It is a truth universally acknowledged that parking is terrible at Oakland University. Cars circle Pawley Hall’s parking lot in search of an open spot, drivers cut each other off in the parking deck and frustrations run high. To put it simply, it’s a mess.

As a commuter school, parking struggles are a part of our campus culture. In 2024, only 14% of the total student population lived on campus, meaning about 86% of students drive in, fight for a parking spot and head home after class.

“Sorry I’m late, parking was a mess,” a student says, running into class with keys jangling in their hand. It’s practically the theme song of OU classrooms.

Parking is the number one complaint I hear from students– and I’m guilty of it myself. During a pitch meeting in The Oakland Post newsroom, someone suggested, “If students complain about parking so much, talk to OUPD about this.” If anyone has insight, it’s them.

With a notebook in hand, I sat down with OUPD Chief Gordon to hear his perspective and his best tips for navigating the chaotic parking situation.

At The Oakland Post, it’s our job to share valuable information with the campus community – whether it be a new policy or a campus event. Since parking affects nearly everyone at OU, it’s time to look for some solutions. 

Firstly, Oakland University’s main campus has a total of 10,008 parking spaces. P-1, the wide-open lot in front of the Oakland Center, has the most with 1,616 spots. However, parking in P-1 can be difficult, especially during peak hours. 

The P-32 parking structure, located across the Engineering Center, has the second-most spaces with 1,205. Chief Gordon recommended the P-32 parking structure, explaining it as the most reliable option for students.

“The parking structure down by the Engineering Center always has parking availability – that’s called the P-32 parking structure,” Chief Gordon said. “That one’s always got lots and lots of parking in it – I’m talking like 400 or 500-800 spaces that are always available.”

He also noted that the P-32 structure is within walking distance to most buildings on campus.

“You can get almost anywhere from that parking structure in about a 10-minute walk. When you get to the other lots that are near the buildings, they all fill up,” Gordon said. “They’re all filled up, some of them by 11 o’clock, some of them not until about one o’clock. But usually by one o’clock, all the inner perimeter lots that support the main part of campus are all full.”

Those inner lots include P-1 and P-2 (near Wilson Hall and Bear Lake), which are normally full by 11 a.m., meaning for students who don’t have an early class, it’s almost impossible to find a spot. By 1 p.m., P-3, the lot between the Human Health Building and Walton Boulevard, is 90% full. 

“The P-1 lot is the big lot that runs parallel with Squirrel Road … that is usually the first one to fill up. P-1 and P-2 are the first two lots that always fill up first, because they’re centrally located within the university,” Chief Gordon said. 

During the first two weeks of the semester, OUPD takes inventory of parking spaces that are available throughout different times of the day, checking lots Monday through Friday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. 

“Monday through Friday, we kind of categorize an inventory – how many parking spaces are available at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.,” Chief Gordon said. “And usually by 11 o’clock, the P-1 is probably half full, and then usually by one o’clock it’s pretty close to being full … especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays. [On] Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, by one o’clock. P-1 and P-2 are completely full.”

On the south end of campus, smaller lots like P-40, P-41 and P-43, near the Mathematics and Science Center, OUPD and Hannah Hall, fill up quickly as well.

“The small one here [next to OUPD,] and the small one on the other side of the barn over here – those fill up very quickly too,” Gordon said.

As an alternative, Chief Gordon recommended the P-39, P-35 and P-37 lots – just a bit farther south on campus.

“Now, when you get south of there, there’s P-39, P-35 and P–37 –those lots are always empty. If you allow enough time, you can park and just from that location alone, you can get anywhere in this campus in about 10 minutes,” Chief Gordon said.

One of the biggest tips Chief Gordon gave to students was time management. Simply arriving on campus ten minutes earlier than expected can make all the difference.

“On main campus, there’s lots of parking, but sometimes you have to just be willing to walk a little bit,” Chief Gordon said. “So many times I hear from commuters, ‘I only know where one lot is, and I always park in that one lot, and then I am late, and then I gotta park illegal to get to my spot.’ Rather than looking for a different lot, they’ll park illegal, and they get a ticket, and they get mad. They just need to allow 10 extra minutes to park – and then if they do that, they find that they can park in one of the more remote lots.”

September is the busiest month for parking. During the first few weeks of class, the largest number of students drive to campus. Once online and hybrid courses settle, and some students start skipping, demand for parking decreases.

“So during the month of September, that’s the worst month. People come to school. Everyone comes to class … [It] seems like in September, at least early September, everyone meets face-to-face to kind of get the semester going right, and then they tend to sometimes go a little bit more remote. Quite honestly, students start skipping. So the demand falls off about the third week of September,” Chief Gordon said.

“Once you get into October, everything kind of just kind of settles down, and everyone finds a rhythm. They know what to expect. And, routines become routines become routine, and people begin to understand how the parking flows here on campus.”

Additionally, the winter semester brings less demand.

“In January, when we start the winter semester, there never is that kind of demand. It’s like everyone’s already into the groove. Professors … go right into remote … We don’t usually have as much problems for people trying to find parking at the beginning of the semester.”

His final piece of advice was to give yourself more time to park, avoid circling in the same area and be willing to walk.

“Just allow enough time – give yourself 10 to 15 minutes extra. If your parking lot is full, don’t just circle and circle and circle and circle for 15 to 20 minutes – now you’re late for class,” Chief Gordon said. “If you want the least amount of stress possible, just pick one of the South End parking lots or the parking structure, which is P-32, just drive straight there.”

“Park and be willing to walk. Take an umbrella with you in the winter. Have an extra coat, because it does get cold when you’re walking. And just resign yourself to the fact that you have to walk for 10 minutes, and you will slow your stress levels tremendously, trying to circle around and find what you think is an open parking lot when it’s not.”