Parking Fees Come To Falmouth Beach For Non-Residents On July 22

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — Beginning on July 22, some visitors will have to pay $25 to park their vehicle at the Historic Port of Falmouth Park, commonly known as Falmouth Beach. Parking will still be free for Fredericksburg and Stafford County Residents.

For non-residents, it will cost $25 per vehicle to park at the site. The available parking lots include:

• The Historic Port of Falmouth Park lot parking lot
• The gravel lot at the Falmouth Intersection of Route 17 and US Route 1
• The lot at the Grizzle Center at 60 Butler Road

There will still be no parking available along River Road, Gordon Street, Carter Street and Amy’s Café. Towing will be enforced, Stafford County Officials said.

"This park is in a flood zone and was never meant to be a high-capacity destination venue. The water on that stretch of the river is also hazardous," Crystal Vanuch, the chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said in a news release. "While this was a difficult decision, we think charging for parking will cut down on some of the crowding from visitors, not from Stafford or Fredericksburg, making it a safer experience for everyone."

Visitors will be asked to show identification to qualify for free resident parking. Acceptable forms of ID include driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations or military IDs. Eligibility will be determined on only the driver's address.

Non-residents will have to use a credit or debit card to pay for parking. Cash will not be accepted, Stafford County officials said.

More information about the change is available on Stafford County's website.