Facility Overview
Marshall University Stadium Permit Parking, situated at 436 20th St in Huntington, West Virginia, serves as one of the primary and most expansive parking facilities on the eastern edge of the Marshall University campus. Configured as a sprawling, open-air surface parking lot bordering the western perimeter of Joan C. Edwards Stadium, this facility offers an open, ground-level layout with generously wide travel lanes and delineated stall markings. Because it is completely open-air without height overhead barriers, parking decks, or low garage ceilings, the lot provides unlimited vertical clearance. This makes it exceptionally suited for standard passenger cars, large pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, passenger vans, and high-roof conversion vehicles. On designated campus event or gameday operations, oversized vehicle parking—such as team equipment trailers, broadcast trucks, and chartered buses—can also be accommodated through university parking management.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Strategically positioned between 3rd Avenue and 5th Avenue along 20th Street, this parking lot is the epicenter for athletics, campus fitness, and university student life in Huntington:
- Joan C. Edwards Stadium: Located directly adjacent to the lot, placing Herd football fans, tailgaters, and stadium concertgoers mere steps from the west entrance gates.
- Marshall University Campus Recreation Center: Situated directly across 20th Street, offering an effortless 1-minute walk for gym members, intramural athletes, and fitness visitors.
- Chris Cline Athletic Complex & Dot Hicks Field: Located just south and east within a 3-minute stroll, hosting indoor track training, football practices, and softball games.
- Cam Henderson Center: Home to Thundering Herd basketball and volleyball, located approximately a 5-minute walk (0.3 miles) west along 3rd or 4th Avenue.
- Main Academic Campus: Key university landmarks including the Memorial Student Center, Drinko Library, Corbly Hall, and Old Main are reachable via a pleasant 6- to 10-minute walk through campus walkways.
- Local Dining & Social Hotspots: Local fan favorites like Fat Patty's, Tudor's Biscuit World, and campus eateries along 3rd Avenue are located just across the street or around the block.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Vehicular access to the facility is straightforward, with curb cuts positioned along 20th Street and feeder access from both 3rd Avenue and 5th Avenue (US Route 60). Drivers arriving via Interstate 64 can take Exit 11 (Hal Greer Boulevard / 16th Street) or Exit 15 (29th Street) and follow Route 60 directly toward 20th Street. Broad perimeter aprons enable smooth two-way circulation throughout the lot during standard weekday hours.
For public transit connections, the Tri-State Transit Authority (TSTA) maintains regular bus routes along 3rd and 5th Avenues, providing affordable direct links between campus, downtown Huntington, and surrounding Cabell County neighborhoods. Additionally, Marshall University's campus shuttles circulate nearby during the academic year, and the Huntington Amtrak station is located roughly 1.5 miles west in downtown Huntington.
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Expansive Surface Capacity: Open-air, ground-level layout designed to handle heavy daily academic traffic as well as high-volume gameday crowds.
- Zero Height Restrictions: Completely open footprint that comfortably accommodates lifted trucks, roof-racked SUVs, utility vans, and oversized tailgate vehicles.
- Dedicated Accessible Spaces: Clearly marked ADA parking stalls positioned along accessible pathways to crosswalks and stadium entrances.
- Safety & Campus Lighting: High-mast overhead floodlights illuminate the entire asphalt lot during evening and nighttime hours.
- Active University Patrols: Monitored and patrolled around the clock by the Marshall University Police Department (MUPD).
- Clear Crosswalk Access: Signalized and high-visibility pedestrian walkways connect directly across 20th Street to the Rec Center and campus sidewalks.
Ideal For
- Thundering Herd Football Fans: The ultimate tailgating and permit-parking hub directly beside Joan C. Edwards Stadium on gamedays.
- Marshall University Permit Holders: Convenient daily academic parking for university commuter students, faculty, and staff holding valid university permits.
- Campus Recreation Members: Safe, immediate parking right across the street from the Marshall Recreation Center.
- Stadium Event & Concert Attendees: Premium walking access for major music tours, commencement ceremonies, and regional athletic events held inside the stadium.
- Visitors with Daily Passes: Convenient parking for prospective students, guest lecturers, and visiting families after securing a visitor day permit from campus safety.
Visitor & Driver Tips
Standard enforcement hours for Marshall University permit lots operate Monday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Visitors without an annual campus permit must purchase a daily parking permit through the Marshall University Parking Enforcement Office (located in the Bliss Charles Public Safety Building at 1801 5th Avenue) or utilize designated metered and park-and-pay spaces nearby.
Important Gameday Advisory: On home football game days, standard university permits are not honored in this lot. The stadium lot converts strictly into reserved athletic donor/tailgating parking, and permit holders must remove their vehicles by 7:00 AM on game mornings to prevent ticketing and towing. Post-game exit traffic can be heavy on 20th Street; turning toward 3rd Avenue or 5th Avenue toward Hal Greer Boulevard offers the smoothest path back to Interstate 64.