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Graduation weekend rooms

When to book, how far out to look, and what to do if you're late.

The short answer

Book graduation rooms the day you know the date. Hotels beside a campus commonly open their calendars around a year ahead, and local news stories from many college towns describe those rooms selling out within hours, at higher prices and with two-night minimums. If you're late, look a short drive out and keep checking for cancellations.

Find the ceremony venue first

The ceremony is often not where the tour began. Some schools use the football stadium or basketball arena; others use a lawn in the middle of campus; a few rent an arena across town. Each school page here shows the venue when we've read it on the school's own commencement page, with a second walking time on every hotel.

A sensible order of attack

If everything close is gone

Look at the next town along the main road, or near a rail stop if the campus has one. Our drive minutes ignore traffic, and graduation morning has plenty, so leave early and expect to park well away from the venue.

Venues we've confirmed

Read on each school's own page; ceremonies and venues can move, so check the current year.