More than 31,000 students will return to UNLV’s campus Jan. 21 for the start of the spring semester. And while there’s plenty of parking for everyone, the first few weeks of a new semester tend to be the busiest for vehicle traffic on and around the university’s Maryland Parkway campus.

UNLV's Parking & Transportation Services team regularly monitors and seeks improvements to parking on campus and creates and supports partnerships with local agencies to make it easy for those interested in getting to campus through carpooling, biking, and mass transit.

Here are six tried and true tips to help students and visitors navigate increased traffic on campus this spring:

1. Don’t forget your parking permit.

First things first. All vehicles on campus are required to have a permit to park in either student or staff marked spaces. Don’t have a permit? Pay for hourly or daily metered parking through the PayByPhone app or online. Look for the PaybyPhone signage in most student parking lots or on qualifying meters. Learn more and sign up at paybyphone.com

Permit fees support the maintenance and management of more than 14,000 campus spaces and ensure that campus parking spaces are reserved for those attending classes, working, and conducting business at the university.

2. Know before you go.

Check out the interactive Google campus map with building and parking lot details to keep up with changes on campus and find out the best place to park.

The Thomas & Mack Center lots, the Tropicana garage, the Cottage Grove garage, and the University Gateway garage have the most available parking spots during peak periods. The best bet during busy times is to head straight to these areas. A larger motorcycle parking area is also available northeast of Lied Library.

Parking and Transportation Services posts the latest parking alerts at unlv.edu/parking. Visit the site to learn of lot closures or special events taking place on campus, so you can plan accordingly.

3. Arrive early.

Plan to arrive well before class time, particularly during the first few weeks of school when campus parking lots will be most crowded. Get here early, grab a snack, and squeeze in a quick study session.

4. Be patient.

There are enough parking spaces to accommodate the needs of everyone on campus. Patience and cooperation are appreciated as the campus begins the new semester.

5. Carpool or ride the bus.

Carpooling frees up parking spaces and it’s good for the environment – but it can also save you money. The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) encourages carpooling with its Club Ride program, or you can avoid the hassle of parking altogether by riding the bus. The RTC UNLV Transit Center directly links to the RTC’s main transit hub, the Bonneville Transit Center downtown, for connections across the valley. The RTC also offers discounted transit passes through its U-pass program for UNLV students, faculty, and staff for use on all RTC routes.

6. Charge it.

Charging stations for electric vehicles are available on campus through a partnership with NV Energy. Look for stations south of the Stan Fulton Building, at the Cottage Grove, University Gateway, and Tropicana parking garages, west of Greenspun Hall, and east of the Campus Services Building.

Electronic message boards will be posted at major entry points to campus during the first week of school. UNLV staff will also assist with traffic flow, directions, and pedestrian safety.

For more info, visit unlv.edu/parking or call 702-895-1300.