Visitor Parking Help Center

Find hourly and short-term parking at the visitor parking page.

If you’re visiting for a special event, go to the special event parking page.

When the “lot full” sign is lit, there is currently no space in the lot for visitor parking.

If the lot is full but you’ve already pulled up to the entrance, press the “HELP” button at the gate. The dispatcher will assist you.

Find an alternate parking option:

• Go to map.wisc.edu for a map of campus garages and current availability.
• Find a ParkMobile stall in an open surface lot and pay by app or phone. Find ParkMobile stall locations (PDF).

Check the City of Madison website for parking availability in city ramps or street parking locations.

Pay with cash or credit card at a pay-on-foot kiosk, with a credit card at the exit gate, or with the mobile pay option on your parking ticket. Keep your parking ticket with you until you leave the garage.

• Credit and debit cards are accepted at kiosks at parking garage exit lanes.
• Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted at pay-on-foot machines in parking garages..
• Mobile pay options are also available. For garage parking, check your parking ticket for instructions. For surface lot parking, pay by app in ParkMobile stalls.

Tap-payment options (such as Apple Pay) are currently not accepted.

Some surface lots have pay-by-app stalls available for visitor parking. Time limits range from 25 minutes to three hours. Payment is required through the third party vendor, ParkMobile.

• Vehicles must be in paid status during the lot’s hours of control. Check the sign at the lot entrance for enforcement hours. 
• Find ParkMobile stall locations on the timed parking stall map (PDF) or the lot stall types page.

If you’re planning ahead, daily parking permits are sometimes available for surface lot parking. Contact customer service to check availability.

First, set up a ParkMobile account. Refer to the account setup instructions if needed.

Next, start a payment session. Refer to the session startup instructions if needed. Use the six-digit ParkMobile zone code located on the ParkMobile stall sign.

Find visitor parking rates on the rates page.

Transportation Services does not validate parking. Validations are sometimes provided by campus departments or event organizers.

Check with the department or event organizer to find out if they offer parking validation. 

Yes: several parking garages and lots have stalls for vehicles with valid, state-issued disabled permits. Find accessible visitor parking options on the accessible transportation page.

Parking permits are not enforced in some campus surface lots from 4:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays, or all day Saturday and Sunday. When permits are not enforced, and if the lot isn’t reserved for a special event or closed for construction, you do not need to display a permit or be in paid status to park in regular permit parking stalls or ParkMobile stalls.

• Check lot entrance signs for enforcement hours.
• Also refer to the lot locations and hours page for enforcement information, and refer to the campus map to locate a lot.
• Please note: A valid parking permit is always required in accessible/disabled stalls, reserved stalls, and service/vendor stalls. Check individual stall signs for restrictions.

UW Hospital and Clinics visitor parking is available at Lot 75 (UW Hospital Ramp) and Lot 63 (Children’s Hospital Garage). 

• Lot 75 is connected to UW Hospital and Clinics.
• Lot 63 is connected to the American Family Children’s Hospital and the Emergency Services department.
• If Lot 75 is full, or if you prefer to park in a less crowded location and are able to walk, visitor parking is often available in nearby Lot 76 (University Bay Drive Ramp).

Find these locations on the interactive campus map.

Valet services are available at Lot 75 from 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. When arriving at Lot 75, follow the signs to the valet parking lane. Staff also offer golf cart assistance during operating hours and can provide wheelchair assistance.

There is no charge for valet service, and staff do not accept tips.

Yes: Lots 63, 75, and 76 have stalls for State of Wisconsin disabled permit parking. Go to the Accessible Parking Help Center for more information.

UW Hospital and Clinics validates parking for visitors at their discretion.

In some cases, a validation may only cover a portion of your parking session. You must pay any outstanding balance that appears on the touchscreen at the exit gate.

Refer to the validation use instructions.

• Credit and debit cards are accepted at kiosks at parking garage exit lanes.
• Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted at pay-on-foot kiosks in parking garages.
• Cash, checks, and credit/debit cards are accepted at staffed booths in Lot 75 (UW Hospital Ramp).
• Mobile pay options are also available. Check your parking ticket for instructions.
• Tap-payment options (such as Apple Pay) are currently not accepted.

Find visitor parking rates for Lots 63 and 75 on the rates page.

• Check the short-term permits page for permit options.
• Consider using public transit, bicycling, or bikesharing. 
• Visitor parking is an option. Please note that visitor parking availability fluctuates and space is not guaranteed.

Find current rates on the rates page.

• Validations. Parking costs are billed to the requesting department. Learn more about validations and make a request.
• Daily and half-day permits may be purchased at least two weeks in advance of the date they are needed. Parking costs are paid by departments upfront. Learn more about daily permits and place an order.
• Departments may lease a reserved parking stall with a sign restricting the use of the stall. Learn more about reserved stalls and how to apply.