Facility Overview

Bison Lot 28 is an official university surface parking facility situated on the northwest quadrant of the Montana State University (MSU) campus in Bozeman, Montana. Positioned directly at the intersection of West College Street and South 13th Avenue, this paved, open-air lot directly serves Hyalite Hall—one of MSU's flagship modern residence halls—as well as the nearby student living communities. Designed with a clear, drive-through circulation layout and clearly striped stalls, Bison Lot 28 provides seamless daily parking for university residents and authorized campus visitors.

Because it is an open-air surface lot without overhead barriers, Bison Lot 28 offers unrestricted vertical clearance. This makes it exceptionally suited for standard sedans, compact cars, full-size pickup trucks, larger SUVs equipped with rooftop ski/bike racks, and high-roof utility or moving vans that cannot navigate covered parking structures. Wide maneuvering aisles ensure stress-free ingress, stall entry, and departure even during snowy Montana winter conditions when lane widths can narrow.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Bison Lot 28 enjoys an unbeatable position on the perimeter of MSU’s main campus, providing quick walking access to key academic, residential, dining, and recreational hubs:

• Hyalite Hall & Residential Complex: Located steps away (less than a 1-minute walk), providing immediate front-door parking for residential students and visitors.
• Rendezvous Dining Pavilion: Approximately a 3- to 4-minute walk across South 11th Avenue, offering campus dining options and coffee.
• Yellowstone Hall & Wally Byam Park: Directly adjacent (1 to 2 minutes walking distance), offering open green spaces and modern student housing.
• Strand Union Building (SUB) & Campus Core: A convenient 7- to 10-minute walk southeast through the campus pedestrian mall, accessing student services, bookstores, and lecture halls.
• Brick Breeden Fieldhouse & Bobcat Stadium: Situated roughly a 12- to 15-minute walk south or a short hop via campus transit for Bobcat football games, college basketball, rodeo competitions, and major concerts.
• Downtown Bozeman & West Main Street: Located only 1.2 miles north (a 4-minute drive or short bike ride), connecting visitors to historic Main Street shopping, local breweries, and vibrant dining spots.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress to Bison Lot 28 are exceptionally straightforward. Drivers can access the lot directly from West College Street near South 13th Avenue or via the traffic circle connecting South 11th Avenue and College Street. Arterial routes such as West Main Street (US-191 / US-89) and South 19th Avenue provide direct connections to Interstate 90 to the north, facilitating smooth travel to and from the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN).

Public transit connectivity is readily accessible. Bozeman’s zero-fare Streamline Bus network operates several primary routes immediately adjacent to the lot, including the Goldline and Purpleline stops at College & 13th (Hyalite Hall) and the MSU SUB Transit Hub. These lines offer free, frequent connections throughout Bozeman, downtown, shopping corridors along North 19th, and community trailheads.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Open-Air Headroom: Fully uncovered surface parking with no height restrictions, ideal for vehicles with cargo boxes, ladder racks, or ski mounts.
• License Plate Recognition (LPR): MSU Parking Services uses automated LPR vehicle scanning, eliminating the need for physical display hangtags or dash stickers.
• ADA Accessible Parking: Clearly marked ADA parking stalls located closest to Hyalite Hall entry points and accessible curb-cut sidewalks.
• Bright Lighting & Campus Security: Well-lit lot perimeter backed by 24/7 security patrols from the Montana State University Police Department and nearby campus emergency call towers.
• Digital Payment & Permit Options: Compatible with official MSU parking permits (Bison designation) and mobile app payment options (such as Passport Parking) where hourly/visitor stalls apply.
• Winter Maintenance: Routine university snowplowing and de-icing operations to keep lanes and parking spaces accessible during winter months.

Ideal For

• Hyalite Hall & MSU Dorm Residents: On-campus students holding valid MSU Bison residential parking permits requiring long-term or overnight vehicle storage next to their rooms.
• Visiting Families & Guests: Parents, friends, and prospective students visiting on-campus residents or taking university admissions tours.
• Campus Event Attendees: Visitors attending campus conferences, lectures, or workshops held in nearby academic halls and student pavilions.
• Outdoor Enthusiasts & Commuters: Drivers utilizing the adjacent Streamline bus connection or carpooling to Hyalite Canyon recreation areas.

Visitor & Driver Tips

• Permit Regulations: Parking enforcement is strictly maintained by MSU Parking Services Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Always confirm that your vehicle's license plate is accurately registered to an active Bison permit or paid visitor session before leaving your car.
• Game-Day & Special Event Restrictions: During Bobcat home football games or major arena events, certain campus lots are subject to special event restrictions and donor reservations. Review athletic parking advisories to verify match-day access rules.
• Winter Preparedness: Bozeman experiences heavy snowfalls; park between the painted stall markers even in packed snow, and be prepared to move your vehicle if temporary campus snow-clearing notices are posted.
• GPS Directions: For exact turn-by-turn navigation, set your GPS map destination to "Hyalite Hall, Bozeman" or the intersection of "W College St & S 13th Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715."