Introduction to Parking at Port Canaveral
This is a complete guide to Port Canaveral Cruise Parking in Cape Canaveral for Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, MSC, and Disney Cruiselines.
Please Note – There is major parking expansion construction at Terminals 5, 6, and 10. Overflow parking is currently near the Exploration Tower on the south side of the basin and elsewhere in employee lots. Shuttles run to/from the cruise terminals.
Port Canaveral Cruise Parking – The 3 available options:
- SHIP-SIDE PARKING AT PORT CANAVERAL
- COMMERCIAL OFF-SITE PARKING (private lots near the Port)
- HOTEL PARKING
NOTE: If you arrive in the area on the morning of your cruise then you cannot park at a hotel.
What is best for some may not work for others so ultimately you have to pick what fits your budget and needs!
Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal and Area Map
Here is a detailed map of the Port Canaveral Cruise Ship terminals and parking lots for passengers. You will find accurate locations of:
- Cruise Hotels
- Cape Canaveral Rental Car Agencies
- Cruise Terminals
- Cruise Terminal Parking lots and garages
- Public Transportation Maps – Trolley
I also include information about Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach as well as nearby attractions such as the Kennedy Space Center.
Port Canaveral Parking Ship-side: The most convenient and expensive option
Here is a map of the cruise terminals and parking garages/lots at Port Canaveral.
Officially the parking garages open between 9:30 am and 10:30 am for entry. In reality, you can arrive earlier but on busy days the attendants may direct you to wait elsewhere. And if you arrive too early then you have to deal with vehicles slowly departing the current cruise meaning you may not get a spot near the elevators (yet)!
- You drive up to the cruise terminal, drop your family and/or luggage at the porters, then
- Drive around to park your vehicle in a nearby undercover or open parking lot, and
- Walk back to meet your family.
No hassles, no crowds, and no waiting on shuttle buses especially after your cruise when the family is tired and perhaps grumpy!
And your car is protected from the harsh Florida weather in a parking garage (unless you park on the roof level or nearby surface lot).
TIP – Please know there are many attendants ready to direct you when you arrive at the cruise terminal. DO NOT BE WORRIED about a thing! Just get yourself to the correct terminal and the attendants will show you where to drop your luggage, where to park, how to pay, etc.
This convenience is not cheap ($17 per day – you must include your departure and arrival days). Credit cards only. Attendants are available in case you need assistance.
3-NIGHT CRUISE – $68
4-NIGHT CRUISE – $85
5-NIGHT CRUISE – $102
6-NIGHT CRUISE – $119
7-NIGHT CRUISE – $136
8-NIGHT CRUISE – $153
Oversized vehicles such as RVs must park in open-surface lots nearby. Special rates may apply.
For the latest information please visit the Official Port Canaveral Parking website
Specific Terminal Notes:
Terminal 1 – Royal Caribbean
You drive up and into the garage drop-off area and drop your luggage in front of the entrance (you hand your luggage to handlers). Then you drive out and back into the garage – this time to the first level where you pay at the entrance (attendants are available to assist you). You continue to drive higher until you find a place to park.
You then take the stairs or elevator down to the terminal entrance (where you dropped your luggage) and enter the main building where you clear security, etc.
In the meantime, the luggage handlers will have placed your luggage onto the conveyor from where it travels to the ship via x-ray security.
Terminal 3 – Carnival
The garage opens at 9:30 am. You drive up and into the garage drop-off area and drop your luggage in front of the entrance (you hand your luggage to handlers). Then you drive out and keep left into the garage (8’2″ max) – this time to the first level where you pay at the entrance (attendants are available to assist you). You continue to drive higher until you find a place to park.
You then take the stairs or elevator to the Level 3 walkway, or back to the ground floor (where you dropped your luggage) and enter the main building where you clear security, etc.
In the meantime, the luggage handlers will have placed your luggage onto the conveyor from where it travels to the ship via x-ray security.
Terminal 8 – Disney
Two parking lots – the covered multi-level garage (with open surface area for large vehicles) and the open surface preferred parking lot a little bit closer to the terminal.
Upon arrival, there will be staff to direct you. It is recommended to drop your luggage at the attendants in front of the terminal, and perhaps your passengers. After you dropped your luggage (and passengers) drive to the parking garage (you pay upon entry) then walk down to meet your party before entering security.
TIP – If you stay together after the luggage drop you can use the walkway on garage level 3 to pass through security (the line is often shorter) on your way to the terminal check-in!
The next time you see your luggage will be in your stateroom in the late afternoon!
Terminal 5 – Carnival
A covered multi-level garage and the open surface next door for oversized vehicles.
Follow the directions from Orlando or Melbourne to Terminal A and look for signs with your ship’s name. Terminal 5 is the last and you turn right just before reaching the ship docked almost next to the road!
Enter the garage marked Terminal 5. There are lanes for drop-off. Stop and hand your luggage to an attendant who will place it in a cart to be delivered to the ship.
