We hope you enjoy your time in Ann Arbor! It will be a busy weekend and can be a little overwhelming to navigate, especially on game day and for those unfamiliar with the area. Allow yourself a significant amount of time and a lot of patience for travel and parking to all events during the weekend.
- Tailgate Parking and Transportation
- Football Game Parking and Transportation
- Parking Lots, Structures, & Meters
- Public Transportation
- Hotel Block Information
Navigating Game Day
Parking on game day is a challenge! Allow yourself a significant amount of time, and a good sense of humor, to plan for parking and travel to all events on a game day. A good pair of walking shoes is also valuable.
Tailgate Parking and Transportation
*Parent & Family Weekend is not responsible for any parking arrangements.*
- Walking from the Tailgate to Michigan Stadium
There will be many sidewalks and common walking paths from the pre-game Tailgate to Michigan Stadium. Expect to “follow the crowd” and wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes! - Mobility Assistance from the Tailgate to the Game
After the Tailgate, golf carts will be available to assist you in getting from the event to Michigan Stadium if you have a mobility impairment. Please inquire at the check-in table, located at the Tailgate, for instructions on how to get golf cart transportation to the Michigan Stadium. - Post-game Shuttles to Hill/Thompson Structures
After the game, the Blue Bus will be available to take you back to the Hill St. & Thompson St. parking structures. - The post-game pick-up location and time is TBD.
Football Game Parking & Transportation
We strongly recommend that you take TheRide’s football shuttles to the football game if you are not attending the MFamily Weekend Tailgate.
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FootballRide Game Shuttle
Only attending the football game on Saturday? The FootballRide shuttles are the low-cost, headache-free way to travel!
FootballRide shuttles serve many locations, including most Ann Arbor hotels. You can leave your car at your hotel, or one of several central locations, and ride to and from the football game without the hassle of game traffic, parking, and road closures.FootballRide runs roughly every 20 minutes beginning two hours before game time with the last shuttles leaving 30 minutes before kickoff. Shuttles run roughly one hour after the game. Shuttles operate in the North, South, East, West and Downtown areas of Ann Arbor.
Tickets are $3.00 round trip, or $1.50 one way, and are sold at participating hotels or may be purchased in advance by mobile ticket or exact fare cash. Passengers are encouraged to purchase round trip tickets, as drivers do not carry change. All riders are dropped off at Michigan Stadium before kickoff near Gate 2 next to the Crisler Center. TheRide buses are white and often have advertisements painted on them.
Check out their website to learn more about pick-up locations and rates.
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Game Day General Parking
Most parking areas near Michigan Stadium are permit-only. If you do not take the FootballRide shuttle, public parking that does not require a permit is very limited. Additionally, you will need to navigate around area road closures and construction.The Division of Public Safety and Security has partnered with Waze to assist with parking and avoiding road closures. DPSS will update this web page when a parking lot becomes full.
For information about Day-of-Game/Cash Sales, road construction, as well as parking for large vehicles such as RVs please visit mgoblue.com. Parking must be paid in cash only.
The Athletic Department map only displays lots that are listed for “Day of Game/Cash Sale Parking” for the general public. Parking spaces in Day of Game/Cash Sale lots are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and may fill up hours before game time.
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PLEASE NOTE: Ann Arbor residents, local businesses, and organizations will also sell parking spaces in their driveways, lawns, and parking lots. Prices vary. Cars may be “blocked in” at these locations, so you should be willing to accept this risk if you choose this option. Watch for signs, and only park in spaces clearly marked “Football Parking.”
Illegally parked cars will be ticketed or towed.
Parking Lots, Structures, & Meters
W13 Parking Lot
- Limited spaces
- Located near the Michigan Union, directly behind the Student Activities Building
- Rate $2.00/Hour
- Note your space number then pay using the central pay machine before leaving the lot
- Park in spaces marked with a number only
- Do not park in spaces marked Blue Lot or UM Business/Service Vehicle Only
Thompson/Maynard Garage (Thompson Entrance: 320 Thompson St; Maynard Entrance: 324 Maynard St)
- Large parking structure
- Located about 2 blocks north of the Michigan Union
- Rate $1.20/Hour
- Pay using the machines near the elevators or at the cashier kiosk when you exit
Liberty Square (510 E Washington St)
- Large parking structure
- Located between S Division and S State St, about 3 blocks north of Michigan Union
- Rate $1.20/Hour; $4 flat rate entry fee after 3:00 p.m.
