Whether this fall is your first time commuting to campus or you’re a seasoned pro, planning your route can be an adventure. Here are some parking updates and tips to simplify your commute and help you start the semester in the right gear.
What’s New
Electric Vehicles (EV) Charging Stations Update
Beginning this semester, charging an electric vehicle (EV) at one of 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s 48 charging stations will incur a cost. EV owners can purchase an EV Endorsement permit or pay a per-hour rate. Visit the Electric Vehicles website for information about fees and how to pay.
51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Carpool Connect by Liftango
This free, intuitive app for shared rides pairs students with students and staff with staff. Sign up for Liftango using your 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ email and choose to ride, drive, or both. The app helps reduce congestion and carbon emissions and enters verified trips into a prize drawing for an extra incentive!
Vay
Rent a car by the minute, hour, or day with Vay. This new service brings by-the-minute electric car rentals to 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s Maryland and Shadow Lane campuses. Use the app to locate a vehicle, unlock it, and drive anywhere—even make multiple stops—then return it to any student parking spot.
What to Remember
Order or Renew Your Parking Permit
Planning to park on campus? Be sure to order or renew your parking pass through the . Since your license plate is your permit, double-check your info and list all cars you drive to campus in your account.
Back-in parker or missing a front plate? Pick up a decal or hang tag at the Parking & Transportation Services Office for $5.
Check Campus Maps and Be Aware of Closures
Need to find a building or grab a bite? The Campus Maps website offers interactive tools to help you navigate everything from parking lots to restaurants. The Parking & Transportation Services website keeps you in the loop for the latest road closures and parking alerts.
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is continuing its work on its in front of 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ between Tropicana and Flamingo. Construction is expected to continue through spring 2026 and will include intermittent closures. via text or email directly from the RTC.
Plan Ahead with 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Park & Go
51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Park & Go displays real-time occupancy percentages for the Cottage Grove, University Gateway, and Tropicana Parking garages. The app will help you find available (covered!) parking before you arrive on campus.
Park Where There is Ample Parking
Lot M and the Thomas & Mack Center Gray Lot are often reliable bets when looking for an open spot. For more structured parking, head to the University Gateway or Cottage Grove garages, both convenient alternatives when surface lots fill up.
Arrive Early
Give yourself a head start. Arrive on campus at least 45 minutes early, especially during those hectic first weeks of the semester. Getting to campus with ample time to spare allows you to find parking without the stress, take a leisurely walk to class, grab a coffee, or swing by the library.
Look for PayByPhone Locations
Parking on campus without a parking permit is a breeze with PayByPhone, an easy, secure way to pay for hourly or daily parking. Just register your vehicle through the app or website, choose your time, and you’re good to go.
Explore Alternate Ways to Get to Campus
Save time and avoid parking hassles with transportation alternatives. The RTC offers carpooling through Club Ride and discounted transit passes through the U-pass program for students, faculty, and staff. For rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, there are designated pick-up and drop-off locations around campus.
For more information, visit the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ parking website or call 702-895-1300.
