Most Norfolk cruise passengers park at the official Cedar Grove lot for $15 a day, with shuttle service and luggage check-in included. If you want a reserved indoor spot or extra peace of mind about your vehicle while you're at sea, secure private parking nearby, including the option we offer at Asphalt Lots, fills that gap.
TL;DR:
- Cedar Grove opens at 9:30 AM; shuttle service starts around 9:45 AM, and the final run leaves at about 2:30 PM.
- The lot accepts payment upon entry and requires no advance reservation; its published rate may change, so confirm current pricing before sailing.
- Travelers needing accessible boarding or shuttle assistance should contact terminal staff before sailing to confirm arrangements, while curbside drop off avoids the shuttle entirely.
- Port Canaveral charges $20 per day plus tax, compared with Norfolk’s published $15 rate, though parking services differ between the ports.
- A single cruise favors the less expensive lot, while frequent sailing, deployment storage, or an expensive vehicle may justify reserved indoor parking.
Table of Contents
- Daily parking options at a glance
- Official Cedar Grove parking: location, hours, and rates
- What to expect on your cruise departure day
- What daily cruise parking actually costs
- How to choose the right parking for your trip
- Which option actually makes sense for your trip
- Reserve secure indoor parking with Asphalt Lots
- FAQ
- Sources
Daily parking options at a glance
Before you commit to a lot, it helps to know what each option actually delivers on cruise day.
- Cedar Grove (official port lot): located about 1.5 miles from the terminal, charges $15 per day with shuttle pickup and a luggage check-in window before departure.
- Asphalt Lots (indoor secure parking): reserved spots, round-the-clock surveillance, and shuttle service, with a VIP Unlimited Parking Membership for travelers who cruise often.
- Other quick options: curbside drop-off at the terminal for passengers who have someone to drive them, and scattered public garages downtown that require a longer walk or rideshare to reach the pier.
Each path trades off differently on price, distance, and how much you want to think about your car once you've boarded.
Official Cedar Grove parking: location, hours, and rates
Cedar Grove sits at 1000 Monticello Avenue, roughly 1.5 miles from the Norfolk cruise terminal, and functions as the official cruise parking lot for the port. On cruise days, the lot opens at 9:30 AM, and the published rate is $15 per day, payable when you enter.
The lot's $15 per day rate makes it the lowest-cost option listed for Norfolk cruise parking. The published rate is $15 per day. Check with the lot for details about how payment applies to your trip.
A few practical details shape how your morning goes:
- Shuttle service to the terminal begins around 9:45 AM, with the final shuttle run at about 2:30 PM.
- Luggage check-in happens right at the lot, so you hand off your bags before boarding the shuttle instead of hauling them through the terminal.
- Terminal directions confirm the same $15 daily rate and note that pricing is set by the Port Authority and subject to change.
If you need accessibility accommodations, ADA-compliant drop-off and shuttle assistance are available; the port recommends contacting cruise terminal staff ahead of your sailing date to confirm specific needs.
What to expect on your cruise departure day
Knowing the sequence of events ahead of time keeps you from standing around wondering what's next.
- Arrive before 9:45 AM if you want to catch one of the earlier shuttles rather than waiting for a later run.
- Check your luggage at the lot rather than carrying it onto the shuttle. Bring your cruise documents and ID ready to show, since that speeds up the handoff.
- Board the shuttle for the short ride to the terminal. If you arrive very early, expect to wait a few minutes for the next departure rather than an empty shuttle on demand.
- Confirm ADA needs in advance by contacting terminal staff if you require accessible boarding or shuttle assistance.
Pro Tip: Pack your essentials in a small carry-on and check everything else at the lot. It saves you from dragging suitcases through the terminal line.
If someone is dropping you off instead of parking, curbside drop-off at the terminal skips the shuttle step entirely, though you'll need a plan for pickup when you return.
What daily cruise parking actually costs
Norfolk's official lot charges $15 per day, payable upon entry, with no advance reservation required. The published rate is $15 per day. Check with the lot for details about how payment applies to your trip.
