Beach Guide

Crystal Cove State Park Parking

Lots, garages, rates & the closest spots to the sand

Arrive early
lots fill fast

Parking at Crystal Cove State Park costs from $15/day. Compare 3 nearby lots and garages by price, walking distance and how full each one is right now. Lot locations, rates and hours are real and geocoded. Tap a pin for driving directions.

Cheapest: El Moro Parking Area · $15/day

Watch the Lots Fill

tap a pin · slide the time

Pouring the water…

12 PM today
OpenFillingTight

3 lots · 530 spaces. Scrub the time slider for the crowd estimate.

All Parking

at 12 PM · nearest first

Pelican Point Parking

~10 open

100 spaces · $15/day · State park lot · 3 min

El Moro Parking Area

~43 open

280 spaces · $15/day · State park lot · 9 min

Reef Point Parking Area

~31 open

150 spaces · $15/day · State park lot · 13 min

Local moves

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All parking is state park day-use - $15/day. No free options within the park boundaries.

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Pelican Point fills first because it is closest to the cottages and cafe - El Moro is the best backup.

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PCH shoulder parking is technically legal in spots but heavily ticketed - do not risk it.

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If you have a California State Parks day pass, it covers Crystal Cove entry.

City parking info (949) 494-3539

Parking Questions

How much is parking at Crystal Cove State Park?

Parking at Crystal Cove State Park costs from $15/day. The cheapest paid lot is El Moro Parking Area at $15/day.

Is there free parking at Crystal Cove State Park?

Parking at Crystal Cove State Park is paid — there is no free beach lot. Lots start at $15/day. Arriving early or late in the day is your best bet for a spot.

Where should I park for Crystal Cove State Park?

Crystal Cove State Park has 3 lots within walking distance; the largest is El Moro Parking Area (280 spaces). The lots nearest the sand fill first, so the ones a block or two back usually have room. Use the live map above to compare walking distance and how full each lot is right now.

What time does parking fill up at Crystal Cove State Park?

On warm, sunny weekend days the closest Crystal Cove State Park lots fill by mid-morning. Arrive before 10 AM or after 4 PM for the easiest parking, and scrub the time slider on the map above for the crowd estimate hour by hour.

More Crystal Cove State Park

Beach guideConditionsSunsetWhere to eat

happy hunting

Lot locations, counts, rates and hours are real, geocoded from each address. No live space-count feed is published, so availability is estimated from typical beach crowds and today’s weather. Your location is used only in your browser to sort by distance.

Main parking at Crystal Cove State Park: Pelican Point Parking ($15/day) and El Moro Parking Area ($15/day). Check today’s water, surf and UV on the conditions page.