Travel, Parking, and Check-In

Winter Welcome parking instructions and check-in information will be available soon. Please check this page for updates.

Booking a flight

Columbia Regional Airport (COU) is located south of town. Lambert St. Louis Airport is a two-hour drive from the east, and Kansas City Airport is two and a half hours from the west. Rental car services are available at all three airports.

Driving to campus

Keep an eye on road construction and closures through the MODOT travelers’ map. Use the links below or visit traveler.modot.org.

Campus Construction

A number of construction and projects are underway around campus this summer. Our Campus Facilities team works hard to minimize disruptions, but occasionally these projects require short-term sidewalk and street closures. Check MU Operations’ regularly-updated Outages & Closings map to navigate around construction areas during your time on campus.

Parking for Advising

Parking for your advising appointment will depend on the location of your appointment. You’ll receive the location for your appointment via email after scheduling. Then you can select the closest parking option using our downloadable Academic Advising Parking Map.

Advising Parking Permits

Families must register their vehicle for parking passes ahead of time: once for your advising appointment and once for your orientation session. Follow the instructions below to complete your registration.

Registration instructions (click to expand)

  1. Follow this link and choose “Purchase Event Permit” (don’t worry, you won’t be charged for parking; you’ll use a voucher code in a later step)
  2. In the pop-up, select “I agree with the terms of service”
  3. Under Event Type, select “1 Month Event/Conference”, then find and select “NEW STUDENT ADVISING 2023”
  4. Input the voucher code ADVISE23 then hit “Apply Voucher”
  5. Under “Permit Type”, select “EVENT NEW STUDENT ADV 23”
  6. Select “Add Vehicle” and enter the following info:
    • License plate number
    • State
    • Vehicle make
  7. Mark the checkbox agreeing to the terms of service, then hit “Continue”. On the checkout page, enter your email address (to receive your parking confirmation and receipt), then hit “Checkout”

Parking for Orientation

Orientation Parking Permits

Families must register their vehicle for parking passes ahead of time: once for your advising appointment and once for your orientation session. Follow the instructions below to complete your registration.

Registration instructions (click to expand)

  1. Follow this link and choose “Purchase Event Permit” (don’t worry, you won’t be charged for parking; you’ll use a voucher code in a later step)
  2. In the pop-up, select “I agree with the terms of service”
  3. Under Event Type, select “1 Day Event/Conference”, then find and select “August 14, 2023”
  4. Input the voucher code AUG14ORIEN then hit “Apply Voucher”
  5. Under “Permit Type”, select “EVENT UNIVERSITY AVE 1 DAY NO COST”
  6. Select “Add Vehicle” and enter the following info:
    • License plate number
    • State
    • Vehicle make
  7. Mark the checkbox agreeing to the terms of service, then hit “Continue”. On the checkout page, enter your email address (to receive your parking confirmation and receipt), then hit “Checkout”
Parking details

Allow a few extra minutes in your schedule to arrive, park, and walk to check-in. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather. The day includes lots of walking, which will help you get familiar with campus!

  • Parking location: University Avenue Parking Structure
  • Address: 1101 University Ave, Columbia, MO 65201
  • If you’re staying overnight, leave your overnight bag in your car (more below).
  • After parking, you’ll walk about three blocks to the check-in location.

Orientation Check-In

Walk to the MU Student Center by heading south on Hitt Street. Follow the signs to find the Check-In Desk.

At check-in you and your guests will each get a full schedule for the day that includes times and locations of all sessions. You can grab a quick breakfast and start meeting your fellow tigers and their families.

Preview the schedule here.

Campus Maps & Accessibility

Mizzou is a pretty big campus. We recommend downloading the free GoMizzou app for iPhone and Android to easily access maps and other campus info from your mobile device. You can also view a desktop version of our interactive campus map here. Find more helpful apps and tools in our IT Quick Guide.

For our guests who require mobility assistance, the campus accessibility map provides specific accessibility information for each building and area on campus. And please visit our accessibility page for other ways we can make your orientation experience comfortable and accessible.

Overnight Housing

If you signed up to stay on campus, don’t bring your overnight bag with you when you check-in at the Student Center. You’ll move into your residence hall in the afternoon.

If you arrive the night before your session AND you are staying on campus in the residence hall, please check-in between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. at the Hatch and Schurz Residence Hall complex.

For family members staying in on-campus residence halls, couples are paired together in suite-style housing with a bathroom shared by up to four guests. Single guests will be paired in a room with single guests of the same sex.