8/10/25

Your Ultimate Guide to Navigating Parking at UW-Madison

Hey there, future Badger, or maybe you're a returning student or parent just trying to make sense of one of the most legendary challenges on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. No, I'm not talking about that organic chemistry final. I’m talking about something that strikes fear into the hearts of freshmen & seniors alike: parking.
Honestly, figuring out where to put your car at UW-Madison can feel like a full-time job. The rules are complex, the permits are like winning the lottery, & the whole system can seem designed to make you want to sell your car & buy a unicycle. But don't despair. I've been through the trenches, I've done the research, & I'm here to give you the complete, no-nonsense guide to surviving & conquering the Madison parking game.
This isn't just about what the official website tells you. This is the real deal—a deep dive into the permits, the secret street spots, the game day madness, & the alternatives that can save you a world of headache & money.

The Big Picture: Why is Parking Such a Thing Here?

First, let's get one thing straight. UW-Madison is an isthmus campus, a narrow strip of land between two beautiful lakes, Mendota & Monona. It's gorgeous, but it's also geographically constrained. The university has a strong, long-standing philosophy of encouraging alternative transportation. They want students & faculty to walk, bike, & use the excellent Madison Metro bus system. In fact, as a student, your segregated fees already pay for an unlimited-ride bus pass, which is a PRETTY amazing deal.
Because of this, the university intentionally limits the amount of on-campus parking. It’s a push towards sustainability & reducing congestion in the downtown core. While that's great for the environment, it creates a classic supply-&-demand problem for anyone who needs a car. Demand for parking spots is HUGE, & supply is tiny. That's the core of the challenge.

The Holy Grail: Official UW-Madison Parking Permits

For those who need to park on campus, the main route is through an official permit from UW Transportation Services. But here’s the thing: it’s not as simple as just buying one. It's a whole process, & eligibility is key.

For Undergraduate Students: The Hard Truth

Let's just rip the band-aid off right now. If you're an undergraduate student, especially a freshman or sophomore living in the dorms, your chances of getting a standard, daytime parking permit are slim to none. Seriously. The university prioritizes commuter students, graduate students, & staff.
According to UW Transportation Services, undergraduate students are generally not eligible for the most common types of permits unless they meet very specific criteria:
  • Commuting from outside Madison: You have to live beyond the reach of the city's bus lines.
  • Off-Campus Work: You need your car for a job at least three times a week & can provide a letter from your employer on business letterhead to prove it.
  • Disability Needs: Students with a state-issued disabled placard have a clear path to getting an accessible permit.
  • Unique Needs: This is a catch-all category, but you need to provide some serious justification.
If you think you might qualify, you have to fill out a pre-approval application before you can even apply for a permit. It's a two-step process to weed people out.

For Graduate & Professional Students: It Gets a Little Easier

If you're a grad student, the world opens up a bit. Most graduate & professional students are eligible to apply for parking. Even better, many are eligible for reduced-cost permits, which is a significant discount.
For the 2024-25 school year, you could qualify for a reduced-cost permit if your gross hourly pay rate was less than $21.63. This makes a huge difference, dropping the price of some permits by hundreds of dollars. The application is handled through the Permit Application System (PAS), & you'll want to get your application in during the designated window, as it's still a competitive process.

Types of Permits & What They'll Cost You (2025-2026 Rates)

Okay, let's get into the nitty-gritty. UW Transportation Services has a permit for just about every situation. The prices are updated annually, so always double-check their official Rates page, but here's a look at the major players for the 2025-2026 academic year to give you a solid idea.
  • Base Lot Permits: This is your standard, park-in-one-assigned-lot-every-day permit. They are divided into tiers based on location desirability.
    • Level 1 Lots: These are a bit further out. Cost: $944/year
    • Level 2 Lots: These are the more central, high-demand garages & ramps. Cost: $1,350/year
  • Reduced-Cost Base Lot Permit: For eligible grad students & employees. A game-changer. Cost: $618/year
  • Semester Permits: Perfect if you only need parking for one semester. These are typically available in lots like 46, 67, or 76. Cost: ~$259/semester
  • Afternoon Permits: Great for students with afternoon classes or jobs. Generally valid from 2 p.m. to 7 a.m. Cost: ~$283/year
  • Night Permits: If you just need a place to park overnight, this is your cheapest on-campus option. Validity is usually from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
    • Night Surface Lot Permit: ~$133/year
    • Night Garage Permit: ~$46/year (an AMAZING deal if you can get it)
  • Park & Ride Permits: For lots on the edge of campus (like 202 or 206) where you park & then take a bus in. Cost: ~$298/year
  • UW Accessible Permit: For those with state-issued disability plates/placards. Cost: $944/year (or the reduced rate of $618 if eligible).
As you can see, the costs are significant. A full-price, central garage permit will set you back more than a thousand dollars. This is why so many people start looking for alternatives.

