Move-out, graduation bringing traffic changes to Penn State. Here’s where you can park

Matt DiSanto
·6 min read

Penn State’s spring semester is coming to a close, and final exams are already underway. Of course, that means graduation ceremonies and move-out season are just days away, too.

All the hubbub on campus is expected to bring plenty of congestion to the local roadways through Sunday evening. As a result, Penn State will implement a number of parking and traffic changes to better accommodate an influx of visitors to the area this week.

Here’s what you need to know before driving to Happy Valley this weekend.

Route & road changes in State College near Penn State

Portions of Curtin Road closed through most of the weekend: Penn State will block vehicle traffic on Curtin Road between University Drive and the entrance to the Jordan East lot to allow safe pedestrian access to commencement ceremonies in the Bryce Jordan Center. Commencement ceremonies start Friday afternoon and stretch through Sunday afternoon.

Fraser Road (not Fraser Street) to be restricted: The on-campus road, not to be confused with the street of the same name in downtown State College, will be restricted to northbound traffic through Sunday. Fraser Road intersects Pollock Road near the West Halls dorms.

Avoid Burrowes Road if possible: Penn State will reserve the east side of Burrowes Road, located on the southwest end of campus, to help ease move-out traffic. The eastern portion of the road between Pollock and Curtin roads will be reserved for student departure vehicle loading. Drivers are asked to avoid the area if possible.

Limited CATA service: Expected heavy traffic and vehicle loading along Burrowes Road will affect a few on-campus bus stops, Penn State says. Through Saturday, the Centre Area Transport Authority’s buses will not serve Burrowes Road. This is expected to limit several stops involving the Deike Building, Waring Commons, Rec Hall, Westgate Building and Elliott Building.

Traffic advisory for Saturday: Those heading to commencement ceremonies on the east side of campus May 6 are advised to avoid the Park Avenue exits from Route 220 and Route 322, as well as University Drive, Penn State said. Instead, use the Route 322 Business exits at the north and south ends of Atherton Street to travel to campus. Additionally, drivers coming from Atherton Street should approach Eisenhower Auditorium from the west side of campus through Park Avenue or Curtin Road to reach Shortlidge Road or Bigler Road, where vehicles can then travel south to Eisenhower Auditorium and the nearby parking deck.

Parking changes for moving out

Lots available to students moving out: All student parking lots and the following faculty/staff parking areas will permit 20-minute loading with hazard lights on:

  • Brown E

  • Green C

  • Green N

  • Orange B (Softball)

  • Yellow J

  • Yellow T

Additionally, permit holders for the above lots must park in the following alternate areas through 4 p.m. Sunday:

  • Brown E permit holders must park at Nittany Deck; Green B motorcycle spaces south of the Nittany Lion Inn

  • Green C permit holders must park at Nittany Deck; Green B motorcycle spaces south of the Nittany Lion Inn

  • Green N permit holders must park at Nittany Deck; Green B motorcycle spaces south of the Nittany Lion Inn

  • Orange B permit holders must park at other Orange lots, Jordan East, Stadium West, or Porter North (will reopen at 6 p.m. Saturday)

  • Yellow J permit holders must park at Eisenhower Deck, Jordan East, or Stadium West

  • Yellow T permit holders must park at Eisenhower Deck, Jordan East, or Stadium West

University vehicles, those who have individually reserved spaces and those with Americans with Disabilities Act placards or license plates can continue parking in their assigned lots.

East Parking Deck reserved for students: Through Saturday, Penn State will reserve the ground level of its East Parking Deck for student departure vehicle unloading only.

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Where to park for Penn State graduation

Parking for graduation, available across Penn State’s campus, is shown online through interactive maps for the Bryce Jordan Center, Pegula Ice Arena and Eisenhower Auditorium.

Here’s a breakdown of each location’s best parking options:

General parking for commencement ceremonies at the Bryce Jordan Center: Free parking is available at the following three areas for ceremonies:

  • Jordan East, located east of the Bryce Jordan Center and accessible via Porter Road (via Park Avenue or College Avenue) and Dauer Drive (via University Drive)

  • Stadium West, located west of Beaver Stadium and accessible through Park Avenue

  • Porter North, located north of Medlar Field at Lubrano Park and accessible from Porter Road (via Park Avenue or College Avenue)

ADA-accessible parking for commencement ceremonies at the Bryce Jordan Center: ADA parking is offered at the Jordan East and Stadium West areas, specifically at the following locations:

  • Northwest corner of Jordan East near the BJC’s Gate B, located across from Penn State’s All-Sports Museum (accessible via the intersection of Porter and Curtin roads)

  • Section of Lot Orange L located between the BJC and Jordan East (accessible from Dauer Drive via University Drive)

  • Southwest corner of Stadium West near the intersection of University Drive and Curtin Road (accessible from Park Avenue)

Guest drop-offs and pick-ups in driving lanes are prohibited, Penn State said. Those with mobility issues may be dropped off in ADA-reserved parking areas, which are located near the arena.

General parking for commencement ceremonies at Pegula Ice Arena: Those attending commencement ceremonies at Pegula Ice Arena should park at the East Parking Deck, located on Bigler Road near the East Halls dorms.

ADA-accessible parking for commencement ceremonies at Pegula Ice Arena: ADA parking is available at a dedicated section within the Yellow H lot at the Shields Building, located on Curtin Road just north of the arena.

General and ADA-accessible parking for commencement ceremonies at Eisenhower Auditorium: Those attending ceremonies at Eisenhower Auditorium should park at the nearby Eisenhower Parking Deck, located on Eisenhower Road. General and ADA-accessible parking is available on each floor of the garage. Elevator access is located in the garage’s southern corner.

Penn State commencement schedule

This weekend, the university is expected to award roughly 14,032 diplomas to students across all of Penn State’s campuses.

Here’s a look at University Park’s commencement ceremony schedule, available online at commencement.psu.edu:

Friday, May 5

  • 4 p.m. — Schreyer Honors College Medals Ceremony (Bryce Jordan Center)

  • 7 p.m. — College of Engineering (Bryce Jordan Center)

Saturday, May 6

  • 9 a.m. — Smeal College of Business (Bryce Jordan Center)

  • 9 a.m. — College of Information Sciences and Technology (Pegula Ice Arena)

  • 1 p.m. — Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications (Bryce Jordan Center)

  • 1 p.m. — College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (Pegula Ice Arena)

  • 1 p.m. — College of Arts and Architecture (Eisenhower Auditorium)

  • 4:30 p.m. — College of the Liberal Arts (Bryce Jordan Center)

  • 4:30 p.m. — Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing (Eisenhower Auditorium)

Sunday, May 7

  • 9 a.m. — College of Health and Human Development (Bryce Jordan Center)

  • 9 a.m. — College of Education (Pegula Ice Arena)

  • 1 p.m. — Eberly College of Science (Bryce Jordan Center)

  • 1 p.m. — College of Agricultural Sciences (Pegula Ice Arena)

  • 4:30 p.m. — The Graduate School (Bryce Jordan Center)

A full list of each ceremony’s details, including commencement speakers, is available online.