Where do you park in Thornton-le-Dale?

In the North York Moors National Park pay-and-display car park off Maltongate (sat-nav YO18 7SD), about two minutes' walk from the green.

How much does it cost to park in Thornton-le-Dale?

The North York Moors National Park Authority tariff board gives up to 1 hour £3.10, up to 2 hours £3.90, and over 2 hours £6.20, which expires at 12 midnight. Coaches are £7.50 all day. Long stay, for overnight parking of an unoccupied vehicle, is £7.20 for 24 hours and £9.25 for 48 hours. Read from the tariff board on 28 August 2026, and tariffs change, so check before you travel.

Do Blue Badge holders park free in Thornton-le-Dale?

No. Vehicles displaying a disabled Blue Badge are not exempt from the charges in this car park, so please buy a ticket as normal. There are accessible bays close to the exit towards the village.

Is parking free in Thornton-le-Dale?

No, the main car park is pay-and-display, run by the National Park Authority; a full day is £6.20 and there are rapid EV chargers. Regular visitors can buy a National Park permit.

Can you park a motorhome or campervan in Thornton-le-Dale?

Yes, the main car park has longer bays for motorhomes and coaches; coaches are £7.50 all day. Long stay is not available for coaches and there is no overnight camping in the car park, though there are campsites nearby.

Are there EV charging points in Thornton-le-Dale?

Yes, four 75kW rapid chargers in the main car park (two accessible bays), plus public chargers at Vivis Lane and in nearby Pickering.

Are there parking fines in Thornton-le-Dale?

The National Park car park off Maltongate is straightforward pay-and-display. A separate, privately run car park on Priestmans Lane uses ANPR enforcement with strict penalty charges, so read the signage and keep within your paid time if you use it.

Does the car park get busy?

Yes, on summer weekends, school holidays and Show day; arrive early or come by bus.

Practical information

Parking in Thornton-le-Dale

The simplest place to park is the North York Moors National Park car park off Maltongate (sat-nav YO18 7SD), a large pay-and-display car park about two minutes' walk from the village green. Here's everything you need, prices, EV charging, motorhomes, and an honest word about the village's other car park.

At a glance

Main car park: National Park pay-and-display off Maltongate, YO18 7SD.
Walk to centre: About 2 minutes.
A full day: £6.20 for over 2 hours, expiring at 12 midnight.
Payment: Card, phone, Apple Pay and Android Pay.
Blue Badge: Not exempt, the charges apply to Blue Badge holders too.
EV charging: Four 75kW rapid chargers (two accessible bays).
Motorhomes / coaches: Long-vehicle bays; coaches £7.50 all day.
Busy times: Summer weekends and Show day, arrive early.

The main car park (Maltongate, YO18 7SD)

The village's main car park is run by the North York Moors National Park Authority. It is large, and about two minutes' walk from the green. What you pay goes towards maintaining the car park and the wider National Park.

Pay by card, phone, Apple Pay or Android Pay. If you visit the Moors regularly, a National Park parking permit is good value. Tariffs change, so check the National Park's car parks and toilets page for current prices before you travel.

Charges apply daily, including Sundays and Bank Holidays. Long stay covers overnight parking of an unoccupied vehicle rather than staying in it; long stay is not available for coaches, there is no overnight camping, and parking is at the discretion of the car park warden. There are public toilets by the car park, with RADAR-accessible facilities. Follow the signs from the village centre: the entrance is on Maltongate, and it can feel as though you are driving away from the village, the road loops back.

Full terms are published by the Authority at northyorkmoors.org.uk/parking.

The large National Park car park off Maltongate in Thornton-le-Dale — The Maltongate car park, sat-nav YO18 7SD.

The tariff

Up to 1 hour: £3.10
Up to 2 hours: £3.90
Over 2 hours: £6.20, expires at 12 midnight
Coaches, all day: £7.50
Long stay, 24 hours: £7.20
Long stay, 48 hours: £9.25

Read from the tariff board in the car park on 28 August 2026, with charges set by the North York Moors National Park Authority. The long stay rates are for overnight parking of an unoccupied vehicle. Tariffs change from time to time, so treat these as a guide and check the board when you arrive.

