America's Brightest Orange
Tips for parking on campus
Parking on campus can take some getting used to. Spaces close to residential life buildings and classrooms can be hard to find. It’s just not possible for everyone to get a space close to their buildings, so walking a few minutes from an overflow lot may be necessary.
Steve Spradling, Parking and Transportation Director, said there are more parking spots on campus than there are permits sold, and there are always empty spots in many of the overflow lots.
“We would love for everyone to be able to park close to their classroom or their residence hall,” he said. “Although not everyone can park close by every time, we do have overflow parking lots available. Some of the overflow lots are barely used during the week.”
Students are encouraged to remember the following:
- Students living on campus can park in several overflow lots. Many are a five- or six-minute walk from residential life complexes, such as the parking at O’Brate Stadium and others. Click here for a map of all overflow lots. You may need to zoom out or click “load more.”
- Don’t want to walk from an overflow lot to a res hall? OSU buses run weekdays from 6:20 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it’s free for students. Due to bus driver shortages, check current routes on the bus tracker: thebus.okstate.edu.
- Don’t want to take the bus, or the bus has stopped running for the day? Students can request a SafeWalk from the OSU Police Department. Use the Rave Guardian app or call 405-744-6523. A public safety officer will meet you on campus at your car and walk you back to a res life building, any building on campus or fraternity and sorority housing from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Outside of those hours, an OSU police officer can help ensure you make it to your next destination safely, but timing will depend on call volume.
- Students can also park in the staff and commuter lots after hours, from 5 p.m. to
5 a.m. The cars will need to be moved the next weekday morning.
Off-campus students are encouraged to take advantage of OSU Transit, not only to park and ride back to a residential life building, but to get around town as well.
Have more questions? Email Parking at parking@okstate.edu.