At beach, prepare to shell out
Parking can be costly, especially during season
Beachgoers beware: That breathtaking view might beckon, but the parking will cost you. How much depends on where you go. If you head to Hollywood, Boca Raton or Miami Beach, you’ll pay among the highest rates in South Florida for a spot at a municipal meter or parking garage. Bargain hunters can find better deals in Delray Beach, Pompano Beach and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.
But Hollywood’s $4 hourly weekend rate isn’t keeping people away, said City Commissioner Kevin Biederman.
“Being that we are at capacity most of the time, people are willing to pay those rates,” he said.
Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper had this advice for those who don’t want to get
soaked before they hit the water.
“Take Uber,” she said. “Then you don’t have to worry about the parking.”
Here is what you can expect, from north to south.
Boynton Beach
Daily parking fees: $10 per vehicle during season (through April 30), on weekends and holidays; $5 per vehicle on weekdays. This beach has been popular with families since the 1920s, according to the city’s website. You’ll find a playground at Oceanfront Park Beach, 6415 N. Ocean Blvd., along with picnic grills under the shade, concession stand, volleyball court, solar trees to charge your phone and showers with changing rooms. Visitors can rent beach chairs, umbrellas and beach toys. As one fan posted on YouTube: “It’s a place of smiling faces, natural beauty and spirited fun … utter relaxation and play.”
Delray Beach
Hourly parking rate: $1.50. Named one of Florida’s Top 10 beaches by the Travel Channel in 2015 and 2016, Delray Beach draws an estimated 1 million visitors annually. “You can park your car right there and five steps away you’re on the sand,” Mayor Cary Glickstein said. “You don’t have to walk across busy A1A. We’ve been able to retain that low-key beach town vibe.” Delray won a “Best Restored Beach” award in 2013 and has been designated a Blue Wave Beach for its cleanliness. Lifeguards keep daily watch over 1.5 miles of beach. Paddleboards are welcome but can be launched only at the north and south ends of the beach and must stay 150 yards from shore and away from swimmers. A livestream beach cam on the city’s website lets folks check out conditions before making the drive. (The city is meeting in January to discuss parking rates, so these prices may change.)
Boca Raton
Hourly rate for meters: $2 on weekdays and $3 on weekends. Day parking rates for Red Reef and Spanish River parks: $17 on weekdays and $19 on weekends; South Beach Park: $16 on weekdays and $18 on weekends. Exclusive, pristine and high-priced, Boca Raton’s 2-mile stretch of beach is isolated and serene, according to the city’s website. Visitors will find sand dunes, sea oats and sea grapes — and the occasional pooch. A portion of Spanish River Park is dog friendly on certain days and times. Weekend passes cost $10 per dog and are available at the Spanish River Park gatehouse. Lifeguards staff the beach seven days a week, year-round, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A high-resolution webcam at South Beach Park Pavilion (State Road A1A and East Palmetto Park Road) lets beachgoers check conditions before heading out. Beach wheelchairs available.
Deerfield Beach
Hourly parking rate: $2 to $3 on weekdays and $3 to $4 on weekends, Known for its fishing pier, surfing and volleyball, Deerfield Beach has a relaxed, chill vibe. That doesn’t mean it’s always easy to find a parking space along the 1-mile beach — especially during tourist season, says city spokeswoman Melissa Lay. “It has been harder to find parking with the snowbirds here, but it’s not nearly as bad as Fort Lauderdale,” she said. Visitors will find nine sand volleyball courts north of the pier, available free on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests can bodyboard, snorkel and fish from the International Pier. Lifeguards in nine towers protect the award-winning “Blue Wave” beach from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round.
Pompano Beach
Hourly rate: $1.75 to $2.25 during season (through April 14) depending on where you park. Holiday/ event rate: $2.25 to $2.75. If you’re looking for a beach where parking is cheap and easy, you’ll find it in Pompano Beach. “We’re a hidden jewel,” said city spokeswoman Sandra King. “We may have been a sleepy town 20 years ago, but we’re fast becoming the destination.” Pompano is known for its wide beach and popular fishing pier, which is closed for renovations through early 2019. The beach has plenty of meters and a new parking garage with one of the lowest rates in South Florida, King says. The water on this stretch of coastline is among the warmest and clearest in South Florida thanks to a bend in the Gulf Stream, according to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “People tell me they used to pass through Pompano on the way to Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood,” King said. “And now people are stopping and saying, ‘Why are we driving? This is incredible.’ ”
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Hourly parking rate at meters: 50 cents to $2 per hour. Daily rate at two parking lots: $10. A low-key getaway with a charming beach village vibe, where the coral reef is close enough for visitors to swim out for snorkeling and diving. That’s how the local tourism folks describe Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. “Our beach is like old Florida charm,” said town spokesman Steve d’Oliveira. “We have a great pier. We have no lifeguards so we are popular with divers.” To get a parking spot, arrive early in the morning, before the crowds. “If you get here before 9 a.m., you’re pretty much guaranteed a spot,” he said. Another trick: Park west of the Intracoastal bridge and walk to the beach.
