Transportation

Directions

Because some ceremonies may fill Viejas Arena to its capacity of 12,000 people, we suggest several alternate approaches and making use of a range of parking locations.

Please allow at least 20 minutes to reach the arena from any parking area east of College Avenue.

Take I-8 west to College Avenue, then proceed south on College Avenue. At the first intersection of College/Alvarado Road, turn right onto Canyon Crest Drive, then west to Parking Structure 12. 

Take Route 94 or another east/west route to College Avenue north, then left on Montezuma Road, then right on 55th Street to Parking Structure 7.

Take I-8 to College Avenue south, then right on Canyon Crest Drive to Parking Structure 12.

Take I-8 to Fairmount Avenue, east on Montezuma Road to 55th Street, then left on 55th Street to Parking Structure 7.

Parking

The parking fee for Commencement is $5 for guests who prepay and $10 after May 15, 2025. The pre-payment link is available here and only requires a license plate number and credit/debit card payment. Vehicles that are linked to an active student or employee parking permit do not need to pay the fee. 

The parking fee funds traffic control services for congestion mitigation, so that all commencement guests have a positive experience. Guests may park in all parking lots and structures in any non-reserved spaces. Please observe all posted signage and consult the campus map to locate parking areas and other services (e.g., EV charging). 

Please do not park in residential neighborhoods. The City of San Diego's Residential Parking Permit is enforced. We suggest carpooling with family members and arriving early (remember to note which area you are in before leaving your car).

Disabled Parking

For information about disabled parking, please visit Disability Access.

For those who prefer to be dropped off closer to the venue, there is an ADA drop-off area on 55th Street outside Viejas Arena.

Candidates or guests with a DMV-issued disabled plate or placard may park in any ADA, Student, Faculty/Staff, or Service/Vendor parking stall on campus. Parking fees apply to ADA parking areas and placard/plate holders are expected to pre-pay or pay upon arrival. The following areas have ADA parking stalls:

Campus Shuttle Service

Limited courtesy shuttle service will be available from parking areas on the east side of campus to Viejas Arena. Because the number of shuttles will be limited, we urge you to walk to the ceremonies if possible and to reserve the shuttles for those who may have difficulty with a 10-15 minute uphill walk.

Shuttle service will start one hour before each ceremony and will run every 15-20 minutes from the shuttle sites below:

Please consult the campus map to locate shuttle sites. 

 

Trolley

Students and guests should consider taking the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System green line trolley to SDSU on commencement day. Families visiting our beautiful city will be able to commute to SDSU and to other attractions in San Diego by trolley. For more information, please visit the MTS website.