Virginia Beach Parking & Beach Access Guide (2026)

Parking at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront

The Virginia Beach Oceanfront has three parking garages, several municipal surface lots, and metered on-street parking — but spots fill fast in summer, and the North End has very limited public parking. This guide covers where to park, what to expect to pay, and the part nobody warns you about: the long haul of gear from your car to the sand.

Where can you park at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront?

The city runs three types of public parking in the Resort Area:

Parking garages — Located near 9th Street, 20th Street, 25th Street, and Baltic Avenue. All three garages are open 24/7, and garages are the only option for overnight parking (non-oversized vehicles).

Municipal surface lots — Including 2nd Street, 4th Street, Rudee Loop, and the 19th Street lots. The 4th Street lot handles oversized and overnight vehicles year-round.

On-street metered parking — Paid spaces run along Atlantic Avenue from Rudee Loop up to the high 30s streets, plus the bordering side streets.

Rates and rules change seasonally, and the city moved to a new progressive rate structure in 2026. For current pricing, always check the official source: virginiabeach.gov/parking. All lots, garages, and meters accept cards, mobile-pay apps, and text-to-pay.

When do you have to pay for parking?

As a general rule, Resort Area meters are enforced daily from April 1 through October 31, and most on-street metered parking is free in the off-season (November 1–March 31) — with a couple of exceptions near 24½ and 25th Streets that are enforced year-round. In peak summer, arrive early; the closest lots and garages fill by mid-morning on nice weekends.

What about beach access at the North End?

Here's the catch most guides skip. North of about 42nd Street, the North End is one of the best, widest, quietest beaches in the city — but it has very limited public parking and no public restrooms. Access is mostly through residential side streets, some of which are permit-restricted. If you're heading to the North End, plan your parking and facilities carefully before you go.

The problem parking creates: the haul

Even when you find a spot, you're not done. You still have to carry chairs, an umbrella, a cooler, and everything else — sometimes several blocks, across hot sand, in the sun. For families and anyone without beach-cart gear, this is the single most exhausting part of a Virginia Beach day, and it's worst exactly where parking is hardest.

How to skip the haul entirely

This is the problem ShoreDrop was built to solve. Instead of loading up the car, circling for parking, and hauling gear across the sand, you reserve your setup, drop a pin on your exact beach spot, and we deliver and set everything up before you arrive — chairs, umbrella, cooler, and more. When the day's over, we come back, pack it up, and haul it away. You show up with your towel and leave with your tan.

How much is parking at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront?

The city charges for metered on-street parking, municipal surface lots, and three parking garages, with rates that vary by season and location and a progressive structure introduced in 2026. Check virginiabeach.gov/parking for current pricing before you go.

Is there free parking at Virginia Beach?

Most Resort Area meters are free in the off-season (roughly November through March), with a few year-round exceptions. In summer, expect to pay at nearly all official Oceanfront lots, garages, and meters.

Where do you park for the North End of Virginia Beach?

North End parking is limited and mostly on residential side streets, some permit-restricted, with no public restrooms in the area. Plan ahead — or book a delivered ShoreDrop setup so parking close to the sand matters a lot less.

Circling for parking and hauling gear is the worst part of a beach day. ShoreDrop delivers and sets up your entire beach setup on the Virginia Beach sand before you arrive — and packs it all up after.