Rates and hours
- Weekdays (Mon–Fri): $7 per vehicle, flat rate, all day.
- Weekends & holidays (Sat–Sun + observed federal holidays): $10.
- Hours: sunrise to sunset for the gates, ~6 AM to 8 PM for active patrol.
- Cabana rentals are separate — booked through Miami-Dade Parks.
- Annual pass: Miami-Dade County sells an annual beach-parking permit (~$110) that covers Crandon plus Haulover and Matheson Hammock. Pays back if you go 12+ times.
PayByPhone (the easy way)
Crandon switched to PayByPhone a few years ago — kiosk payments still exist but the app is faster and never out of receipt paper. Two steps:
- Park, note the lot/zone number posted on the sign nearest your space.
- Open PayByPhone, enter the zone, pay $7 or $10 depending on the day. Saved cars + cards make this a 10-second tap.
Skip at your peril: Miami-Dade enforcement is aggressive at Crandon — citation tickets run substantially more than the daily rate.
Where the parking is
Miami-Dade County says Crandon Park has parking for just under 3,000 vehicles spread across the beach lots and the Tennis Center lot. They aren't all the same — the lots closer to the cabana row and main beach entrance fill before the ones at the north end of the park, especially on weekend mornings in spring and summer. If the south lots look full, keep driving north — there's usually still room.
Best times to visit
- Sunday morning before 9 — locals' window. Cool, mostly empty, full pick of parking.
- Weekdays before noon — open across the board.
- Weekday afternoons — light. Lots fill maybe 30% at peak.
- Avoid weekend midday in summer — Memorial Day, Father's Day, July 4th approach are the worst. Plan to arrive before 9 or after 4.
Where to park when Crandon is full
- Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park at the south tip — separate per-vehicle entry fee. Beach is more sheltered, often less crowded than Crandon.
- Village Beach lots in the middle of the island near the lighthouse — free, limited spots, turnover-dependent.
- Hobie Beach (on the causeway, technically Virginia Key) — pull off the shoulder. Free but exposed. Popular with kiteboarders and dog walkers.
- Crandon Blvd street parking on the inland side, north of the village — possible in places, but read posted signs carefully: many blocks are residential-permit-only.
Parking for special events
A few KB events overwhelm parking and the causeway:
- Miami Marathon (late January) and the Lighthouse Run (typically December) — causeway closes for hours; access in and out of the island is restricted.
- July 4th fireworks at Crandon — lots fill by 5 PM. Plan to walk or bike in.
- Triathlons (multiple per year) — Rickenbacker often closes to traffic 4 AM–11 AM on race day.
Watch the Islander News and Village press releases in the week leading up to a big event.