A Deep Dive into Navigating Parking at the University of Maryland, College Park
Hey there! So, you’re going to be spending time at the University of Maryland. Awesome choice. It’s an incredible place, full of energy, amazing programs, & a beautiful campus. But let's talk about the one thing that can make even the most enthusiastic Terp want to pull their hair out: parking.
Honestly, figuring out where to put your car at UMD is a rite of passage. It's a complex world of permits, lots with names that sound like secret codes, & the ever-present Department of Transportation Services, or as you'll come to know them, DOTS. It's a system that has students and visitors alike feeling frustrated, with one junior sociology major telling The Diamondback that many of the hefty citations feel unnecessary. Another student on Reddit put it a bit more bluntly: "DOTS is the fucking devil."
But here's the thing – it's not impossible. It just requires a bit of insider knowledge. I’ve waded through the rules, the student complaints, & the hidden secrets to put together the ultimate guide to surviving parking at UMD. Whether you’re a freshman living in a dorm, a commuter driving in every day, or just visiting for a game, this is what you need to know.
The Official Lowdown: On-Campus Parking & Permits
First things first, let's break down the official system run by DOTS. If you plan on parking on campus regularly, you need a permit. There's really no way around it. All parking lots are restricted Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and some have even tighter restrictions.
What Kind of Permit Do I Need?
DOTS has a few main categories for students, & the one you need depends entirely on your living situation.
- Resident Permit: This is for students who live in the residence halls on campus. It lets you keep your car on campus 24/7 in your assigned lot. Pretty straightforward.
- Commuter Permit: This is for students living off-campus who drive to class. A key thing to remember: this permit does NOT allow you to park in commuter lots overnight (generally between 3 a.m. & 5 a.m.).
- Overnight Storage Permit: This one’s a popular choice for students who live in off-campus apartments right next to campus (think South Campus Commons, The View, etc.). It lets you store your car on campus 24/7, but it's more expensive than a standard commuter permit.
The Million-Dollar Question: How Much Does It Cost?
Brace yourself. Parking at UMD isn’t cheap, & the costs are a major source of frustration for students. Here's a look at the annual fees for the 2025-2026 academic year, so you can plan your budget accordingly.
- Resident Student Permit: $736
- Commuter Student Permit: $380
- Overnight Storage Permit: $936
They also offer fall-only, spring-only, & summer-only permits if you don't need one for the full year. For commuters who only drive occasionally, you can also buy a "Bundle Pack" of 10 one-day passes for $75, which is a pretty good deal if you only come to campus once a week.
The Registration Hunger Games
Getting a permit isn't as simple as just buying one. Registration happens online through your student account, & it’s a rolling process based on your academic credits.
- Graduate Students: Registration typically opens first, around late July.
- Seniors (90+ credits): A week later.
- Juniors (60+ credits): A week after that.
- Everyone Else: A week after the juniors.
The lots are first-come, first-served, so the more credits you have, the better your chances of getting a spot in a more desirable lot. If your preferred lot is full, you can join a waitlist, but there are no guarantees.
Understanding the Lots: A Game of Numbers & Letters
Okay, you’ve got your permit. Now where do you actually park? Your permit assigns you to a primary lot. For commuters, lot assignments are based on credit hours, with underclassmen often getting assigned to lots on the very edge of campus, like Lots 6, 9, or 11. This is a BIG complaint among students. One student wrote about being assigned to Lot 6 (the garage by the Xfinity Center) & having a miserable 25-minute walk to class in the rain.
For resident students, your lot assignment depends on where your dorm is. For example, students in Fraternity Row and Leonardtown are assigned to Lot 16, while South Hill students are typically assigned to Lots 2, 3, 6, or 19.
The Golden Ticket: Your Overflow Lot
Here’s a crucial tip: every student permit is also valid in an overflow lot. For most students, Lot 4 is your designated overflow. If your main lot is packed because of an event or just a busy Tuesday, you can head there. It's not always convenient, but it beats getting a ticket.
The Unwritten Rules & Insider Hacks
Navigating the written rules is one thing. Surviving UMD parking requires knowing the unwritten ones.
The Magic of "Free Parking After 4 PM"
This is probably the most famous & most misunderstood rule at UMD. The general idea is that many campus lots become unrestricted after 4:00 p.m. on weekdays & are free all weekend. This is a lifesaver for evening classes, club meetings, or visiting friends.
BUT, and this is a HUGE but, it doesn't apply everywhere. You need to learn how to read the parking signs at the entrance to each lot.
- Signs with BLACK text: These are generally the lots that are free after 4 p.m.
- Signs with RED text: These lots have special restrictions. READ THE ENTIRE SIGN. Some are restricted for faculty/staff until 8 p.m., & some are restricted 24/7.
