Mason Square

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Mason Square
Parking Services Office
Van Metre Hall, Room 219
3351 Fairfax Dr, MSN 2G3
(703) 993-8146
(703) 993-8007
arlpark@gmu.edu

Monday – Thursday
9:00 am -5:00 pm

Friday
9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Mason Square
Parking Services Office
Van Metre Hall, Room 219
3351 Fairfax Dr, MSN 2G3
(703) 993-8146
(703) 993-8007
arlpark@gmu.edu

Monday – Thursday
9:00 am -5:00 pm

Friday
9:00 am – 2:00 pm

When purchasing a permit online at My Parking Portal, payments can be made with Visa, Mastercard, or electronic check. A $50 administrative fee will be applied to accounts with insufficient funds or if the account number or routing number is entered incorrectly.

Parking at the Mason Square is restricted to those either working or attending class at the campus. Parking is very limited. Please use alternative transportation to get to campus including using Metro, walking, and bicycling. There is metered parking on surrounding streets; however, even on-street parking may be limited at times

Student Parking (Parking Map PDF)

Mason Square Student Supplement Parking Permits: Students with a valid Fairfax/SciTech General parking permit or higher (except West Campus and Lot M/P permits) may obtain a complimentary supplemental parking permit for the Vernon Smith garage at Mason Square. Proof of a valid Fairfax/SciTech permit and a class schedule is required to receive a supplemental permit. Visit Mason Square Parking Services Office in Van Metre Hall, Room 219, to receive a complimentary supplemental parking permit.

  • Students with anything less than a Fairfax/SciTech General permit may upgrade to the Vernon Smith garage or Van Metre Hall garage permit with an additional fee.
  • Garage Access: Please obtain a proximity card by visiting the Mason Square Parking Services Office in Van Metre Hall, Room 219.

Short-Term Parking: For more information on short-term and hourly parking rates, go to the Visitors and Event Parking Page.

SPRING STUDENT PERMIT RATES
Valid Until August 15, 2024

Parking
Location
Vernon Smith
General Permit
Van Metre
Reserved Permit
Van Metre
Reserved
Daytime Permit
Van Metre
Reserved
Evening Permit
Permit Rates
(As of March 4)
$165$240$180$180
Vernon Smith Garage Plaza Level, P1, B1, B2, B3
All Day

Level B4
Monday – Friday
6:00 pm – Midnight
Not ValidNot ValidNot Valid
Van Metre GarageNot ValidAll DayMonday – Friday
5:00 am – 6:00 pm

Saturday – Sunday
All Day
Monday – Friday
2:00 pm – 2:00 am

Saturday – Sunday
All Day
Fairfax Campus
Rappahannock Parking Deck (Except Visitor Section)
Levels 1 & 2
Monday – Friday
Except 2:00 am – 5:00 am

Saturday – Sunday
All Day
Levels 1 & 2
Monday – Friday
Except 2:00 am – 5:00 am

Saturday – Sunday
All Day
Levels 1 & 2
Monday – Friday
Except 2:00 am – 5:00 am

Saturday – Sunday
All Day
Levels 1 & 2
Monday – Friday
Except 2:00 am – 5:00 am

Saturday – Sunday
All Day
Fairfax Campus
West Campus Lot and General Lots A, C, K, L, M, O, P, and PV
All DayAll DayAll DayAll Day
SciTech Campus (Tower, Discovery, Occoquan, King, Hylton Lots)All DayAll DayAll DayAll Day

Note: Rates are subject to change.

Faculty/Staff Parking (Parking Map PDF)

Payroll Deduction Available: Faculty/Staff based at Mason Square that is eligible for payroll deduction can obtain a non-expiring Van Metre Hall Reserved or Vernon Smith General parking permit by completing the Faculty and Staff Parking Permit Payroll Deduction Form. Contact arlpark@gmu.edu to check for eligibility.

Short-Term Parking: For more information on short-term and hourly parking rates, go to the Visitors and Event Parking Page.

Garage Access

  • Van Metre Parking Garage: Faculty and staff who purchase a Van Metre reserved parking permit online will be provided with a unique QR access code during the purchase process which can be used at the parking gates. The QR code can be printed or used directly from mobile devices. To obtain a proximity card for access, visit Mason Square  Parking Services Office in Van Metre Hall, Room 219, to obtain the device.
  • Vernon Smith Parking Garage: A proximity card is required to access the Vernon Smith parking garage. Visit Mason Square Parking Services Office in Van Metre Hall, Room 219.

