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Short answer: Poipu Beach Park, the Kauai County park on the south shore, has a free lot by the park entrance near Poipu Road and Hoowili Road, with overflow street parking nearby. The west-end restrooms are closed after Hurricane Lowell.
Status, October 19, 2026: Kauai County’s parks closure notice (updated October 8) lists the comfort stations at Poipu Beach Park (west end) as closed until further notice. The park itself is not on the closure list. Questions: Kauai Parks and Recreation, 808-241-4460, parks@kauai.gov.
Poipu Beach Park is the best-known south shore beach on Kauai. Parking is free but gets tight on busy days.
Is there a fee?
No parking fee is collected as of October 2026. There is one thing to know, though. Kauai County’s code has a managed parking section (Sec. 19-1.20) that lets the county charge for parking at designated county parks, with residents exempt and rental cars specifically included. In 2022 the County Council moved to designate Poipu, Black Pot and Lydgate beach parks for it. We found no sign that fees are being collected at Poipu today, but if you see pay signs, they apply to rental cars.
Where to park
- The main lot: at the park entrance near Poipu Road and Hoowili Road. Free.
- Overflow: street parking on Hoowili Road and Hoone Road. It is limited, so don’t count on it at noon on a weekend.
The lot fills on weekends and holidays. Earlier is better.
Before you swim
Brown-water advisories were issued across Kauai after the hurricane rains. They affect the water, not the parking lot, but check for a current advisory before you get in.
More Kauai driving
Heading west from Poipu? The road up Waimea Canyon is affected by storm closures: see whether Waimea Canyon Drive is open. North shore parking: Black Pot Beach and Tunnels Beach. For the island as a whole, see how long it takes to drive around Kauai and the Lihue Airport rental car guide.
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Photo: Polihale, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Researched and written by Neo Pecorro. Facts on this page were checked against Kauai County Parks and Recreation and the Kauai County Code, plus the other sources linked above. Hawaii rules change often, so confirm on the official page before you go.
Last updated: October 19, 2026.