Travel & Parking

In this Section:

Below you will find details regarding parking and travel.

Spring Commencement will be held at Michigan Stadium (1201 South Main Street).

There is NO OPEN public parking at Michigan Stadium for Spring Commencement.

For hotel and restaurant information, please visit the Ann Arbor Visitors Bureau website.

Ann Arbor Map

Located less than 40 miles from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Ann Arbor offers convenient access to major freeways.

Map of Ann Arbor

Parking & Walking Map

Michigan Stadium is located at 1201 South Main Street in Ann Arbor. Guests are encouraged to park in lots indicated on the maps below.  A complimentary shuttle service is also available throughout Ann Arbor, with convenient stops near U-M parking locations.

There is no open public parking at Michigan Stadium for Spring Commencement.  Parking for vehicles with state-issued “handicap plates or tags” is available on the north side of the stadium.  See more information here.

There are a number of campus parking lots at a walkable distance from the stadium, but please note these do fill up quickly.

Saturday, April 27: The gates to the Thayer, Fletcher, Hill, Thompson and Palmer-Blue Area structures will be opened at 10:00 a.m. for commencement guests. Parking enforcement in these areas will be suspended from 10:00 a.m. until the end of posted enforcement hours.

Thursday, May 2: The gates to the Thayer, Fletcher, Hill, Thompson and Palmer-Blue Area structures will be opened at 9:00 a.m. for commencement guests. Parking enforcement in these structures will be suspended from 9:00 a.m. to the end of posted enforcement hours.

Friday, May 3 – Sunday, May 5: The gates to all the structures on Central Campus will open on Friday (see detail below) and remain open throughout the weekend. Parking enforcement in these structures will be suspended until the end of enforcement hours on Sunday.
Palmer – Blue Area, Fletcher, Thayer: Gates open Friday 9:00 a.m. through Sunday.
Thompson, Hill, Church: Gates open Friday 9:30 a.m. through Sunday.

In addition, all University parking areas/surface lots on Central, North and South Campuses will have suspended parking enforcement Fri-Sun, and commencement guests are welcome to park in any available unrestricted parking space (blue, orange, yellow).

Monday, May 6: The gates to the Thayer, Fletcher, Hill, Thompson and Palmer-Blue Area structures will be opened at 9:00 a.m. for commencement guests. Parking enforcement in these structures will be suspended from 9:00 a.m. to the end of posted enforcement hours.

Friday, May 10: The gates to the Thayer, Fletcher, Hill, Thompson and Palmer-Blue Area structures will be opened at 9:00 a.m. for commencement guests. Parking enforcement in these structures will be suspended from 9:00 a.m. to the end of posted enforcement hours.

A map featuring parking zones.

Click to enlarge

Additional Parking

Additional parking can be found at Pioneer High School. Please note there is NO tailgating allowed. Enter off Main St. Gates 3 and 5 – there are no in/out privileges. Parkers can arrive at 7 AM, one hour before commencement.

RESERVED ONLINE PARKING IS NOW SOLD OUT. Day-of-event drive-up parking may not be available depending on conditions of grounds; arrive early to assure a parking spot.

Pioneer High School should not be contacted directly regarding parking. For questions, visit michigangamedayparking.com

Shuttle Service

Due to limited parking near Michigan Stadium, we encourage guests to use the complimentary shuttle service to and from area hotels and parking lots. Service will begin at 7:45 a.m. and will run approximately every 20 minutes until 9:45 a.m. Buses will resume operation at the end of the commencement ceremony. Please note that schedules are subject to traffic conditions.

Shuttle buses are expected to be quite busy, so users should expect to wait anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes for service, especially during the hour immediately following commencement.

All shuttle buses are wheelchair-accessible.

Note: Shuttles will NOT pick up guests from the Pioneer High School lot.  

Accessible Parking & Drop Off

The University has designated two lots–with entrances from Main Street and Hoover Street–for accessible parking only. Spaces will be available on a first come, first served basis and open at 6:30 a.m. A state-issued accessible parking sticker or hangtag is required to park in these lots. Accessible parking stickers or hangtags can be issued by any U.S. state.

Gate 9 on Keech Street will function as a drop-off area for any guests who have difficulty walking.  Guests may wait at Gate 9 in a designated area for the rest of their party to join them.

Gate 2 on E. Stadium Boulevard will function as a drop-off area for Uber, Lyft, and any other Rideshare options.

U-M staff will use golf carts to transport those who need assistance from Gate 9 to their sections in the stadium. U-M staff will not transport guests from the parking lots to the stadium, nor will they provide return trips following the ceremony from the stadium to parking lots.

Hotels & Restaurants

Please check the Ann Arbor Visitors’ Bureau website for information on hotels and restaurants, and make your reservations early.

On-Campus Commencement Brunches

Enjoy a beautiful brunch with your graduate(s) on-campus following the ceremony. Two sites are available: one on central campus and one on north campus. Reservations are needed in advance and can be found in the links below. Payment will be made at time of reservation. Open to all ages and parties of all sizes. Commencement Brunches are hosted by Conference & Event Services in conjunction with M|Dining and M|Catering.

Date: May 4, 2024

Two Locations: Michigan Union (Central Campus) and Pierpont Commons (North Campus)

Details:

  • Brunch begins immediately following the Spring Commencement ceremony. Check-in ends at 1:30 p.m. and the Buffet ends at 2:30 p.m.
  • A cash bar will be available at the Michigan Union only.
  • Children 5 and under are free.
  • Commencement brunch is a prepaid activity. Pricing is inclusive of sales tax & gratuity.
  • This relaxed-style buffet brunch includes breakfast and lunch items and desserts and is friendly to all dietary needs.
  • Major credit cards are accepted.
  • Cancellations must be received by no later than 11:30 a.m. on Monday, April 15, 2024. Cancellations received after that time are non-refundable.
  • Registration will close once each location reaches capacity.

 

For questions or concerns, please contact Conference & Event Services at (734) 764-2000.