Traveling to Campus for Commencement Weekend
We look forward to welcoming family and friends to CMU’s campus to celebrate Commencement! To ensure your trip to campus is as easy as possible, we’ve provided important information about purchasing parking, accessible parking options, traffic restrictions, alternatives to driving to campus and more below.
Parking information by day
Friday, May 10
Visitor parking is available in the East Campus Garage only. Please note the following:
- Advance reservations are not necessary
- Regular parking rates will apply
Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12
Parking during Saturday and Sunday of Commencement weekend is extremely limited. All guests must reserve and pay for parking before arriving on campus. Spots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Parking can be purchased via the ParkMobile app and will be $10 per space daily. Purchases are nonrefundable.
- Once you open the app, select Carnegie Mellon University on the map, the desired date and parking lot. Click on the green "Reserve" button to select parking. If the "Reserve" button is not available, parking is sold out in that lot.
- You must purchase parking for each day you will be on campus.
- You will receive a one-use only QR code for each purchased spot, for each day. Once scanned, a QR code cannot be used by other individuals or on additional days.
- Day-of parking in the lots listed below will not be permitted without a QR code.
The following paid lots, located on and near campus, are available for advance reservation on a first-come, first-served basis:
- Central Catholic High School lot*
- Clyde Street lot
- Dithridge Street Garage
- East Campus Garage
- Fairfax lot
- GATF lot
- Mehrabian CIC Garage
- Morewood lot
- Rodef Shalom lot*
- Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall Garage
- Tepper Building Garage
- Zebina Way lot
*Indicates parking available on Sunday only
Additional Parking Details
- For Saturday only:
- Please have your QR code ready on your mobile device when you pull up to your reserved parking lot. Attendants will scan your QR upon entry for lot access.
- For Sunday only:
- Vehicular traffic will be restricted on the following streets closest to campus from 7:30 to 11 a.m.:
- Morewood Avenue between Forbes and Fifth Avenues
- Forbes Avenue between Craig and Beeler Streets
- Only those with a QR code to the following parking areas will be permitted to drive within the restricted areas:
- East Campus Garage
- Morewood lot
- Tepper Building Garage
- In order to gain access to the restricted area, you will be required to show a valid QR code for one of the above lots. Once you get to your indicated lot, you will need to show your QR code again to secure your space. Please have your QR code ready on your mobile device.
- For those parking outside of the restricted area, please have your QR code ready on your mobile device when you pull up to your parking lot. Attendants will need to review your QR code upon entry to allow you access.
- Shuttles will run continuously from 8 to 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. between a central drop-off location on campus and parking lots located outside of the restricted area. Wheelchair accessible shuttles will also be available. You do not need to make a reservation to utilize shuttles.
- Business Administration and Economics graduates and guests: Ample parking will be available at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall garage, the location of the departmental diploma ceremony, which will take place following the main CMU Commencement ceremony. We strongly encourage guests attending this diploma ceremony to utilize this lot for the entire day to facilitate easy access to/from campus and the diploma ceremony. Please note the following:
- Parking for Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall garage will not be arranged through the ParkMobile system and no advanced purchase is required.
- The parking rate at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall garage will be $5 for the day and will be paid on-site (cash and credit cards accepted).
- The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall garage is included on the shuttle service route.
- Vehicular traffic will be restricted on the following streets closest to campus from 7:30 to 11 a.m.:
- All lots offer accessible parking. However, if you require parking in close proximity to the main Commencement ceremony, you may request accessible parking in the East Campus Garage when making your parking selection in the ParkMobile app.
Alternatives to Parking on Campus
Guests are encouraged to utilize other means of getting to campus because of limited parking availability. Please consider one of the following alternatives when planning your weekend.
Rideshare
- Rideshare apps like Lyft and Uber are available in Pittsburgh. Rideshares will allow guests to be dropped centrally on CMU’s campus and avoid the congestion of the parking areas.
- All guests utilizing rideshare must use a designated drop-off location, which are located at Margaret Morrison Street, Tech Street or Frew Street; signage will indicate drop-off locations.
- For Sunday only:
- CMU is pleased to offer a $5 discount to the first 500 rides on Lyft and the first 500 rides on Uber to travel to campus.
- Please note: this discount is only available on Sunday, May 12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for rides to/from CMU’s campus. We ask that students refrain from using this discount and instead use public transportation to allow families and friends that are less familiar with campus use of the discount code.
Public Transportation
- CMU’s campus is serviced by the Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) system. PRT drops off at a central CMU campus location (PRT buses will be permitted inside the restricted area on Sunday). Explore PRT’s website for details on routes and fares.
Frequently Asked Questions
I see other parking lots available on CMU’s campus, but not listed as an available lot to purchase parking. Can I park in one of those lots?
No. CMU lots not listed will be closed.
Can I enter/exit multiple times in my assigned lot?
No. Your QR code will allow you access to your assigned lot once. Once you exit, you will not be able to access the lot again.
Why isn’t the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall garage included in the ParkMobile app reservation system?
This garage is managed by an outside company and not part of the CMU designated lots in the app.
I want to park in the Soldiers and Sailors lot but since I can’t reserve it ahead of time, should I be concerned about availability?
No. The garage is able to accommodate 850 vehicles.
Is there any free parking available?
There is very limited street parking located in various areas around campus. Some spots may be free, while others are metered parking managed by the City of Pittsburgh. Guests should adhere to posted guidelines.
I purchased parking, but didn’t get a QR code. Who do I contact?
Please contact the Transportation Services Office at transportation@andrew.cmu.edu.
I purchased parking, but no longer need it. Can I get a refund?
Refunds are not available for parking.