University of Illinois Springfield Performing Arts Center

Located inside the Public Affairs Center Building
2200 Ernest Hemingway Drive
Springfield, Illinois 62703
(Please note this address is for GPS navigation only, it is NOT a valid mailing address).

General Parking Questions?

  • Call the UIS Ticket Office at (217) 206-6160
    Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am - 5 pm or up until event time
  • or UIS Parking Operations at (217) 206-8502
    After hours campus visitor assistance is also available 24/7 by contacting the UIS Campus Police non-emergency line at (217) 206-6690.

Helpful Links:

Event Parking Fee:
There is a $5 per vehicle event parking fee (cash only) in effect during most UIS Performing Arts Center events. Event parking signage and staff will guide you into the appropriate parking lots and collect the $5 cash fee upon entry. Persons displaying valid UIS parking hang tags have already paid a parking fee for the semester and do not have to pay an event parking fee if they park in the areas designated by their hang tag.

Valet Parking:
Limited valet parking is available (depending on staffing availability) for most major UIS Performing Arts Center events occurring in Sangamon Auditorium on a first come, first served basis at $15 per vehicle (cash only). To take advantage of this service, vehicles should proceed to the main entrance of the Public Affairs Center (PAC) building (i.e. teardrop entrance) down Ernest Hemingway Drive. There will be two lanes, one for passenger drop off/pick up (left lane) and one for valet (right lane). For valet service, please stay in the right lane.

Other Parking:
When Event Parking procedures are not in effect, such as during non-event periods or events with expected low attendance, all visitors must only park in visitor-designated lots and pay the visitor parking rate of $1 per hour by means of the nearest parking pay station. Pay stations accept coins and credit/debit cards only – NO bills! You must know your license plate number when using the pay stations. 

Designated visitor lots with pay stations closest to the UIS Performing Arts Center are lot C North and lot D.  Lot B is also a designated visitor lot but is farther away from the building. Please note failure to pay the parking fee may result in a ticket being issued by UIS Parking Operations.

Passenger Drop Off/Pick Up:
Passengers may be dropped off at the main entrance to the Public Affairs Center (PAC) Building on Level 1. To reach the Level 1 entrance (i.e. Teardrop entrance), vehicles should proceed down Ernest Hemingway Drive. There will be two lanes, one for passenger drop off/pick up (left lane) and one for valet (right lane). For passenger drop off/pick up, please stay in the left lane.

Group Passenger Drop Off/Pick Up:
Large groups are welcome to drop off and pick up passengers in the UIS Performing Arts Center's “loading/receiving” area on the south side of the building.  Take the road just south of Lot E.  Your group can walk up a ramp and enter the lobby through a set of automatic doors.  A limited number of accessible parking spaces are available in this area, or the driver can park in another lot after dropping off your group. Please note the parking fees mentioned above.

Arrive Early - Don't Miss the Show!
Please arrive early, have your $5 parking fee available in cash, and allow ample time to be seated. Patrons who arrive in the lobby after the performance has begun may have to wait to be seated at an appropriate break in the performance as determined by the artist.

Driving Directions

Southbound on I-55
Exit right (west) at Exit #94 onto Stevenson Drive. Proceed to the intersection of Stevenson Drive and Taylor Avenue/West Lake Shore Drive (3rd stoplight). Turn left (south) onto West Lake Drive, which will become University Drive. Turn right at campus entrance onto Edgar Lee Masters Drive and follow signs to Public Affairs Center.

Northbound on I-55
Exit right (east) at Exit #90 onto Toronto Road. Turn left onto 11th Street. Turn right onto Vachel Lindsay Drive and follow signs to Public Affairs Center.

Westbound on I-72
Exit onto I-55 South. Exit right (west) at Exit #94 onto Stevenson Drive. Proceed to the intersection of Stevenson Drive and Taylor Avenue/West Lake Shore Drive (3rd stoplight). Turn left (south) onto West Lake Drive, which will become University Drive. Turn right at campus entrance onto Edgar Lee Masters Drive and follow signs to Public Affairs Center.

Eastbound on US 36
US 36 merges with I-55 North. Exit right (west) at Exit #94 onto Stevenson Drive. Proceed to the intersection of Stevenson Drive and Taylor Avenue/West Lake Shore Drive (3rd stoplight). Turn left (south) onto West Lake Drive, which will become University Drive. Turn right at campus entrance onto Edgar Lee Masters Drive and follow signs to Public Affairs Center.