Getting to GCU and Where Parents Stay

Flying into PHX

GCU's commencement FAQ calls Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) the closest airport to campus. Once you land:

1. Rideshare: at Terminal 3, Uber, Lyft and the other rideshare services pick up along the south outer curb (except the far east end) and at the far east end of the north outer curb. At Terminal 4, head to Level 1, either the north outer curb outside door 1 or the south outer curb outside doors 2, 6 or 8. Waymo offers curbside pickup at both terminals around the clock.
2. Transit: the PHX Sky Train's 44th Street station connects directly to Valley Metro Rail, and Valley Metro bus Route 13 stops at the 24th Street Sky Train station. Use Valley Metro's trip planner for the rest of the connection to Camelback Road.
3. Move in week: Welcome Programs linked an airport shuttle signup on its move in page.

Driving in and parking

On an ordinary visit, use the entrance at 33rd Avenue. The Public Safety officer there checks your driver's license and gives you a temporary parking permit to set on the driver's side of the dashboard, then directs you to a guest space. GCU's parking page does not list a visitor fee. Cars parked in spaces not reserved for visitors can get a citation, and penalties go up to towing. In garages, park head in.

The campus map lists eight parking garages: 33rd Avenue, 31st Avenue, 27th Avenue, two on 29th Avenue (at Camelback Road and at Georgia Avenue), plus the Grove, Halo and Rivers garages. The GCU Campus Route shuttle links the 27th Avenue complex with main campus seven days a week, 5:40 am to 11 pm, and golf cart shuttles run Monday to Friday, 9 am to 9 pm, and during game days and campus events.

If your student brings a car, it must be registered and carry a permit bought through GCU's permit store. For permit questions, campus parking is at (602) 639-7739.

Where parents stay

The hotels below are grouped by area and listed neutrally, with addresses so you can compare drive times to the 33rd Avenue entrance.

1. Uptown, on Camelback Road: Rise Uptown Hotel, 400 W. Camelback Rd., is the hotel Welcome Programs lists as a preferred partner, with up to 20 percent off for GCU parents. Its GCU rate for parents and alumni uses promo code GCUPA.
2. Downtown North, on Thomas Road: Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Downtown North, 10 E. Thomas Road, which the hotel says is 7 miles from PHX.
3. Biltmore area and east Camelback: Hampton Inn Phoenix Biltmore, 2310 E. Highland Ave., about 6 miles from PHX per the hotel, and The Camby, 2401 E. Camelback Rd.
4. Downtown Phoenix: Hyatt Regency Phoenix, 122 N. Second St. GCU's visit page puts downtown about 15 minutes from campus.

Big weekends

The busiest family weekends this year are Family Weekend (Oct 9 to 10, 2026), winter commencement (Dec 17 and 18, 2026) and spring commencement (week of April 19, 2027). For commencement, GCU's FAQ estimates about 20 minutes of driving from the West Valley, 30 to 45 minutes from Scottsdale and 45 minutes to an hour from the East Valley. Doors open two hours before each ceremony, and since classes are in session that week, traffic to and on campus may be exceptionally busy. GCU says designated parking for graduates and guests will be posted on the commencement website closer to the ceremony, and it suggests checking traffic and construction at az511.gov. Bring a clear bag, since the arena enforces a clear bag policy.