego. |
| State beach lot after hours | $180 + possible tow | State beach lots close at posted times (usually sunset). Don't leave your car overnight — it will be towed. |
Covers: Torrey Pines, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Silver Strand, Moonlight (partial), all California state beaches
Worth it? Break-even at 10 visits — locals hit this in a summer.
Covers: Day-use parking at 133 state parks (limited state beach coverage — read the list)
Worth it? Cheaper than the full State Park pass; works for most SD state beaches.
Covers: Unlimited trolley + bus rides
Worth it? Cheaper than one hour of Coronado meter time — take the trolley to the ferry, then walk on the beach.
Covers: Broadway Pier ↔ Coronado Ferry Landing every hour
Worth it? Zero parking hassle. Rent a beach cruiser at the Coronado side for another $10 and skip driving entirely.
Free at Sunset Cliffs, Kellogg Park (La Jolla Shores), OB Pier, Sunset Park (Coronado), Moonlight Beach lot (Encinitas), and Windansea residential streets. Metered ($1.25–$2.50/hr) at La Jolla Cove, Pacific Beach, Coronado Ocean Blvd, and Del Mar. State beach fees ($10–$20/day) at Torrey Pines, Cardiff, Carlsbad, and Silver Strand.
No — Coast Blvd is metered at $2.50/hr with a 2-hour max, enforced 8am–6pm. The closest free parking is on Prospect St residential past Torrey Pines Rd (2-hr limit but rarely ticketed on weekdays). Arrive before 9am for the best chance at a Coast Blvd spot.
Sunset Park at the north end of Coronado Beach is a free lot — arrive by 10am on summer weekends. Residential streets east of Ocean Blvd are also free with a 3-hour limit (enforcement chalks tires). Skip the Hotel Del $65 valet and walk from a street spot instead.
$15–$20/day at the kiosk (cash or card). The fee covers both the beach lot at the bottom and the reserve lot at the top of the hill — one entry, both lots. A California State Park annual pass ($195) pays for itself in 10 visits.
No — the West Mission Bay Dr / Ventura Cove lots are free and 5 minutes' walk from the boardwalk. Belmont Park's garage is $10–$20/day but validates with a $15 restaurant purchase at Draft or Cannonball. Meters on the ocean side are $2.50/hr.
Yes — free street parking exists east of Ingraham St (10 min walk to the beach). The boardwalk-adjacent blocks are all metered $2.50/hr with 2–4 hr limits. Fanuel St and Diamond St meters have longer time limits than the main strip.
Sunset Cliffs Blvd south of Ocean Beach — free, unlimited, no enforcement, and one of the best sunset spots in the city. Runner-up: Windansea Beach neighborhood streets (free, no meter). Third: Kellogg Park (La Jolla Shores) free lot.
$62.50 for an expired meter or overtime in a time-limited zone. $77.50 for street sweeping violations. $115 for blocking a driveway or parking within 15 ft of a hydrant. $440+ for handicap zone violations. Pay online or contest at sdpd.parkingviolations.com.
No — state beach lots close at sunset and enforce with tows. Most city beach lots close at 10pm. Overnight beach parking is legal only in a few designated spots (some sections of West Mission Bay Dr allow it) — check signs carefully. Never leave a rental car overnight at a state lot.
No permit needed for city beaches — meters and free lots operate on an anyone-can-park basis. State beaches (Torrey Pines, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Silver Strand) charge a day-use fee at the kiosk or accept the California State Park annual pass.
By 9am for La Jolla Shores (Kellogg Park), Coronado Sunset Park, and Moonlight Beach. By 10am for Mission Beach free lots and Windansea. Sunset Cliffs south of OB never truly fills up — arrive anytime.
$62.50 ticket. Enforcement officers chalk tires in time-limited zones and use license-plate readers on metered blocks. Move your car every 90 minutes if you're in a 2-hour zone — repeat tickets in the same day are legal.
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Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .