UCR Botanic Gardens, students taking notes (c) UCR / Stan Lim

Visitor Information

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Hours & General Information

Botanic Gardens slideshow

The UCR Botanic Gardens are open (part days):
HOURS: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-3:30 pm (last entry at 3:00 pm, gates locked at 3:30 pm) & 1st & 3rd Sunday 8:00 am-2:00 pm (last entry at 1:30 pm, gates locked at 2:00 pm

GARDENS CLOSED: December 25, 2023 - January 1, 2024 (holiday), January 15, 2024 (holiday), February 19, 2024 (holiday), March 29 (holiday)

The UCR Botanic Gardens is closed on major holidays, for special Gardens events, and when the UCR campus is closed for academic and administrative holidays.

Be sure to check our calendar of events, entrance message board, or posted signs before planning your visit. 

The UCR campus calendar is posted at registrar.ucr.edu/calendar.

All groups of more than 10 people should schedule their visit to the Gardens in advance to ensure that your group may be accommodated by submitting a tour request. Please visit our TOURS page to schedule a Docent-guided or self-guided tour. 

Master Gardener docents are available in the Butterfly Garden on the first and third Sunday of the month April-October, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, to answer questions about Gardening for Butterflies including the life cycle of butterflies and which plants to choose to attract butterflies.  

Docents BF



Parking

Parking on the UCR campus is managed by TAPS, Transportation & Parking Services, and is available with the purchase of a temporary permit. All vehicles parked on campus are required to have a valid parking permit at all times.

If a dispenser is malfunctioning, additional options for visitors to purchase parking:

 

·         BG Lot: ParkMobile App  (Search Zone 2477)

·         Lot 10: ParkMobile App (Search Zone 2461)

·         Lot 13 Blue: ParkMobile  App (Search Zone 2492) 

 

To report an issue with a pay dispenser contact TAPS at 951-827-4133. 

More information on the TAPS website

Several parking options are available within walking distance of the UCR Botanic Gardens.


UCR Botanic Gardens Lot:

Parking (~20 spaces) is available at the Gardens entrance. The TAPS permit dispenser takes Visa, Discover, MasterCard, Apple Pay, and Google Wallet (cash not accepted). Parking is $2.00 per hour, 2-hour maximum, with no student parking. 

 


Visitor Short-term Parking:

Short-term parking (2-hour maximum) is available in Lot 10 at the bottom of Botanic Gardens Rd. TAPS permit dispensers take Visa, Discover, MasterCard, Apple Pay, and Google Wallet and issue pay-by-space permits; permits are also available at the ParkMobile website (https://parkmobile.io/)


Visitor Daily Parking:

Daily parking is available in Lot 13 and Big Springs Parking Structure #2. Permits may be purchased at the ParkMobile website. 

The following lots do not require a paid permit when parking starting at 12:00 PM on Fridays through 6:00 AM Monday morning, in the unreserved spaces:

  • Lot 6 Blue
  • Lot 13 Blue
  • Big Springs Parking Structure 2

 

Admission


The suggested admission donation is $5 per adult visitor. Donations may be made in the donation box on the Gatehouse near the Gardens entrance or online by using the QR code below. Other donations may be made at gardens.ucr.edu/donate

Cashless online admission donations QR code

 

 

 


Policies and Guidelines

The UCR Botanic Gardens is not a park, rather a living museum with thousands of plant species in our curated collection. We are a certified wildlife habitat and home to a diversity of year-round and migrating birds, lizards, insects, and a healthy population of Western diamondback rattlesnakes. We also commonly see coyotes, bobcats, and an occasional mountain lion. For your own protection and to protect our gardens and wildlife, we ask you to respect the following policies and guidelines:

     

    Per UCR and/or UCR Botanic Gardens policies, these items are not allowed:

    Pets

    Bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, or operation of drones

    Alcohol, firearms, fires, or outdoor cooking

    Smoking or tobacco products

    Balloons or glitter

    Weddings, parties, or public events

     

     

    Please adhere to these UCR Botanic Gardens guidelines:

    Stay on designated trails

    Do not disturb or approach wildlife

    Do not collect or trim plant material, disturb planting beds, or climb in trees

    Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult

    Group photography requires advance notification and permits

     



    Photography Policy


    Please refer to our Photography page before planning your visit and photo shoot.



     

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