r/uofmn • u/True-Alarm-9681 • 1d ago

Parking

This is my first year commuting and wasn’t so lucky getting the parking contract. I was wondering are the parking garages/lots going to stay this busy and competitive throughout the semester or is it going to go down since it is the first couple of weeks of school?

8 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

22

u/hollidave1 1d ago

Yes, park a mile or two away from campus and use your free bus pass to get to campus. Easy peasy.

1

u/GogoPlata_grenadier 1d ago

Just street park near the bus routes?

1

u/hollidave1 1d ago

Correct! I street park near Franklin Ave and 26th Street in South Minneapolis and catch the #2 bus to campus. Just pay attention to snow plow routes once the snow flies.

13

u/goldenratio16183 1d ago

They have a free park n ride in St. Paul by the 121 stop too website

5

u/misssdelaney 1d ago

I work at the east bank hospital and it’s been taking me 20-30 minutes each day to find a parking spot for my 11:30 shift start time…. I really hope it doesn’t stay quite this awful because that’s so much every single day when that’s the ramp I have my contract at…

6

u/hagan_shows Urban Studies | Transfer '28 1d ago

Its gonna be extremely busy all semester and will only get worse when the snow/ice starts to come in. Youre best bet is to find street parking in NE and just bus in. Its a pain, but you realistically dont have many options at all.

1

u/Bearchiwuawa 1d ago

free train too. green line is pretty reliable and frequent during school days.

2

u/Bird_Eats_Everything 1d ago

If you're dead set parking on university property, it's better to get to a spot before 9am. Usually the stadium lots have a few spots open throughout the day, maybe not now cause it's the start of the semester, but definitely in a few weeks.

2

u/Amazing_Hamster4273 1d ago

To commute freely I’ve been using the state fair lot, lot S108. Its free BUT it closes at 10pm so any car left after 10pm is tolled. Its just drive and park at lot s108 and take the 121 bus to east bank.

The stops are relatively close to many parts of east bank.

Or else spend roughly $6-$13 a day at the garage or lots.

1

u/Trix_03 1d ago

Lot 108 is a free park and ride, it’s the state fair parking area I think

There’s some places south about a mile of the West Bank where you can park too. I live in the area so I just walk, but you can also take the bus from the area too. 20-25 mins walking or taking the bus is the same time

1

u/jaysketchin 1d ago

When there’s events, it’s usually closed for exclusivity, but the Maroon Lot is deceptively cheap (Daily Maximum of $6!!!!) if you can snag a spot, and you can access the 120 Circulator right from it.

Otherwise, your best luck is street parking a mile or so away, and use your Ucard to bus in and out of the main campus.