Guide · Updated 2026

The UC Davis Move-In Guide

The university will tell you where your room is and when to show up. This is the other half: how a town of bikes and farm fields actually works once you are here.

Moving to Davis is a little different from moving to most college towns, because the town and the university are so tangled together. If you are a new student or a parent helping one move in, the logistics are worth a head start. Below is what a local would want you to know, with links to the official sources for the dates and details that change each year.

Before you arrive

Your exact move-in date, building, and what you can bring all come from the university, and they change year to year, so start with UC Davis Student Housing. Read their move-in instructions before you pack, because parking and timing on move-in day are usually scheduled in slots to keep the chaos manageable.

Getting around

Three things do most of the work here, and none of them is a car.

A bike. Davis is flat and built for cycling, and a bike is genuinely the fastest way across campus and town. Get one early, get lights, and lock it well. The university's bicycle program covers registration and the campus rules, which are worth a read since campus has its own bike roundabouts and dismount zones.

Unitrans. The town bus system, partly run by students and famous for its double-decker London buses, connects the neighborhoods to campus and downtown. Fares are covered for registered students through campus fees. See Unitrans for routes and the app.

The train. The Amtrak depot downtown puts you on the Capitol Corridor line, which runs to Sacramento in one direction and the Bay Area in the other. It is the easy car-free way home for a weekend or into the city for the day. Check Capitol Corridor for the schedule.

Your first week off campus

When you surface from unpacking, a few things will make Davis feel like home fast. The Saturday farmers market in Central Park is the town at its best. Downtown is small and walkable, a few blocks of restaurants and shops right next to campus. And the UC Davis Arboretum is a quiet, free place to walk or bike when you need a break from move-in.

A weather heads-up

Move-in lands in the tail of a Central Valley summer, so expect real heat and hydrate on the big day. Winters are mild but come with tule fog, the thick ground fog that settles in and makes bike lights matter even more. Pack for both ends of that.

This guide is part of The Davis Current, a free local newsletter written by Ryan. Want your business featured in a guide like this? Advertise with us.