Facility Overview

Lot 4 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is an open-air surface parking facility centrally situated on the southern interior loop of the campus in Baltimore, MD (ZIP 21250). Positioned directly off Poplar Avenue and adjacent to the Public Policy Building and Patapsco Hall, the lot features an efficient paved layout designed for swift parking and pedestrian circulation. Because Lot 4 is an open-surface lot with no overhead barriers or parking deck ceilings, it provides unobstructed vertical clearance, making it fully suitable for standard passenger sedans, pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, delivery vans, and high-roof accessible vehicles.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Lot 4 provides direct, immediate walking access to essential academic, administrative, and residential hubs on the UMBC campus:

• Public Policy Building & Physics Building: Located immediately adjacent to the lot, reachable in under a 1- to 2-minute walk.
• The Commons & University Center: The vibrant focal point of campus dining, student life, and university events, located within a 3- to 4-minute walk (approx. 300 yards).
• Patapsco Hall & Susquehanna Hall: Neighboring residential halls situated within a 1- to 3-minute stroll.
• Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery: UMBC’s premier research library, art gallery, and study facility, located roughly 5 minutes away on foot.
• Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena & Retriever Soccer Park: Major campus venues for NCAA Division I sports, concerts, trade shows, and commencement ceremonies, located within an 8- to 10-minute walk or a quick ride across campus.
• bwtech@UMBC Research & Technology Park: The university’s premier business and incubator hub, accessible within a 3-minute drive or via UMBC Transit.
• Downtown Catonsville & Arbutus: Local retail, coffee houses, and dining hubs located just 1 to 2 miles outside the campus perimeter.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Lot 4 benefits from streamlined campus ingress and egress. Motorists enter UMBC via UMBC Boulevard or Poplar Avenue from the perimeter ring road, Hilltop Circle. From Hilltop Circle, follow signs toward Poplar Avenue to easily navigate into Lot 4. Exiting after daytime classes or evening events is straightforward, with prompt access back onto Hilltop Circle feeding directly into major regional arteries, including Interstate 95 (Exit 47B for Route 166/Catonsville), Interstate 695 (Baltimore Beltway), and Interstate 195 leading towards BWI Marshall Airport.

For public transit connections, the UMBC Transit shuttle stops nearby along Poplar Avenue and at the Technology Research Center (TRC), providing links across campus, satellite lots, and Arbutus. Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) bus lines (including CityLink Yellow and Route 77) serve the campus loop, while the Halethorpe MARC train station is just 1.5 miles away, offering regional rail service directly to downtown Baltimore Penn Station and Washington Union Station.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Open-Air Surface Parking: Generous headroom clearance with no height limitations, easily accommodating oversized vans and taller vehicles.
• Designated Permitted & Carpool Spaces: Serves UMBC campus community permit programs, including carpool permit-holding commuters and faculty/staff.
• Accessible ADA Parking: Clearly striped, compliant accessible spaces positioned near accessible walkways and ramps.
• Safety & Campus Security: Well-lit with high-intensity night lighting, in close proximity to campus emergency blue-light call boxes and routine patrols by the UMBC Police Department.
• Pedestrian Connectivity: Paved, ADA-accessible sidewalks connect directly into the campus core, residential complexes, and main academic halls.

Ideal For

• UMBC Commuters & Carpoolers: Students, faculty, and administrative staff enrolled in UMBC carpool and campus parking permit programs.
• Academic Visitors & Guest Lecturers: Attendees visiting the Public Policy Building, Physics Building, or neighboring departments during authorized university hours.
• Campus Event & Game Attendees: Drivers seeking convenient surface parking for evening lectures, student symposiums, athletic competitions, or performances across the central campus.

Visitor & Driver Tips

• Permit Regulations & Enforcement: Parking rules and permit classifications are enforced by UMBC Parking Services Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Always confirm your permit validity or designated visitor space allocations before parking during business hours.
• Evening & Weekend Parking: Campus parking regulations in select surface lots relax after 4:00 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends, making it ideal for evening forums, recitals, and weekend athletic fixtures.
• GPS Assistance: Set your navigation system to Poplar Avenue at UMBC (1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250) to arrive at the correct parking approach without navigating pedestrian paths.
• Alternative Visitor Parking: If Lot 4 is reserved for permit holders or carpool vehicles during business hours, metered visitor parking is readily available nearby at the Commons Drive Garage, Administration Drive Garage, and Walker Avenue Garage.