Navigating Paid Parking at University Park: A Comprehensive Guide

University Park offers various paid parking options for visitors, students, and employees. Understanding these options can save time and money while ensuring compliance with parking regulations. This guide provides a detailed overview of the available choices, from short-term meters to garage parking and accessible options.

Metered Parking

Short-Term Parking

Throughout the campus, over 200 parking meters provide a convenient, quick parking option. Many of the meters accept nickels, dimes, and quarters, allowing for three minutes, six minutes, and 15 minutes, respectively. Many meters are intended for short-term parking and expire in 45 minutes. These meters are not intended for students to attend class or for employees to park while at work. These are ideal for brief visits or quick errands. It's crucial to note that a valid University Park parking permit does not authorize parking at campus meters or in pay lots without payment.

Three-Hour Meters

Recognizing the need for longer visitor parking options, Transportation Services has implemented three-hour meters in areas where business may take longer than 45 minutes and where quick turnover of parking spaces is not crucial. These meters offer an extended parking duration for meetings or appointments.

Payment and Enforcement

Most parking meters on campus require payment 24 hours a day. Always check the specific meter for posted regulations and hours of enforcement.

Centralized Payment Lots

Some lots, such as the William T. Young Library Lot and the Gatton Student Center Lot, feature a centralized payment area. At these locations, individuals can pay the central meter and park anywhere in the lot. This system simplifies payment and allows flexibility in choosing a parking spot within the designated area.

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Garage Parking

Cornerstone Garage (PS #5)

Located with entrances and exits on both South Limestone and Upper Street, the Cornerstone Garage (PS #5) offers hourly parking at $2 per hour, with a $30 per exit maximum. Free overnight parking is permitted on Friday and Saturday nights for those with a valid UK permit. Visitors must pay to park in the structure on weekends. Parking for large groups must be arranged through Transportation Services' Special Events Coordinator.

Sports Center Garage (PS #7)

The Sports Center Garage (PS #7) is situated off Sports Center Drive. Its parking rates mirror those of the Cornerstone Garage, costing $2 per hour with a $30 per exit maximum. Overnight parking is generally not allowed in this structure, including on weekends, unless pre-approved. Similar to Cornerstone Garage, parking for large groups must be arranged through Transportation Services' Special Event Coordinator.

Weekend Parking

Parking on the University Park campus is relatively easy on weekends. Most employee lots and student commuter lots are accessible and available. This provides ample parking for weekend events, visits, or recreational activities.

Guest Parking for Residence Halls

If visiting a student living in a residence hall, the student host must provide a guest parking permit. This permit allows temporary parking in periphery lots, ensuring visitors have a designated space while on campus.

Service Permits for Loading and Unloading

For those needing to load or unload large or heavy items, a service permit can be requested. This permit allows a vehicle to stand in any yellow-and-white striped area for up to 45 minutes for loading and unloading purposes.

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Accessible Parking Options

University Park provides several accessible parking options to accommodate individuals with mobility impairments. These options include designated spaces in garages, lots, and on-street meters.

Downtown Handicap Space Locations

Borough Garages

Beaver Garage (200 W Beaver Avenue): Spaces are located by the lobby elevators, facing the Hyatt Place, on every level of the facility. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) only metered spaces are also available before entering the gated access area, on the ground level of the facility, in front of the Hertz Rental Car office.
Fraser Garage (135 S Fraser Street): Spaces are located by the Fraser Street elevator, facing the Hyatt Place, on the ascending levels of the facility and near the north side elevator on the descending level before the exit gates.
Pugh Garage (126 S Pugh Street): Spaces are located on the ground level of the facility, facing Pugh Street, with signs posted to direct you from the entrance to the ground level spaces. Additional spaces are located by the Pugh Street elevators, facing the Calder Way/Pugh Street intersection, on levels 2A and 3A of the facility.

Borough Lots/Decks

Beaver Lot (100 West Beaver Avenue): Spaces are located on the eastern section of the lot beside the payment kiosk in the northeast corner, on the side closest to the Beaver Avenue/Allen Street intersection. The spaces are immediately to your left when entering from West Beaver Avenue or at the end of the row on your right when entering from Highland Alley.
McAllister Deck (132 McAllister Street): Spaces are located on the east side of the facility's ground level, beside the payment kiosk closest to McAllister Street. Additional spaces are located along the northern edge of the lot, immediately on your right when entering from McAllister Street or at the end of the row on your left when entering from McAllister Alley.

