Visitor parking

The majority of parking on our Fort Collins campuses is located on the perimeter of campus, a short walk to your destination.

Around the Horn is a free CSU shuttle that connects to most visitor parking lots with a bus that loops every 10 minutes from 7 a.m. – 6:40 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Parking Permits

Hourly permit: Hourly parking on campus is $2. When you arrive in a lot with visitor parking, have your license plate number ready to enter into our hourly pay machines or you can download and use the Park Mobile app to pay by mobile phone. You can pay by credit card for the amount of time you wish to park. Your license plate number will serve as your permit. For more information visit short-term parking.
Daily permit: A daily permit can be purchased online or at Parking and Transportation Services, located in the Lake Street Garage at 1508 Center Avenue.
Pre-paid parking: Check with the department event and or conference coordinator before your visit to determine if parking has been pre-paid and to receive parking instructions.
Sporting events: For sporting event parking information, visit CSU Game Tickets.

Where is the easiest place to park on campus for visitors?

Visitor parking permits are available for the areas listed below, also noted on the university’s parking map (PDF and online), and connect to Around the Horn to get you around campus:

Visitor parking near the center of campus:

Enforcement

Parking on campus is monitored through a virtual permit system that scans your license plate. Your license plate is linked to your parking permit.

All vehicles parked on campus must have a valid CSU parking permit or park in designated hourly parking spaces and pay at a pay station.

Vehicles must be parked so that a valid license plate or temporary registration is clearly visible from the drive lane.
A parking permit allows for one vehicle to park on campus at any given time.
A parking permit can have multiple vehicles on the permit to allow for flexibility when determining which vehicle is driven to campus, however multiple vehicles can not park on campus under the same permit, at the same time. If both vehicles listed on a single permit need to be on campus at the same time, a second permit must be purchased to cover the duration needed or park in hourly parking to avoid a significant citation fine for permit misuse.
More information regarding citations, how to appeal a citation, and parking regulations.

Overnight parking on campus is permitted in the Research Blvd parking lot with a valid CSU permit or in pay by hour designated spaces on the first level of the Lake Street and South College parking garages only. Overnight parking in CSU Apartments or Residence Halls designated parking areas is only permissible with a valid CSU Resident Hall or CSU Apartment permit.

Please carefully review signs posted at the entrance to each parking area for specific enforcement times and permit requirements. Parking is enforced 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, year-round or as posted, including fall, winter, spring and summer breaks. Residence hall parking spaces and other designated areas have extended enforcement hours. CSU apartments, Lake Street Garage and South College Ave Garage restrictions are applicable 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

As a contractor, how can I find parking spaces for my employees?

If you have a future project on campus, contact Parking and Transportation Services to inquire about short-term and long-term parking solutions for your employees during the project timeline. Please contact our office manager at (970) 491-5940 for more information.

The following construction parking policies have been implemented in a joint effort between Facilities Management and Parking and Transportation Services:

All vehicles, including university and private company vehicles, are required to have a valid Parking and Transportation Services permit.
Vehicles parked on Colorado State University property are subject to all parking regulations.
A staging area, such as for construction, will be identified through a cooperative effort between Facilities Management and Parking and Transportation Services.
Deliveries to construction staging areas will not require a Parking and Transportation Services parking permit before 7 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
Parking and Transportation Services may reserve up to two permits, depending on need and space available, for the project to the general contractor. The general contractor’s firm name, assigned parking lot, and effective dates will be listed on the permits issued. All citations issued to any vehicle displaying these permits are the responsibility of the general contractor.
Contractor employees are required to park off site in designated parking lots, depending on space availability.
A Parking and Transportation Services representative will attend pre-construction meetings to provide parking policies and offer assistance.
All damages to parking lots or equipment will be the responsibility of the project or general contractor.

Why do I have to pay to park on campus?

By state statute, parking must pay for itself at CSU, meaning that parking must generate revenue to pay for parking maintenance and operations. Parking fees are a primary revenue source to pay for new parking lots and parking garages, as well as maintenance. Parking and Transportation Services does not receive any tuition or state funds.