Facility Overview
UCR / Lot 24 Station is an expansive, open-air surface parking facility strategically positioned on the eastern edge of the University of California, Riverside (UCR) campus along Canyon Crest Drive. Serving as both a primary university campus lot and an essential transit hub, this location is designed to accommodate heavy daily traffic from students, faculty, visiting scholars, athletics fans, and regional commuters. Because it is a spacious surface lot with no overhead structures, it offers unlimited vertical clearance, making it fully accessible for standard passenger sedans, full-size SUVs, lifted pickup trucks, cargo vans, and university fleet vehicles without height clearance concerns.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Situated in the heart of UCR\'s athletic and recreational corridor, Lot 24 provides unparalleled direct pedestrian access to several top collegiate destinations and community facilities:
- UCR Student Recreation Center (SRC): Located just across Canyon Crest Drive, within a convenient 3 to 5-minute walk.
- UCR Athletics Complex: Direct adjacent access to the UCR Track & Field Facility, Amy S. Harrison Softball Field, and the UCR Soccer Stadium.
- UCR Student Center & Highlander Union Building (HUB): Approximately an 8 to 10-minute walk through the campus core, providing dining, student services, and bookstore access.
- University Village Riverside: Located roughly 1 mile northwest, featuring dining, cinema, and retail options.
- UCR Botanic Gardens: Situated a short 5-minute drive south along Campus Drive, offering scenic trails and native flora.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Drivers can conveniently enter and exit Lot 24 via Canyon Crest Drive, with streamlined connections to Martin Luther King Boulevard, University Avenue, and Blaine Street. Its location offers rapid ingress and egress to California State Route 60 (Moreno Valley Freeway) and Interstate 215, minimizing delays during peak morning class periods or after evening athletic events. For multi-modal commuters, the lot doubles as the prominent UCR Lot 24 transit point, served by multiple Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) bus routes (including RapidLink Route 200 and local routes 1, 16, and 51), facilitating seamless transit across Riverside County and directly to the Riverside-Downtown Metrolink Station.
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Spacious, well-marked open-air surface parking bays.
- Designated Accessible/ADA parking spaces located near primary walkways and bus stop shelters.
- Digital payment integration via ParkMobile app and on-site automated multi-space pay stations.
- High-mast lighting across all rows for enhanced visibility and nighttime pedestrian safety.
- Integrated RTA transit shelters with route schedules and bench seating.
- Monitored periodically by UC Riverside Police Department (UCPD) patrols and campus security escorts.
Ideal For
- UCR students, faculty, and university staff parking during peak academic hours.
- Spectators attending Highlanders NCAA Division I soccer, track, and softball events.
- Community members and fitness enthusiasts utilizing the UCR Student Recreation Center.
- Park-and-ride commuters connecting to RTA regional bus networks.
- Conference attendees and campus guests visiting academic buildings across East Campus.
Visitor & Driver Tips
Permit enforcement is active across UCR parking facilities; visitors should immediately purchase parking via the ParkMobile app (Zone number clearly posted on signage) or at the automated kiosks upon arrival. During high-profile Highlanders sports matchups or commencement ceremonies, the lot fills up quickly, so arriving 20 to 30 minutes ahead of scheduled start times is strongly advised. Commuters planning to use the RTA bus connection should note departure schedules via transit apps to coordinate seamless transfers.
