Virginia Tech - Parking

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Freshmen are allowed to bring cars with them to Tech, though many find it to be more of a hassle than a convenience. Cars are helpful when students are trying to get out of town or go back home, but for getting around town, it really is just as easy (and a lot cheaper) to take the bus. Taking care of a car while you’re on campus can also be a pain. Off-campus students are more likely to have cars and must purchase a commuter parking pass in order to park on campus before 5 p.m. A commuter pass costs $57 a semester and $114 a year. Even many off-campus students choose to leave their cars at the apartment and walk, bike, or take the bus to class. No one is guaranteed a spot on campus, and when students do find spots, they are often faced with up to a 15- or 20-minute walk to class from the parking lot. Parking lots also tend to be the site for many car accidents at Tech.

Thanks to a great public transportation system, driving to class really is unnecessary. While some students do prefer the freedom of having their own car on campus, finding a decent parking place is guaranteed to be a challenge. The trick to finding a parking spot on campus is to go early or go late. Students who have 8 a.m. classes or night classes usually don’t have any problem finding some place to park. The worst time to park is around lunch time or in the middle of the day.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Parking is my least favorite thing... Parking is my least favorite thing about Tech. I have spent many a dollar on parking tickets and the like. Good luck trying to find a spot in the commuter lot if it is five minutes before class and not a Friday. My best advice is going early and scouting out your spot. And don’t just throw out those little orange pamphlets they give you when you buy your parking pass. They contain the secret legal hours of parking around campus. Good luck finding parking hours posted anywhere else. 12345 Parking Report

Anonymous says:

It’s pretty bad, unless you come... It’s pretty bad, unless you come to campus early, but VT seems committed to encouraging public transportation. 12345 Parking Report

Anonymous says:

If you get there at six in the... If you get there at six in the morning, you will have no problem parking. Other than that, you’ve got to sit in the parking lot and stalk people as they ramble to their cars. 12345 Parking Report

Anonymous says:

Parking is terrible, and I... Parking is terrible, and I recommend taking the bus. There are only two major commuter parking lots, and trying to find a parking spot is as painful as pulling teeth. 12345 Parking Report

Anonymous says:

Parking depends on the time of day... Parking depends on the time of day and where you are trying to park. The further out you park, the easier a spot is to find, but it can be a hike to get to class if you miss one of the campus shuttle buses. 12345 Parking Report

Did You Know?

Best Places to Find a Parking Spo
The Duck Pond Road Lot (known to students as “The Cage”) is the easiest place to find a spot. In fact, freshmen who have cars usually leave them in the cage. There is a bus route that goes by this lot, since getting back to campus is quite a hike. Parking spots are usually available in the parking lot by McComas Gym, but this lot is about a 15-minute walk to most classes.

Good Luck Getting a Parking Spot Here!
Price’s Fork Lot

Parking Fines
Did you get a ticket and then forget about it? Not a good idea—if you don’t pay your tickets, you can’t register for classes or see your class schedule. And if you’re a senior, you can’t graduate until you pay!

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