The Wild West: Game Day Parking

If you think regular weekday parking is tough, welcome to a Badgers football Saturday. It is, without exaggeration, a completely different universe. On home football game days, the entire campus transforms.

Official Game Day Lots

Most of the lots near Camp Randall Stadium become reserved for season ticket holders & athletic department use. If you don't have a season pass, you'll be hunting for single-game parking, which is sold on a first-come, first-served basis. You just drive up to the lot attendant & pay on the spot (they take credit cards).
Here's the general pricing you can expect:
  • Lots 60 & 76 (farther away): $5
  • Lots 46 & 67 (closer): $20
  • Lot 64 (for Buses & RVs): $50
Be warned: These fill up FAST. If you're not on campus hours before kickoff, your chances are slim.

The Bucky Shuttle: Your Best Friend

The university knows that parking far away is the most realistic option for many fans. To help, they run the Bucky Shuttle. For a small fee (recently $10 per person for a round-trip pass), you can park in the massive Lots 60 or 76 near the hospital & get a direct shuttle bus right to the stadium. It runs for about two hours before kickoff & for an hour after the game ends. It's convenient, relatively cheap, & saves you the stress of navigating the traffic nightmare around Camp Randall.

Unofficial Game Day Parking & The Hustle

This is where the real Madison experience comes in. The neighborhoods around the stadium—Regent, Monroe, Vilas—turn into a massive, unofficial parking lot. Local businesses, churches, & even homeowners will sell spots in their lots & on their lawns for anywhere from $20 to $50, depending on proximity. Driving around these areas, you'll see people with cardboard signs waving you into their makeshift lots. It’s part of the fun!
For basketball & hockey games at the Kohl Center, the situation is similar but slightly less intense. Lots like Grainger Hall Garage (Lot 7) & the Lake & Johnson Ramp (Lot 46) often offer single-game parking for about $15-$20.

Mopeds & Motorcycles: The Two-Wheeled Solution

Given the difficulty of car parking, mopeds are EXTREMELY popular on campus. They are cheaper to buy, sip gas, & can find parking much more easily. But they have their own set of rules.
  • Permits are Mandatory: You can't just park a moped anywhere. You need a specific UW Moped Permit to park in designated moped areas on campus during enforcement hours (usually 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays).
  • Cost: A moped permit for the 2023-2024 year was $143. A steal compared to car permits.
  • Lot-Specific: Your permit is for a specific lot, though there are also "all-access" lots available if your assigned one is full.
  • Strict Rules: UW is very serious about moped safety. It is ILLEGAL to carry a passenger, and you absolutely cannot drive or park on sidewalks or bike lanes. The City of Madison has an ordinance against it, & you will get ticketed.
Motorcycles also have designated stalls across campus & require their own permit, which costs the same as a moped permit. The big advantage for motorcycles on city streets is that up to three bikes can park in a single metered car space, which is great for splitting the cost with friends.

Escaping the System: Alternatives That Actually Work

So, you're an undergrad, you didn't win the permit lottery, & you don't want to sell a kidney to pay for parking. What do you do? This is where you have to think like a local.

Street Parking: A Test of Patience & Skill

The City of Madison does have street parking, but it's a complex game of zones, time limits, & alternate side parking rules (especially in winter).
  • Metered Spots: The streets closest to campus have meters, but they're expensive & have strict time limits. You can't just feed the meter all day.
  • Two-Hour Zones: The neighborhoods surrounding campus are blanketed in 2-hour parking zones to prevent students from parking there all day. You'll see the signs everywhere. City parking enforcement is VERY diligent. They will get you.
  • Residential Permit Zones: Some areas are designated as Residential Permit Parking only. If you don't live on that street & have a permit from the city, don't even think about it.
  • The Sweet Spot: Your best bet for free, all-day street parking is to go far... really far. You'll likely need to park a mile or more from campus in unrestricted residential areas & then walk, bike, or bus the rest of the way. Areas south of Regent Street or west of Camp Randall can be good places to start your hunt.

