Parking, directions, and accomodations

Directions

Parking

During commencements, student "S" permit areas will be open to the public at the hourly rate.  Drivers must purchase parking from the "pay by space" dispensing machines.  For more information about parking, visit the UC Berkeley Parking and Transportation Special Event Parking Website(external link)(link is external).

Please also consider avoiding parking stress by using the BearTransit shuttle service.

Catch an eastbound shuttle near the Downtown Berkeley BART station [buses stop at Addison and Shattuck Sq. next to Bank of America]; or at the intersection of Hearst and Euclid streets.

BearTransit shuttles will be accessible at no cost to graduating seniors (who are attired in cap and gown, or can identify themselves) and their families.

Shuttle lines circuit the campus at approximately 12-24 minute intervals. View the BearTransit(link is external) page for transit information, shuttle schedules and route maps.

General Information

Area hotels fill up in May. If you have family or friends coming to your ceremony from out of town, suggest that they make reservations immediately. For information about local accommodations, restaurants, and things to do in Berkeley, refer to the Berkeley Convention and Visitors Bureau(external link)(link is external) and the UCB Visitors Center(external link)(link is external).

Disability Accommodations

If you or any of your guests have a hearing loss that will require a sign language interpreter or real-time captioner, please email Erin Blanton, the Access Coordinator, at eblanton@berkeley.edu(link sends email) at least a month in advance. Advance notice is required to ensure the best possible arrangements.

Guests using wheelchairs or who need to limit stair use should contact Erin Blanton, Access Coordinator, at eblanton@berkeley.edu(link sends email) at least two weeks in advance to inquire about seating arrangements. Due to space constraints, seating in the reserved area may be limited to one companion for each disabled guest.

Graduating students who use a wheelchair or expect to be using crutches or a cane on Commencement Day should contact Suzanne or Efrat in 296 Social Sciences Building (or email psadvise@berkeley.edu(link sends email) to arrange seating and plan access to and from the stage.

We recommend that guests reserving space in either the wheelchair section or accessible section arrive when the gates open at 6:00PM, in order to be seated before the crowds arrive.

Drivers with disabled placards or license plates may park in any disabled-designated campus space(external link)(link is external).  Reservations are not required. There may be limited parking, so arrive early for the most accessible spaces.

Traffic is likely to be heavy around the campus and parking may be difficult, so be sure to allow plenty of time to get there.