Parents Weekend
Plan Your Trip
We are looking forward to seeing you on campus November 6-8 for Parents & Family Weekend 2009! It will be a busy weekend in Ann Arbor. We encourage you to use public transportation whenever possible, and if you’re driving, please be patient! The Office of New Student Programs is not responsible for parking arrangements. This information is provided as a courtesy to those who are unfamiliar with parking in Ann Arbor. Please read this information very carefully to plan for your trip. Click here for a printable PDF version of this information.
This just in . . .
Kickoff is at 12:00 p.m.
Pre-Game Tailgate will be 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Parking and Shuttles for the Pre-Game Tailgate on Saturday
Football Game Parking during Parents & Family Weekend
Football Game Parking for Guests with a Disability
Parking for Friday and Saturday Evening Events
What NOT to bring into Michigan Stadium REVISED 10/12/2009
Parking on Friday
There are four visitor parking lots near the Michigan Union (where the Parents & Family Weekend check-in takes place).
- The visitor parking surface lot on Thompson St. is very close to the Michigan Union. The driveway is across from West Quad. The cost is ~$1.10/per hour.* DO
NOT PARK IN THE STAFF PARKING SPACES OR THE ADJACENT STAFF PARKING STRUCTURE ON FRIDAY. You will be ticketed.
- The Maynard St. parking structure has visitor parking. This structure is about 2 blocks away from the Michigan Union. The cost is approximately 90¢/per hour.*
- The Liberty Square parking structure, located on E. Washington St. between S. Division and S. State Streets, also has visitor parking. This structure is about 4 blocks
away from the Michigan Union. The cost is ~90¢/per hour,* with a two hour time limit before 3:00 p.m.
- The LSA Building, located at the corner of E. Jefferson St. and Maynard St. is a very small visitor lot. The lot is
very close to the Michigan Union, but it only has about 15 parking spaces. The cost is ~$1.10 per hour.*
*subject to change
There are also several parking meters around the Michigan Union at a rate of $1/hour.* These accept coins only and have short-term time limits.
Please refer to a campus map for additional parking options. On this campus map, look for lots marked “VP”. Make sure you are parking in a visitor parking space. In some lots, visitor spaces are marked with numbers, and then you pay at a machine located near the entrance of the lot. Many of these lots include both visitor spaces and staff spaces. Be sure to park in the visitor spaces (designated with numbers). Do not park in staff spaces, or any spaces marked “Blue Parking” or “UM Vehicle Parking”. You will be ticketed.
Parking and Shuttles for the Pre-Game Tailgate on Saturday
Parking on Football Saturdays is a challenge. The Office of New Student Programs provides this information as a courtesy to those who are unfamiliar with parking in Ann Arbor on a football game-day.
For parents who are attending the Pre-Game Tailgate there are several parking options. You may park in the Hill St. parking structure or the Thompson St. parking structure (see campus map). The cost to park in these structures is $15. The structures open at approximately 8:00 a.m. and spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no guarantee that spaces will be available in these parking structures. These structures are about 9-10 blocks away from the Indoor Track Building, where the Pre-Game Tailgate is located, (see campus map).
If these parking structures are full, you may also park in any of the public parking areas listed for football parking (see below) and walk to the Indoor Track Building. The Hoover St. Gravel Lot or the Division St. Surface Lot are located closest to the Indoor Track Building (see campus map). However, these lots are quite small and will fill up quickly.
Tailgate Guests with Mobility Concerns:
For guests with mobility concerns who cannot walk from parking areas to the Indoor Track Building, we have arranged for shuttles to pick up at the Thompson St. and Hill St. structures and take you to the Indoor Track Building. At these two locations only, a blue and yellow University of Michigan bus will pick up at the structures and will drop off at Revelli Hall, located in front of the Indoor Track Building (see campus map), prior to the tailgate. The buses will run continuously from 8:30-11:00 a.m. Due to the traffic, you may have to wait at the structures for 30 minutes or more.
Please Note: The AATA shuttles also pick up at the Thompson St. Structure location. If you are planning to go to the tailgate, be sure to get on the University of Michigan bus, not the AATA bus.
