Commencement draws many people to the UNT campus to celebrate with graduates. Because so many people will be converging on campus at the same time, there will be more congestion and traffic on campus than usual all day Friday, May 13, and Saturday, May 14.

Drivers should be prepared that they may encounter delays before they reach Denton due to the Texas Department of Transportation's 35 Express Project. A portion of North Texas Boulevard leading into campus (between Eagle Drive and Highland Street) will be closed to vehicles during commencement events for pedestrians' safety.

Please be aware, expect delays, plan ahead and allow yourself ample time to get to your destination. Below is information including:

Note: If you are a guest driving to campus for a commencement event, please allow 30 to 45 minutes to park, ride the shuttle to the event venue, and find a seat inside. If you are a graduate participating in a commencement event, please allow 30 to 45 minutes to park and get to the event venue.

If you are a guest taking the A-Train to Denton please allow 30-45 minutes to park, ride the A-Train, catch the UNT Shuttle at the Downtown Denton Transit Center, ride the shuttle to the event venue and find a seat inside the commencement venue.

See the Commencement Schedule of Events. 

Directions to and from UNT

From Dallas:

  1. Go north on I-35 East to Denton
  2. Exit Fort Worth Drive (Highway 377) and go north to Eagle Drive
  3. Go west on Eagle Drive to Welch Street
  4. Go north on Welch Street and follow the Commencement Parking signs and traffic control officer's directions

From Fort Worth:

  1. Go north on I-35 West to Denton
  2. Take I-35 East exit to Dallas
  3. Exit Fort Worth Drive (Highway 377) and go north to Eagle Drive
  4. Go west on Eagle Drive to Welch Street
  5. Go north on Welch Street and follow the Commencement Parking signs and traffic control officer's directions

From north of Denton:

  1. Go south on I-35 to Denton
  2. Exit Fort Worth Drive (Highway 377) and go north to Eagle Drive
  3. Go west on Eagle Drive to Welch Street
  4. Go north on Welch Street and follow the Commencement Parking signs and traffic control officer's directions

A-Train service

Friday, May 13

DCTA will run regular weekday A-train service and special UNT Commencement Shuttle services instead of standard weekday UNT Shuttle service. Commencement shuttle buses will operate frequently from the Downtown Denton Transit Center to the Murchison Center and UNT Coliseum. This shuttle will pass through downtown Denton so passengers can shop and dine throughout the day. Click here to view restaurants within walking distance of the DDTC. The shuttle service will run from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 14

DCTA will run regular Saturday A-train service and special UNT Commencement Shuttle services throughout the day. On Friday, commencement shuttle buses will operate frequently from the DDTC to Apogee Stadium, the Murchison Performing Arts Center and UNT Coliseum.  This shuttle will pass through downtown Denton so passengers can shop and dine throughout the day. On Saturday, commencement shuttle buses will operate frequently from the Downtown Denton Transit Center to the Murchison Performing Arts Center and UNT Coliseum. This shuttle will pass through downtown Denton so passengers can shop and dine throughout the day. Click here to view restaurants within walking distance of the DDTC.

View the Friday and Saturday A-train schedule.

If you are a guest taking the A-train to Denton please allow as much as an-hour-and-a-half to park, ride the A-Train, catch the UNT Shuttle at the Downtown Denton Transit Center, ride the shuttle to the event venue and find a seat inside the commencement venue.

DCTA Shuttle service May 13 and May 14

Friday, May 13

UNT Shuttle and DCTA Connect bus service for UNT will be limited service for commencement on May 13 so the usual UNT shuttle routes will not be provided.
Shuttles will begin operating at 7:30 a.m. and run continuously throughout the day until all guests have been returned to their vehicles Friday following the Doctoral and Master's Convocation. Beginning at 7:30 a.m., shuttles will start picking up guests  who park in lots in the  east  portion of campus off of Welch St and taking them to Apogee Stadium for the University-wide Commencement ceremony. After the University-wide Commencement ceremony, shuttles will be available where guests were dropped off to return those guests to their vehicles.

All DCTA buses are special needs and handicapped-accessible.

Please allow 30 to 45 minutes to park, ride the shuttle to the event venue, and find a seat inside.

