Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Parents & Families Guide
San Luis Obispo, CA · For families of students far from home
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo sits on U.S. 101 halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and its closest airport is San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP). 2026 to 27 is its first year on semesters, and Mustang Family Weekend comes early, on Oct. 2 to 4, 2026.
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Cal Poly Parents & Families: Far From Home
A private group for parents and families of Cal Poly students who live far from home. Ask questions, share tips, and get answers from families who've been there.
Coming up
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Mustang Family Weekend 2026Add to calendar: Mustang Family Weekend 2026Source: Mustang Family Weekend 2026, Parent and Family Programs, Cal Poly | Fri, Oct 2 to Sun, Oct 4, 2026 |
| Fall Break (Thanksgiving week)Add to calendar: Fall Break (Thanksgiving week)Source: Academic Calendar 2026-2027, Office of the Registrar, Cal Poly | Mon, Nov 23 to Sun, Nov 29, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 last day of classesAdd to calendar: Fall 2026 last day of classesSource: Academic Calendar 2026-2027, Office of the Registrar, Cal Poly | Fri, Dec 11, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 final examinationsAdd to calendar: Fall 2026 final examinationsSource: Academic Calendar 2026-2027, Office of the Registrar, Cal Poly | Mon, Dec 14 to Fri, Dec 18, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 residents vacate (noon)On campus residentsAdd to calendar: Fall 2026 residents vacate (noon)Source: Resident Calendar, University Housing, Cal Poly | Sat, Dec 19, 202612 PM |
Quick answers
Key dates
- Family Weekend: Oct 2 to 4, 2026
- Thanksgiving break: Nov 23 to 29, 2026
- Commencement: May 21 to 23, 2027
Getting there
- Nearest airport: SBP
- Where families stay: Monterey Street, Madonna Road and Shell Beach, Pismo Beach
Move in & move out
- Move in: Aug 18 to 19, 2026
- Move out: May 23, 2027
Health & safety
- Cal Poly Campus Health and Wellbeing: (805) 756-1211
- Cal Poly University Police Department: (805) 756-2281
- Urgent care: Cottage Urgent Care, Foothill Plaza
Where Cal Poly is and how families get there
Cal Poly's main campus is at 1 Grand Avenue in San Luis Obispo, just off U.S. Highway 101 and roughly halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Visit SLO puts the city about 200 miles north of Los Angeles and 230 miles south of San Francisco, so a lot of California families simply drive.
If you fly, the closest airport is San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP). It has nonstop flights on Alaska, American and United from Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Denver, Phoenix, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Amtrak is another option, and an Amtrak Thruway bus stops right on campus.
The university suggests coming in through the Grand Avenue entrance, which takes you past the Welcome Center inside the yakʔitʸutʸu residential community. Visitor parking is in Structure 131, next to the Welcome Center.
A new calendar this year
The 2026 to 27 school year is Cal Poly's first on semesters instead of quarters. Fall classes started Aug. 24, 2026, fall finals wrap up Dec. 18, and spring classes begin Jan. 25, 2027. If you knew Cal Poly under the old quarter calendar, when the halls stayed open into mid June, expect the year to end earlier now: Commencement is May 21 to 23, 2027. Thanksgiving week is listed as Fall Break, and Spring Break is March 15 to 21.
Family weekend and other visits
Mustang Family Weekend lands in early October this year, running Oct. 2 to 4, 2026, with Cal Poly Football hosting Weber State at Spanos Stadium on Saturday evening. Families of new students are also invited to the Evening with the President reception during August move in week.
Where students live
First year students live in the residence halls: Sierra Madre and Yosemite, yakʔitʸutʸu, the South Mountain halls and the North Mountain halls. Cerro Vista Apartments and Poly Canyon Village (PCV) house continuing and transfer students along with some first years.
The parent office
Parent and Family Programs is in Building 124, Room 224. You can reach the staff at (805) 756-6700 or calpolyparent@calpoly.edu. The office runs Mustang Family Weekend, publishes the Mustang Family News newsletter and supports the Parent Advisory Council.
What else is in this hub
The other pages here cover the full 2026 to 27 dates, getting to San Luis Obispo and where parents stay, move in and move out, and local health, safety and mail resources. Each fact links to the page it came from.
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Questions Cal Poly parents ask
Is this the official California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo parent group?
No. Far From Home is an independent parent community supported by College Cubbies. For official information, visit the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo parent and family page.
When is Mustang Family Weekend 2026?
Friday, Oct. 2 to Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. Cal Poly Football hosts Weber State at 5pm Saturday at Spanos Stadium, and one family registration includes a swag bag and one weekend parking pass.
Is Cal Poly on quarters or semesters in 2026 to 27?
Semesters. Fall 2026 is the first semester, with classes from Aug. 24 to Dec. 11 and finals Dec. 14 to 18. Spring classes start Jan. 25, 2027.
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