The Private Market: Finding Your Own Spot

This is honestly the most popular & effective solution for students who need a dedicated parking spot. Many local property management companies & private homeowners rent out spaces in their driveways, private lots, & garages.
The UW Campus Area Housing website has a dedicated section where people post available parking spots. A quick look shows prices ranging from $100 to $205 per month, depending on whether it's a surface lot or a covered garage. You can find everything from a single space in an alley behind someone's house to a spot in a private lot for an apartment building.
The problem? These are also in high demand & often require signing a semester-long or even a full-year lease. It can also be a hassle to find them, involving scrolling through Craigslist or looking for "For Rent" signs tacked to telephone poles.
This is where a service like Prked comes in & makes life SO much easier. Honestly, it’s a game-changer for this exact situation. Prked is a platform that connects people who have extra parking space—like a driveway, a garage spot, or a private lot space—with drivers who need it. Instead of hunting all over town, you can just browse a map, find a spot that’s convenient for you, & book it right there. It brings the old-school, word-of-mouth system into the 21st century. It's often more affordable & flexible than a traditional lease, making it a perfect solution for a student budget. You could even find a spot that a homeowner only rents out on weekdays, which might be all you need.

Thinking Beyond the Car: Other Solutions

  • Biking: Madison is a Gold-Level Bicycle Friendly Community. There are bike lanes & paths everywhere. It's often the fastest way to get around campus.
  • Bus Pass: Again, your student ID is a free, unlimited bus pass. Use it! The campus routes (80, 81, 82, 84) are free for everyone & connect all major parts of campus.
  • Car-Sharing: Services like Zipcar have cars on campus that you can rent by the hour or day. Perfect for when you need to make a grocery run or get out of town for a bit, without the hassle of owning a car.
  • EV Charging: If you have an electric vehicle, the university is increasingly supportive. There are ChargePoint stations in many of the main garages like Grainger Hall (Lot 7), the Engineering Drive Ramp (Lot 17), & the University Bay Drive Ramp (Lot 76). You still need a valid permit or have to pay the visitor rate to enter the garage, but the charging itself is often free.

A Quick Word on Storage

While we're talking about making the most of limited space, here's another insider tip. Campus life often means you have more stuff than you have room for, especially during summer break or when moving between apartments. Instead of shelling out for a commercial storage unit way out on the beltline, you can use the same principle as finding parking. Platforms like Prked also help with storage. People rent out their empty garage space, basements, or attics for storage. It can be way more convenient & affordable to find a storage spot in someone's house right in your neighborhood than dealing with a big, corporate facility.

Tying It All Together: Your Parking Strategy

So, how do you take all this information & build a winning strategy?
  1. Be Honest About Your Needs: Do you REALLY need a car every single day? If not, consider leaving it at home & relying on the bus, your bike, or car-sharing. It will save you thousands of dollars & a ton of stress.
  2. Apply Early (If Eligible): If you're a grad student or a commuter who qualifies for a permit, get your application into the UW system the second it opens. Don't wait.
  3. Embrace the Shuttle on Game Day: Don't even try to park near the stadium unless you're willing to arrive at the crack of dawn or pay a premium to a local. The Bucky Shuttle is your friend.
  4. Explore the Private Market: For most undergrads who need a car, this is the way. Check the campus housing boards, but definitely check a platform like Prked to see all your options in one place. You'll likely find a better deal with more flexibility.
  5. Know the Rules: Whether it's a moped permit, a city street sign, or the hours of your lot, know the rules. A few expensive parking tickets can ruin your budget fast. UW citation fees range from $30 for a meter violation to $200 for a disabled stall violation, with a hefty $130 tow fee on top if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Navigating parking at UW-Madison is a rite of passage. It can be frustrating, but with a little bit of research & the right strategy, it's totally manageable.
Hope this was helpful & gives you a head start on figuring things out. Welcome to Madison, & On, Wisconsin! Let me know what you think.
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