Car parking

Why is there a car parking charge?

Over the years we've invested more than £1million in the Essex Country Parks for the benefit of our visitors, with improvements to footpaths and accessibility, facilities, signage and play equipment, and there are plans for further investment to come. We need to make sure we continue to invest in our country parks for you and future generations to enjoy.

Current costs and ways to pay

To find the cost of parking at the Essex Country Park you’d like to visit, find the appropriate web page under places to go and read the ‘parking and prices’ section.

Costs are also displayed at each of the parks on the tariff boards by each payment machine.

Costs apply to all vehicles, including Blue Badge holders and tax-exempt vehicles. Coaches and minibuses of over 15 seats are charged £15 a day. Motorcycles park free.

We are continuing to try to make it easier for you to pay, investing in new methods that are rolling out across the parks.

Whilst all parks should have a machine which accepts contactless payment, there is also a way to pay via an online app.

MiPermit

MiPermit is a versatile, cashless service that means you can arrange your parking by telephone, SMS text message from your mobile, online or through smartphone apps - as well as the contactless terminals on site. The app means that you can also extend your stay easily.

It is free to register your vehicle, and you can do this in advance of your visit. MiPermit is a fully electronic system, meaning you do not need to display a paper ticket in your vehicle. Many cities and boroughs also use the MiPermit system across the county. For two cars, register your first car and it will then give you the option to add another.

Please note that MiPermit has recently been introduced at Great Notley and Hadleigh Country Parks to bring them in line with the rest of the sites. This means that you now have to pay at the beginning of your visit instead of the end as you might be used to.

Explorer Pass (Season Ticket)

Our Explorer Pass is more than just a car parking season ticket. This annual pass will allow you to park for free at seven Country Parks and receive discounts in many cafés too, it is ideal for frequent visitors, meaning you can save on multiple trips.

Read more about the benefits of investing in an Explorer pass.

Parking Enquiries

For car parking enquiries, please email: parking.explore@essex.gov.uk