Shuttle pickup locations for commencement parking on Welch Street:
  • All UNT commencement guests will be directed to park in the parking lots along Welch Street
  • Guests will be directed to park in a specific Welch Street lot in a specific order. As a lot fills, it will be closed and later guests will begin parking in the next lot.
  • Shuttles will take guests from the Welch Street lot that is currently being filled to a drop off stop at the venues being used at that time.  Follow the commencement signs and traffic control officer directions to the lot where guests are currently being parked.
Shuttle drop off/pickup location for the Coliseum and the Murchison Performing Arts Center:
  • DCTA buses will drop off guests at a stop on North Texas Boulevard between the Coliseum and the Murchison Performing Arts Center so they can attend College Recognition Ceremonies or the Doctoral and Master's Convocation with Doctoral/MFA hooding.
  • The pickup location to transport guests back to commencement parking on Welch Street is across the street from the drop off location in the Gateway Center circle drive.
  • All shuttles will stop at each Welch Street Lot on the trips to return guests to their vehicles.
Shuttle drop off/pickup location University-wide Commencement:
  • UNT Shuttle and DCTA Connect buses will drop off guests at Gate 3 at Apogee for the University-wide Commencement. This also will be the pickup location to transport guests back to University-wide commencement parking lots in the northwest portion of campus.
Saturday, May 14

UNT Shuttle and DCTA Connect bus service for UNT will be limited service for commencement on May 14. Shuttles will begin operating at 6:30 a.m. and run continuously throughout the day until all guests have been returned to their vehicles Saturday following the final College Recognition Ceremony.

All DCTA buses are special needs and handicapped-accessible.

Please allow 30 to 45 minutes to park, ride the shuttle to the event venue, and find a seat inside.

Shuttle pickup locations for commencement parking on Welch Street:
  • All UNT commencement guests will be directed to park in the parking lots along Welch Street
  • Guests will be directed to park in a specific Welch Street lot in a specific order. As a lot fills, it will be closed and later guests will begin parking in the next lot.
  • Shuttles will take guests from the Welch Street lot that is currently being filled to a drop off stop on North Texas Boulevard between the Coliseum and the Murchison Performing Arts Center for College Recognition Ceremonies  Follow the commencement signs and traffic control officer directions to the lot where guests are currently being parked.
Shuttle drop off/pickup location for commencement events:
  • For College Recognition Ceremonies: DCTA buses will drop off guests at a bus stop on North Texas Boulevard between the Coliseum and the Murchison Performing Arts Center. The pickup location to transport guests back to commencement parking on Welch Street is across the street from the drop off location in the Gateway Center circle drive.

Parking for College Recognition Ceremonies and Doctoral and Master's Convocation

The Commencement Parking and Transportation Plan will start Friday morning May 13 at 7 a.m.

Instructions for guests

  • All guests should take Fort Worth Drive (Highway 377) north to Eagle Drive, then take Eagle Drive West to Welch Street North to park in the lots along Welch Street. Officers will be directing traffic to the designated parking lots.
  • Handicap-accessible shuttles will run continuously to transport guests from these lots to and from the Coliseum and the Murchison Performing Arts Center before and after the College Recognition Ceremonies and Doctoral and Master's Convocation. See shuttle service info.
  • Please allow 30 to 45 minutes to park, take the shuttle to the commencement venue, and find a seat inside.
  • Please make note of which lot you parked in for your return.
  • Maple Street will be open to allow drivers access to the Coliseum Circle on Avenue D, on the east side of the Coliseum, to drop off and pick up graduates. If guests are dropping off graduates at the Coliseum, after doing so, they should go east on Maple Street to park in the Welch Street lots.  This area will be very congested so expect delays.

Instructions for handicapped and special needs parking

Special needs and handicapped drop off and parking will be available at the Coliseum and Murchison Performing Arts Center until the parking lots have filled.

For the Coliseum:

  • Special needs and handicapped drop off at the Coliseum Circle is on Avenue D on the east side of the Coliseum.
  • Handicapped parking for the Coliseum is along Avenue D and in Lot 27, which is east of the Coliseum between Highland Street and Maple Street.

For the Murchison Performing Arts Center:

  • Special needs and handicapped drop off at the Murchison Performing Arts Center is on the northwest side of the center in the circle drive.
  • Handicapped parking for the Murchison Performing Arts Center is on the south side of Lot 20 (Fouts Field parking). Handicapped parking is very limited.