After the game, the University of Michigan buses will take you back to the structures at Thompson St. and Hill St. The post game pick-up location is on the south side of the stadium, near Gate #2. The buses will be parked in the “triangle” driveway located in front of Crisler Arena. Look for the blue and yellow buses that say “University of Michigan” along the side. The buses will make continuous loops back to the parking structures for 1 hour after the game has ended. These buses may be extremely full, and you may have a long wait to get on a return-trip bus.
This shuttle service is provided as a courtesy to Parents & Family Weekend guests with mobility concerns who are attending the Pre-Game Tailgate AND the football game. We recommend that guests without mobility concerns walk to the Indoor Track Building for the Tailgate and walk back from the stadium after the game.
Guests with mobility concerns who are NOT attending the Pre-Game Tailgate should click here for information about football game parking for persons with a disability.
Football Game Parking during Parents & Family Weekend
If you are not attending the Pre-Game Tailgate, we strongly recommend that you use the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) Football Shuttles, which pick up at many area hotels and some central locations.You can leave your car at your hotel or one of several central locations, and ride to and from the football game without the hassle of football game traffic. Shuttles pick up approximately every 20 minutes beginning two hours before game time until 30 minutes before game time and one hour after each game ends. Shuttle tickets are $2.50 round trip, or $1.25 one way. Tickets are sold at participating hotels and passengers are encouraged to purchase round trip tickets, as drivers do not carry change. The AATA buses drop you off on Stadium Blvd., near Gate 2 at the stadium. AATA buses are multi-colored and often have advertisements painted on them. For more information about pick-up locations for AATA’s football shuttle, visit www.aata.org.
Note: If you are planning to attend the Pre-Game Tailgate, you may use the AATA Football Shuttles. However, the shuttles will drop you off at the stadium, and you will need to walk to the Indoor Track Building. In addition, the Pre-Game Tailgate begins 3 hours prior to kickoff, and the AATA Football Shuttles begin 2 hours prior to kickoff, so you will miss part of the tailgate.
Public Parking for Day of Game Sales
We strongly recommend that you take the AATA shuttles to the football game if you are not attending the Pre-Game Tailgate. If you decide not to take the AATA shuttle, public parking is very limited. The parking information below is for autos only. If you have an RV, please visit mgoblue.com for parking information.
The following lots are available on day of game for cash sales. Spaces are available on a first-come/first-serve basis. Most lots fill up 3-4 hours before game time. Radio stations WAAM (1600 AM), WJR (760 AM), WTKA (1050 AM) and WWJ (950 AM) carry game day weather and parking information. Click here to download an athletic campus map of most (but not all) of the lots listed below. Please Note: This map includes public parking as well as permit-only areas. Only the lots listed below are open for public parking.
Purple Lot at Pioneer High School: Lot is located at the intersection of Stadium Blvd. and Main St. Enter off Main St. Cost $30. This is a very large lot, but also extremely popular as it is across the street from the Stadium. However, it is several blocks away from the Indoor Track Building for the Pre-Game Tailgate. Click here to download an athletic campus map.
Green Lot: Located at the U-M Golf Course. Enter off Stadium Blvd., east of Main St. Cost $30. Located across the street from the Stadium, but several blocks away from the Indoor Track Building for the Pre-Game Tailgate. Click here to download an athletic campus map
Ann Arbor Golf & Outing: This lot is located at the intersection of Main St. and Stadium Blvd. Enter off Stadium Blvd. This lot is weather permitting. Cost $40. It is across the street from the Stadium, but several blocks away from the Indoor Track Building for the Pre-Game Tailgate. Click here to download an athletic campus map
Division Street Surface Lot: This is a small, odddly-shaped lot located at the corner of Division St. and Hill St. Enter off Hill St. Cost $30. It is about a 15-minute walk to the Stadium, and about a 10-minute walk to the Indoor Track Building for the Pre-Game Tailgate. This lot is not listed on the Athletic Department parking map, but on a map of South Campus the lot is located where it says "IM locker room"; however no "P" is indicated. This is not the same lot as the lot at Elbel Field, indicated with a "P" on this map, which is a permit-only lot not open to the public.
