As we are entering the fall months, it is easy to observe countless changes occurring in our community. Events like the Sun Dried Music Fest to the Michigan Chicken Wing Festival signal that summer is coming to an end.
But as we prepare for fall to officially arrive, there is one more change that happens every year. It’s a change that may have become second nature to us, yet it always remains a somewhat disruptive force in our day-to-day lives.
I’m specifically talking about students returning to Michigan State University.
There is no doubt that MSU remains a signature part of our community. Yet for certain parts of the year, MSU is much louder as it makes its presence known. Even if you don’t live close to the MSU campus, this ritual of tens of thousands of students returning to our community can disrupt normal life in the city.
Because of this, it is helpful to develop a quick and easy plan so that you can navigate Lansing during this extremely busy time. By doing so, you can eliminate stress and enjoy the remaining moments of summer in our city.
How Returning MSU Students Will Affect East Lansing
According to the MSU move-in timeline, the university will be facilitating a two-day move-in for incoming students. That move-in is scheduled to occur on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25. But having said this, the official MSU move-in timeline is for students moving into university housing. This does not account for other students moving into our community. You can expect that students will be moving into our community leading up to the first day of classes, which are on Wednesday, August 28.
Because of this, you can expect to see many MSU students and their families in our community for the next few days. This will undoubtedly create some traffic challenges. Quite clearly, there will be traffic congestion on and near the campus itself, especially on August 24 and August 25. To be perfectly honest, you should try avoiding that area until move-in is complete. This is true even if you want to park near campus. While there are meters and gated lots for parking, they can get expensive and they will likely be full.
Along with congestion near the MSU campus itself, there will be a large amount of traffic around the Hub and Landmark apartment complexes. The city decided not to close roads to accommodate move-ins for these two buildings, so you will need to allocate some extra time if you plan on driving near those apartment complexes.
Even if you think you can avoid some of the move-in congestion by avoiding the MSU campus or popular apartment complexes, you will quickly discover that the entire city is going to be buzzing. Continuing construction in downtown East Lansing, along with this new influx of students and their families, will mean that traffic is going to be extremely slow. Whether you simply want to grab a quick lunch or enjoy spending a Saturday night in East Lansing, you will need to add some time to your travel plans. Just be patient and expect to sit in traffic for longer than you might.
Along with this, you may want to think about parking further away than normal and walking to your final destination. Parking in downtown East Lansing can be a challenge, so keep this in mind when you are traveling over the next few days. It goes without saying, but restaurants, bars, and your favorite stores in East Lansing are going to be more crowded than usual. Just take a breath, be patient, and relax. You can still have a great time, notwithstanding a more crowded East Lansing for the next few days.
The Value of Preparation
As you know, MSU is an extremely large educational institution. There will be many students and families entering our community in the next few days. Because of this, I highly encourage you to be patient and make a plan before you drive around East Lansing. Don’t hesitate to take a different road or walk a bit further to your destination. By doing this, you can minimize your stress while still enjoying the next few days in East Lansing. We wish you the best of luck!
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