For comparison, if you are heading to Dalby Forest, Forestry England charges by the hour there, from £3 for up to an hour to £15 for over four hours, which is why many riders leave the car here and cycle in; see cycling from the village.

Blue Badge holders

It is worth saying plainly, because many visitors reasonably assume otherwise: vehicles displaying a disabled Blue Badge are not exempt from the charges in this car park. Please buy a ticket as normal, whichever tariff suits your stay.

There are accessible bays, including two beside the rapid EV chargers, and the walk into the village from the car park is short and level. Fuller accessibility notes are on visitor information, and a gentle day in the village sets out the easiest route round the centre.

EV charging

The car park has four 75kW DC rapid chargers, including two in accessible bays, with payment through the Zest app.

Other public chargers nearby include Vivis Lane (YO18 8DL) and Eastgate, Pickering (YO18 7JD).

Motorhomes, campervans and coaches

There are longer bays for coaches and motorhomes, for daytime use. There is no overnight camping in the car park. At busy times, park sensibly and use the coach and long-vehicle area rather than spreading across standard bays.

For overnight stays, including nearby campsites and caravan parks, see where to stay.

A word on the other car park, and parking fines

There is a second, privately run car park on Priestmans Lane. Unlike the National Park car park, it uses automated number-plate recognition (ANPR) enforcement with strict penalty charges, and a number of visitors report fines of £60–£100 for short overstays or ticket-machine problems. It closes around 8.30pm.

If you use it, read the signs carefully, note the closing time, and stay within your paid period. For most visitors the National Park car park off Maltongate is the simpler, fairer-value choice.

When it gets busy

Summer weekends, school holidays and the village Show in early August all fill the car park. Arrive before mid-morning, or leave the car behind: the Coastliner 840 and the EY128/X28 stop in the village, see getting here by bus. Riders often use this car park as the cheaper alternative to driving into Dalby Forest, see cycling from the village. For the full village overview, see the main Thornton-le-Dale guide.

Common questions

Where do you park in Thornton-le-Dale?: In the North York Moors National Park pay-and-display car park off Maltongate (sat-nav YO18 7SD), about two minutes' walk from the green.
How much does it cost to park in Thornton-le-Dale?: The North York Moors National Park Authority tariff board gives up to 1 hour £3.10, up to 2 hours £3.90, and over 2 hours £6.20, which expires at 12 midnight. Coaches are £7.50 all day. Long stay, for overnight parking of an unoccupied vehicle, is £7.20 for 24 hours and £9.25 for 48 hours. Read from the tariff board on 28 August 2026, and tariffs change, so check before you travel.
Do Blue Badge holders park free in Thornton-le-Dale?: No. Vehicles displaying a disabled Blue Badge are not exempt from the charges in this car park, so please buy a ticket as normal. There are accessible bays close to the exit towards the village.
Do the parking charges apply on Sundays and Bank Holidays?: Yes. Charges apply daily, including Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Is parking free in Thornton-le-Dale?: No, the main car park is pay-and-display, run by the National Park Authority; a full day is £6.20 and there are rapid EV chargers. Regular visitors can buy a National Park permit.
Can you park a motorhome or campervan in Thornton-le-Dale?: Yes, the main car park has longer bays for motorhomes and coaches; coaches are £7.50 all day. Long stay is not available for coaches and there is no overnight camping in the car park, though there are campsites nearby.
Are there EV charging points in Thornton-le-Dale?: Yes, four 75kW rapid chargers in the main car park (two accessible bays), plus public chargers at Vivis Lane and in nearby Pickering.
Are there parking fines in Thornton-le-Dale?: The National Park car park off Maltongate is straightforward pay-and-display. A separate, privately run car park on Priestmans Lane uses ANPR enforcement with strict penalty charges, so read the signage and keep within your paid time if you use it.
Does the car park get busy?: Yes, on summer weekends, school holidays and Show day; arrive early or come by bus.