Rates and hours
- Monday–Thursday: $7 plus tax.
- Friday–Sunday: $10 plus tax.
- Main park office: 8 AM–5 PM daily. Beach, tennis, golf, marina, and other facility hours vary; confirm the specific facility before you go.
- Cabana rentals are separate — booked through Miami-Dade Parks.
How to pay
Follow the payment instructions posted in the lot. If the signs direct you to PayByPhone, note the zone number nearest your space before opening the app.
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. See live causeway status for the current picture.
- July 4th fireworks at Crandon — lots fill by 5 PM. Plan to walk or bike in. The island events calendar covers the full schedule.
- Triathlons (multiple per year) — Rickenbacker often closes to traffic 4 AM–11 AM on race day. Check the causeway page for the FDOT closure schedule.
Watch the Islander News and Village press releases in the week leading up to a big event. If you're parking to hit the beach, glance at the water-quality samples and sargassum risk first — both can change which lot makes sense.