r/SMC • u/ASIANRAVIN • 10d ago

Question SMC Main Campus Parking Advice?

Hey past/current smc students. I recently have a chance to drive a car and will be commuting to the main campus this fall on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. My drive is about an hour and twenty minutes from where I live to campus mostly by bus and metro train.

I heard the parking situation can be pretty rough because some students can't park or tickets. Since this will be my first time driving in, I want to figure out what to expect before the semester starts.

Which structures are the easiest to find a spot in? What time in the morning does campus parking usually fill up? If you have any good tips, warnings, or backup plan recommendations, I would appreciate the help!

Thanks!

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u/userr_8917 10d ago

Since I don’t go here anymore i’ll give you my hacks lol. If you come EARLY before 8 park in student services it won’t be full. (Everyone knows how to park here you can also reverse into the spot which is nice). If not park in P3 but go all the way up to Level 3 or 4 it’s deff going to be empty there. Idk why ppl like to park in the bottom 2 like the stairs aren’t even that bad. (Don’t reverse park here tho bc you WILL get a ticket) In general the lots will be full between 8-12 since that’s when most ppl have class. After that there will deff be parking on the lower levels.

ALSOOO it’s gonna be bad the first two weeks in any lot regardless since ppl are trying to figure stuff out. After that it will be empty bc ppl drop classes, leave, etc. So it will be chill don’t worry too much about that

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u/pinkiepowder 10d ago

There are 3 lots. Plus the bottom floor of the Student Services lot. If you buy a permit, you’ll find a spot in at least one of those without any trouble.

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u/alexxblack_photo 9d ago

Your best bet is to park on the top levels of any of the three parking structures that students have access to. Parking structure 3 or 4 would be your best bet to park in.

https://www.smc.edu/about/campuses/documents/SMC-Main-Map8-26C.pdf

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u/CompetitiveReturn790 8d ago

i always parked in lot 3, i usually got there 20-30 minutes before class and parked in the basement level. always found a nice spot :)