I’ve been running this site about Misurina for 15 years and have lived with this place for over 20. The question visitors ask me most often isn’t “how do I get to the lake” — it’s “where do I leave the car without queueing at eight in the morning”. Here’s the honest answer: every car park by name, the official fees, the only genuinely free spot — and no fairy tales about free parking right by the shore in August, because it simply doesn’t exist.
Where to park at Lake Misurina: the quick answer
Around Lake Misurina there are five usable parking areas, all within a few minutes’ walk of the water: the blue-lined car park in front of the Istituto Pio XII and the hotel zone (the main one for lake visitors), the Bar Genzianella car park towards the start of the Tre Cime road, the official motorhome area on Via Reane, the Lago d’Antorno car park slightly higher up, and the short-stay spaces in front of the Despar supermarket. From 15 May to 31 October they’re all paid (€2 per hour or €14 per day for cars), except Despar, where a one-hour parking disc applies. In high season they fill up fast: if you want a stress-free spot, arrive before eight.
The Lake Misurina car parks, one by one
Not every car park in Misurina serves the same purpose. It’s worth knowing which one fits your plan before you set off — mixing them up costs time, and with kids and bags in the car, lost time counts double.
Istituto Pio XII / hotel zone car park
This is the main car park for anyone coming to see the lake: blue-lined spaces along the shore, in front of the hotels and health facilities. It’s the closest to the water — which is exactly why it’s the first to fill up on July and August weekends.
Bar Genzianella car park
It sits towards the start of the road that climbs to the Tre Cime. If you’re heading up to Rifugio Auronzo, it’s a handy reference point — including for the seasonal shuttle buses. A good fallback when the hotel zone is already full.
Motorhome area on Via Reane
If you’re travelling by motorhome or campervan, this is the official serviced area: open around the clock, with both day and overnight stays allowed. Don’t confuse it with the car parking — the fees are different (you’ll find them in the table below).
Lago d’Antorno car park
Just past Misurina, on the way up towards Rifugio Auronzo, the Lago d’Antorno car park is a good base if your real goal is hiking towards the Tre Cime or the Cadini rather than staying by Lake Misurina itself. Keep it in mind as an alternative when the lakeside spots are full.
Despar / Grand Hotel zone: short stays only
Here a parking disc applies — one hour maximum, full stop. It’s meant for a quick shop or the classic souvenir photo, not for a day at the lake. I’ll come back to it below, because it’s also the only “free” spot in the whole area.
Col de Varda chairlift car park: careful, it’s not for everyone
On the south side of the lake sits the Col de Varda chairlift car park. It’s reserved for chairlift users: it is not a free car park for lake visitors, even if it looks convenient from the road. Only leave your car there if you’re actually riding the lift.
Lake Misurina parking fees
From 15 May to 31 October, parking in Misurina is paid between 8:00 and 20:00. Outside that period, you park for free. These are the official fees set by the municipality of Auronzo di Cadore:
| Vehicle | Hourly fee | Daily fee |
|---|---|---|
| Cars and lorries up to 3.5 t | €2 | €14 |
| Motorhome area (Via Reane, open 24 h) | €3 | €20 |
Disabled visitors displaying a valid parking badge are exempt. The municipality of Auronzo di Cadore publishes the official parking fees as a PDF — worth a look before you travel, in case anything changes.
Is there free parking at Lake Misurina?
I’ll be straight with you, because this is the question I get most: the only free area near the lake is the one in front of the Despar supermarket, with a parking disc and a one-hour limit. There is no free all-day parking in high season — and anyone promising you one in a generic article has probably never been here in July.
One practical detail few people mention: if you overstay your hour at Despar, you’re not just risking a fine (the local police checks are real, not theoretical). You’re also blocking the space for people who simply need to do their shopping. The result: a ticket plus dirty looks from the whole village. If you want to stay longer, move to one of the paid car parks and treat the €14 as part of your day’s budget.
