About this Location

Facility Overview

Lot 39 - Merrill Engineering is a premier open-air surface parking facility situated on the upper campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Located directly along South Central Campus Drive adjacent to the Merrill Engineering Building (MEB) and the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering complex, this lot provides critical parking infrastructure for students, faculty, researchers, and campus visitors. Because it is a ground-level, open-air tarmac lot without overhead canopies or multi-story garage decks, Lot 39 offers virtually unlimited vertical clearance. This makes it an ideal parking solution not only for compact cars, mid-size sedans, and luxury crossovers, but also for full-size pickup trucks, commercial service vehicles, SUVs with rooftop utility carriers, and accessible mobility vans.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Nestled in the vibrant academic and STEM research quadrant of the University of Utah, Lot 39 places drivers within immediate walking distance of major institutional landmarks and community destinations:

Merrill Engineering Building (MEB) & Warnock Engineering Building (WEB): Less than a 1-minute walk (adjacent), serving as the primary academic hub for computer science, robotics, mechanical, and electrical engineering.
Crocker Science Center & Historic Presidents Circle: A brief 5- to 7-minute walk westward, offering historic collegiate architecture, lecture halls, and sprawling green quads.
Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA): Roughly an 8-minute walk to the south, showcasing world-class art collections, rotating exhibits, and educational programs.
J. Willard Marriott Library & A. Ray Olpin University Union: Approximately an 8- to 10-minute walk, providing comprehensive dining, student services, meeting spaces, and bookstore facilities.
Rice-Eccles Stadium: Located roughly 1 mile to the southwest (accessible via a quick campus shuttle or light rail ride), hosting Utah Utes Pac-12/Big 12 football, major international concerts, and monster truck events.
Red Butte Garden & Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU): Just a 5-minute drive or scenic uphill campus shuttle connection directly to the foothills.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Lot 39 features intuitive vehicular ingress and egress directly from South Central Campus Drive, which connects effortlessly to Hempstead Road, Mario Capecchi Drive, and Foothill Drive (US-186). This orientation offers smooth connections to Interstate 80 and Interstate 15, allowing commuters from downtown Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake International Airport, and suburban Salt Lake Valley to bypass neighborhood congestion. Public transit integration is outstanding: the University of Utah Campus Shuttle system runs regular services along Central Campus Drive, connecting to the nearby UTA TRAX Red Line light rail stations (Fort Douglas Station and University South Campus Station). UTA regional buses also stop along adjacent corridors, providing seamless multi-modal commuting options.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Generous surface bays with wide driving lanes, providing easy maneuvering and no height restrictions.
Pay-by-Phone Integration: Fully integrated with digital campus payment solutions such as ParkMobile and University of Utah visitor kiosks for contactless hourly and daily payments.
ADA Accessible Stalls: Clearly designated, ADA-compliant parking spaces located immediately adjacent to paved ramps leading to building entrances.
Safety & Illumination: High-mast campus lighting illuminates the parking surface throughout the evening, supported by University of Utah Police patrols and strategically placed blue-light emergency phones.
Campus Shuttle Connectivity: Dedicated campus shuttle stops situated just footsteps away provide free transit throughout the sprawling university grounds.

Ideal For

University Visitors & Guest Lecturers: Convenient access for attendees visiting the College of Engineering, science departments, or nearby campus administrative buildings.
Engineering Students & Faculty: Unbeatable proximity to labs, lecture halls, computer clusters, and collaborative engineering design spaces.
Arts & Cultural Visitors: A practical overflow parking option for daytime visits to Presidents Circle, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, or Kingsbury Hall events.
High-Profile Vehicles & Work Trucks: Drivers navigating full-size dual-cab trucks, high-roof delivery vans, or vehicles carrying oversized ski/bike racks who cannot fit into standard campus parking garages.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Campus parking regulations are strictly enforced by University of Utah Commuter Services from Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM. Always check stall signage carefully upon parking, as sections of Lot 39 may alternate between University permit holders (\'A\' or \'U\' permits) and metered visitor stalls. Download the ParkMobile mobile app in advance to streamline paying by the hour and to extend your session remotely if meetings run long. During major university event days, athletic clashes at Rice-Eccles Stadium, or graduation ceremonies, expect heavier campus traffic and potential special-event rates or permit restrictions.