Published March 8, 2026 © MIT

ESP32 Smart Parking Detection System

An ESP32-based smart system that detects available parking spaces in real time and helps drivers find parking quickly. 🚗📡

BeginnerFull instructions provided8 hours119

Things used in this project

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Story

🌍 1️⃣ Introduction

Cities me parking ek bada problem ban chuki hai:

❌ Parking space find karne me time waste❌ Traffic congestion❌ Fuel wastage❌ Stress for drivers

Is problem ko solve karne ke liye maine design kiya:

🚗 Smart Parking Finder System

🚗 Smart Parking Finder System

Ye system parking slots detect karta hai aur drivers ko available parking information provide karta hai.

💡 2️⃣ System Overview

Smart Parking Finder:

✔ Parking slot detection✔ Real-time availability✔ Mobile / web display✔ Traffic reduction✔ Smart city integration

🧰 3️⃣ Required Hardware

3.1️⃣ ESP32 (Main Controller)

Use:WiFi communication aur parking system control karta hai.

3.2️⃣ Ultrasonic Sensor (HC-SR04)

Use:Car detect karta hai parking slot me.

3.3️⃣ LED Indicator (Parking Status)

Use:Parking status show karta hai.

Green → Slot FreeRed → Slot Occupied

3.4️⃣ LCD Display (Optional)

Use:Available parking slots display karta hai.

3.5️⃣ 5V Power Supply

Use:System ko stable power supply deta hai.

🔌 4️⃣ Circuit Diagram

🔗 5️⃣ Wiring Table

Ultrasonic Sensor → ESP32

VCC → 5VGND → GNDTrig → GPIO 5Echo → GPIO 18

LED Indicator → ESP32

Green LED → GPIO 19Red LED → GPIO 21

LCD Display (Optional)

SDA → GPIO 21SCL → GPIO 22

💻 6️⃣ Software Used

1️⃣ Arduino IDE2️⃣ ESP32 Board Package3️⃣ WiFi Library4️⃣ MQTT / HTTP API5️⃣ Mobile App / Web Dashboard

⚙️ 7️⃣ Working Logic

1️⃣ Ultrasonic sensor distance measure karta hai2️⃣ Agar car detect hoti hai → slot occupied3️⃣ Agar slot empty hai → parking free4️⃣ LED indicator update hota hai5️⃣ Data cloud par send hota hai6️⃣ Mobile app available slots show karta hai

🚀 8️⃣ Key Features

✔ Real-time parking detection✔ Smart LED indication✔ Mobile parking status✔ Smart city integration✔ Traffic reduction

🏙 9️⃣ Applications

✔ Shopping malls✔ Airports✔ Smart cities✔ Offices✔ Apartment parking

📈 Keywords

Smart parking systemIoT parking finderESP32 parking systemSmart city parking projectParking detection using ultrasonic sensorIoT smart parking system

📞 🔧 Project Support

Complete project, customization, PCB design & deployment available.

📲 WhatsApp: +91 9336183481

🏁 Conclusion

Smart Parking Finder system helps:

✔ Drivers find parking faster✔ Reduce traffic congestion✔ Save fuel✔ Enable smart city infrastructure

🚗 Smarter parking with IoT technology.

🚗 ESP32 Smart Parking Detection System - Complete ESP32 Code

#include <WiFi.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>

// ----------- Pin Configuration -----------
#define TRIG_PIN 5
#define ECHO_PIN 18
#define GREEN_LED 19
#define RED_LED 21

// ----------- WiFi Credentials -----------
const char* ssid = "YOUR_WIFI_NAME";
const char* password = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD";

// ----------- MQTT Server -----------
const char* mqtt_server = "broker.hivemq.com";
const char* topic_status = "smartparking/status";

WiFiClient espClient;
PubSubClient client(espClient);

// Parking threshold distance (cm)
int parkingThreshold = 15;


// ----------- WiFi Setup -----------
void setup_wifi() {

  Serial.println("Connecting to WiFi...");

  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);

  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(500);
    Serial.print(".");
  }

  Serial.println("\nWiFi Connected");
}


// ----------- MQTT Reconnect -----------
void reconnect() {

  while (!client.connected()) {

    Serial.println("Connecting to MQTT...");

    if (client.connect("ESP32Parking")) {
      Serial.println("MQTT Connected");
    } else {
      delay(2000);
    }
  }
}


// ----------- Ultrasonic Distance Function -----------
float getDistance() {

  digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(2);

  digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(10);

  digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, LOW);

  long duration = pulseIn(ECHO_PIN, HIGH);

  float distance = duration * 0.034 / 2;

  return distance;
}


// ----------- Setup -----------
void setup() {

  Serial.begin(115200);

  pinMode(TRIG_PIN, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ECHO_PIN, INPUT);

  pinMode(GREEN_LED, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(RED_LED, OUTPUT);

  setup_wifi();

  client.setServer(mqtt_server, 1883);
}


// ----------- Loop -----------
void loop() {

  if (!client.connected()) {
    reconnect();
  }

  client.loop();

  float distance = getDistance();

  Serial.print("Distance: ");
  Serial.print(distance);
  Serial.println(" cm");


  // -------- Parking Logic --------

  if(distance < parkingThreshold) {

    // Car Detected
    digitalWrite(RED_LED, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(GREEN_LED, LOW);

    Serial.println("Parking Occupied");

    client.publish(topic_status, "Occupied");

  }
  else {

    // Slot Free
    digitalWrite(GREEN_LED, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(RED_LED, LOW);

    Serial.println("Parking Free");

    client.publish(topic_status, "Free");

  }

  delay(2000);
}