Parking in Cobourg

You’ve got your ticket for the Annual, and your  accommodation is sorted….now it’s time to consider parking!  (BTW, did you know that Via Rail stops here, too, only a few blocks from downtown?)

Cobourg is a VERY busy place, with thousands of folks descending on our waterfront every summer.  Parking is a hot topic and the Town has developed a comprehensive parking program. It’s automated, requiring you to enter your license plate number on the town’s website and pay a fee. There’s no proof of purchase required. Parking bylaw officers simply ticket any unregistered cars ($40).

How to Pay for Parking

We recommend that you purchase an online parking pass for $12 ($10+$2 fee).  It can be used for any of the lots on the map below.  It can be purchased up to 1 week ahead of time.  You’ll need the make and license # of the car.  We’ll send out a note May 3 to remind you all to get online to purchase your pass, and provide how-to instructions.

Alternatively, download the honkmobile app, set up your account with your vehicle license # and payment info before arriving in Cobourg to park on the day. Cost is $2.60 per hour.  When you arrive May 10, simply go to the app, tell it your parking zone is “on-street parking” (even if you’re in a parking lot!) and set the length of your stay.  It will automagically charge the payment method you set up earlier.

If online payment is not your thing, you can use the “pay & display” machines on the street.  You’ll need cash, or a credit/debit card for this transaction.  The maximum time you can buy is 3 hours….so if you’re staying at the Annual for the day, you’ll need to revisit the meter.

Where to Park:

Below is a handy dandy map of the downtown core, showing the available parking lots, along with some of the one way streets to be mindful of.  

To park in any of these lots you’ll need to either have purchased the online parking pass or Honk parking described above.  There are no “pay and display” gizmos in these lots.

Your Annual organizers have been meeting with the Town of Cobourg’s Parking Authority, and they recommend we use the Covert Street Lot.  It’s a large paved area to the north of Victoria Hall, with a quaint walkway (Henley Arcade) leading to Victoria Hall.  (Outlined in red on the map above.)

Most lots have handicapped spaces for those with a valid accessible parking permits - but handicapped parking is not free.  You’ll still need to buy a 1 day pass, or use the Honk app.

Note that while there are some municipal parking lots on the waterfront, they will be closed on May 10 for the yacht club’s annual “lift in” to kick off the sailing season!  You’ll find those streets closed May 10, 11.

Please don’t be tempted by other parking lots found throughout the Town.  Only park in the lots shown on the map above.  Parking elsewhere could result in a ticket and/or being towed.

….and if you’re really keen on all this parking stuff and have a hankering for even MORE info on parking, here is the Parking Guide published by the Town of Cobourg. We’ll update this link when the 2025 version of the guide is available.