Library Lane Parking Garage (319 S 5th Ave)
- Large parking structure
- Located next to the Ann Arbor District Library, about 3 blocks north of the Michigan Union
- Rate $2.40/Hour
Fourth & William Parking Garage (115 E William St)
- Large parking structure
- Located about 5 blocks away from the Michigan Union
Forest Avenue Parking Garage (650 S Forest Ave)
- Large parking structure
- Located about 5 blocks away from the Michigan Union
- Rate $1.20/Hour
Palmer Drive Parking Structure
- U-M faculty & staff parking structure with 180 visitor parking spaces
- Located on Palmer Dr from Washtenaw Ave, approximately 10 minute drive from Michigan Union
- Proceed approximately 100 yards to the 2nd parking entrance on your left to enter “Visitor Parking”
- Rate $0.85 per half hour
Parking Meters
- Parking meters provide convenience, but empty spaces can be difficult to find
- Meters are enforced Monday-Saturday, 8am-6pm unless otherwise stated on the meter or central pay station
- Rate $2.20/hour
- Be sure to pay close attention to parking time limits
- E-Park meters accept coins, credit, and debit cards; you can also pay using the ePark Ann Arbor parking app which will allow you to extend your parking time limit as well
- Rates are subject to change
After business hours, many faculty/staff structures open up for visitor parking. Additionally, structures that are normally reserved for University staff only (such as Thayer St or Fletcher St) usually open to the public during performances at the University’s theaters for a fee.
Public Transportation
- Magic Bus – U-M’s bus system that takes students, faculty, and staff across central, north, and athletic campuses for free
- TheRide – Operated by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, TheRide offers public transportation for the greater Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area. Single Ride Passes are $1.50 and Day Passes are $4.50. Students, faculty, and staff have unlimited free access.
- Amtrak – The Amtrak Station is located at 325 Depot St, only about a 10 minute drive from the Michigan Union building
- Greyhound – The Greyhound Station is also located at 325 Depot St
- Destination Ann Arbor – offers information for taxi, shuttle, car rental, airport transportation services
For more information about navigating Ann Arbor, including biking and walking paths, visit the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA).
A complete list of faculty/staff parking structures can be found online at Logistics, Transportation, & Parking (LTP)
Hotel Block Information
To take advantage of hotel blocks, click on the booking link under each hotel name. Please note that many area hotels are booked several months to a year in advance, and availability is not guaranteed for all guests during Parent & Family Weekend.
Ann Arbor
Sonesta Simply Suites Detroit Ann Arbor
- 701 Waymarket Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Hyatt Place Ann Arbor
- 3223 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Romulus/Detroit Metro Airport
Courtyard by Marriott Detroit Metro Airport Romulus
- 30653 Flynn Dr, Romulus, MI 48174
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Westin DTW
- 2501 Worldgateway Place, Detroit, MI 48242
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Marriott - Detroit Metro Airport
- 30559 Flynn Drive, Romulus, MI 48174
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Embassy Suites by Hilton Detroit Metro Airport
- 8600 Wickham Rd, Romulus, MI 48174
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Hampton Inn & Suites - Detroit Airport Hotel
- 31700 Smith Rd, Romulus, MI 48174
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Metro Airport
- 31800 Smith Rd, Romulus, MI 48174
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Dearborn
Courtyard by Marriott-Dearborn
- 5200 Mercury Drive, Dearborn, MI 48126
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Hampton Inn Detroit Dearborn
- 22324 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48124
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Dearborn
- 24041 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48124
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
DoubleTree Dearborn
- 5801 Southfield Expressway, Detroit, MI 48228
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend
Livonia
Detroit Marriott
- 17100 N Laurel Park Dr, Livonia, MI 48152
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Courtyard by Marriott Detroit Livonia
- 17200 N Laurel Park Dr, Livonia, MI 48152
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Holiday Inn - Detroit Northwest Livonia
- 17123 N Laurel Park Dr, Livonia, MI 48152
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Allen Park/Southgate
Best Western - Allen Park
- 3000 Enterprise Drive, Allen Park, MI 48101
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Comfort Suites - Southgate
- 18950 Northline Rd, Southgate, MI 48195
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Hampton Inn - Allen Park
- 16400 Southfield Road, Allen Park, MI 48101
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Allen Park
- 9000 Enterprise Drive, Allen Park, MI 48101
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block; Booking Code: UMP
Staybridge Suites - Southgate
- 12600 Reeck Road, Southgate, MI 48195
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block
TownPlace Allen Park
- 16850 Southfield Road, Allen Park, MI 48101
- Hotel Website
- Booking Link for Parent & Family Weekend Block