Amherst College - Parking

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

The students and the administration at Amherst take the parking situation here very seriously. Realizing that many students choose to bring their cars to campus, the College juggles the available spaces each year and changes parking lot assignments in order to ensure that student lots will not be too small to accommodate the number of cars. What’s more, the cost of parking permits here is significantly lower than at other comparable institutions. The parking regulations are a bit cumbersome to read and learn, but that doesn’t change the overall situation: There are almost always enough spaces, the fines are not that bad, and campus police really try to be helpful and responsive to student needs (to a certain extent, of course). There is also a parking garage within walking distance of campus.

Some of the complaints about the parking situation here involve the relatively large distance that some students have to walk back to their rooms after having parked their cars in student lots. Few students have had their cars broken into, so they call for the expansion of available locations for students to park on campus. The campus police are usually finicky about enforcing the parking regulations, and the majority of student drivers have felt it in their checking accounts.

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Students Speak Out

chuckpratt says: Amherst College 2012 Undecided

Not too many people have cars... Not too many people have cars here, and the reason why is there is really not much need for one. It'd be nice to have for trips to Northampton or Boston, but everything you need is within very short walking distance, so cars are pretty unnecessary. 12345 Parking: March 04, 2009 Report

AmhAG says: Amherst College 2012 Other

Freshmen can't bring a car, but it... Freshmen can't bring a car, but it isn't hard to find parking in general. 12345 Parking: February 17, 2009 Report

AmhDJ says: Amherst College 2012 Undecided

Freshmen cannot bring cars, and... Freshmen cannot bring cars, and parking is not very easy. The parking lots are located on one corner of campus. 12345 Parking: February 16, 2009 Report

AmhYH says: Amherst College 2013 Law and Legal Studies

Parking is horrifying. I waited... Parking is horrifying. I waited until senior year to bring a car because I didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on parking tickets in earlier years. Freshmen are not allowed to bring cars unless there are special circumstances that require it. 12345 Parking: February 16, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

I think the fines are not that... I think the fines are not that high, even though campus police seem very intent on enforcing each and every one of them. It’s usually easy to find a space, but sometimes you have to walk more than two minutes to where you want to be. 12345 Parking Report

Did You Know?

Best Places to Find a Parking Spot
Drew House parking lot, Mayo-Smith parking lot

Good Luck Getting a Parking Spot Here!
Next to academic buildings, next to the gym

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