Parking in Carolina Beach is fairly straightforward once you know the schedule, but the rules and prices vary depending on where you leave your car.
Town lots cost $6 per hour or $25 for the day, premium lots cost $7 per hour or $35 for the day, and on-street parking is $5 per hour. Paid parking is enforced from March 1 through October 31 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Premium lots are paid year round.
Before heading toward the beach or boardwalk, check the town's PivotGO live parking map. It shows which town lots still have available spaces and can provide directions through Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze. No app is required.
When Parking Is Free in Carolina Beach
Standard town lots and on-street spaces are free before 9 a.m. and after 8 p.m. during the paid parking season. They are also free throughout November, December, January and February.
Premium lots do not have free off-season parking and are paid year round, so check the signs before leaving your vehicle.
Designated handicap parking spaces are free when the vehicle displays a valid handicap license plate, placard or hang tag. The exemption only applies to marked handicap spaces. Vehicles displaying a placard must still pay when parked in a regular space.
Where to Park in Carolina Beach
Carolina Beach has town-operated lots and on-street parking throughout the island, including spaces near beach accesses, the marina and the Carolina Beach Boardwalk.
The town's full parking map is the easiest way to compare locations. It includes parking rates, nearby restrooms, available amenities and information about where town parking passes are accepted.
You may also find unmarked parallel parking spaces within the public right of way. Pay close attention to signs, since some residential spaces require a town re-entry pass.
Parking Near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk Parking Near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Parking closest to the Carolina Beach Boardwalk fills quickly, especially during summer weekends, concerts and fireworks nights.
Surfside East and Surfside West are the closest town-operated premium lots and cost $7 per hour. The Harbor Master Lot at 309 Carolina Beach Avenue North is another convenient option at the standard $6 hourly rate.
The Fishermans, Marina and Town Hall lots are a little farther away along Canal Drive, but they can be a good alternative when the immediate boardwalk area is full.
Town lots are marked with signs stating that town passes are accepted. Private parking is mixed throughout the boardwalk area and may cost $8 or more per hour. Town parking passes are not valid in private lots, so confirm who operates the lot before paying.
How to Pay for Parking at Carolina Beach
Carolina Beach uses Text2Park rather than requiring visitors to download an app.
Text 25023 with the location code shown on the parking sign, then follow the link to pay by credit card or PayPal. You can also extend your parking session remotely without returning to your vehicle.
Credit and debit card payments are available at town parking locations as well.
Daily and Weekly Parking Rates at Carolina Beach
Town lots cost $25 per day, while premium lots cost $35 per day. Oversized vehicles, buses and limousines cost $10 per hour or $40 per day.
Daily parking fees restart each morning, so a payment made one day does not carry over into the next.
Visitors staying for a week or longer may save money with a $100 weekly parking pass. Weekly passes are available online or from Town Hall and the Parking Office.
Golf Cart and LSV Parking in Carolina Beach
Golf carts and low-speed vehicles can purchase a $100 annual parking pass. Without a pass, low-speed vehicles pay the standard hourly or daily parking rate.
Golf carts and low-speed vehicles may only travel on roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less.
Residential Parking Passes Carolina Beach Residential Parking Passes
Carolina Beach residents and property owners can purchase a $30 annual residential parking pass beginning each January.
The pass is valid for on-street parking south of Carl Winner Avenue and in seven designated town lots. It is not valid at street-end spaces or in several of the lots closest to the beach and boardwalk.
Current lot lists and purchasing information are available on the Town of Carolina Beach parking page.
Parking Tickets and Appeals Carolina Beach Parking Tickets and Appeals
Carolina Beach parking citations begin at $60. The fine is reduced by 25 percent when paid within 48 hours.
After 30 days, the fine increases to $110. After 60 days, it increases to $160.
Appeals must be submitted within seven days of receiving the citation. The amount due does not continue increasing while an appeal is under review.
Citations can be paid online, by mail or at the Carolina Beach Parking Office at 1708 Canal Drive. The office is open seven days a week from March through October and can be reached at 910-458-4614.
A Few Tips Before You Go Carolina Beach Parking Tips
Check the live parking map before driving toward the beach, especially on summer weekends and event nights. Arriving before 9 a.m. can also help you find a better space while avoiding the morning parking charge.
Always read the sign at the exact lot or space where you park. Town and private parking areas can sit next to one another but have different prices, rules and payment systems.
Heading to the weekly fireworks? Parking is often the most difficult part of the evening, so review the Carolina Beach Boardwalk Blast fireworks guide before leaving.
The Carolina Beach Boardwalk is where most visits start, and where checking the parking sign matters most.