Note: At times there will be major congestion in these handicapped parking areas. To avoid congestion, guests with special needs also can choose to park in the Welch Street lots and ride the shuttles to these venues. All DCTA buses are handicapped and special needs accessible.

Instructions for graduates

  • North Texas Boulevard will be closed between Eagle Drive and Highland Street all day Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14.
  • Fouts Field parking lots will only be accessible from:
    • the I-35 access road past the Murchison Performing Arts Center
    • Allen Saxe Drive next to Traditions Hall
  • Graduates may park in the Fouts Field parking lots for College Recognition Ceremonies but space is limited and the surrounding streets will be congested with event traffic. Expect delays. 
  • If Fouts Field parking lots are full, graduates can park in any lots north of Fouts Field and walk to the Coliseum or Murchison Performing Arts Center.

Instructions for UNT employees

  • North Texas Boulevard will be closed between Eagle Drive and Highland Street all day Friday, May 13and Saturday, May 14.
  • Fouts Field parking lots will only be accessible from:
    • the I-35 access road past the Murchison Performing Arts Center
    • Allen Saxe Drive next to Traditions Hall
  • Eagle Drive will be closed for westbound traffic at Avenue C.
  • When the Fouts Field parking lots are full, all traffic will be directed to the Welch Street parking lots.
  • The North Texas Boulevard bridge over I-35 may be closed at times to traffic crossing I-35.
  • Be aware that there will be major congestion at North Texas Boulevard and Bonnie Brae Street near the Coliseum and Murchison Performing Arts Center throughout the day Friday and Saturday.
  • Faculty and staff participating in the College Recognition Ceremonies should park in Lot 26, north of Highland Street. You may park in the Fouts Field parking lots but space is limited and the surrounding streets will be congested with event traffic. Expect delays. 

Parking for University-wide Commencement

Instructions for guests

  • All guests should take Fort Worth Drive (Highway 377) north to Eagle Drive, then take Eagle Drive West to Welch Street North to park in the lots along Welch Street. Officers will be directing traffic to the designated parking lots.
  • Handicapped-accessible UNT Shuttle and DCTA Connect will run continuously to transport guests from these lots to and from Apogee Stadium before and after the University-wide Commencement. See shuttle service info.
  • Please allow 30 to 45 minutes to park, take the shuttle and arrive at Apogee Stadium.
  • Please make note of which lot you parked in for your return.

Instructions for special needs parking

  • Special needs and handicapped pick up and drop off at Apogee Stadium is at Gate No. 3.
  • Handicapped parking is in the lot north of the stadium.
    • From I-35E, to access this location
      1. take the Bonnie Brae Street exit from I-35E
      2. go south under I-35E
      3. turn left under I-35 on the access road,
      4. turn right into the lot just before you go under the pedestrian bridge
    • From I-35W, to access this location
      1. take the Bonnie Brae Street exit from I-35W
      2. continue straight through the light and travel up the access road
      3. turn right into the lot just before you go under the pedestrian bridge
  • From north of Denton on I-35, to access this location
    1. take the Oak Street exit
    2. at Oak Street, go east under I-35
    3. at the Bonnie Brae light, Turn right to travel south on Bonnie Brae Street
    4. turn left onto the I-35 access road
    5. turn right into the lot just before you go under the pedestrian bridge

Note: At times there will be major congestion in these handicapped parking areas. To avoid congestion, guests with special needs also can choose to park in the Welch Street lots and ride the shuttles to these venues. All DCTA buses are handicapped and special needs accessible.

Instructions for graduates and faculty and staff members participating in University-wide Commencement

Graduates and faculty and staff members participating in commencement may park in the Victory Hall lots southeast of Apogee Stadium. Spaces are limited so carpooling is strongly encouraged. Entrance to those lots will be via North Texas Boulevard.

Directions to access the Victory Hall lots for drivers coming from campus or I-35E:
  1. Take the Bonnie Brae Street exit I-35E
  2. Go left/south to go under I-35 E
  3. Go left/east on the access road
  4. Go right/south on North Texas Boulevard
  5. Immediately turn right again onto the road leading to the Victory Hall parking lots
Directions to access the Victory Hall lots for drivers coming from I-35W or I-35 North of Denton:
  1. Take the North Texas Boulevard exit
  2. Go right/south on North Texas Boulevard
  3. Immediately turn right again onto the road leading to the Victory Hall parking lots