Directions and Parking Information
Parking Lot
There is a parking lot reserved on the Southern Miss campus for book festival attendees. It is at the Payne Center and should be accessed from the north side of campus, not by the main entrance on Hardy Street. Access this lot from Golden Eagle Avenue off 4th Street. The reserved lot will have attendants, but you will need a special event parking permit displayed in your windshield. The permit is available for print out in PDF form here.
If you have any questions concerning directions or special parking needs, please call Burke Williamson at 601.266.4228.
Shuttles
The Thad Cochran Center is within walking distance of the parking lot, and we encourage attendees to walk whenever possible. Your walking path from the lot to the conference center will be marked with election signs with the book festival logo. We have also arranged to have shuttles available to take attendees from the lot to the Cochran Center. There will be designated shuttle stops in the parking lot. Please wait at these stops to ride the next available shuttle.
Driving Directions
Directions to the Southern Miss campus from the Hwy 49/I-59 Interchange
- Drive SOUTH onto Hwy 49.
- Take the 4th Street (USM) exit. You will exit onto a service road that will take you to 4th Street.
- At 4th Street take a RIGHT.
Take a left at your first stop light (Golden Eagle Avenue). The Payne Center lot will be directly to your right and will also be marked.
Directions to USM from the Hardy St. (Hwy 98/I-59 Interchange)
- Drive EAST on Hardy St.
- Turn LEFT onto 38th Avenue.
- Turn RIGHT onto 4th Street.
Take a right at your second stop light (Golden Eagle Avenue). The Payne Center lot will be directly to your right and will also be marked.