When to arrive to find a space
In high season — July, August, and fine-weather weekends in the shoulder months — the car parks at Lake Misurina fill up early, often by mid-morning. The advice I’ve been giving for years, and it works: arrive before eight in the morning or after five in the afternoon. At midday on a sunny August day it’s chaos — cars queueing along the road, drivers circling for a space that isn’t there.
If you can choose, I’d strongly advise against August. If you really have no alternative, be here before eight: crisp air, a free space, and the lake almost entirely to yourself.
Without a car: buses and guided tours
If circling for a parking space isn’t your idea of a holiday, there are seasonal buses from Cortina d’Ampezzo. They work well in summer and winter; in spring and autumn the timetable thins out.
There’s also a second option, especially handy for the Tre Cime day trip: a guided tour from Cortina with transport included. If you’re worried about full car parks, or you’d rather not drive the toll road in your own car, you can book a guided tour to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo on GetYourGuide and hand the logistics to someone else. It’s not for everyone — if you want your own pace and your own car, the car parks above will serve you fine — but if you’re coming from far away with a single day available, skipping the parking stress is often worth the price.
Carrying on to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo?
Many people parking in Misurina are really making a stop on the way up to the Tre Cime. The scenic paved road, about 6 km long, starts near Lago d’Antorno and climbs to Rifugio Auronzo at 2,333 metres, where there’s a large car park. It’s generally open from late May to late October, weather permitting.
One thing you need to know before setting off: access is controlled by an automated toll gate, and you can only drive up with a booking that includes your number plate (you can enter the plate before arrival and change it once). Bookings are made on the official access booking portal. For the full route, toll costs and my tips on planning the day, see my full guide to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop — this article deliberately sticks to the overview.
Two details decide that day more than anything else: only 680 cars are let up each day, and the ticket lasts 12 hours from your booked entry time. Fees, booking steps and what to do when the slots are gone, I’ve written it all up in the article on the car park up at Rifugio Auronzo.
Car parked — now what?
Once the car is sorted, the best part is refreshingly simple: you can walk the loop around the lake — the path is flat and pushchair-friendly. If you’d like to arrive early without a middle-of-the-night start, staying locally makes all the difference: I’ve put together my tips on where to stay in Misurina. And for the bigger picture — scenery, history and what to do across the seasons — start from everything Lake Misurina has to offer.
And if you fancy raising the bar, from the same car park you can walk up to the turquoise Lake Sorapis: water in a turquoise that looks almost fake, but it takes a full day, decent legs and no rush to get back.
Misurina is also the closest base for the hike to Lake Sorapis from Passo Tre Croci: the small free car park at the pass fills up before 7 am in summer, so have a look at that guide before you set off.
One last piece of advice, because I’ve seen it happen too many times: don’t count on “there’ll surely be a space somewhere”. In season the car parks do fill up, and the checks are real. Arrive early, keep coins or a card handy for the fees — and if you want the Tre Cime day without the parking variable, look at the tour with transport included. The lake will be waiting — with or without a queue at the entrance depends entirely on what time you set off.
Frequently asked questions about parking at Lake Misurina
How much does parking cost at Lake Misurina?
From 15 May to 31 October, cars pay €2 per hour or €14 per day, with fees applying from 8:00 to 20:00. The motorhome area on Via Reane costs €3 per hour or €20 per day and is open 24 hours. Outside that period, parking is free.
Is there a free car park at the lake?
Only in front of the Despar supermarket, with a parking disc and a one-hour limit — fine for a quick stop, not for a day at the lake. There is no free all-day parking in high season.
Can I stay overnight in a motorhome at Lake Misurina?
Yes, at the official motorhome area on Via Reane: serviced, open around the clock, overnight stays allowed, €20 per day.
What time should I arrive in high season?
Before eight in the morning or after five in the afternoon. Around midday in July and August the car parks are full, and the search wastes time and nerves.
Do I need a booking to drive up to the Tre Cime?
Yes: the toll road to Rifugio Auronzo has an automated gate, and access is only granted with a complete booking including your number plate, made through the official portal pass.auronzo.info.
Updated: August 2026. Fees and paid period (15 May – 31 October) from the official source of the municipality of Auronzo di Cadore — check for changes at the start of the season.