Private indoor parking options price things differently. Rather than a simple day rate, they often bundle in guarantees. Our VIP Unlimited Parking Membership at Asphalt Lots, for example, locks in a reserved spot on every cruise day, along with priority shuttle service, so you're never wondering if a space will be open when you pull in.
For context on regional pricing, Port Canaveral in Florida charges $20 per day plus tax for its pay-on-arrival lots, a useful benchmark showing that Norfolk's rate sits on the lower end for East Coast cruise ports.
- Official Cedar Grove lot: $15/day, pay on entry, no reservation needed.
- Private indoor options: pricing shaped around guaranteed spots and added services rather than a simple day rate.
- Port Canaveral (comparison): $20/day plus tax, pay on arrival.
How to choose the right parking for your trip
A short checklist before you book saves you from a surprise on departure morning:
- Price: Does the flat daily rate fit your budget, or do you value a guaranteed spot enough to pay for added security?
- Distance and shuttle time: How far is the lot from the terminal, and how often does the shuttle run?
- Luggage handling: Is luggage checked at the lot, or do you carry it yourself through the terminal?
- Accessibility: Does the lot offer ADA-compliant shuttle or drop-off options?
- Vehicle security: Are you comfortable leaving your car in an open-air lot for the length of your cruise, or do you want it indoors and monitored?
- Reservation guarantee: Can you reserve a spot ahead of time, or is parking first-come, first-served?
Before you book, ask directly: when does the last shuttle run, is my vehicle covered or indoor, and is there a guarantee my spot will be available when I arrive? A reserved, indoor option tends to make the most sense for frequent cruisers, long trips, or anyone parking a higher-value vehicle for an extended trip.
Which option actually makes sense for your trip
For a single, straightforward cruise, the official Cedar Grove lot is hard to beat. It's close to the terminal, the shuttle runs on a predictable schedule, and $15 a day is about as low as parking gets on this stretch of coast. If that's your only trip this year, there's no reason to overthink it.
Frequent cruisers and travelers with a vehicle they'd rather not leave in an open lot for an extended trip tend to feel differently. That's where indoor, reserved parking earns its keep. We built our facility around that need: veteran-owned, about 15 minutes from Norfolk, with surveillance so your car isn't just parked, it's watched.
— Martin
Reserve secure indoor parking with Asphalt Lots
If you'd rather not leave your car exposed in an open lot while you're at sea, we offer indoor parking with round-the-clock surveillance, a reliable shuttle to the terminal, and a VIP Unlimited Parking Membership that guarantees your spot on every cruise day, no scrambling for space when you pull in.
This setup fits frequent cruisers, military personnel heading out on deployment who need long-term storage, and anyone who'd simply rather not gamble on an open-air lot for an extended trip. Check our service options or visit our FAQ page to reserve your spot before your next sailing.
FAQ
Where do you park at the Norfolk cruise port?
Most passengers park at the Cedar Grove lot, the official cruise parking lot located at 1000 Monticello Avenue, about 1.5 miles from the terminal, with shuttle service included. Travelers who want an indoor, reserved space instead can book private parking nearby, such as the option we offer at Asphalt Lots.
What cruise lines go from Norfolk, VA?
Norfolk's cruise terminal hosts seasonal sailings, typically running spring through fall, including Carnival itineraries such as Bahamas cruises departing from the port at One Waterside Drive. Specific ships and schedules vary by season, so it's worth checking your cruise line's current itinerary.
How much is parking at Port Canaveral for a Carnival cruise?
Port Canaveral charges $20 per day plus tax for pay-on-arrival parking adjacent to its cruise terminals. That rate applies to vehicles and RVs alike, covering both your departure day and your return.
How much is long term parking at Norfolk?
The official Cedar Grove lot publishes a $15 per day rate, payable on entry, which applies for the full length of your cruise. For travelers who want a guaranteed indoor spot over a longer trip or deployment, we offer long-term and monthly parking options as an alternative to the open-air daily lot.