Borough On-Street Meters

100 East College Avenue (Meter 120): The ADA only parking space is located on the south side of 100 East College Avenue, at the first meter, closest to Pugh Street.
200 West College Avenue (Meter 89): The ADA only parking space is located on the south side of 200 W College Avenue, at the last meter, closest to Starbucks.
400 East College Avenue (Meter 165): The ADA only parking space is located on the south side of 400 East College Avenue, at the first meter after Sowers Street, in front of Jimmy John's.
100 South Allen Street (Meter 344): The ADA only parking space is located on the east side of 100 South Allen Street, at the first meter after Calder Way, in front of First National Bank
200 South Allen Street (Meter 339): The ADA only parking space is located on the west side of 200 South Allen Street, at the last meter on the block, in front of the Municipal building
100 West Foster Avenue: The ADA only parking space is located on the north side of 100 West Foster Avenue, at the first stall space of the mutli-space metered zone

Handicap Parking Placard

Pennsylvania issues permanent and temporary parking placards and permanent license plates for individuals with mobility impairments. These placards and plates authorize persons with such disabilities (or those providing transportation to them) to park in specially designated handicapped parking spaces. They also give an hour grace period beyond the expiration time at metered spaces. However, payment is still required.

Student and Faculty/Staff Permits

E-Permits

Students and faculty/staff members who plan to bring a vehicle to campus regularly must purchase a parking e-permit. Once on the permit page, users can select their e-permit and enter the correct license plate numbers of the vehicles they want to add to the permit. Since the permit is virtual, no decal will be sent, nor will a physical decal need to be displayed.

Off-Campus Student Permits

Students living off-campus can purchase a permit based on their need for overnight parking storage for one semester at a time or the full academic year. Note: Most overnight storage parking on campus is sold out for the spring 2026 semester. Below is a list of off-campus companies that may have available parking for purchase. Please note that these companies are not affiliated with Penn State, and the University is not responsible for how each company manages their parking lease agreements. Users can select where they live to find a permit that fits their needs. When logging in to the parking portal to purchase a permit, options will display based on availability.

Evening/Weekend Access

Permit holders can take advantage of permit-free parking options in Employee A, Employee B, and unmarked Commuter spaces during specific times, as highlighted in yellow with the E/W symbol on the student parking interactive map. Additional evening/weekend access in the gated facilities is available two business days after purchasing the permit.

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Visitor Parking Using AIMS Mobile Pay (AMP) System

Visitor parking is available in a number of locations across campus using the AIMS Mobile Pay (AMP) System, as well as the Palmer Structure with pay-in-lane machines. Parking fees are $2.50 per hour. The maximum hours of use and enforcement hours, which vary by location, are posted in the location listings. Motorcycles and mopeds are also eligible to park in visitor spaces in lots by paying the associated fees.

AIMS Mobile Pay (AMP) System

The system allows users to pay parking fees from any internet-capable device â cell phone, tablet, PC, or laptop, rather than using a pay machine. To purchase parking time, choose the lot, duration of parking, and add vehicle information. Once the information has been added to the system, click purchase to finalize the transaction. Location and time of expiration will both be shown on the screen.

Palmer Structure

At Palmer parking structure, pay-in-lane stations are installed at two lanes to process exit transactions. Stations accept debit/credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express) payments. QR-coded validation tickets issued by department hosts provide discounted or free parking. The cost is $2.50 per hour. Exit assistance is available by pressing the pay stationâs HELP (intercom) button.

How To Use An Automated Pay Station

When entering the parking structure, take a ticket from the entry terminal.
Pay âin laneâ at the exit: Proceed in your vehicle to the parking structure exit and insert your parking ticket in the pay station. Follow the on-screen and audio instructions. Insert credit card to pay the amount indicated.
If you lose your ticket, press the âLost Ticketâ button on the pay station. The default rate for a lost ticket is $60.00, the equivalent of a 24-hour park.
If you have a problem using the pay station, press the HELP button located on the upper right corner of the machine, and a parking services representative will be happy to assist you.

QR-Coded Validation Tickets

Validations are available to departments to pay for their guests' parking fee. $2.50/hour. Step 1: Scan the QR code on your garage ticket. This will take you to the online payment portal. Step 2: Make sure to pay your garage ticket before you head to the garage exit.

Single-Use Daily Parking Permits

Single-use daily parking permits are an affordable visitor parking option. Permits must be purchased by a current student or employee at the BRG or XAG garage cashier stations on the Main Campus or at Campus Services (FS 2.418) on the Downtown Campus.

Event Parking

For large campus events, designated event parking is available with special pricing. Coordinating an event on campus can also involve arranging for specific parking solutions.

Payment Kiosks

Pay free at the kiosk or by making a mobile payment via ParkMobile. Note: Kiosks accept cash and card. When paying with cash, exact change is due.

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