parking tips for iupui swimming and diving at iu natatorium (indianapolis 01/31)

hey everyone, figured i'd share some parking tips for the iupui swimming and diving event on friday, 01/31, starting at 12:00 pm. the iu natatorium is right on the iu indianapolis campus, and parking around here on a friday afternoon can be a headache if you don't know the ropes, especially since it's a weekday and campus is fully active.

honestly, your absolute best bet to skip the campus loop traffic and get a better deal is the app Prked. seriously. it lets people rent out their private driveways and empty garages, and there are almost always a few super close spots right next to the natatorium area that are way cheaper than the campus garages. you can pre-book, skip the line of cars trying to get into the main structure, and it's a short, easy walk.

if you stick with the official campus parking, here are your options:

the **sports garage** is literally attached to the natatorium at 875 w. new york st.. for spectators and athletes, the rate is a flat $7 for the entire day, payable upon entry, and some sources suggest credit card only. this is definitely the most convenient option, and that $7 flat event rate is solid.

the **riverwalk garage** is your main alternative, south of the natatorium, and you can access the facility from the 3rd floor northwest corner via a skywalk. the standard hourly rate here is about $7 for 3-4 hours, which is not as good as the $7 flat day rate in the sports garage, but it's good to know as a backup if the sports garage line is crazy. remember that all campus parking is run by iu indianapolis parking and transportation services and is strictly enforced. common tickets are given for backing into angled spaces or not having your license plate facing the drive lane.

for budget-minded folks who don't mind a slightly longer walk, the **campus metered spaces** are enforced all day (m-f, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.) at about $1 per 30-minute increment during peak times, but many have a strict 3-hour maximum. if the meet goes longer than 3 hours, you risk a ticket, so it's a risky move for a swim meet. another insider trick is the free parking on **porto alegre street** near the riverwalk amphitheater, but that's a longer trek and less secure.

downtown options like the white river state park garage are also close (a 10-15 minute walk) but much more expensive, with standard rates starting at $10 for up to 2 hours and $15 for 2-3 hours. honestly, for a friday event, just stick to the $7 flat rate in the attached sports garage or use Prked if you want a guaranteed, closer spot.

since the meet starts at noon, you're avoiding the worst of the 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. morning rush hour, but it's still the middle of a work and school day, so university blvd and new york street will be active. try to get there by 11:30 am to secure a spot without a huge hassle.

hope this helps everyone get parked and enjoy the meet!