Maps/Directions/Parking
- Walking Directions - Central Campus
- Walking Directions - Medical Campus
- Driving Directions - North
- Driving Directions - South
- Driving Directions - East from M-14
- Driving Directions - East from I-94
- Driving Directions - West from I-94
- Visitor Parking
- Faculty/Staff/Permit Parking Palmer Drive Structure
View Palmer Commons in a larger map
WALKING DIRECTIONS TO PALMER COMMONS
From Central Campus:
- Access walkway on Geddes between School of Dentistry and the Exhibit Museum of Natural History.
- Proceed east, past North Hall and the Life Sciences Institute.
- Continue east on plaza walkway to main entrance of Palmer Commons at the beginning of the Washtenaw pedestrian bridge to Medical Campus.
- Enter main level lobby, proceed to Information Desk.
From Medical Campus:
- Exiting Mott Children's Hospital, proceed until you reach E. Medical Center Drive.
- Follow E. Medical Center Drive east until it intersects with Observatory.
- Make a right onto Observatory and follow it until it intersects with Zina Pitcher
- Make a left onto Zina Pitcher and follow it until you see a sloped ramp which turns into a bridge of Washtenaw Ave.
- Take the ramp, enter the third floor of Palmer Commons through the first set of doors and proceed to the information desk.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO PALMER COMMONS
Directions from the North:
- U.S. 23 South to Exit 45, M-14 West
- Exit 3, 'Ann Arbor' (you will now be on Main Street)
- Main Street to Huron Street
- Turn left (East) onto Huron Street
- Proceed East on Huron Street. Huron street becomes Washtenaw Avenue
- Turn right onto Palmer Drive (100 yards past Huron/Washtenaw curve)
- Parking structure has 2 entrances on left side of Palmer Drive: First is for UM faculty and staff, second is for visitors, UM faculty and staff (100 yards further on Palmer Drive)
Ground Level Entrance:
- Palmer Commons ground level entrance is on right (North) side of Palmer Drive. Cross street at Washtenaw Ave. crosswalk.
Accessible Entrance:
- Upon exiting your vehicle, look for large metal Maize and Blue signs that read "East Elevators."
- Proceed towards the East Elevators and follow the signs that list Palmer Commons (there are 3 sets of elevators in the structure, east, north and south).
- In the elevator, push the PL Level (Plaza Level) and exit onto the outdoor plaza near the Life Science Institute entrance. Continue across the outdoor plaza to Palmer Commons; Glass House Cafe sign is visible in the vestibule window.
Directions from the South:
- U.S. 23 North to Exit 37B, Washtenaw Avenue West
- Washtenaw Avenue West to Palmer Drive
- Turn left onto Palmer Drive
- Parking structure has 2 entrances on left side of Palmer Drive: First is for UM faculty and staff, second is for visitors, UM faculty and staff (100 yards further on Palmer Drive)
Ground Level Entrance:
- Palmer Commons ground level entrance is on right (North) side of Palmer Drive. Cross street at Washtenaw Ave. crosswalk.
Accessible Entrance:
- Upon exiting your vehicle, look for large metal Maize and Blue signs that read "East Elevators."
- Proceed towards the East Elevators and follow the signs that list Palmer Commons (there are 3 sets of elevators in the structure, east, north and south).
- In the elevator, push the PL Level (Plaza Level) and exit onto the outdoor plaza near the Life Science Institute entrance. Continue across the outdoor plaza to Palmer Commons; Glass House Cafe sign is visible in the vestibule window.
Directions from the East from M-14:
- M-14 West to Exit 8, U.S. 23 South
- U.S. 23 South to Exit 37B, Washtenaw Avenue West
- Washtenaw Avenue West to Palmer Drive
- Turn left onto Palmer Drive
- Parking structure has 2 entrances on left side of Palmer Drive: First is for UM faculty and staff, second is for Visitors, UM faculty and staff (100 yards further on Palmer Drive)
Ground Level Entrance:
- Palmer Commons ground level entrance is on right (North) side of Palmer Drive. Cross street at Washtenaw Ave. crosswalk.
Accessible Entrance:
- Upon exiting your vehicle, look for large metal Maize and Blue signs that read "East Elevators."
- Proceed towards the East Elevators and follow the signs that list Palmer Commons (there are 3 sets of elevators in the structure, east, north and south).
