Parking near the University of Michigan is limited and rarely cheap. Your main options are a U-M student permit ($78 to $624 a year, and most permits are only for juniors, seniors and grad students), a City of Ann Arbor garage permit ($265 a month, or $45 a month for nights and weekends), metered street parking ($2.60 an hour) or a privately rented spot.
If a parking spot is a must-have for you, you’re not alone. It’s one of the first questions prospective residents ask us, and in Ann Arbor the answer takes more than one sentence. Campus permits come with class-year rules, city garages run waitlists and game days rewrite the map every fall Saturday.
This guide covers parking options near central campus so you can make a plan before you sign.
UMich parking options at a glance
| Option | Price | Who can get it | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-site at Rambler Ann Arbor | $350 to $400 a month | Residents, while spots last | Keeping your car where you live |
| City garage, Standard permit | $265 a month | Anyone, subject to waitlist | 24/7 parking near campus |
| City garage, Limited/Overnight permit | $45 a month | Anyone, subject to availability | Parking nights and weekends |
| U-M Student Orange permit | $96 a year | Juniors, seniors and grad students | Commuting to class by car and bus |
| U-M Student Storage permit | $624 a year | All students, 130 permits | A car you rarely drive |
| Private spot or driveway | Often $150 to $200 a month | Anyone | A dedicated spot near campus |
| Metered street parking | $2.60 an hour | Anyone | Short trips |
Rates as of October 2026. U-M permit rates cover July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Can students get a University of Michigan parking permit?
Some can. U-M’s Logistics, Transportation & Parking (LTP) office sells student permits to juniors, seniors and graduate students. Freshmen and sophomores can only buy a Student Storage permit.
U-M student permit prices for 2026-27
| Permit | Annual price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Student After Hours | $78 | Evenings only |
| Student Orange | $96 | North, Ross Athletic and West Side Orange lots |
| Student Orange with After Hours | $174 | Orange lots plus evening access |
| Student Yellow | $188 | Additional option for graduate students |
| Student Yellow with After Hours | $268 | Additional option for graduate students |
| Student Storage | $624 | All students; lots NC32 and SC34 |
Source: U-M LTP rates effective July 1, 2026. Rates rose 4% this year, so expect 2027-28 prices to change.
A few things to know before you buy:
- Orange lots aren’t in Central campus. They sit on North Campus, Ross Athletic Campus and the west side, and most need a short U-M bus ride to class.
- Storage permits sell out. Only 130 are sold each year, on a first-come basis, and they’re meant for a car you rarely move.
- Permits are virtual. U-M uses license plate recognition, so your plate is your permit.
- Many lots are free after hours. Most central campus lots aren’t enforced after 5 or 6 p.m.
How do City of Ann Arbor parking garages work?
Ann Arbor’s eight public garages are owned by the City of Ann Arbor, managed by the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and run day to day by PCI Municipal Services. One system handles every garage, every monthly permit and every waitlist.
The DDA sells three types of monthly permits:
- Standard: $265 a month. A guaranteed space in one garage, 24/7.
- Reserved: $365 a month. An assigned space, usually on the ground floor. Not offered at every garage.
- Limited/Overnight: $45 a month. Parking from 3:30 p.m. to 9 a.m. on weekdays, all day on weekends and on some holidays.
Availability varies by garage, and popular garages keep waitlists. To get a permit or join a waitlist, email parking@a2dda.org or call (734) 994-6697.
Without a permit, garages charge $1.80 an hour, Monday through Saturday, and are free on Sundays.
Is the Forest Avenue garage the best option near Rambler Ann Arbor?
For most residents, yes. The Forest Avenue structure is the closest public garage to Rambler Ann Arbor, about a 3-minute walk. A Standard permit there is $265 a month, and a Limited/Overnight permit is $45.
If your car mostly sits while you’re in class, the $45 Limited/Overnight permit is worth a look. You’d keep your car there evenings, overnight and on weekends, then move it on weekday mornings.
The Forest Avenue parking garage is not affiliated with Rambler, and the Rambler team is not able to reserve spots here for residents. If interested, please reach out to a parking representative.
Can you park on the street near campus?
Yes, for short stays. Metered street parking costs $2.60 an hour, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Meters are free on evenings, Sundays and city holidays. Pay at an epark kiosk or with the epark Ann Arbor app, and always check the posted time limit.
Street parking won’t work for keeping a car near campus long term. Many neighborhoods around campus are Residential Parking Permit districts. Permits cost $85 a year and only go to people who live in that district.
Can you rent a private parking spot near campus?
Yes, and it’s often the easiest way to get a dedicated spot. Homeowners, churches and small lots near campus rent spaces by the month. Monthly spots near the University of Michigan often run $150 to $200.
Where to look:
- U-M Off-Campus Housing lists individual parking spots near campus.
- Neighbor and WhereiPark list driveways and lots by the month.
- SpotHero works for daily and event parking.
Before you pay, get the terms in writing, ask who handles snow removal and check whether the spot is open on game days.
Where do you park on Michigan football game days?
Plan ahead, because home games change the rules.
- Student Orange permits don’t work south of Hill Street on home football Saturdays.
- Ross Athletic Campus lots must be cleared by 10 p.m. Friday before a home game, or your car may be towed.
- Game-day lots require a vehicle exit within two hours after the game, and overnight parking isn’t allowed.
- Season football parking permits cost $480 for the 2026 season and are only for season ticket holders.
- Park only where you see a “Football Parking” sign if you pay a homeowner for a lawn or driveway spot. Illegally parked cars get ticketed or towed.
The city also closes parts of Main Street around Michigan Stadium. Check the City of Ann Arbor game day page before each home game.
Or skip it entirely. Rambler Ann Arbor’s game day lounge lets you catch every kickoff without moving your car.
Do you need a car at the University of Michigan?
Many students don’t. Ann Arbor makes it easy to get around without one:
- U-M buses are free and open to everyone, no ID needed.
- TheRide city buses are free for students who swipe their Mcard.
- Rambler Ann Arbor is close to the Central Campus Transit Center, about a 7-minute walk.
- Rambler Ann Arbor has a free on-site bike garage for residents.
- U-M has more than 8,500 bike parking spaces on campus.
- Spin e-bikes and scooters cover short trips around town.
If you bring a car mainly for trips home or weekend errands, a Limited/Overnight garage permit or a Storage permit may cost far less than daily parking.
Frequently asked questions
Does Rambler Ann Arbor have parking? Yes. Rambler Ann Arbor has limited on-site parking for $350 to $400 a month. Spots are first come, first served.
Can Rambler reserve a spot for me in a city garage? No. City of Ann Arbor garages don’t allow master leasing, so you’ll buy your own permit through the DDA.
Can freshmen get a parking permit at U-M? Only a Student Storage permit, which is $624 a year with 130 available.
Make your parking plan before you sign
If you came here worried about where your car will go, you now have every option in one place: on-site at Rambler while spots last, a city garage permit, a U-M permit if you qualify, a private spot or no car at all.
Your next step is simple. If you’re interested in on-site parking, contact our leasing team to check availability. If you’d rather use the Forest Avenue garage, reach out to the DDA at parking@a2dda.org as soon as you sign.
All rates current as of 10/2026 and subject to change.
Riley Schultz
Riley is the Leasing and Marketing Manager for Rambler Ann Arbor. He got his start at LV Collective as a Sales and Leasing Intern before moving into his current role. Outside of work, you'll find him hunting down new local spots, playing marimba, or shooting and developing his own film. He's even been featured in the New York Times!
Published On: October 23, 2026
Last Updated On: October 26, 2026