Written by Richard & Sophie, local hosts on White Sand, Camber Sands. Last updated: August 2026. Prices checked against Rother District Council’s published 2026 tariffs.
Quick answer
Camber Sands has three council car parks. In summer (1 April to 30 September) Central and Old Lydd Road charge £6 for an hour up to £30 for a full day, while the Western car park is cheaper at £4 to £20. Broomhill Sands at the eastern end is free all year. Arrive before 9.30am on sunny weekends, or skip the car altogether: our guests just walk to the beach.
Why trust this guide?
We’re Richard & Sophie, and we live and host here in Camber Sands, so we watch the summer parking dance every single day: the queue along New Lydd Road, the full signs going up by mid-morning, the last-minute circling. Here’s everything we’d tell a friend driving down, including the cheaper car park most visitors miss, with every price checked against the council’s published tariffs.
How much is parking at Camber Sands in 2026?
Camber Central and Old Lydd Road (TN31 7RH), summer: 1 April to 30 September
| Length of stay | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | £6.00 |
| 1 to 3 hours | £12.00 |
| 3 to 6 hours | £24.00 |
| Over 6 hours | £30.00 |
Western car park (TN31 7RB), summer
| Length of stay | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | £4.00 |
| 1 to 3 hours | £8.00 |
| 3 to 6 hours | £16.00 |
| Over 6 hours | £20.00 |
Yes, you read that right: the Western car park is a third cheaper than Central all summer. A family day there is £20 instead of £30. It’s also the closest car park to the summer dog-walking zone, so if you’re coming with your dog it’s the right choice twice over.
Winter prices (1 October to 31 March), all three car parks: £1.30 for an hour, £3.80 for up to 3 hours, £6.40 for up to 6, and £7.70 for the day. Winter is when the beach is at its emptiest and loveliest, and the parking costs less than a coffee and a bun.
Charges run 8am to 7pm and all prices include VAT. You can’t book a space in advance in any of the council car parks.
Where is the free parking at Camber Sands?
Broomhill Sands, at the eastern end of the beach near Jury’s Gap, is free all year. It’s run by East Sussex County Council rather than Rother, and it puts you straight onto the watersports end of the beach, which is why the kitesurfers all park there. It fills quickly on sunny days, so treat it like the paid car parks and come early.
If you’re happy to add a little adventure, park at Gibbet Marsh in Rye for £2.60 all day and cycle the flat, traffic-free path to Camber. It’s about three miles of salt marsh and big skies, and honestly one of the nicest ways to arrive. Our Camber Sands without a car guide has the full route.
How do I pay, and what’s the catch with each car park?
All three council car parks take RingGo (zone codes: Central 15617, Old Lydd Road 15619, Western 15620). Central and Western also have pay and display; Old Lydd Road is RingGo only, so have the app downloaded before you set off if you’re heading there, the signal can be patchy on the marsh.
A few things the tariff boards don’t shout about:
- Central’s gates are locked at 8pm on Friday and Saturday evenings from April to September, and on Sundays over bank holiday weekends. If your car’s inside when they lock, it stays there until morning. Worth knowing if you’ve planned a sunset barbecue.
- Western closes at 8pm in summer and is staffed until 5pm. Taller vehicles that need the height barrier opened must leave before 5pm.
- No overnight parking in any Camber car park, and no motorhome stays.
- On the busiest days the car parks fill and can close, and the single road into the village backs up with them. The council’s own advice is to have a plan B.
When should I arrive to get a space?
Before 9.30am on any warm weekend or school-holiday day, in our experience. The beach can see tens of thousands of visitors on the hottest days, all arriving down one road. The other good window is after 3.30pm, when the early crowd starts to drift home and you still get hours of afternoon sun. September is the local secret: warm sea, quiet sand, and the summer tariffs end on the 30th.
What if I never want to think about parking at all?
This is the honest advantage of staying in the village: our cottages all have their own parking, and the beach is a short stroll away. You leave the car on the drive all week, walk to the dunes with your coffee, and watch the queue from the other side. Many of our guests tell us it’s the single biggest holiday upgrade Camber offers.
If you’re planning the wider trip, our Ultimate Guide to Camber Sands covers tides, dogs, lifeguards and things to do, and the Best Time to Visit guide will help you pick your moment.
Camber Sands parking FAQs
How much is parking at Camber Sands for the day?
In summer (1 April to 30 September), £30 at Central and Old Lydd Road, or £20 at the Western car park. In winter, £7.70 at all three. Broomhill Sands is free all year.
Is there free parking at Camber Sands?
Yes, Broomhill Sands car park at the eastern end of the beach is free all year round. It serves the watersports zone and fills early on sunny days.
Which Camber Sands car park is cheapest?
Broomhill is free. Of the paid car parks, Western (TN31 7RB) is the cheapest in summer at £4 to £20, a third less than Central.
Can I park overnight at Camber Sands?
No. Overnight stays aren’t permitted in any of the Camber car parks, and Central’s gates are locked at 8pm on Friday and Saturday evenings in season.
Do the Camber Sands car parks take cash?
Central and Western have pay and display machines alongside RingGo. Old Lydd Road is RingGo only, so you’ll need the app or the RingGo phone line there.
What time should I arrive at Camber Sands in summer?
Before 9.30am on sunny weekends, or after 3.30pm. The village has one access road and it queues once the car parks near capacity.
Where do I park for the dog-friendly part of the beach?
The Western car park is the closest to the summer dog zone at the western end. From 1 October to 30 April dogs are welcome on the whole beach, so any car park works. Our dog rules guide has the zone map and dates.
Practical info and sources
Parking tariffs and rules are set by Rother District Council, and their Camber Sands page carries gate times, safety and lifeguard dates. Prices can change without notice, so check before a special trip.
Richard & Sophie live on White Sand, Camber, and have hosted guests beside this beach since 2009.