State beaches to increase parking on Fourth

Visitors to Huntington State Beach, Bolsa Chica State Beach and Crystal Cove State Park will pay as much as $5 more to park on the Fourth of July, following a recommendation by the California Coastal Commission.

These locations will charge beachgoers $20 to park on the holiday instead of the usual $15, Brian Ketterer, California Department of Parks and Recreation Orange Coast District superintendent, wrote in an email.

The holiday rate hike was approved Friday. State Parks Department officials can alter rates as they see fit.

An automated pay machine will be installed at the Los Trancos entrance to Crystal Cove, he said, noting that machines that accept cash, credit and debit cards already in place at Reef Point, Pelican Point, Moro Day Use and Moro campgrounds, Ketterer said.

Corona del Mar State Beach, which was not included in the most recent recommendation, will charge $25 to park on the Fourth of July and Labor Day, according to the city’s website.

Excluding the holidays, it costs $15 per day to park at Crystal Cove and Corona del Mar from June 1 through Sept. 30. However, Labor Day rates will not rise this year for Crystal Cove, according to Ketterer.

Huntington State Beach charges $10 per day Monday through Friday from April 1 to Sept. 30 and $15 Friday through Sunday during the same period, according to the state parks website.