- In the elevator, push the PL Level (Plaza Level) and exit onto the outdoor plaza near the Life Science Institute entrance. Continue across the outdoor plaza to Palmer Commons; Glass House Cafe sign is visible in the vestibule window.
Directions from the East from I-94:
- I-94 West to Exit 180-B, U.S. 23 North
- U.S. 23 North to Exit 37B, Washtenaw Avenue West
- Washtenaw Avenue West to Palmer Drive
- Turn left onto Palmer Drive
- Parking structure has 2 entrances on left side of Palmer Drive: First is for UM faculty and staff, second is for visitors, UM faculty and staff (100 yards further on Palmer Drive)
Ground Level Entrance:
- Palmer Commons ground level entrance is on right (North) side of Palmer Drive. Cross street at Washtenaw Ave. crosswalk.
Accessible Entrance:
- Upon exiting your vehicle, look for large metal Maize and Blue signs that read "East Elevators."
- Proceed towards the East Elevators and follow the signs that list Palmer Commons (there are 3 sets of elevators in the structure, east, north and south).
- In the elevator, push the PL Level (Plaza Level) and exit onto the outdoor plaza near the Life Science Institute entrance. Continue across the outdoor plaza to Palmer Commons; Glass House Cafe sign is visible in the vestibule window.
Directions from the West from I-94:
- I-94 East to Exit 180-B, U.S. 23 North
- U.S. 23 North to Exit 37B, Washtenaw Avenue West
- Washtenaw Avenue West to Palmer Drive
- Turn left onto Palmer Drive
- Parking structure has 2 entrances on left side of Palmer Drive: First is for UM faculty and staff, second is for visitors, UM faculty and staff (100 yards further on Palmer Drive)
Ground Level Entrance:
- Palmer Commons ground level entrance is on right (North) side of Palmer Drive. Cross street at Washtenaw Ave. crosswalk.
Accessible Entrance:
- Upon exiting your vehicle, look for large metal Maize and Blue signs that read "East Elevators."
- Proceed towards the East Elevators and follow the signs that list Palmer Commons (there are 3 sets of elevators in the structure, east, north and south).
- In the elevator, push the PL Level (Plaza Level) and exit onto the outdoor plaza near the Life Science Institute entrance. Continue across the outdoor plaza to Palmer Commons; Glass House Cafe sign is visible in the vestibule window.
PARKING

The Palmer Drive Parking Structure is a U-M faculty-staff parking facility with 180 visitor parking spaces. It is adjacent to Palmer Commons at the intersection of Washtenaw Avenue and Palmer Drive. The Palmer Structure is managed by the U-M Parking and Transportation Services.
All questions regarding this structure and any other structures can be addressed by visiting the Parking and Transportation Services Website or contacting them by phone at 734.764.8291.
To request special event parking, please complete the Special Event Parking form and contact Parking Services.
Visitor Parking Palmer Drive Structure
From Washtenaw Avenue, turn on Palmer Drive, proceed approximately 100 yards to the 2nd parking entrance on your left that is marked "Visitor Parking".
- Pull a ticket, (which is .55 per half-hour) and park on levels LL (lower level) and P1 (level 1).
- Upon exiting your vehicle, look for large metal Maize and Blue signs that read "East Elevators."
- Proceed towards the East Elevators (there are 3 sets of elevators in the structure: East, North and South) and follow the signs that list Palmer Commons .
- In the elevator, push the PL Level (Plaza Level) and exit onto the outdoor plaza near the Life Science Institute entrance. Continue across the outdoor plaza to Palmer Commons; Glass House Cafe sign is visible in the vestibule window.
Faculty/Staff/Permit Parking Palmer Drive Structure
From Washtenaw Avenue, turn on Palmer Drive, use 1st parking structure entrance on your left.
- This entrance is designated for Blue/Gold/Permit Parking, primarily Faculty and Staff. It accommodates Blue, Gold and other permit parking pass holders. Access to this entrance is controlled by gates. An electronic AVI device or swipe card is required to use these areas.
- Upon exiting your vehicle, look for large metal Maize and Blue signs that read "East Elevators."
- Proceed towards the East Elevators (there are 3 sets of elevators in the structure: East, North and South) and follow the signs that list Palmer Commons .
- In the elevator, push the PL Level (Plaza Level) and exit onto the outdoor plaza near the Life Science Institute entrance. Continue across the outdoor plaza to Palmer Commons; Glass House Cafe sign is visible in the vestibule window.

