University of Prince Edward Island: A Visitor’s Guide

UPEI is on University Avenue, in the uptown part of Charlottetown. Its campus map identifies entrances, buildings, parking areas, accessible parking, bus shelters, emergency call stations, and electric-vehicle chargers.

Several campus landmarks can help you orient yourself, including the SDU Main Building, Robertson Library, W.A. Murphy Student Centre, Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, and Atlantic Veterinary College. The Charlottetown Farmers’ Market is directly across from campus, and UPEI describes the university as within walking distance of shopping centres.

The university traces its roots to Prince of Wales College, established in 1834, and Saint Dunstan’s University, established in 1855. UPEI was formed as the provincial university in 1969.

To arrange an in-person UPEI campus visit, request a personalized tour through the university’s advisement team at apply@upei.ca. The tour page does not publish regular tour dates or times, so contact the team to discuss arrangements.

If you want to get a feel for the layout before arriving, UPEI’s virtual map lets you explore the historic quadrangle and campus buildings inside and out. Use the official campus map to identify your destination and locate entrances, accessible parking, and other facilities.

UPEI has metered visitor spaces near the W.A. Murphy Student Centre, Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, Kelley Memorial Building, and Steel Building. Metered parking costs $2.00 per hour, up to a four-hour maximum. Meters are enforced on weekdays from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm year-round, but not on weekends or holidays.

Parking arrangements vary with the season. From mid-April to the end of August, visitors may park without charge or a permit in General Parking Lots A, B, D, E, and H.

From September to mid-April, parking enforcement applies in all campus lots daily from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm; visitors are advised to use metered spaces or ask their campus contact about arrangements. Daily permits for General Parking Lots are available from Facilities Management in the Central Utility Building.

The Veterinary Teaching Hospital parking area is restricted to hospital clients. Use the separate visitor-metered areas when visiting other parts of campus. Parking rules can change, so check the official site before you go.

For airport transfers into the city, the Charlottetown Airport taxi and transfer guide covers the trip from the airport.

Charlottetown’s T3 Transit serves the city as well as Stratford and Cornwall. Route 1 connects downtown with uptown Charlottetown, including UPEI, and operates until 10:30 pm. From Shipwright Inn, UPEI is about 28 minutes on foot or about 5 minutes by car. Check T3 Transit for current routes, maps, schedules, and fares before travelling.

If your plans include time around the city centre, a downtown Charlottetown walking route offers a way to see the core on foot.

UPEI offers visitor accommodations in its residences during the summer months. The university describes visitor stays as available year-round; summer-season guests receive 24-hour front-desk service and free parking. Check UPEI’s accommodations information for current availability and arrangements.

UPEI’s location also connects campus visits with the wider city: the university says the campus is accessible by Charlottetown’s transit system and within walking distance of shopping centres. Match your accommodation choice to your plans, especially if you need to be on campus at a particular time.