Cedar Grove is Norfolk's official cruise parking lot, charging $15 per day with a free shuttle to the terminal. It works fine for a one-time trip where a five-minute walk and open-air parking don't bother you. If you cruise often, deploy for months, or just don't want your car sitting exposed for a week, an indoor facility with a monthly or VIP membership option, like Asphalt Lots, solves problems the city lot was never built to solve.
TL;DR:
- The city lot Cedar Grove charges $15 per day with no reservation, making it cost-effective for short trips but expensive for longer stays.
- Private indoor garages like Asphalt Lots require advance booking, offer covered parking, and include monitored security, which benefits longer or repeat trips.
- Hotel cruise packages vary widely; confirm shuttle availability and parking days before booking, especially if not staying at the hotel overnight.
- For frequent cruisers, a monthly membership at Asphalt Lots generally saves money compared to paying daily rates, especially after three or more trips per year.
- Always verify current rates, shuttle times, and vehicle height limits before booking to avoid unexpected fees or inability to accommodate larger vehicles.
Table of Contents
- Cedar Grove vs. Private Indoor vs. Hotel Packages: Quick Comparison
- What Is Cedar Grove and How Does Official Cruise Parking Work?
- What Do Private Indoor and Monthly Parking Options Look Like?
- What About Hotel Park-and-Cruise Packages and Other Alternatives?
- How to Choose and Book the Right Parking Option
- When Does a Monthly or VIP Membership Actually Pay Off?
- How Do You Book Indoor Parking With Asphalt Lots?
- Where to Verify Current Rates and Hours
- Sources
- FAQ
Cedar Grove vs. Private Indoor vs. Hotel Packages: Quick Comparison
Before booking anything, look at what each option actually trades off. Price, distance, and how your luggage gets handled all shift depending on where you park.
- Cedar Grove (city lot): About $15 per day, roughly a 5 to 10-minute shuttle ride, open-air, no reservation, luggage checked right at the lot.
- Private indoor garage (Asphalt Lots): Covered parking with a monthly or VIP membership structure, about a 15 minute shuttle ride, reservation required, luggage typically handled at the terminal rather than the garage.
- Hotel park-and-cruise packages: Cost varies by property and usually bundles a night's stay with a set number of parking days, shuttle availability depends entirely on the hotel.
If your top priority is walking away from your car and never thinking about it again, Cedar Grove wins on simplicity. If you want your vehicle covered and reserved, you're paying a bit more time on the shuttle for real peace of mind.
What Is Cedar Grove and How Does Official Cruise Parking Work?
Cedar Grove sits at 1000 Monticello Ave., about 1.5 miles from the Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center. The City of Norfolk designates it as the official cruise lot, and it's the default answer for anyone searching for Norfolk cruise terminal parking.
On cruise days, the lot typically opens around 9:30 a.m., with shuttles running roughly 15 minutes later and the last pickup around 2:30 p.m., according to VisitNorfolk. Here's the operational rundown:
- Rate: $15 per day, payable at entry or prepaid online for a QR-code pass.
- Luggage: Checked right at the lot and transported to the ship, so you don't haul bags on the shuttle.
- Reservations: None in the traditional sense. Prepaying speeds up entry but doesn't hold you a specific spot.
Pro Tip: Drive directly to 1000 Monticello Ave. rather than the cruise terminal address. Plenty of first-timers circle downtown Norfolk looking for the port entrance when the lot itself is a separate stop.
That $15 daily rate adds up fast on longer trips. A 7-night cruise means eight days of parking, which lands you at $120 just for a spot in an open-air lot with no weather protection and no guaranteed stall.
What Do Private Indoor and Monthly Parking Options Look Like?
Asphalt Lots runs an indoor garage a short drive from Norfolk, built specifically around the gap Cedar Grove leaves open: covered parking, a guaranteed spot, and options built for repeat cruisers, not just single trips. The facility offers 24/7 surveillance, a free shuttle to the terminal on cruise days, and two paid structures worth knowing about: standard monthly parking and a VIP Unlimited Parking Membership for frequent travelers.
Here's what separates it from the city lot:
- Reservation required. You book ahead, which means your car has a confirmed space waiting instead of a first-come, first-served scramble.
- Shuttle time is longer, typically around 15 minutes each way versus Cedar Grove's shorter hop.
- Luggage isn't checked at the garage. You'll handle bags at the terminal instead of at the lot.
- Vehicle protection is the trade. Indoor, covered, monitored around the clock, which matters a lot if you're leaving your car for a week or longer in Virginia's summer heat or winter storms.
Before you book, confirm three things: your vehicle's height clearance for the garage, the shuttle schedule for your specific cruise line's departure window, and the cancellation policy attached to whichever plan you choose. Night-before drop-off is often available too, which takes the morning-of stress out of the equation entirely.
Pro Tip: If you cruise more than two or three times a year, run the math on a monthly membership against paying daily rates each trip. The math usually tips in favor of the membership faster than people expect.
