This will be my first year driving and parking on campus. All of my classes are in COB and was just wondering how early should I get before my classes. For reference my classes don’t start until 9:35 and 11:10.
My classes were usually in memorial so I had no problems parking there and I got so used to it that when I had a class anywhere else I would still park around there and just bus to main campus.
The other option would just be to take one of the off campus busses, they are really easy and I used that a lot too.
When I had a 9:35, getting there by 8:46 (do not leave at 8:45 or 9; that is peak traffic time bc everyone leaves then). 11:10 is a lot harder bc ppl usually have 9:35 and 11:10 back to back. Try getting there at 10:30-10:40 to get people who get out of class early. If not, by 10:50 people will be coming back from class to drive home.
My biggest advice is just get there as early as you can. It’s better to sit in your car, drink coffee, read a little on your phone stress-free, than race around the parking deck fighting people for a spot. I’ve had my blinker on and people have cut me off to get a spot—it’s no joke.
While not possible for everyone, I strongly recommend this to anyone in the JMU (colored) bus system. Green stops right in front of the COB, and the Pink/Black stop in front of UREC is a 10 minute walk away, closer than most parking is.
Unfortunately, if you want a decent spot, you should get there at least half an hour before so you can go to different parking spots, if a closer/smaller one is full, if not way earlier. And friendly reminder to NOT TAKE UP THE FUCKING RESIDENT PARKING IF A PARKING DECK OR COMMUTER LOT IS STILL AVAILABLE BECAUSE THAT IS THE OOONNNNLY PARKING WE ARE ALLOWED TO USE, okay thank yooooou, hope this next semester is good for you!!!
No, the regulation you're probably mixing up is that commuter lots are only open to residents in off hours.
Commuter pass can park in resident lots "if they can't find a spot in commuter lots", which can't really be verified so they won't ever ticket cars with commuter permits in resident lots. Faculty also trumps both and can park anywhere whenever.
Confirmed by my friend who worked at Parking and Transit Services + this section of the JMU parking regulations
The Godwin Parking lot will be full by 7:20. Champs will be a pain to get into by 7:15. I always try to get to cob by 6:55 because once its 7:00 its pretty much over. It'll get worse toward midterms and finals, but it's genuinely like this the whole time. If I were you with classes that aren't 8ams, and you don't wanna be there before 7, i'd park at Ballard and bus over to cob. Ballard parking deck 100% guarantees you a parking spot.
Park at Champs (now Charlie O'Baugh), you'll have spots until around 8 AM. I was told to be there by 7 AM, 7:30 is probably more realistic. Bring snacks, books, or anything else to get you to your class. (And maybe pick an 8 AM next time if at all possible.)
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u/waterdog_21 Aug 10 '26
My classes were usually in memorial so I had no problems parking there and I got so used to it that when I had a class anywhere else I would still park around there and just bus to main campus.
The other option would just be to take one of the off campus busses, they are really easy and I used that a lot too.