Then drive forward, curve to the left, and look for the parking sign as you exit the garage. The entrance is a sharp swing to the left where you pay at the entrance (attendants are available to assist you). You continue to drive higher until you find a place to park.
To pick up passengers, note the loading area is on the east side (just before you exit the garage). To exit the terminal you have to turn right after exiting the garage then right again as you loop around to the traffic light and highway.
Terminal 6 – Carnival
Two parking lots – the covered multi-level garage and the open surface next door for oversized vehicles.
Follow the directions from Orlando or Melbourne to Terminal A and look for signs with your ship’s name. Turn right to Terminal 6. You may have to present your tickets at a security kiosk as you complete the turn. Continue straight and look for the “drop passengers” sign or follow the directions from the attendants on duty. After dropping your luggage and/or guests you turn left and continue north to the parking garage (turn left to the entrance).
If you are not parking, you simply circle and proceed to exit the port area back to Orlando, etc.
Upon arrival, there will be staff to direct you. It is recommended to drop your luggage at the attendants in front of the terminal, and perhaps your passengers. After you drop your luggage (and passengers) enter the parking garage and pay upon entry. Attendants will assist with payment!
Terminal 10 – Norwegian
A covered multi-level garage and the open surface next door for oversized vehicles.
Follow the directions from Orlando or Melbourne to Terminal A and look for signs with your ship’s name. Terminal 10 is the first terminal you see and you turn right at the first exit after the draw bridge.
Keep to the right and follow the signs to Terminal 10. Just before the parking garage, turn right through the gates then swing left and drive through the garage where you will see the road signs for drop off/ pickup. Once your luggage is dropped you continue to the ramp and into the parking garage. Pay at the entrance (attendants are available to assist you). You continue to drive higher until you find a place to park.
To pick up passengers, the directions are the same but after the pickup, do not enter the garage. Instead, turn left before the ramp, circle, and exit as shown on the map below.
Port Canaveral Parking Off-site Near the Port – Shuttle bus services at a lower cost
There are seven commercial off-site Port Canaveral parking options – shown below and the online map above. There are also a couple of booking agents – online companies that offer parking via discounted contracts with local hotels and parking partners.
If you drive up on the day of your cruise looking for discounted parking, off-site parking will save you money – but you can save more if you book online BEFORE arrival. You will use a shuttle bus to and from the cruise terminals – it is not as convenient as ship-side parking – but cheaper!
WARNING – Despite everyone’s best efforts, on busy cruise days there can be long delays to/from the off-site parking lots. The shuttle vans simply cannot keep up with traffic and passenger demand and you can expect to wait in long lines. Some folks give up and call taxis or rideshare services; meaning they end up paying almost as much as those who parked ship-side! To budget correctly, add $30 to your off-site parking quote just in case you give up and pay extra for a private ride. Then decide: Is the off-site parking quote still worth the risk and frustration?
If you stayed at a hotel you may be able to park your vehicle at the hotel for the duration of your cruise. Generally speaking, the hotel security is not as good as the fenced & gated off-site parking facilities. So you have to consider more than just cost when comparing your parking options.
Booking Agents
When you search online for cruise parking at Port Canaveral, you will see ads for several booking agents. These online agents don’t own parking lots (or transport vans in most cases). Instead, they have agreements with local hotels, parking facilities, and transport companies to sell parking spaces/transfers online – often at a discount to the consumer.
They change partners and rates quite often and it is hard to keep up with their parking options! Please visit their respective websites for the latest choices.
How safe is it to book parking with agents instead of booking directly with a parking facility? Agents come and go and change names and partners all the time. So it is impossible to generalize but you should be OK with established agents. Just know that you are not dealing directly with a parking facility/operator. Should something go wrong, you cannot address the problem in person at a parking facility. You must deal with an online agent who may be thousands of miles away from Cape Canaveral!
Rightway Parking – A nationwide agency with parking partners at many airports and cruise ports. At Port Canaveral, they partner with most of the offsite parking companies as well as the Country Inn & Suites Hotel. This hotel is close to the Port and they run a very efficient shuttle service.
Tip – I’ve seen great deals offered by Parkway Parking. Check them out. At times, you may pay less than booking directly!
Cost Comparison:
- The rates shown here were accurate at the time. Always check the websites for the latest pricing because they change often.
- Book ahead! Same-day reservations cost more!
- Book offsite parking online for the best rates and look for PROMO codes and discounts (such as the military).
Ship-side parking for 8 days / 7-night cruise – $136 + 7% tax = $145.52
| Company | Typical Cost | Persons Included | Notes |
| Park Port Canaveral | $80 – $118.88 | 4+ | |
| Park N Cruise | $99.73 | 4 | No DCL |
| Portparkingspace | $103 – $114.17 | 4+ | No DCL |
| GoPort | $60 | 1 ($10 pp extra) | Mardi Gras Only |
| CruiseTime Parking | $64 | 4 | No DCL |
| Port Canaveral Parking | $71.60 | 4 | No DCL |
| Beach Line | $60.00 | 4 |
General Rules
- Lots are secured behind a fence (except Beachline) with security lights.
