Recommended Parking for

Weekend Events at the Illini Union

The C7 Parking Structure (John Street), Lot B1, and the D5 Underground Parking under the Krannert Center are likely to have the easiest access with plenty of open spaces on the weekend. These are all free parking after 5:00 PM on weekdays, including Friday, and are free all day Saturday and Sunday, but with NO parking 2 AM to 6 AM. The C7 John Street Parking Structure is the recommended parking for events at the Union.

The C7 Structure, accessed from John St, is most easily approached by going south on 4th and east on John. (Avoid 5th and 6th Streets.) Note on the map that there are a number of one way streets around the campus. John Street is one of them. So when you leave the C7 structure, turn right on John, turn right on 6th (one-way south) and then right on Daniel which will take you back to 4th Street. Turn right on 4th to get to Springfield.
The B1 Parking Lot is accessed from Goodwin or Mathews Streets. Lincoln Avenue will take you to Springfield from which you can turn onto Goodwin. Mathews is one-way north, so can only be accessed from Green Street.
Entrance to the D5 Underground Parking at Krannert is from Illinois or Oregon Streets. Lincoln Avenue will take you directly to these streets.

When approaching campus, Lincoln Avenue and 4th Street are the best north-south routes. Springfield is the best east-west route.

If you arrive before 5:00 PM on Friday, there is metered visitor parking on the bottom level of the C7 Structure and in Lot B1 that can be used before 5 PM.

For loading/unloading, there are 30 minute meters (painted red) in front of the Union adjacent to Green Street. However, parking along the side of the Union is reserved for registered guests staying overnight at the Union.

Cities of Champaign and Urbana parking meters are available on Springfield in front of the engineering library, building 324 on the map, Goodwin, and Mathews. The posted periods of meter enforcement have been revised during 2008 and there are many variations. Read the meter! Different from University lots, they are enforced Friday and Saturday until 9 PM. They are free, though, after 9 PM Friday and Saturday and all day Sunday. However, there is a 10 hour limit in the same space. Champaign and Urbana are strict about ticketing, so keep your meter fed.

Avoid Wright St., which has only 2 hour meters, and Green St., which has NO parking at all.

Always read the lot signs and parking meters. There are exceptions posted on some spaces on many lots and streets. Also, be careful of a "Rental Space" sign in front of a parking space. Such spaces may be found in any U of I lot and should never be used. In addition, while there are many other small U of I and private lots in the area, these are often restricted and it is recommended that you avoid them.

A map of parking on campus (PDF - 631 KB)

Printable information on parking on campus (PDF - 33 KB)

Last updated on March 19, 2009