The Price of Parking in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, Left Some Visitors Stunned

Editor's note: This article was written by a Townsquare Media Northern New England contributor and may contain the individual's views, opinions or personal experiences.

As the world attempts to grapple with inflation, it feels as though everything just costs more these days. The increased costs on everything from gasoline to food to lodging didn't seem to deter people from traveling over the 4th of July weekend. One of Maine's most visited destinations in the summer, Old Orchard Beach, saw crowds pile into downtown as the weather was prime for a beach visit. But many returning visitors to the area were caught off-guard by another piece of financial inflation: the cost of parking.

Shared on Facebook by Jessica Laskey, several lots close to the beach were charging upwards of $40 to park on Saturday and Sunday. Less than five years ago, those lots offered all day parking for $25 and the sizable jump in cost left some commenters on the Old Orchard Beach, Maine, community group dismayed. Others noted that the lots closest to the beach have continuously raised their rates by about $5 per year for the last several years.

The price of parking in Old Orchard Beach continues to be a point of contention. In 2021, Old Orchard Beach increased the cost of metered spots by $1 per hour and extended the dates in which metered spots operated from May 1 through Indigenous Peoples' Day. According to Saco Bay News, discussions took place in June about once again increasing the hourly rate for parking meters during peak season. The town decided to delay any decision on parking increases until 2023 due to inflation.