Fairfax/SciTech Faculty/Staff Supplement Parking Permits: Faculty and staff based at the Fairfax and SciTech campuses with Fairfax/SciTech General parking permit or higher (except West Campus and Lot M/P permits) may obtain a complimentary supplemental parking permit and access card for the Vernon Smith garage at Mason Square. Proof of a valid Fairfax/SciTech permit and teaching assignment is required to receive a supplemental permit. Visit Mason Square Parking Services Office in Van Metre Hall, Room 219, to receive a complimentary supplemental parking permit and access card. Departments may be issued Vernon Smith Garage access cards to share or occasional access.

  • Faculty and staff with anything less than a Fairfax/SciTech General permit may upgrade to the Vernon Smith garage or Van Metre Hall garage permit with an additional fee.

SPRING FACULTY/STAFF PERMIT RATES
Valid Until August 31, 2024

Parking
Location
Vernon Smith
General Permit
Van Metre
Reserved Permit
Van Metre
Reserved
Daytime Permit
Van Metre
Reserved
Evening Permit
Permit Rates
(As of March 4)
$165
($22.50/Pay Period)
$240
($32.92/Pay Period)
$180
($24.59/Pay Period)
$180
($24.59/Pay Period)
Vernon Smith Garage Plaza Level, P1, B1, B2, B3
All Day

Level B4
6:00 pm – Midnight
Not ValidNot ValidNot Valid
Van Metre GarageNot ValidAll DayMonday – Friday
5:00 am – 6:00 pm

Saturday – Sunday
All Day
Monday – Friday
2:00 pm – 2:00 am

Saturday – Sunday
All Day
Fairfax Campus
Rappahannock Parking Deck (Except: Visitor Section)
Levels 1 & 2
Monday – Friday
Except 2:00 am – 5:00 am

Saturday – Sunday
All Day
Levels 1 & 2
Monday – Friday
Except 2:00 am – 5:00 am

Saturday – Sunday
All Day
Levels 1 & 2
Monday – Friday
Except 2:00 am – 5:00 am

Saturday – Sunday
All Day
Levels 1 & 2
Monday – Friday
Except 2:00 am – 5:00 am

Saturday – Sunday
All Day
Fairfax Campus
West Campus Lot and General Lots A, C, K,
L, M, O, P, and PV
All DayAll DayAll DayAll Day
SciTech Campus (Tower, Discovery, Occoquan, King, Hylton Lots)All DayAll DayAll DayAll Day

Note: Rates are subject to change.

Parking
Location
Adjunct Faculty
Discounted Permit
Non-Student Wage Employee ONLY
Discounted Permits
Fall Permit Rates$60$60
Vernon Smith GarageB3 Level Only
All Day
B3 Level Only
All Day
Van Metre GarageNot ValidNot Valid
Fairfax Campus
Rappahannock Parking Deck (Except: Visitor Section)
Not ValidNot Valid
Fairfax Campus
West Campus Lot and General Lots A, C, K,
L, M, O, P, and PV
Not ValidNot Valid
SciTech Campus (Tower, Discovery, Occoquan, King, Hylton Lots)Not ValidNot Valid

Note: Rates are subject to change.

Additional Information

Departments from the Fairfax and SciTech campuses can request a Van Metre Garage access device that will allow them to park in the Van Metre Garage while conducting business at Mason Square. The access devices are intended to be shared amongst all members of the department and are not for the sole use of one individual.

The Van Metre Garage access device does not allow parking in the Vernon Smith Garage. To request a Van Metre Garage access device for your department, please send your request to Ann Moran at amoran1@gmu.edu.

Carpool spaces are available for Faculty/Staff Carpool Preferred Program, Premium Program, and Student Carpool Formal Program permit holders.

  • Van Metre Hall Garage: 17 spaces
  • Smith Building Garage (P1 level next to Van Metre Hall bridge): 2 spaces

The Van Metre Garage, located at 3351 Fairfax Drive, is a reserved parking garage that guarantees all Van Metre Garage permit holders a parking space.

A Mason Square Van Metre Reserved Permit and unique electronic access device are required to park in the Van Metre Parking Garage. Visit Mason Square Parking Services Office in Van Metre Hall, Room 219, to obtain the device.

