It’s no secret that parking at Grand Valley can be a challenge. When, where, and who can park are just a few questions that many Lakers have. Thankfully, we’ve cracked the code on parking and put it in this handy guide.

1. Who can park where?

On a campus as lively as GVSU, a lot of us have asked “Can I park here?’’ while driving around. This Allendale campus parking map is really useful; here’s a breakdown of the four most common permits:

Allendale residents (students living on the Allendale campus):

• On the Allendale campus: areas marked with a yellow “R” (i.e. Lot P, Lot D3-9)
• On the Pew campus: areas marked with a red “S”
• On the Health Campus: ares marked with a red “S”

Calder residents (Students living in Calder Living Center):

• On the Allendale campus: areas marked with an orange “C” or yellow “R” 
• On the Pew campus: areas marked with a red “S”
• On the Health Campus: ares marked with a red “S”

Pew residents (students living on the downtown campus):

• On the Allendale campus: areas marked with a red “S”
• On the Pew campus: areas marked with a brown “P”
• On the Health Campus: ares marked with a red “S”

Student commuters: 

• On the Allendale, Pew, and Health campuses: areas marked with a red “S” (i.e. Lot H, Lot C, the Butterworth Lot) resident parking is not permitted at any time.

Disability-accessible parking is located throughout the lots on each campus..

1. How long can you stay parked?

Overnight parking is limited to designated residential areas only, with no overnight parking at the Health campus downtown. You can park in faculty/staff spaces after 6:30 p.m. until 3 a.m. Monday through Thursday. You can also park in faculty/staff spaces from 5:00 p.m. until 3 a.m. on Friday through Sunday. All other areas have time restrictions, with many academic and housing areas being pay-to-park.

2. Do I need a pass to park on campus?

Yes! If you don’t have a semester pass, you may purchase a student commuter day pass here to park in the student commuter areas. You can also use the Pay-to-Park options on each campus. If you are parking on campus everyday, check out semester permits here.

3. Does my guest need a pass to park on campus?

Yes! Stop into either Parking Services offices in the Student Services building on the Allendale campus or in the Eberhard Center on the Pew Campus to obtain a guest permit. The guest permit will let you know where your guests can park.

4. What do I do if I get a parking violation? 

Don’t worry, mistakes happen to the best of us! To pay or appeal your violation, check out the Citizen Connect Portal. 

5. Can I drive on the sidewalks near residential buildings?

The short answer is no. However, during move-in week, Parking Services allows a 15-minute maximum for loading and unloading. If you need to drive up on the regular, reach out to Disability Support Resources. 

6. But where can I find the available spots?

On the Allendale campus, popular lots fill up quickly. Look for open spaces in Lot H1-H4 and Lot J. On the Pew campus, look in Watson, the Seward Ramp, or Butterworth lot J. 

Parking can be tricky to get the hang of, especially if it is your first semester having a car on campus. If you still have more questions than answers, visit the Parking Services FAQ for a breakdown on ADA accessible parking, pay-to-park spaces, motorcycle parking, and more.