Comparable Schools'
Parking Grades:
Quick Stats
Common Parking Tickets
- Overtime parking - $7
- Parking in a yellow zone - $15
- Towable offense - $27 (if they are not able to tow your car)
- Towing costs - $50
- Unregistered - $27
Freshmen Allowed to Park
Yes
Approximate Parking Permit Cost
- $44 per semester
- $87 per year
Parking Permits
Every student with a vehicle is required to get a permit. The best bet is to purchase your permit when you are registering for classes so you do not forget. This method will automatically register you for the parking permit you are qualified to have. Special permits or permits for a shorter period of time can be obtained in the Visitor Center. Tags are sent to your home address near beginning of the year, so be sure get the tag up to school in time. The tags are colored, and all lots around campus are color coded to help you easily identify where to park. Students are not allowed to park in the heart of campus during the day, but must park in outlying lots instead.
College Prowler Take
The University prides itself on being what it calls a “walking campus.” While this might sound like a glamorous nod to the beautiful paths around campus that are lined with ancient oaks, this is really just code for “you will be parking your car in Egypt.” Parking at LSU is the number one gripe for anyone at the University—even faculty. Prepare yourself for long walks, numerous tickets, and worst of all, at least one towed car in your college career. LSU parking permits are easy to obtain, but getting a parking good parking place at peak hours is like getting hit by lightning and winning the lottery in the same lifetime. The University is also notoriously under construction, making parking even more complicated. Unfortunately, Baton Rouge does not have the best public transportation system and is rather sprawling, so bringing a car is almost a necessity.
The best bet is to take advantage of dorm parking, avoid trying to park during peak hours, and if you are living off campus, utilize the bus system. The lots open up at 4:30 p.m. so those with night classes do not have to worry about parking as much. Currently, the University is forming focus groups to work on student parking, and there are always rumors of improvements. But despite these many gripes, tickets are usually only about $15–$20 dollars, and parking is not as bad as at some universities with downtown campuses. And of course, a little walk never hurt anybody.
Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
There’s always enough parking—the...
There’s always enough parking—the problem is just how far you have to walk once you find a spot. |
Anonymous says: |
Parking is one of the worst...
Parking is one of the worst aspects about LSU. If you have a class in the middle of the day, get dropped off by a friend or take the bus! |
Anonymous says: |
Parking is horrendous. Normally,...
Parking is horrendous. Normally, it’s horrendous; on game days, parking is even worse. Don’t drive anywhere if you can avoid it. Especially on Saturday during home games. |
Anonymous says: |
Permits are required to park...
Permits are required to park everywhere on campus, and if you don’t have a permit to park where you park, you will get towed or ticketed. It is not easy to park. When I lived in the dorm, I would park usually at least a few blocks walk from my dorm, and then I wouldn’t move my car—unless I absolutely had to—for the rest of the week. Most of the time, it had been so long since I’d driven my car that I would forget where I’d parked it. In the Greek lot, parking is a little bit easier, though on sorority meeting nights (Mondays and Tuesdays) girls who do not live in the houses must also park, and there are simply not enough spaces for this. Many times we park illegally and put our flashers on, or we park on the lake side of West Lakeshore Drive and hope that we don’t get towed. There is very little visitor parking anywhere, and many commuters leave at least an extra half-hour for parking before class. |
Anonymous says: |
It is easy to park a mile away. |
Did You Know?
Best Places to Find a Parking Spot
The X lot behind the Rec Center
Anywhere after 4:30 p.m. (restricted parking ends)
The pay lot by the PMAC
The pay lot at the Union
Commuters can park across the street from the vet school and take the vet school bus
Good Luck Getting a Parking Spot Here!
The commuter lots by the Ag Center lot or the South
Stadium spots
Write for Us!
College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating
the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally
recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is
really like at your college. Read more >
