Car parking

The best way to reach and explore the National Park is without your car to help reduce climate change, local pollution and traffic congestion.

You can arrive by train very easily and walk or cycle from villages such as Brockenhurst, Sway and Ashurst. Each summer the New Forest Tour provides routes to explore which you can hop on and off at any time.

There are a great number of rights of way to explore too. Our New Forest Walking app has details of where you can access over 40 beautiful and quiet walks and cycle routes in the National Park. Learn more details about visiting without your car.

The National Park Authority doesn’t own or manage any car parks. Below are links to all the main car park providers in the National Park.

At peak times, some car parks are full by mid-morning. If your chosen car park is full when you arrive, please find another one nearby. Do not park on the verge or block gateways.

Parking on verges causes damage. They might only look like ordinary grass or gravel but are protected habitats in their own right. Find out more about why New Forest verges are so special.

It’s also important not to obstruct gateways or car park entrances. The National Park is a working Forest; access is needed at all times by people who care for the animals, manage the woodlands and for emergencies.

Changes to car parking in Forestry England’s car parks in 2026

Forestry England has over 130 car parks on what’s known as the ‘open Forest’. You’ll recognise them by their distinctive green signs.

From April 2026, parking charges will be introduced at all of Forestry England’s car parks in the New Forest.

Find out more on Forestry England’s website.

There is a list of the larger car parks with details about each site and whether there are toilets. There is also a map of all Forestry England car parks which is useful if your first choice of car park is full on arrival.

Each year a very small number of Forestry England car parks are closed between March and July to protect vulnerable ground-nesting birds and in winter for maintenance. See where car parks are currently closed.

Here is the National Park Authority’s position on the introduction of car park charges.

New Forest District Council car parks and toilets

There are more than 50 New Forest District Council car parks in the New Forest –  which include coastal parking as well as town and village centre parking.

These offer many short stay, long stay and disabled spaces.

National Trust car parks

There are National Trust car parks at Bramshaw, Rockford, Hale Purlieu and Hightown Commons.

More on National Trust car parks in the New Forest

Hampshire County Council car parks and toilets

You can find information about Abbotswell car park in the west of the New Forest and Lepe Country Park. There are toilets at Lepe.