About this Location

Facility Overview

Tresidder Parking Lot (designated by Stanford Transportation as Lot L-39) is a central open-air surface parking facility situated at 436 Mayfield Avenue in the heart of the Stanford University campus. Positioned directly adjacent to the Tresidder Memorial Union, this expansive surface lot serves as one of the primary entry hubs for university visitors, faculty, staff, and students. Because it is an open-air surface lot with no vertical overhead barriers or low garage ceilings, it offers unrestricted vertical clearance, making it fully accommodating for high-roof passenger vans, full-size SUVs, lifted pickup trucks, and accessible mobility vans alongside standard sedans and compact cars. The layout features wide drive aisles, clearly marked asphalt stalls, and dedicated pedestrian pathways linking directly to campus concourses.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Located in the core South Campus district, the Tresidder Parking Lot offers unbeatable proximity to some of Stanford’s most vital landmarks, student life hubs, and performance venues:

Tresidder Memorial Union: Located mere steps away (1-minute walk), providing immediate access to the Stanford Bookstore, campus dining options (The CoHo / Coffee House, Treehouse, Panda Express), package pickup, banking, and conference facilities.
Old Union & Main Quad: A picturesque 5 to 7-minute stroll north leads directly to Old Union, White Plaza, Stanford Memorial Church, and the historic sandstone arcades of the Main Quad.
Arts & Performance Venues: Dinkelspiel Auditorium and the Braun Music Center are situated practically next door (1 to 2 minutes on foot), while Bing Concert Hall and Frost Amphitheater are approximately a 12 to 15-minute walk or a brief campus shuttle ride away.
Stanford Athletics: Maples Pavilion, Cobb Track and Angell Field, and Stanford Stadium are all accessible within a 12 to 18-minute scenic walk across campus.
Hoover Tower: Approximately 7 minutes on foot, offering sweeping panoramic views of the Bay Area and campus grounds.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward via Mayfield Avenue, which connects directly to Campus Drive—the primary loop encircling Stanford’s interior core. Drivers arriving from regional routes can easily reach the facility via Interstate 280 (exiting at Alpine Road or Page Mill Road to Junipero Serra Boulevard) or Highway 82 (El Camino Real via Embarcadero Road or Palm Drive). For public transit riders, the lot is situated adjacent to major stops for the complimentary Stanford Marguerite Shuttle, which provides frequent, free transit loops connecting directly to the Palo Alto Caltrain Station, Stanford Medical Center, and the Stanford Shopping Center.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Generous headroom with zero height clearance limitations for oversized and taller consumer vehicles.
Digital Payment Convenience: Fully integrated with the ParkMobile app (Zone number clearly posted across on-site signage), allowing pay-by-phone convenience and remote session extensions.
Accessible Stalls: Multiple designated ADA-accessible parking spaces located immediately adjacent to paved curb ramps and flat paths of travel to Tresidder Union.
Campus Safety & Lighting: Equipped with nighttime pole illumination, emergency blue-light phone towers, and frequent routine patrols by the Stanford University Department of Public Safety (SUDPS).
Shared Micro-Mobility Hubs: Nearby racks and staging corrals for campus bicycles and shared electric scooters.

Ideal For

Campus Visitors & Prospective Students: Perfect base for official Stanford campus walking tours starting near Visitor Information and the Bookstore.
Dine & Meet Visitors: Convenient for alumni, business partners, and locals dining at The CoHo or attending meetings at the Stanford Faculty Club.
Arts & Lecture Attendees: The premier parking option for performances at Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Campbell Recital Hall, and student events in White Plaza.
Daily Academic Commuters: Essential parking hub for university permit holders (A and C permit spaces during enforcement windows).

Visitor & Driver Tips

Parking regulations on the Stanford campus are strictly enforced. Visitor pay-by-app parking is generally enforced Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM; parking is typically free on weekends and after 4:00 PM on weekdays, unless special event restrictions are posted. Spaces in Lot L-39 fill up rapidly on weekdays between 9:30 AM and 2:00 PM; arriving before 9:00 AM or planning for midday turnover will save time. Download and configure the ParkMobile app before arriving to facilitate quick payment upon parking. During major campus events such as Commencement, Family Weekend, or home athletic events, be alert for temporary event re-signage and potential lot closures.