- Port shuttles are generally free for up to 4 passengers. Extra charges apply to larger families. Goport charges per person.
- Do not arrive before 9:30 am. The staff will be busy helping returning cruisers until then.
- The first shuttle typically departs between 10 am and 10:30 am to the ships. The last shuttle typically departs at 2 pm.
- Unless valet parking is required, YOU drop YOUR passengers and luggage, then park the vehicle and walk back to the check-in point.
- Shuttles run continuously every 15-45 minutes (depending on bookings).
Location considerations for off-site parking:
- Park Port Canaveral – Under 3 miles from the cruise terminals on the road to Cocoa Beach. Easy in-and-out location. About 6 minutes from the Port. Slightly out of the way when arriving from Orlando.
- Park ‘N Cruise – Under 4 miles from the cruise terminals on the road to Orlando. Easy in-and-out location. About 8 minutes from the Port. Great location when arriving from Orlando. No shuttle service to Disney Cruise Lines.
- Portparkingspace.com – At the Port within a mile from Terminal 3. Closest location. It is the newest parking facility in the area.
- GoPort – About 7 miles from the cruise terminals on the north side of Merritt Island. At least 15 minutes from the Port – longer if there is a wait at the drawbridge near the facility. It also takes time to wait for the large bus, then to load the large bus and finally, you have to wait for 5-10 minutes at the terminal so they can unload the luggage before you can exit the bus. On the return, you have to wait for the bus to fill (at least 15 mins+) then the same delayed process to unload. Good location when arriving from the west or north. Unfortunately, GoPort offers restricted parking – currently only Mardi Gras passengers are eligible.
- Port Canaveral Parking – About 7 miles from the cruise terminals on the north side of Merritt Island. About 15 minutes from the Port – longer if there is a wait at the drawbridge near the facility. Great location when arriving from Orlando.
- Cruisetime – On Merritt Island behind the Mall about 9 miles south of the Port. Easy in and out along a side road near the Mall. About 16-20 minutes from the Port. Out of the way for most cruisers who travel from/to Orlando but good for those driving from the south.
- Beach Line Transportation – somewhat unknown for parking, they offer parking with shuttles. They use the overflow area of the Hilton Garden Inn in Cocoa Beach. Just under 7 miles from the Port and the transfer takes about 15 minutes. Call them to reserve a spot (no online booking).
Port Canaveral Parking At Hotels Near The Port
We think you will find excellent parking deals at the hotels! You can expect daily parking rates starting around $6 including a return Port shuttle for at least 2 persons.
Most hotels near Port Canaveral offer Park & Cruise packages with free (not really!) or discounted parking for the duration of your cruise. Park & Cruise Packages cannot be used with other discounts and there are limitations such as holiday blackouts.
The Sheraton 4 Points is the only local hotel with covered parking. Elsewhere, bring a car cover if you want to protect your vehicle during your cruise.
Please know driving (and parking) to/from the Port Area is a stress-free event! There are no complex highways here, major traffic congestion, or difficult road navigation! It is a straight shot from/to the airports and hotels and port terminals with clear road signs.
Cruisers even stay near Disney or Orlando Airport and drive one hour or so to the Port the next morning. If you have a car, it is not important to stay as close to the Port as possible – anywhere within an hour’s drive will work because the nearby roads are good and rarely congested and you have a lot of time since the terminals rarely open before 11 am.
TIP – Do not worry about parking until much later in the booking process. First, book the perfect hotel for your family, then start to think about your parking options.
For example, if you have young kids who like pools then pick a hotel with a fun pool design. If you want to watch the cruise ships come and go then pick another. Or do you want to overlook the ocean and beach, or just hope to stay as cheap as possible anywhere within 30 minutes or so from the port?
So how do you know if you are getting a good hotel deal?
A] Ask the following questions:
– Is breakfast included?
– Are airport transfers included? You may not need this service.
– Is the Park & Cruise Package available for your stay and cruise dates?
– Cruise terminal shuttle transfers should be included but usually only for 2 persons (adult or child). How much will it cost for others in your family? On average expect to pay between $5 and $10 extra per person EACH WAY!
– If you do not book the package, how much is parking per day for the duration of your cruise?
– How long is the shuttle drive to the cruise terminal and how often do the shuttles run? Many hotels offer only one free shuttle to the cruise terminal per day – around 10:30 am – and a few return shuttles from the ships at specified times.
B] Use hotel booking sites to find the best rates for your hotel for your travel dates.
This will give you a good idea of the discounted room rate. Then you have to add the parking costs and shuttle costs to compare packages and deals.