Hoover Street Gravel Lot: This is a small lot located on Hoover St. at the intersection of Brown St., just east of Main St. Cost $30. It is about a 5-minute walk to the Stadium, and about a 10-minute walk to the Indoor Track Building for the Pre-Game Tailgate. This lot is not listed on the Athletic Department parking map, but a map of South Campus shows the lot, indicated with a "P" behind the Inst. of Continuing Legal Education Bldg.
U-M Golf Course (State St.): Parking at the U-M Golf Course with entrance on State St. Entrance is located just south of Stimpston St. This lot is weather permitting. Cost $30. Distance to the Stadium and the Pre-Game Tailgate depends on where on the golf course you end up parking. Plan for at least a 20-minute walk. Click here to download an athletic campus map
UM Golf Course (Main St.): Parking at the U-M Golf Course with entrance on Main St. Entrance is located south of Stadium Blvd. This lot is weather permitting. Cost $30. This lot is about a 15-20 minute walk to the Stadium. However, it is quite far away from the Indoor Track Building for the Pre-Game Tailgate. Click here to download an athletic campus map
Maize Lot: This lot is located on S. State St., just north of Oakbrook Drive. Lot is south of the Varsity Tennis Center. Cost $15. This is a large, all-weather lot. However, it is about a 30-40 minute walk to the Stadium or the Indoor Track Building for the Pre-Game Tailgate. Click here to download an athletic campus map
UM Driving Range: This lot is located at the intersection of Ann-Arbor – Saline Rd. and S. Main St. Entrance is off of S. Main St. Cost $15. This lot has both all-weather and weather-permitting spaces. It is about a 30 minute walk to the Stadium and is not recommended for guests attending the Pre-Game Tailgate at the Indoor Track Building. Click here to download an athletic campus map
Hill Street Parking Structure: Located on Hill St. just east of S. State St. Cost $15. This structure is about a 25-minute walk to the Stadium, or a 15-minute walk to the Indoor Track Building for the Pre-Game Tailgate. Click here for information for guests attending the Pre-Game Tailgate with mobility concerns. This lot is not listed on the Athletic Department parking map, but on a map of Central Campus the structure is located on Hill St., east of Tappan St. and is indicated with a "P".
Thompson Street Parking Structure: Located at the intersection of Thompson St. and E. Jefferson St. Enter off Thompson St. Cost $15. This structure is about a 30-minute walk to the Stadium, or a 20-minute walk to the Indoor Track Building for the Pre-Game Tailgate. Click here for information for guests attending the Pre-Game Tailgate with mobility concerns. This lot is not listed on the Athletic Department parking map, but on a map of Central Campus the structure is located on Thompson St., across from the Fleming Bldg., and is indicated with a "P".
Thompson Street Surface Lot: Located at the intersection of Thompson St. and E. Madison St. Enter off Thompson St. Cost $15. This lot is about a 30-minute walk to the Stadium, or a 20-minute walk to the Indoor Track Building for the Pre-Game Tailgate. Click here for information for guests attending the Pre-Game Tailgate with mobility concerns. This lot is not listed on the Athletic Department parking map, but on a map of Central Campus the structure is located on Thompson St., across from West Quad, and is indicated with a "P" and a "VP" designation.
Additional Football Parking Options
The City of Ann Arbor offers football game parking at the water tower located at 2000 S. Industrial St., south of the intersection of S. Industrial and Stimpson (south of E. Stadium Blvd.). Cost $25. This lot is about a 20-30 minute walk to the Stadium, and about a 45 minute walk to the Indoor Track Building for the Pre-Game Tailgate.
In addition, Ann Arbor residents will also sell parking spaces in their driveways and on their lawns. Prices vary. Cars may be “blocked in” at these locations, so you should be willing to accept this risk if you choose this option. Some nearby businesses also offer parking spaces in their lots as fund-raisers for local charities. Watch for signs, and only park in spaces clearly marked “Football Parking.” Illegally parked cars will be ticketed or towed.
