About this Location

Facility Overview

Lot 70 is a spacious, open-air surface parking facility situated on West Campus Drive on the vibrant Central Michigan University (CMU) campus in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Offering approximately 288 standard vehicle stalls, the lot is designed with wide drive aisles and clearly marked perimeter bays that facilitate easy vehicle maneuvering and efficient turnarounds. Because Lot 70 is an open-air surface parking lot without overhead barriers, structures, or parking decks, it provides unlimited vertical clearance. This makes it an accommodating choice for a wide variety of vehicles, ranging from standard passenger sedans and compact cars to full-sized pickup trucks, large SUVs, and high-roof conversion vans.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Strategically situated along the western corridor of CMU’s campus, Lot 70 provides immediate and convenient walking access to key collegiate, residential, and recreational facilities:

Central Michigan University Residential Communities: Located steps from campus living complexes such as the Towers community (Carey, Cobb, Troutman, and Wheeler Halls) and South Campus residence halls.
Student Activity Center (SAC) & Rose Center: Approximately a 5 to 8-minute walk to fitness facilities, intramural courts, and recreation hubs.
Kelly/Shorts Stadium & McGuirk Arena: Within a 10 to 12-minute walk or brief shuttle ride, making it an excellent parking spot for Chippewas NCAA football games, basketball matchups, wrestling meets, and commencement ceremonies.
CMU Academic Core & Charles V. Park Library: Accessible via a direct 10 to 15-minute pedestrian stroll through landscaped campus pathways.
Downtown Mount Pleasant: Located just a 5-minute drive north, featuring local favorites like Mountain Town Station, Camille’s Prime, and Broadway Central shops.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress to Lot 70 are straightforward via West Campus Drive, which connects directly to major arterial campus roads including West Broomfield Street to the south and West Preston Street/South Mission Street corridors to the east. Traffic flows smoothly under routine daily campus conditions, with well-engineered turn lanes designed to manage morning class influxes and evening departures. Public transit connectivity is seamless, with Isabella County Transportation Commission (I-Ride) campus shuttle stops operating along West Campus Drive, providing rapid transfers across the university grounds and into Mount Pleasant proper. Drivers arriving from regional routes can easily reach the lot via US-127 (exits onto M-20/Pickard Road or Bluegrass Road).

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Generous Open-Air Layout: Accommodates 288 paved vehicle stalls with unobstructed vertical clearance for taller vehicles.
Illuminated Campus Grounds: Equipped with overhead dusk-to-dawn lighting fixtures and nearby university emergency Blue Light phones for enhanced safety.
Designated Accessible Stalls: ADA-compliant parking spaces positioned near paved pedestrian walkways with curb-cut ramps.
Transit Integration: Immediate curbside proximity to CMU I-Ride shuttle loops.
Mobile & Permit Verification: Governed by CMU Parking Services, accepting university-registered permits and short-term visitor parking permits via official campus parking portals.

Ideal For

CMU Students & Campus Residents: Convenient everyday base for students living in adjacent residence halls or commuting to west-campus lectures.
Faculty & University Staff: Reliable weekday parking location with rapid pedestrian access to recreational and academic buildings.
Chippewas Athletics Fans: Practical game-day parking option for athletic events at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, McGuirk Arena, and surrounding sporting venues.
Campus Visitors & Guest Lecturers: Straightforward access point for family weekend events, campus tours, and university conferences.

Visitor & Driver Tips

CMU Parking Services actively enforces permit regulations across campus lots Monday through Friday between 2:00 AM and 5:00 PM throughout the academic year. Visitors should secure a valid day pass or temporary guest registration via the CMU Parking Services web portal prior to leaving their vehicle unattended. During major Chippewas home football games or campus-wide graduation ceremonies, nearby roads can experience heavy congestion; arriving 45 to 60 minutes early ensures an easy parking process. When navigating via GPS, enter \'Lot 70, W Campus Dr, Mount Pleasant, MI\' for direct routing to the main driveway entrance.