Directions
The entrance is located on Founders Way North, located behind Van Metre Hall off Kirkwood Road. To access the Van Metre Hall garage, use the alley behind Van Metre Hall, turning off either Kirkwood Drive (behind Hazel Hall) or on Washington Boulevard at the traffic signal between Giant and the Vernon Smith Building.

The Vernon Smith Garage, located at 3434 Washington Boulevard, is a first-come, first-served parking garage. There is no overnight parking allowed in Vernon Smith Garage without permission from Parking Services and arrangements must be made in advance. Directions: Approach the garage from Washington Boulevard only.

A Mason Square Vernon Smith General permit and unique electronic access device are required to park in Vernon Smith Parking Garage. Visit Mason Square Parking Services Office in Van Metre Hall, Room 219 to obtain the device.

Overnight Parking
Parking Services must be notified each time overnight parking occurs.

  • Please provide vehicle make, model, color, and tag number information to the parking staff and notify the garage level where the car is located.
  • Staff must have a note on the dash of their car before they leave.

Limited monthly parking available for non-Mason community in Van Metre Garage; please email arlpark@gmu.edu for information.

Visitor Parking

Visitor parking is available in the Van Metre Garage. The rates are set at the prevailing rates for all University visitor garages.

  • The first 30 minutes are complimentary. Parking beyond 30 minutes automatically incurs a charge.
  • Payment methods accepted: Visa, MasterCard, and Van Metre Garage validations. To request validations, please complete the Mason Square Validation Form.
  • There is no visitor parking allowed in Vernon Smith Garage without prior authorization from Parking Services.

Short-Term Parking Rates

HoursFall Rates

Weekday Rates

1 Hour$5.00
2 Hours$9.00
3 Hours$12.00
4 Hours$16.00
5 Hours$17.00
All Day$19.00

Weekend Rates

1 Hour$5.00
2 Hours$9.00
All Day$10.00

Please Note: Visitor validations for Van Metre Garage will need to be exchanged for new ones that utilize QR codes. New visitor rates for all garages took effect on August 8. There is no extra cost for replacing your current validations with the new QR code. Please email parking@gmu.edu and let us know how many validations you have and for which deck, and we’ll work with you to have them replaced.

Event Parking

Permit TypeRate
Parking Garage Validations
Reserve specific spaces in a particular parking area
1 Hour$5.00
2 Hours$9.00
3 Hours$12.00
4 Hours$16.00
5 Hours$17.00
Weekday Daily$19.00
Weekend Daily$10.00
Reserved Parking SpaceDaily$35 / Space

Event coordinators may purchase validations or reserve parking spaces for Van Metre Parking Garage by completing the Mason Square Validation Form. Event parking is arranged with the Events Management office in conjunction with Parking Services. Please contact Events Management (3-8140) or Parking Services (3-8146 or arlpark@gmu.edu) for information. 

ADA-Accessible Parking

Available in each parking garage. The vehicle must display a valid DMV-issued ADA-accessible parking permit (tag or placard) and own a valid Mason parking permit or payment required. visitors with disabilities must purchase a temporary parking permit from Parking Services to park in an ADA-accessible space or pay the prevailing rates at visitor parking locations such as parking decks or areas that accept mobile payment. For short-term and hourly parking rates, go to the visitor parking section for more information.

Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Parking

Fuel-efficient vehicles may park at designated parking spaces with a valid supplemental permit along with a Mason parking permit. These parking spaces are located at the Van Metre Hall Parking Garage and the Vernon Smith Garage. To request a free supplemental fuel-efficient parking permit, please bring your vehicle registration to Mason Square Parking Services Office, Van Metre Hall, Room 219.

Motorcycles & Mopeds

Motorcycle parking must be arranged through the Mason Square Parking Services office. All motorcycles and mopeds must have license plate information attached to a valid Mason virtual permit. There are no dedicated motorcycle parking spaces on Mason Square. Motorcycles should use car parking spaces for their motorcycles. Motorcycles and mopeds are not allowed to park at bike racks/shelters.

FALL MOTORCYCLE & MOPED PERMIT RATES
Valid Until January 15, 2024

Motorcycle General Permit TypeFall Rates
Van Metre Garage Permit$130

Note: Rates are subject to change.

Electric Scooters

Electric personal and shared mobility scooters do not require a permit. They must be parked at or adjacent to a bike rack and cannot impede ADA access. They are only allowed to be ridden on roadways and in bike lanes. They are not permitted on sidewalks or in any Mason buildings, including parking decks or garages, and must not be charged at any University source of electricity.

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