Miami Beach parking tips and what to know for a stress-free trip

Parking garages can be pricier than public lots and street parking but come with nice perks like all-day shade and E.V. charging stations at select locations (check miamibeachfl.gov for an expanding list). An expensive (private) one could charge you $20 to $30 for a day at the beach. Many are more affordable public garages, such as the abundant 17th Street Garage, hovering around $2 per hour.

There should be signs outside the garages notifying you of the cost. Just be sure to read the fine print to avoid a surprise bill (especially during special events) and, whatever you do, don’t lose your ticket (the going rate is $20 if you do).

Among your most plentiful options is street parking, though its convenience and availability vary based on where you are and the time or day of the week. A good rule to remember is the closer you are to the beach, the more difficult it’ll be to find a spot. The highest difficulty rating is Ocean Drive and A1A, where you will almost certainly get caught in traffic as you attempt to re-route. Work your way west and parking should get easier. Of course, parallel parking is unavoidable when it comes to street parking, so brush up on those skills. You can pay for these spots at a nearby meter or via the Miami Beach parking app, ParkMobile.

Where you park in Miami Beach can affect the rates and enforcement time of metered parking. Be mindful of the new Entertainment District Parking Zone, comprising all metered parking from Ocean Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue; and from 5 Street to 15 Street, including Washington Avenue. Here, on-street parking costs $4 per hour and off-street lots cost $2 per hour for non-residents, enforced 24/7.

For everything else south of 23rd Street (South Beach Zone), expect $4 per hour for street parking and $2 per hour for lots with a daily enforcement time of 9am to 3am.

From 23rd Street to 44th Street, between Collins Avenue and Indian Creek (East Middle Beach Zone), rates are $3 per hour for street parking and $2 per hour for lots with a 9am to 3am enforcement time.

Everything outside of those zones will be $1 per hour for both street and metered parking with an enforcement time of 8am to 6pm. Still confused? Check out the breakdown over on miamibeachfl.gov.

When cruising for street parking, beware of residential areas. There are presently 25 residential parking permit zones reserved for locals who actually live there. Residential zones should be clearly marked with signs. Still can’t tell? Check the windshields of surrounding cars for residential parking stickers or visitor parking placards displayed on the dashboard. If they all have them, keep moving. You can also see a complete map of Miami Beach’s residential parking zones over on miamibeachfl.gov.

Miami Beach manages 66 public parking lots, 12 public garages and all that public street parking we mentioned. So do your best to park there. Lots belonging to private businesses can and will tow you. You can also get towed if you’ve incorrectly parked on the street. Don’t park at a McDonald’s and think they won’t notice. Make sure you are clearly within a legal parking zone. Even if you’re barely outside of it, you could get towed away.

If you find your car missing and suspect it has been towed, call the 24/7 Miami Beach parking enforcement hotline at 305-604-4785. They’ll let you know if you’ve been towed and how to get it back. You can also try contacting the city's two private towing companies directly: Tremont Towing (305-672-2395) and Beach Towing (305-534-2128).

Tickets suck, huh? It’s better than getting towed but still not fun to come back to. If you do have a ticket, it’ll be tucked underneath your windshield wiper, so be sure to check before you drive away. Your average ticket for going over the time limit is $36. But citations can get more expensive. Illegally park in a "Disabled Permit Only" spot and you’re in for a $257 citation. You can easily pay for a ticket online. Head to miami-dadeclerk.com and enter the citation number on your ticket. The ticket will also have payment instructions on it.

No doubt about it: Parking on Miami Beach can be a massive pain, especially during busy weekends and holidays. An alternative many opt for is using a ride-share app like Lyft or Uber to get to Miami Beach. Split it with a couple of friends and a trip from Downtown to South Beach shouldn’t cost you more than $10 (just keep an eye out for surge pricing, which happens during really busy times like Art Basel). Once on Miami Beach, use the free trolley, the tip-based ride-share Freebee or the bike-sharing program with Citi Bike to get around for the cheap.