A Reddit thread from a few years back listed a bunch of lots that were free after 4 PM, including parts of Lots 1, 4, 5, 6, & 9, but always, always, ALWAYS trust the sign at the lot entrance over anything else. The rules can & do change.
The Commuter's Overnight Dilemma
So you're a commuter & you need to pull an all-nighter at McKeldin Library. You can’t leave your car in your commuter lot between 3 a.m. & 5 a.m. on weekdays. So what do you do? DOTS has an overnight parking map for this exact situation, highlighting lots where you can temporarily move your car. Just remember to move it back to your assigned lot by 7 a.m. when the normal restrictions kick back in.
The Tyranny of the Ticket: Understanding DOTS & Citations
Let's be real. The relationship between students & DOTS can be... tense. In the 2022-23 academic year, DOTS issued over 43,200 parking citations. More than half of those were for an $85 fine.
The most common ticket is for parking without the required permit. Other common fines include parking outside the control lines ($15) or the dreaded illegal use of a disability permit ($500). If you get a ticket, you have 15 days to pay it or appeal it online. If you don't, a $30 late fee gets tacked on. Let it go long enough & they can send it to collections or put a flag on your vehicle registration with the MVA.
Students constantly complain about the strictness of enforcement. Stories abound of getting ticketed moments after a meter expires or for being slightly over the line. The best advice? Be paranoid. Double-check the signs, make sure your license plate is visible, & park squarely between the lines.
A Guide for the Visitors
Have friends or family coming to visit? They need a plan, too. They can't just park in a student lot.
- Pay Stations & Meters: The easiest option for short-term parking. You can find them in visitor lots like the Paint Branch Visitor Lot or in garages like Union Lane Garage & Regents Drive Garage. The cost is typically $3.00 per hour. A little-known tip: you can get 15 minutes of free parking at any pay station area, but you still have to go to the machine & enter your space number.
- Visitor Permits: If they're staying all day, they can purchase a one-day visitor permit from DOTS.
Game Day & Event Parking: Prepare for Chaos
When there's a home football or basketball game, all the normal parking rules can go right out the window. Many lots near the SECU Stadium or XFINITY Center become restricted hours before the event starts. DOTS will put up temporary signs & send out emails, so pay close attention. If your car is in the wrong lot, it will be ticketed or even towed. The best bet on game days is often to park far away, like at the College Park Metro station, & take a shuttle to campus.
The Off-Campus Escape Route: Finding Other Options
Given the high cost & hassle of on-campus parking, many students look for alternatives. The constant construction on campus for projects like the new Purple Line has made things even worse, eating up thousands of parking spots over the last few years.
- City of College Park Parking: The city has its own metered spots & a public parking garage. The meters are enforced Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. & cost $2.00 per hour. Some neighborhoods also have residential permit zones, so be careful where you leave your car in a residential area.
- Private Lots & Garages: There are several private lots near campus that offer monthly or semester-based parking. A company called Off Campus Parking, for example, offers semester parking at locations like the University Baptist Church for around $180, or monthly parking at various lots for $45-$125. These can be a great deal, especially for commuters.
- Peer-to-Peer Parking with Prked: Here’s a modern solution to an old problem. The parking crunch in College Park is exactly why a service like Prked is such a game-changer. It’s a platform that connects people who need parking with local homeowners who have extra space in their driveways or garages. Instead of fighting for a spot in an overpriced campus lot that's a 20-minute walk from your class, you could rent a private spot from a resident just a block or two from campus. It's often more affordable & WAY more convenient. You get a guaranteed spot without the stress of dealing with DOTS. It's the kind of smart, simple solution that the crowded College Park market desperately needs.
And hey, if you're a student living off-campus with an empty garage bay or driveway spot, you could list it on Prked and make some extra cash from fellow students or visitors. It's a win-win for creating more accessible storage & parking options in a packed college town.
Beyond the Car: Ditching the Drama
The absolute best way to avoid parking drama is to not bring a car at all. UMD has a pretty robust transportation system designed to make this possible.
- Shuttle-UM: This is a fantastic, free bus service that covers the entire campus & many surrounding apartment complexes & neighborhoods. The routes are extensive & run frequently.
- NITE RIDE: This is a free on-demand van service that runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. It serves areas of campus that the regular shuttles don't cover at night. You just request a ride through an app.
- Bikes & Scooters: The campus is becoming more bike-friendly, with new bike lanes being added. Just remember to ride on the road, not the sidewalks!
So there you have it. The complete, unfiltered guide to parking at the University of Maryland. It's a system with its flaws, frustrations, & high costs, but it is manageable once you know the rules of the game. Give yourself extra time, read every sign twice, know your overflow lot, & seriously consider if you can get by without a car or by using an off-campus alternative.
Hope this was helpful, & good luck out there. Let me know what you think