What About Hotel Park-and-Cruise Packages and Other Alternatives?
Hotel packages bundle a night's stay with parking, and some properties include shuttle service to the terminal as part of the deal. The catch is that terms vary wildly by hotel, so confirm two things before you book: exactly how many parking days are included, and whether the shuttle actually runs on your departure day.
- Best for: Travelers already planning a pre-cruise hotel stay who want parking bundled in rather than booked separately.
- Ride-share or drop-off is often the cheapest option if you're not leaving a car parked for the full cruise, since you skip parking fees entirely.
- Skip general long-term garages or street parking. Most aren't built for week-long stays and offer no cruise-specific shuttle or security tailored to that duration.
How to Choose and Book the Right Parking Option
Your decision comes down to three priorities: convenience, vehicle protection, or lowest cost. Cedar Grove wins on convenience and price. A private indoor garage wins on protection and reserved availability. Hotel packages win when you're already booking a room anyway.
Once you know your priority, work through these steps:
- Check your sail date and shuttle hours for whichever lot you're considering, since times can shift seasonally.
- Add up the total trip cost, not just the daily rate. Eight days at $15 versus a monthly membership rate can flip which option is cheaper.
- Prepay or reserve ahead of time. Cedar Grove offers a QR-code prepay; private garages require an actual booked reservation.
- Confirm pickup details and height limits, especially for trucks, SUVs, or anything with a roof rack.
- Note how luggage gets handled at each location so you're not caught off guard at check-in.
Watch for red flags before you commit: any facility with no reservation system, vague or unpublished shuttle days, hidden fees that only show up at pickup, or a lot that won't tell you what security measures are in place.
Pro Tip: Book your parking the same week you book your cruise. Reserved indoor spots fill up during peak cruise season, especially around holidays and summer sailings.
When Does a Monthly or VIP Membership Actually Pay Off?
The math is simple: if you're cruising three or more times a year, a monthly membership usually costs less than paying daily rates each trip. For military families dealing with deployment schedules, the calculation isn't really about money at all. It's about not wondering whether your car is sitting safe for six months while someone you love is overseas.
A guaranteed spot and priority shuttle access remove two of the most stressful parts of cruise day, the ones nobody budgets time for.
— Martin
How Do You Book Indoor Parking With Asphalt Lots?
Asphalt Lots provides an alternative to open-air lot availability with an indoor facility designed for cruisers who want their vehicle covered and monitored while away.
The setup covers what most cruise travelers actually worry about: an indoor garage with round-the-clock surveillance, a free shuttle on cruise days, and two ways to book depending on how often you sail. Norfolk Carnival Cruise Parking runs $10 per day for a single trip, while the Unlimited VIP Cruise Parking Membership runs $100 per month and guarantees you a reserved spot plus priority shuttle service every time you cruise. For anyone facing a longer stretch away, whether that's a deployment or an extended trip, monthly parking and long-term storage options are built for exactly that situation.
Reserve ahead, drop your car off the night before if your schedule calls for it, and catch the shuttle straight to the terminal. Check current availability and lock in your spot on the Asphalt Lots services page before your next sail date fills up.
Where to Verify Current Rates and Hours
Rates and shuttle schedules shift, so confirm details before you drive down. The City of Norfolk's cruise parking page covers official Cedar Grove hours and prepay options, while the VisitNorfolk cruise FAQ fills in payment and luggage details. For private indoor reservations, check Asphalt Lots' FAQ page directly, and cross-reference cost breakdowns against this local parking cost guide.
Sources
FAQ
How much does it cost to park at the Norfolk cruise port?
Cedar Grove, the official city lot, charges $15 per day for passenger vehicles, payable at entry or prepaid online. Private indoor options run differently: Asphalt Lots charges $10 per day for single trips or $100 per month through its VIP membership for frequent cruisers.
Where should I park when cruising out of Norfolk, Virginia?
The City of Norfolk designates Cedar Grove at 1000 Monticello Ave. as the official cruise lot, about 1.5 miles from the terminal with a free shuttle. If you want your vehicle covered and reserved instead, an indoor garage like Asphalt Lots is the practical alternative.
Where can I find monthly parking near Norfolk, VA?
Asphalt Lots offers monthly parking and long-term storage specifically built for frequent cruisers, deployed service members, and anyone who doesn't want to pay daily rates on every trip. The facility also runs a VIP Unlimited Cruise Parking Membership for guaranteed reserved access.
What month is the cheapest to cruise from Norfolk?
Parking rates at Cedar Grove and private garages don't typically fluctuate by season, but cruise fares themselves tend to run lower during off-peak months outside summer and major holidays. Booking a monthly parking plan ahead of a slower season can still lock in savings if you're cruising multiple times that year.
Do I need a reservation to park at Cedar Grove?
No. Cedar Grove operates on a first-come, first-served basis, though you can prepay online for a QR-code pass that speeds up entry. That prepayment doesn't guarantee you a specific stall, just faster processing at the gate.