Parking and Transit for Fall 2026

Hartford Ave. closure on Saturday, September 12.
Student parking permits for UWM’s main campus are currently sold out. Cambridge, Kenilworth, and RiverView garages are also sold out.
Most commuter students can register for a free parking permit at U-PARK located at Capitol & Humboldt.  U-PARK has shuttles running every 10 minutes during the day to main campus.
Students can also register for a free student bus pass, or U-PASS, that can be used on any Milwaukee County Transit System bus, including several park and lot rides throughout Milwaukee county.
If you don't need to park on campus each day but want to guarantee parking, consider a daily parking reservation.

Student Transportation Guide

Congratulations on becoming a UWM Panther! To help you navigate campus and the surrounding areas, UWM Transportation Services offers a range of parking and transit solutions. This guide will introduce you to these options.

Questions?

Open: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:15 PM

News for Students

  • Hartford Ave. Closed Saturday, 9/12
    Project Dates and Impact on Campus On Saturday, Sept. 12, Hartford Avenue will be closed from Oakland to Downer avenues, and parking lots located off Hartford Avenue will not be accessible. Prep work will take place on Friday, Sept. 11, but the street and parking lots will remain open. The work by the City of …
  • Hartford Ave. One-Way Traffic Project
    City begins work to convert E. Hartford Avenue to one-way through campus  The City of Milwaukee is starting work next week on E. Hartford Avenue in preparation for permanently converting the street to carry eastbound-only traffic through UWM’s campus, between N. Cramer Street and N. Downer Avenue.  Ahead of the conversion, work will begin on Monday, Aug. 17, to rebuild 11 pedestrian curb ramps along E. Hartford Avenue. Temporary ramps will be installed by …

Events

Accessibility

Students with special accessibility needs are encouraged to review accessible parking and transit options offered by Transportation Services. Please note that there is no free parking on campus, and that permit or payment is required to avoid possible citations.

Student Services

Bus Pass

The student bus pass, or U-PASS, allows students to get unlimited rides on the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS). The U-PASS is powered by the UMO Mobility smart phone app. Students get a new benefit code for Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters to continue using the app. Students must be paying segregated fees through tuition to qualify.

Be on the Safe Side (BOSS)

Be on the Safe Side, or BOSS, is a free late-night rideshare service that offers safe door-to-door transportation around UWM’s campus and throughout the East Side of Milwaukee. The service is paid through segregated fees (that are assessed as part of tuition), and there is no cost at point of service. BOSS is typically open from 6 PM to 2 AM during the Fall and Spring semesters. It is closed for major holidays and severe inclement weather. Limited hours are offered during the Summer.

Prowl Line

The Prowl Line is a supplemental shuttle service that provides direct transportation from the UW-Milwaukee Kenwood Campus to satellite locations. There are two routes:

  • Commuter Route: provides transportation between the main Kenwood campus and the Capitol and Humboldt (U-PARK) park & ride lot. Makes a loop with stops:
    • U-PARK,
    • Cunningham Hall
    • Golda Meir Library
  • Residence Hall Route: provides transportation between all residence halls and the main Kenwood campus. Makes a loop that stops at:
    • Sandburg
    • Student Union/KIRC
    • Kenilworth
    • Cambridge Commons
    • RiverView

Buss Pass

BOSS

Prowl Line

Parking Services

Citations

Parking citations may be issued for several reasons and are documented on our rules and regulations.

Permits

Transportation Services offers a variety of annual, semester, and monthly parking permits to customers.

Daily / Hourly Parking

UWM offers several convenient daily/hourly parking options for faculty, staff, students and visitors.

There is no free parking on UWM’s campus. All students are required to pay for parking, and parking structures and lots are enforced 24/7. Failure to pay for parking may result in citations.

Students can have only one vehicle on their permit.

Unsure where to park? Try using the UWM Parking Finder, powered by Modii, to determine the best location.

Parking options vary by whether you are a residential or commuter student. You must have a specific residential permit that allows overnight parking to park between 2 am and 5 am. If you do not have a residential permit, you must obtain permission from Transportation Services to park overnight.

Permit Value Calculator

Residential Students

UWM offers different parking and transit services to best serve residential and commuter students.

Residents who want to park overnight must purchase a permit at one of the following areas:

  • Cambridge Commons
  • Kenilworth
  • NWQ
  • Pavilion/Klotsche
  • RiverView
  • Sandburg

Parking is limited, and permits are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Getting to Campus from Residence Halls

The Prowl Line campus shuttle provides transportation from UWM residence halls to the main Kenwood campus, stopping at the Student Union and Sandburg Hall.

Commuter Students

Main Campus Parking for Students on Campus Full Time

Commuter parking permits allow the permit holder to park from 5 am to 2 am in designated parking areas.

We typically sell permits at one of the following facilities:

  • EMS Garage
  • Lubar Garage
  • NWQ Garage
  • Pavilion/Klotsche Garage

Main Campus Parking for Part Time and Hybrid Students

Generally speaking, if you are on campus three or more days a week, it makes sense to purchase a permit. However, check our Permit Value Calculator to see how it fits with your personal circumstances.

If you do not have a permit, you are charged the hourly rates for a parking facility (which are typically capped at $12 a calendar day). Payment platforms may charge a transaction fee on top of the parking fee.

Park & Rides

During the fall and spring semesters, UWM and the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) offer park and ride services from locations around Milwaukee. Typically, they run from the start of classes through the end of final exams.

  • U-PARK is a UWM-run park & ride north of Capitol & Humboldt with service to UWM’s main campus. See our U-PARK page for more information.
  • MCTS operates freeway fliers from multiple park & rides throughout Milwaukee county.

Daily / Hourly Parking

Most parking locations require you when or prior to your arrival. You can only park in designated non-permit spaces.

  • Lubar
  • NWQ
  • Pavilion/Klotsche
  • Student Union

The following locations are gated garages and require you to pay for parking prior to your departure.

Debit Accounts

Debit accounts allow you to deposit money via payroll deduction or credit/debit card to your PantherCard for use at:

  • Lubar
  • NWQ
  • Pavilion/Klotsche
  • Student Union

Please note that the Transportation Services debit account is separate from the GOLD account used for dining and other services.

Carpooling

Looking for carpool members?

Register as a rider or driver (or both) through CommuteWISE, a free ride matching service operated by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

UW-Milwaukee employees with a UWM-affiliated email address can join the private UW-Milwaukee CommuteWISE network to find other employees interested in driving together. (UWM students may also join the private UW-Milwaukee network, but they are not eligible for UWM registered carpools or carpool permits.)

Join UWM’s CommuteWISE Network

Bicycling and Walking

UWM and the East Side of Milwaukee are among the most pedestrian and bike friendly parts of the city.