Which Camber Sands car park? Central vs Western vs Old Lydd Road
Camber Sands has three council-run car parks along the beach, plus the free Broomhill Sands option at the eastern end. They share the same tariff (so price is not the deciding factor between the three council ones) but they suit very different visits. Here is which one to aim for, and why.
With a dog (in summer): Western. It is the closest to Zone C.
With kitesurf gear: Western or Broomhill (free). Both sit near the watersports area.
With kids and buggies: Central. Most facilities and the Welcome Centre are right there.
With a coach: Western (TN31 7RB), £4.50 per hour.
On a budget: Broomhill (free, but arrive before 9am) or Gibbet Marsh in Rye plus the cycle path.
The three council car parks at a glance
| Car park | Postcode | RingGo | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | TN31 7RH | 15617 | Welcome Centre, facilities, families |
| Old Lydd Road | TN31 7RH | 15619 | Spill-over when Central fills |
| Western | TN31 7RB | 15620 | Dog zone, kitesurf area, coaches |
All three charge the same tariff. From 1 April 2026 that is £6 up to 1 hour, £12 for 1 to 3 hours, £24 for 3 to 6 hours, and £30 for over 6 hours. Winter (1 October to 31 March) drops sharply, to between £1.50 and £8.25. See parking prices in full for the bands and how to pay.
Central car park
The main car park in the middle of the beach, attached to the Welcome Centre (opened 2025), the main toilet block and the Changing Places facility. Closest to the bathing zone where the RNLI flags are flown in summer. Best for first-time visitors, families and anyone who wants facilities steps from the sand.
- Postcode: TN31 7RH
- RingGo zone: 15617
- Gates locked at 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays (and Sundays of bank holiday weekends) from April to September
- Fills first on hot weekends
Old Lydd Road car park
Slightly east of Central, sharing the TN31 7RH postcode. Functions as the spill-over when Central is full, and is often a quicker option once you have queued past the bottleneck. Same facilities a short walk away.
- Postcode: TN31 7RH
- RingGo zone: 15619
- Same tariff and gate-locking rules as Central
Where the Camber Sands dog-friendly zone is, and how to get to it
Western car park
At the western (Rye) end of the beach. The most useful car park if you are coming with a dog in summer, because it is the closest paid car park to Zone C (the dog-friendly stretch). It is also the coach drop-off point and a sensible base if you are heading to the kitesurfing area or planning a walk towards Camber Castle.
- Postcode: TN31 7RB
- RingGo zone: 15620
- Coaches: £4.50 per hour
- Closest paid car park to the dog zone and the western dune end
And the free option: Broomhill Sands
East Sussex County Council operates the free car park at Broomhill, at the eastern end of the beach near Jury's Gap. Around 300 spaces on gravel with no marked bays. Direct access to the watersports end. The catches are real: a height barrier (no campervans, no roof boxes), no toilets on site, and it fills up by 9am on sunny weekends. The full story is on free parking near Camber Sands.