Parking Information

Parking availability within the Santa Cruz Harbor is limited. Visitors are encouraged to carpool or use alternative forms of transportation when possible. Parking is permitted in any metered or visitor space. Excluded are slip permit spaces and spaces otherwise marked for special use. Parking regulations are strictly enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Parking options in the neighborhood surrounding the harbor are extremely limited and parking enforcement will be strict. Citations will be issued to vehicles blocking access or parking illegally.

Southeast Harbor
Convenient overflow parking ($6.00) is available for visitors on a first come, first served basis during the Crow’s Nest beach barbeques. When full, visitors will be directed to remote parking in the north harbor.

West Harbor
Metered, pay parking is available for visitors on a first come, first served basis ($2/hourly, $20/daily). Hourly and daily parking passes may be purchased from any blue parking pay station located throughout the west harbor. Access to the harbor’s east side is available via the free, inner-harbor water taxi, which boards at “AA” dock, below the public pier.

North Harbor 
Metered, pay parking is available in the north harbor near “X” dock ($2/hourly, $20/daily). Hourly and daily parking passes may be purchased from the blue parking pay station located near J-Dock. Meter rates are $2/hourly (meters accept quarters, dimes, & nickels only). Access to the south harbor is available via the free inner-harbor water taxi, which boards at “X-1” dock.

Harbor Water Taxi
The free, inner-harbor water taxi, which serves remote parking areas, operates between 11:00 am – 6:00 pm, on summer weekends and holidays, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. In addition to weekend service, the water taxi operates on Thursday evenings during the Crow’s Nest beach barbecues from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Please see the map below for all water taxi pick-up and drop-off locations in the harbor.