Parking in Fernandina Beach
Downtown is paid. The beaches are free. Here is exactly where to leave the car.
The short version: downtown parking is paid until 18 November 2026, then free again. Beach parking is free throughout. Downtown has charged $2 an hour since February 2026, but voters ended the program in August and the city has given its vendor notice. This page is kept current.
Downtown and Centre Street
The City of Fernandina Beach charges $2 an hour in the marked zones covering Centre Street and the surrounding blocks. Pay at a kiosk or by app, and read the posted signs where you park — enforcement hours and which blocks are included are set by the city. The program has run since February 2026 and is now being wound down.
We deliberately do not publish a per-hour rate here. Rates change, and a stale number on a visitor guide is worse than no number at all. Check the sign at the kiosk, or the City of Fernandina Beach website, before you pay.
Paid parking ends 18 November 2026. On 18 August 2026 residents approved a citizen-led ordinance by roughly 75%, requiring a public vote before the city can impose paid parking. The commission then voted 4-1 to terminate the vendor contract, which carries a 90-day notice period — putting the final day of paid parking at 18 November 2026. A motion to reconsider deadlocked 2-2 on 2 September, so the termination stands. Until that date you still pay; after it, downtown parking is free. Last checked 2 September 2026.
Practical advice for downtown
- Park once. The historic district is flat and walkable end to end in about ten minutes — from the marina to 8th Street. There is no reason to move the car between shops and dinner: roughly twenty restaurants and bars sit inside those blocks, all of them in our guide to downtown restaurants.
- Come before late morning on weekends and during festivals. Spaces on Centre Street itself fill first.
- Check the lots a block or two off Centre. They are usually easier than the main street, including near the marina and around the historic post office. Signage varies by lot, so read it.
- During large events such as the Shrimp Festival, some streets close entirely and event parking or shuttles are used — check the specific event listing.
Beach parking — still free
The paid program is a downtown measure. The city and county beach parks remain free:
- Main Beach Park — free parking in the lot and along the street. The island's most popular beach, so it fills fastest on summer weekends.
- Peters Point Beachfront Park — free, and generally easier to find a space than Main Beach, though still busy at weekends.
- American Beach — free parking at the public access.
All three are a short drive from downtown; none is realistically walkable from Centre Street. See the map and directions for how the island fits together.
Parks with an entry fee
Fort Clinch State Park charges $6 per vehicle to enter, with touring the fort an additional $2.50 per person. Parking inside the park is covered by that entry fee. Egans Creek Greenway is free and open sunrise to sunset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is parking free in downtown Fernandina Beach?
Until 18 November 2026, yes. Downtown Fernandina Beach has had paid parking since February 2026 — $2 an hour in the marked zones on and around Centre Street, payable at a kiosk or by app. It is being wound down: in August 2026 voters approved a citizen-led ordinance by roughly 75%, and the city commission voted 4-1 to terminate the parking vendor's contract. That contract requires 90 days' notice, which makes 18 November 2026 the last day of paid parking. After that, downtown parking is free again. Check posted signs while the program winds down, or the City of Fernandina Beach site.
Is parking free at the beaches in Fernandina Beach?
Yes. Main Beach Park and Peters Point Beachfront Park both have free parking, in marked lots and along the street. They fill up on summer weekends, so arrive earlier in the day.
How much does parking cost in Fernandina Beach?
$2 an hour in the downtown paid zones, until the program ends on 18 November 2026. Beach parking is free. Enforcement hours and the exact zones are set by the city — check the posted signs at the kiosk before you pay.
What about parking at Fort Clinch State Park?
Fort Clinch is a state park with an entry fee rather than a parking charge — $6 per vehicle, with touring the fort itself an additional $2.50 per person. Parking inside the park is included in that entry fee.
Where should I park for the Saturday farmers market?
The Fernandina Beach Market Place runs on North 7th Street near Centre Street, inside the downtown area, so normal downtown paid parking rules apply. Arriving before 10am gets you both the better produce and the easier space.