Fort Lauderdale
Hourly rate: Ranges from $1 to $3. Looking for glitz and glamour? Look no further. From Spring Break mecca to cosmopolitan chic, Fort Lauderdale’s everevolving beach remains one of the most popular destinations around. If you love to people watch, this 3-mile beach is the place to see it all. The brick-lined beachfront promenade is frequently packed with people jogging, walking and in-line skating. The beach has dozens of shops, outdoor bars and restaurants, from the casual to the upscale. A unique Wave Wall hugs the sand, separating the beach from the sidewalk and giving visitors a place to chill — and people watch.
Birch State Park, Fort Lauderdale
Parking rate: $6 per vehicle. A quiet oasis just one block east of Fort Lauderdale beach north of Sunrise Boulevard, Birch State Park is open 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to sundown. Visitors jog or stroll along a 2-mile paved park road that encircles the natural hammock, the former estate of Hugh Taylor Birch. Visitors can rent a canoe or fish from the seawall overlooking the Intracoastal. A pedestrian tunnel under A1A allows direct access to the beach for those who prefer to avoid crossing the busy state highway. Pavilions with water and electricity are available to rent.
Dania Beach
Parking rate: $2 an hour. The fishing pier and Quarterdeck restaurant right on the beach draw people from all over South Florida. Local tourism officials call Dania Beach a hidden gem with some of the prettiest and least crowded stretches of ocean in South Florida. Surfers flock here alongside families with children. Parking here is still one of the lowest in the region. “We don’t want to outprice parking. We still want people to go to the restaurant and the beach,” said Colin Donnelly, assistant city manager. But sometimes, the lot does get full, especially during tourist season. “On a busy weekend, we’ve had to shut down vehicle access to the beach,” Donnelly said.
Hollywood
Hourly parking rates: $3 Monday through Thursday; $4 Friday through Sunday. Tourism officials refer to Hollywood beach as “retro cool.” Locals call it kitschy. The Broadwalk runs for 2.5 miles along the beach, giving visitors a fun place to bike, jog and stroll. Named one of America’s Best Beach Boardwalks by Travel + Leisure magazine, Hollywood is also an awardwinning “Blue Wave” beach known for being clean and user-friendly. Outdoor cafes and bars allow for plenty of people watching. Live music plays weekly at the bandshell across from the Jimmy Buffett-themed Margaritaville resort. Dog lovers will find a special slice of beach, where pups can romp with their owners during specified days and times. Admittance requires a daily pass: $5 per dog for Hollywood residents and $10 per dog for non-residents.
Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park
Parking is $6 per vehicle. Formerly known as John U. Lloyd State Park, this park is perfect for a family picnic or just a relaxing day at the beach. Sports-minded visitors can enjoy surf fishing, boating, diving or canoeing along a scenic mangrovelined waterway. Two boat ramps provide easy access to the ocean through the Port Everglades Inlet. Great spot for bird watching — and selfies. Located off A1A in the city of Hollywood, not far from the Dania Beach pier.
Hallandale Beach
Parking rates: $1.75 per hour. Broward County’s southernmost beach is one of the region’s best-kept secrets, city officials say. Assistant city manager Greg Chavarria said he lives in North Miami Beach but prefers to bring his family to Hallandale Beach. “I have to cross the street to go to my beach and that can be dangerous if you have kids,” he said. “In Hallandale, you don’t have to cross a street.” Visitors will find a volleyball court, a play gym for kids, swing sets and a kiddie area at South City Beach Park.
Haulover Beach
Hourly parking rate: $5 to $6 on weekdays, $7 on weekends and holidays. Feel free to go au naturel at Haulover Beach, wellknown for its clothingoptional section. This naked hot spot is just north of Miami’s Haulover Cut. Haulover Park is a 177-acre park with 1.4 miles of beachfront operated by MiamiDade County. Permanent signs mark the clothingoptional area, which encompasses less than a halfmile on the northern end of the beach. One of the most popular nude beaches in the country, Haulover attracts 1.3 million visitors a year. Great for surfing and swimming, you’ll also find picnic tables and umbrella rentals. Just remember to bring that sunscreen.
Miami Beach
Hourly parking rate at meters: $2 to $4. Hourly rate in city parking garages: $1. Daily rate: $25 for special event. It’s got celebrities and sports stars, funky lifeguard stands and pretty white sand for more than 7 miles. And this world-famous beach has more than 12,000 municipal parking spaces and plenty of private spaces, too, said Melissa Berthier, spokeswoman for Miami Beach. South Beach is the “party central” section of the beach. But it’s popular with surfers and families as well. You’ll find lounge chairs and cabanas for rent along with kayaks and waverunners. Now, about those lifeguard stands. They’ve won awards and inspired books for their Art Deco-inspired designs and pure whimsy. One resembles a lighthouse with red and white stripes. Another, inspired by “The Jetsons” cartoon, is round and painted hot pink. A third looks more like a Mardi Gras float painted in green, purple and yellow.