Parking FAQs
If you have any questions about parking on campus, please contact Drake Public Safety at 515-271-2222.
For general parking information please visit our parking information page.
General Parking FAQ's
Q: I have someone visiting me; can they get a short term permit to park on campus?
A: Yes, passes can be purchased at the Student Services Center in Johansen, or metered parking can be used. See the Short Term Parking page for more information.
Q: If I don't have a permit, can I park in the Drake parking lots when it snows?
A: No, a permit is always needed to park in a Drake lot, except for special announced events.
Q: If I can't find a space, can I park on the grass?
A: No. Parking on the grass is prohibited.
Q: Does Drake tow cars from lots?
A: Drake University reserves the right to tow illegally parked cars, cars without permits in Drake owned lots, or cars with multiple unpaid parking citations.
Drake University reserves the right to tow illegally parked cars, cars without permits in Drake owned lots, or cars with multiple unpaid parking citations. You can appeal a ticket online or by stopping into the Public Safety Office.
Parking Permit FAQ
Parking permits on campus are designed to accomplish four key goals: (1) to provide a more predictable parking experience; (2) to ensure adequate parking, evenly distributed across campus; (3) to advance the pedestrian friendly nature of campus; and (4) to enhance the visitor parking experience.
We recommend visiting the parking zone map to see what lots are closest to your campus buildings. When purchasing a pass, you will have the option to select a designated zone, based on parking and fee preferences. A hang tag will be issued for each zone, based on a pre-designated color/zone.
Parkers must park in their designated zone during normal business hours (6am - 4:30pm). During evening hours/weekends, parkers can park in any Drake lot as long as they have a valid permit, but overnight parking is NOT allowed in commuter lots. Overnight parking is ONLY permitted in resident parking zones.
If you have a State issued Accessible Permit you must still purchase a Drake Permit to park in Drake owned lots. We recommend that you purchase a permit for the lot you primarily park in, but if you need to park in another lot and there is an accessible space available in that lot you can park in that accessible space as long as you have both a State Permit and a Drake permit dispalyed. Please note that you may not park anywhere else in a lot not designated for your permit between 6 am - 4:30 pm Monday- Friday, only in available accessible spaces.
The cost of parking is linked to which type of permit and for commuters, to the zone selected. Commuters will have the option to pay less, if they elect one of the low-demand lots. For those who select a permit within a high-demand lot, pricing will be more. The pricing of all zones is based on demand, as measured in a comprehensive parking study in 2018.
Resident students only have one parking option, so that price is for any overnight/resident parking. We also offer an evening/weekend pass, if that fits your campus needs.
Drake provides free bus passes on the DART system. Anyone with a Drake ID can simply show their ID upon boarding a DART bus. (With the exception of special DART services, like the State Fair shuttle). Bicycle friendly resources are also available, including the BCycle stations and Bike Library. The City of Des Moines is also working to improve bike access to campus, including a new bike lane feature which will be added along University Avenue between 25th and 31st street as part of the University Avenue Streetscape project. Drake students can also utilize the Safe Ride buses Sunday – Wednesday from the hours of 8 pm to 1:15 am and Thursday – Saturday from 8 pm – 2:45 am.
If you use alternative means to get to campus, such as the DART bus system, biking or ride share, but need to occasionally park on campus, single day passes are available for purchase at the Student Services Center or you can use the ParkDSM app in the Broadlawns lot, Lot 20 (Aliber) and in lot 1A (Dial Center) for temporary/visitor parking.
We do not recommend parking in other lots during the business day, as you will be at risk for a parking ticket for being in the wrong zone. After 4:30pm, you are welcome to park in any lot, as long as you have a valid pass. If you are dropping something off in another building and have questions about the options available to you, contact Public Safety at 271-2222.
Tickets can be paid at the Student Services Center during business hours, or you can email studentservices@drake.edu to request an emailed invoice. Any vehicle parked without a pass or in the wrong Parking Zones with 3 or more tickets is subject to being booted or towed at the owner’s expense.
All parking regulations are in effect during the Drake Relays until 9 am to allow for faculty, students, and staff with valid permits to park. After 9 am lots are open to visitors. For the two large University Admissions events in the Fall and Spring as well as the University Job Fair in the Spring, the Yellow Olmsted lot may be closed. If the Yellow Lot is closed, permit holders are allowed to park in any other Zone except for the other premium (Red) zone. Announcements about this will be made in OnCampus or via email.
The stadium lot will close at 8 pm on the Friday before home football games for the Fan Experience. Valid University permits will be allowed in University lots during sporting events.