Moving in on Campus

Fall 2026 Move-In Dates

All undergraduate students moving in for Fall 2026 must select a timeslot for moving in via the Housing and Dining Portal. Instructions will be included in housing assignment/confirmation emails, which will be sent out mid-June 2026.

First-year student Move-In - Monday, August 17
Transfer student Move-In- Tuesday, August 18
Upper-level student Move-In - Friday, August 21 through Saturday, August 22.

All new students are required to reserve a Move-In timeslot once they have signed their housing license. Returning students must select a Move-in timeslot beginning on July 6, 2026.

Move-In Process Overview

The Move-In process varies by building and residential community. Detailed arrival instructions will be posted in late July.

Check in: Arrive on campus and report to your designated arrival location during your timeslot. From here, you will be directed to your designated unloading zone. Please do not arrive early as you will be turned away from entering the move-in queue until your selected timeslot.
Unload your belongings: Assistance will be provided to unload your vehicle. You will receive your keys and ID at this time, and you and your guests will be responsible for moving your belongings to your room. Bins will be available for sign out to help transport belongings to your room.
Move your vehicle to short-term parking: Once your vehicle is unloaded, you’ll be instructed to move your vehicle to short-term parking for up to three hours so that other students and families can access the building. Students and families may walk (about 20 minutes) or use the shuttle to travel between the short-term parking lots and their residential building.
Unpack your belongings: Settle into your room at your own pace, keeping in mind your 3-hour parking expiration time.
Move your vehicle off campus: Families will need to move their vehicle off campus once their three-hour parking expires. We encourage you to explore the Ithaca area, grab a bite to eat, and do any shopping you might need. View “Post Move-In Parking and Returns" for more details about parking or returning to campus later in the evening.

More information, including arrival routes, will be added to this page through the summer as additional details become available.

Vehicle Limitations and Unloading

Only one vehicle per family is permitted during Move-In
Only one unloading trip is permitted per student
You must be able to carry your own personal belongings
Move-in Ticket must be scanned by staff for entry and remain visible on the dashboard at all times during Move-In
Vehicles over 14 feet in length are not permitted, except for SUVs, pick-up trucks, or standard passenger vans/minivans.
U-Hauls, moving vans/trucks, and trailers are NOT permitted on campus due to their inability to fit in the arrival zones, and will be turned away from entering the move-in process.  
If you are a student and have purchased an academic year parking permit, please adhere to the temporary parking areas for move-in week outlined by the transportation email. You will not be permitted to bring your student car and an additional car through your check-in location. You must have your belongings consolidated into a single vehicle to take through the Move-In process.
After unloading your vehicle, you will need to move your vehicle to short-term parking.

Post Move-In Parking or Returns

Monday, August 17

Families may park their vehicle for a maximum of three hours in short-term parking while students unpack and settle into their space. Designated parking lots are provided on the printable Move-In Ticket, found in the Housing and Dining Portal.
If you wish to return to campus to unload a second time after going shopping, you must wait until after Move-In timeslots have concluded.
No evening or overnight parking is available on North Campus on Monday, August 17. Families may drop off their student or deliver recent purchases directly to the residential building, but a driver must stay with the vehicle at all times. For longer visits, assigned parking will be provided for Tuesday, August 18 where they can park and remain for the day.

Tuesday, August 18

On-campus parking for the remainder of Tuesday Move-In timeslots and Convocation will primarily be located in parking lots along Campus Road. Please follow posted signage and directions for parking found on your printable Move-In Ticket, available in the Housing and Dining Portal.
Evening parking is available on North Campus on Tuesday, August 18 in any open parking lot. No overnight parking will be available.

Friday, August 21 – Saturday, August 22

For upper-level Move-In timeslots, after your vehicle has been unloaded, families may park their vehicle for a maximum of three hours in designated short-term parking while students unpack and settle into their space. Designated parking lots are provided on the printable Move-In Ticket, found in the Housing and Dining Portal.

Once You Are Moved In

Room Condition: When moving in, students should inspect their room and report any damage to the room by submitting a maintenance request. This ensures you are not billed for existing damage when you move out and allows the facilities staff to address issues promptly.
Dining: Meal plans start at lunch on Monday, August 17, 2026. Visit the Cornell Dining website for more details.
Orientation: Visit the Orientation website for information on first-year student and transfer student programming.

Planning Ahead

Packing Tips  

All items should be labeled with your full name (at least first and last name), NetID, residence hall, and room number. Please pack for easy transport, and box all small items. You and your guests will be responsible for moving your belongings to your residence hall and room.  

For a list of suggested items to pack, as well as prohibited items to leave at home, please visit What to Pack and What Not to Bring.

Order Room Essentials from DormCo

The Cornell Store and Cornell Housing and Residential Life have partnered with DormCo to provide a convenient way to order room essentials. DormCo offers high-quality bedding and over 5,000 budget-friendly products to help make your room or apartment one of a kind. Starting in June, order online and we’ll put your order in your on-campus room before you arrive! View details and order.

Moving & Storage

Too much stuff for your car or the plane? Consider shipping your items ahead of time with Big Red Shipping and Storage!

Big Red Shipping and Storage (BRSS) is Student and Campus Life’s preferred shipping and storage vendor, and they offer pre-arrival services to ease the busy trip to Ithaca. They receive your items, place them in storage, and then put them into your room before you arrive on campus! Packages will be accepted beginning July 15 and delivered to on-campus rooms before August 17. Learn more about storage and shipping options and contact Big Red Shipping and Storage to sign up.

You may also send mail and packages to the Student Service Centers to pick up when you arrive to campus. Mail for the Fall 2026 semester will start being accepted on August 10, 2026, so avoid sending packages too early. When you arrive on campus, you can pick up your mail and packages at your designated Student Service Center. Be sure to allow extra time for packages to be sorted upon receipt at the Service Centers at the beginning of the semester.

To make package pickup easier, please ship items to campus in as few boxes as possible (each under 50 lbs.) rather than sending many small boxes with individual items.

Please visit the Student Service Centers website for details and for instructions on how to properly address mail and packages, which must include the student’s NetID.

Dump & Run

Dump & Run is an annual sale where students can purchase gently used items donated by outgoing students. Items include clothing, linens, shelving, storage containers, lamps, fans, sporting equipment, and more. Learn more on the Dump & Run page.

Housing & Residential Life