CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – University of Virginia students have started moving back in for the 2025-26 academic year, beginning with residents of the school’s fabled Lawn last Friday. The big move-in will be Thursday and Friday as some 4,000 first-years arrive.

Area residents can expect heavy traffic on streets near the residence halls both days. Also, retailers figure to be busy as families scramble for housewares, furniture, and other accessories needed in dorm rooms.

Students are assigned two-hour appointment times to move-in, though most load in take anywhere from 15-to-20 minutes depending on the volume a student may bring. Traffic jams are common in traffic entryways on Alderman and McCormick as people park near the dorms. After students have loaded their belongings in, they are strongly encouraged to move vehicles to the more long-term parking garages before coming back to organize their rooms. Movers are encouraged to bring plenty of fluids to drink as move-in can be hot and crowded. This year, move-in is catching a bit of a break in a time of year where temperatures are often in the 90s will hover only around 80-degrees both days.

About 1,000 second-years move into residence halls Saturday, and they also have two-hour appointment times. Third- and fourth-years are on their own as they move in Sunday or Monday on-Grounds with no appointments.

Click here for all 2025 UVA Move-In information.