Know where to park before you drive. - UCSC parking made simple with SlugPark

UCSC has over 80 parking lots spread across campus, each with different permit requirements and time restrictions. West Remote, East Remote, and the Heller lots are among the most popular. SlugPark maps every lot and matches your permit type so you only see where you can legally park.

It depends on the lot. Some lots are free after 5 PM on weekdays, but many enforce permits until 8:30 PM, and some are enforced around the clock. Weekend enforcement also varies — roughly half of campus lots are free on weekends while the rest enforce every day. Always check signage at the lot entrance. SlugPark shows the exact enforcement schedule for any lot so you know before you drive there.

UCSC parking permit prices vary by type and change annually. Check the UCSC TAPS website for current rates. Daily scratch-off permits and hourly ParkMobile rates are also available for occasional visitors. SlugPark is free and shows you estimated ParkMobile costs for each lot so you know what you'll pay before you park.

First- and second-year students living on campus are generally not eligible to purchase parking permits. If you live off campus, you can apply for an R or C permit regardless of year. Students without a permit can still park for free at some lots outside enforcement hours, but schedules vary by lot. ParkMobile is also available for hourly metered spots. SlugPark helps you find which lots are currently open based on your situation.

Join the TAPS waitlist. Permits open up throughout the quarter as students drop or graduate. In the meantime, you can park free on weekends and after enforcement hours on weekdays (some lots end at 5 PM, others at 8:30 PM, and a few enforce 24/7). You can also use ParkMobile for hourly metered spaces. SlugPark shows you exactly when each lot is free based on its enforcement schedule.

The most common reasons for tickets are parking in the wrong permit zone, overstaying a time limit, or missing a restriction that changes by time of day. SlugPark helps by only showing lots where your permit is valid and sending reminders before your parking session expires.

Core West, the Steinhart lot, and the North Remote lot are popular choices for Science Hill. Which lot is best depends on your permit type, time of day, and how far you're willing to walk. SlugPark factors all of this in — including elevation and hill steepness — and recommends the best option for your situation.

ParkMobile is a pay-by-phone service used at metered and hourly spaces on the UCSC campus. You can pay for parking via the ParkMobile app using the zone number posted on signage. SlugPark shows you which lots use ParkMobile so you know before you arrive.

Yes. SlugPark can import your UCSC class schedule so you get parking recommendations tuned to each class. It knows where your class is, when it starts, and picks the best lot automatically. One tap before each class and you're set.

Yes, SlugPark is completely free for UCSC students and staff.

No. SlugPark is an independent, student-built app. It is not officially affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the University of California, Santa Cruz. Always verify parking regulations and signage directly with UCSC Transportation and Parking Services.