AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tens of thousands of guests are expected to flood to the Forty Acres this week for the University of Texas at Austin’s commencement ceremonies. Here’s your guide on where to park and how to get to and from college-specific and university-wide graduation ceremonies.
College, school ceremonies parking options
Wednesday, May 3
On Wednesday, a select number of parking garages will be available for use ahead of commencement ceremonies.
- Brazos Garage: Located at 210 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; opens at 11 a.m. for graduates, guests attending morning ceremonies
- Trinity Garage: Located at 1815 Trinity St.; opens at 11 a.m. for graduates, guests attending morning ceremonies
- Manor Garage: Located at 2017 Robert Dedman Drive; opens at 2 p.m. for graduates, guests attending afternoon ceremonies
Thursday, May 4 through Saturday, May 6
All campus garages — excluding the Conference Center Garage at the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center, the Guadalupe Garage and Nueces Garage — will be free and open for graduates and their guests Thursday through Saturday. Entrance gates will be in place on Thursday and Friday until 9:30 a.m., and will lift afterwards. Guests will be able to leave the garage for free regardless of when they entered it.
Surface parking is also available at Lots 37, 38 and 39 at the LBJ Presidential Library, per UT commencement documents.
Lot 40 at the Thompson Conference Center is not open for commencement weekend use.
University-wide ceremony parking
Per UT officials, all parking garages and lots with capacity will be available for the university-wide commencement ceremony held at the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Manor Garage will have specific levels allocated to ADA-compliant parking for the ceremony.
Rideshare services
Those using rideshare services to get to and from the university-wide ceremony at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Saturday will have a designated pickup and drop-off location on the south curb of Dean Keeton Street, located between Robert Dedman Drive and Red River Street. Signage will be posted along the roadway.
Street Closures
Several streets will be closed due to the graduation
Friday: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Robert Dedman Drive between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and the south side of DeLoss Doss Way
- Clyde Littlefield Drive between Robert Dedman Drive and Red River Street
- 20½ Street between San Jacinto Boulevard and Robert Dedman Drive
Saturday: 5 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
- San Jacinto Boulevard between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and 24th Street
- Robert Dedman Drive between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Dean Keeton Street
- DeLoss Dodds Way between San Jacinto Boulevard and Robert Dedman Drive
- Clyde Littlefield Drive between Robert Dedman Drive and Red River Street
Traffic Restrictions
UT says you should see officers with the University of Texas at Austin Police Department and the Austin Police Department staffing entrance points around campus to assist with traffic control.
According to the University, 21st Street will be one-way eastbound between University Ave. and San Jacinto Blvd. on Friday and Saturday to facilitate pick-ups and drop-offs at the Gregory Gymnasium Commencement ceremonies
High-traffic events scheduled in Austin this weekend
In addition to UT commencement, the Republic of Texas Motorcycle Rally will run Friday through Sunday at the Austin Speed Shop, located at 3507 Chapman Lane in southeast Austin. The 2023 Pecan Street Festival will also take place on Saturday and Sunday in downtown Austin.
Visitors and residents should anticipate higher traffic levels and allow extra time to get to and from their events.
