When you’re planning to visit some of Florida’s beautiful beaches, knowing how to find parking is a must. Because these beaches have much to offer, hundreds of people visit them each day, which means the parking lots tend to get crowded. If you’re hoping to avoid frustration while enjoying a trip to the beach, use these tips to your advantage to find parking at the busiest beaches in Florida.
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Look for Smaller Lots
Many beaches have sizable free parking lots, but these lots tend to get crowded because everyone knows about them and uses them to park their vehicles. If you have some spare time, look around for smaller free lots in the area.
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For example, Siesta Key has several small lots in the area by the beach. These lots have fewer spaces, but people are less likely to park there, meaning you can usually find a spot to park your car. Lots of people consider the smaller lots hidden gems because not everyone knows about them or uses them when going to the beach.
Park Further Away
When you get closer to the beach, you can expect to find less parking. Everyone wants the chance to park as close as possible to eliminate the long walk from the parking lot to the beach. If you don’t mind the walk, look for parking further away. Be sure to bring a wagon with you so that you can pull your beach essentials to the sand.
Consider Paid Parking
Many parking lots get crowded because they’re free. People like knowing they can park somewhere without paying to park their vehicles for an extended period while they spend time soaking up the sun.
However, if you want to deal with less competition, look for paid parking lots in the area where you’re planning to visit. If you’re willing to pay for parking, it becomes that much easier to find a spot. It’s worth it for some people to pay for parking to avoid the stress of searching endlessly for a free parking spot.
Park at a Meter
It may sound like a hassle, but sometimes parking at the meter is the most suitable option. There is less competition for the meter, making it easier to find a good parking spot by the beach.
Of course, you’ll need to pay a fee to park there, and it may cost more than what you’d spend if parking in a parking lot. However, it’s a feasible solution when you want to park near the beach without the stress. In some areas, parking at a meter has become much more straightforward.
Rather than placing quarters, nickels, and dimes into the machine, it’s virtual and allows you to pay with a credit or debit card for your convenience. It may not end up being as bad as most people would anticipate when parking at a meter, but be sure to add enough money to avoid getting a ticket for parking too long without paying.
Look for Any Available Street Parking You Can Find
This may require a bit more effort, but you can always look around for street parking. The locals have spots where they park their vehicles when they get home from work or hang out, so there have to be a few spots you can find near the beach. While this means you may need to walk a bit more to get to the beach, it’s worth it if you can find a safe space for parking your vehicle.
Check Out Multiple Spots with Free Parking
If you don’t find any available parking spots at the first free parking place you visit, check for others. You can put them in your GPS and travel from one site to the next to find them. Some of the free parking places in the Florida area by the beaches include Haulover Park, Dania Beach, and Crandon Park. If you look around, you should be able to find somewhere to park your vehicle that isn’t too far from the beach when you want to spend a day on the sand by the ocean.
Consider Taking a Taxi to Get to the Beach
When you’re not in the mood to deal with the headache and frustration of finding parking to spend time on a beach in Florida, you always have the option of taking a taxi. Of course, this does mean you might end up spending more money than you would if you could find a free parking spot by the beach. Before deciding if this is the right decision for you, consider your current location and the distance between yourself and the beach to determine how long of a ride it is and how much you’d need to spend on taxi fare.
Related: Top Family-Friendly Beaches in Tampa Florida
Why Is It So Hard to Find a Good Parking Spot Near Busy Beaches in Florida?
It’s hard to find a good parking spot near Florida’s busiest beaches for several reasons. First, when people find out about the cleanliness of these beaches, they look forward to visiting them. Then, once they get there and experience the beaches for themselves, they look forward to spending time there with family and friends. Finally, because the beaches in Florida are so popular, people often find themselves looking for the ideal parking spot.
Use these tips to find good places to park your car. If you’re willing to pay or walk a bit more to get to the beach, you can eventually find a safe and convenient spot to park your car while you spend the day at the beach. While it may initially seem like more work, it’s worth it when you get to enjoy spending time on the beautiful beaches of Florida with the people who mean the most to you. Once you find yourself on the sand by the water, you’ll forget about the frustration of finding parking because you can relax, let loose, and have a great time doing what you love in beautiful weather!