Additional Game Day Traffic Information
After the game, Main St. (south of Stadium Blvd.) and Ann Arbor-Saline Road will be one-way from Michigan Stadium to I-94. Click here for updated football and parking information from the Athletic Department. For all general information regarding parking for the football game, visit www.mgoblue.com. Questions regarding parking on football Saturdays can also be directed to the Michigan Ticket Office at (734) 764-0247. Normal parking regulations apply on game day. Please park only in designated parking spaces. If you are unable to find a legal parking space, please see an Athletic Department Parking Attendant for assistance. The Office of New Student Programs is not responsible for parking tickets or towing expenses incurred during Parents & Family Weekend.
Football Parking for Guests with a Disability
Parking for guests with mobility impairments is available in the following permit-only lots: Blue, Blue West, Green, and Brown. A limited number of single-game parking permits for persons needing accessible parking is available by calling the Michigan Ticket Office (734-764-0247). These permits are available on a first-come/first-serve basis. Click here for complete details about the Athletic Department's parking options for guests with a disability. The Office of New Student Programs is not responsible for parking arrangements.
In addition, the Athletic Department offers courtesy shuttles from selected lots to the Stadium. Click here for information about the Athletic Department courtesy shuttles. Please note that these shuttles only serve the Stadium, and guests with mobility impairments who are attending the Pre-Game Tailgate should click here for information about tailgate shuttles.
Parking for Friday and Saturday Evening Events
If you are attending any of the evening Parents & Family Weekend activities and events on Central Campus, you may park in any designated visitors’ structures (see campus map), as well as the University staff parking structures on Thayer St. or Fletcher St. While these structures are normally reserved for University staff only, during performances at the University’s theaters, these structures are usually open for public parking (for a fee).
Parking for Sunday
Parking meters and some University parking structures and lots are free and open to the public on Sundays. You may also park in any of the designated vistors’ structures (see campus map).
Taxicabs
You may find that using a cab is more convenient than trying to park. Cabs can frequently be found in front of the Michigan Union or on the southwest corner of Main and Washington Streets. Or, just give one a call. For a complete list of Ann Arbor cab companies, visit www.annarbor.org.
Airport Shuttles
There are many shuttles that travel between Detroit Metro Airport and Ann Arbor. Visit www.annarbor.org for a complete list.
Buses
We encourage you to utilize the buses in Ann Arbor instead of trying to park. Ann Arbor has two bus transportation systems: University of Michigan buses and Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) buses. The University of Michigan buses are free, and U-M bus routes cover most of Central, South, and North campuses. AATA bus routes cover the city of Ann Arbor and some of the surrounding areas. AATA is free for U-M students with UMID, but parents will need to pay the $1.25 fare.
What NOT to Bring into Michigan Stadium
Fans are encouraged to bring ONLY necessary items to football games at Michigan Stadium. Stadium gates will open two hours before kickoff -- please plan to arrive within the first hour. All items carried to the Stadium are subject to search. For a complete list of Michigan Stadium policies, click here.
DON'T LET YOUR PURSE RUIN YOUR FOOTBALL SATURDAY! READ THIS LIST!
Prohibited Items
All Bags -- including purses, camera cases, binocular cases, fanny packs, lunch sacks, and diaper bags.
Containers of any kind
Aerosol and spray cans
Umbrellas and seat backs
Flags and flagpoles
Alcoholic beverages
Coolers, thermoses, cups, bottles, cans, flasks
Food of any kind
Video Cameras and tripods
Strollers, Footballs
Weapons
You may bring the following items into the Stadium:
Permitted Items (note--all items subject to search)
Non-pocket seat cushions
Binoculars -- but leave your case at home
Pagers and cell phones
Clear, sealed, plastic water bottles
Small cameras and radios
Blankets and rain apparel
Changes in national and regional security levels may affect security procedures at Michigan Stadium including the prohibition of all bags or items in the stadium. Exceptions for medical reasons will be addressed individually at the gates.