Welcome home, Tigers.
LSU move-in weekend is exciting, hot, busy, emotional—and usually full of at least one item nobody remembered to pack. Whether you are moving a first-year Tiger into a residence hall or helping an upperclassman settle into an apartment, a little preparation can make the entire day easier.
Our Mom’s has deep roots around LSU. Our founders first met while working near campus, and today our Baton Rouge restaurant on West Lee Drive is ready to welcome new Tigers, returning students, roommates, parents, siblings, and whoever carried the heaviest box.
Here is what families should know before heading to LSU in August 2026.
When is LSU move-in weekend in 2026?
LSU has two on-campus move-in periods this year:
• First-year students: August 14–16, 2026
• Second-year and older students in on-campus apartments: August 21–22, 2026
• First day of fall classes: August 24, 2026
Friday, August 14 is a limited early-arrival option for first-year students and adds a $200 charge to the student’s fee bill. LSU Welcome Week begins August 16, so first-year families should pay close attention to their student’s required schedule before making evening plans.
Every student needs an individual arrival appointment. Always use the time shown in the Housing Portal and review the latest instructions on the official LSU move-in page (https://www.lsu.edu/housing/move-in/index.php) before leaving home.
Information verified August 10, 2026. LSU may revise schedules, routes, or procedures, so check the official page and the student's LSU email before traveling.
Download the free 2026 LSU move-in guide
Keep the dates, checklist, condition-documentation steps, campus contacts, maps, and restaurant information together on your phone or print a copy for the car.
Download the free guide using the link at the end of this article.
LSU’s best move-in-day tips
LSU gives families several practical instructions that are worth following closely:
1. Print the arrival hang tag before leaving home. It is required to enter the first-year staging area and reach the assigned unloading zone.
2. Approach the first-year staging area from Gourrier Avenue. Arrive no more than five minutes before the appointment. Early vehicles will be redirected.
3. Limit the number of vehicles. Each student may bring no more than two. A vehicle towing a trailer counts as two vehicles.
4. Label everything. Put the student’s first initial, last name, building, room number, and box count on every tub, bag, or box.
5. Bring your own wheels. LSU has rolling carts, but the university recommends bringing a hand truck, dolly, or wagon because students and their guests are responsible for moving their belongings.
6. Let the student check in while the crew unloads. Once unloading is complete, move the vehicle away from the residence hall so the next family can pull in.
7. Expect traffic if you leave and return. LSU specifically warns families that shopping and dinner trips are fine, but daytime congestion may slow the trip back to campus.
The simplest trick may be LSU’s own packing philosophy: less is more. Coordinate with roommates before buying shared items, and confirm the measurements and rules for the assigned building.
What LSU recommends bringing
LSU’s official packing list (https://www.lsu.edu/housing/move-in/what-to-bring.php) includes several items that are easy to overlook:
• Tiger Card
• Twin or Twin XL bedding after confirming the building
• Shower caddy and shower shoes
• First-aid kit
• Grounded three-prong power strip or surge protector
• Ethernet cable and a printer connection cord, because Wi-Fi printing is not available
• Reusable water bottle, bottled water, and nonperishable snacks
• Portable charging bank, flashlight, batteries, rain jacket, and all-weather shoes
• Employment-identification documents and interview clothes if the student plans to work
LSU allows a microwave up to 800 watts and a mini-fridge up to five cubic feet and under 150 watts. Bed risers, candles, wax products, halogen lamps, air fryers, toasters, waffle irons, hot plates, space heaters, personal air conditioners, and wireless routers should stay home.
One roommate conversation can prevent a semester of frustration
LSU’s residential handbook recommends talking with roommates before move-in about more than appliances. Discuss sleep schedules, study habits, cleaning responsibilities, room temperature, guests, shared property, and how disagreements should be handled.
It may feel formal before everyone has even met, but fifteen honest minutes can prevent duplicate purchases and make the room more comfortable from the first week.
Document the space before boxes cover it
Before unloading a dorm room or apartment, complete a room-condition walkthrough while every surface and provided item is visible. Take wide photographs and close-ups of the walls, floors, ceilings, doors, windows, furniture, fixtures, and appliances. Record stains, scratches, dents, water damage, worn finishes, missing pieces, and previous repairs.
Safely test the keys and locks, lights, outlets, plumbing, air conditioning, refrigerator, microwave, and other provided equipment. Do not use anything that appears damaged. Submit every concern through the university or property's official inspection or maintenance process before its deadline, then keep the original photos or video, submitted report, and confirmation for the full housing or lease term. This creates a clear record of the condition the student received and makes maintenance follow-up easier.
Moving into an apartment near LSU?
Private apartment communities set their own lease dates, key pickup rules, parking procedures, and unloading instructions. Check the property portal and lease instead of assuming the LSU residence-hall schedule applies.
The busiest student-housing areas include State Street and North Gate, East Boyd and Highland, Nicholson and Parker, and the Burbank, Brightside, and Ben Hur corridors. Families may be moving into communities such as The Venue, The Grayson, Campus Crossings, Southgate Towers, Flatiron, Wildwood, Maison Burbank, or other nearby properties during the same August window.
Before arrival, confirm:
• The exact key-pickup location and time
• Whether every roommate must be present
• Elevator or loading-zone reservations
• Parking permits and towing rules
• Utility and internet activation
• The unit-condition inspection process
• Whether packages can arrive before the resident
Do not rely on a verbal report. Use the property's official inspection or maintenance process and save the confirmation.
Take a move-in break with Our Mom’s Baton Rouge
At some point, everybody needs air conditioning, cold drinks, and a table that is not covered in storage bins.
Our Mom’s Baton Rouge serves hand-pressed burgers, po’boys, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, kids’ choices, and plenty of options for a hungry moving crew. Families can sit down together or use Baton Rouge online ordering (https://order.toasttab.com/online/our-moms-restaurant-bar-baton-rouge-250-west-lee-drive) when the room is not quite ready to leave unattended.
Explore the full Our Mom’s menu (https://www.ourmomsrestaurant.com/full-menu) and Baton Rouge specials (https://www.ourmomsrestaurant.com/baton-rouge-specials).
Our Mom’s Restaurant & Bar — Baton Rouge
250 West Lee Drive
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70820
(225) 456-5392
You have spent all day making a dorm or apartment feel like home. Let Our Mom’s handle the meal.
Welcome to Baton Rouge, Tigers. We are glad you are here.
Quick LSU Move-In FAQ
When do LSU freshmen move in for fall 2026?
First-year students move in August 14–16, 2026. The August 14 early-arrival option adds a $200 charge.
Where do first-year families begin LSU move-in?
Families enter the staging process from Gourrier Avenue at the student’s assigned time. The printed arrival hang tag is required.
Should families bring a moving cart?
Yes. LSU has some rolling carts but recommends bringing a hand truck, dolly, or wagon.
Where can families eat near LSU after move-in?
Our Mom’s Baton Rouge is at 250 West Lee Drive near the south side of LSU. Families may dine in or order online.
Article Sources
• LSU Residential Life — Move-in 2026 (https://www.lsu.edu/housing/move-in/index.php)
• LSU Residential Life — What to Bring (https://www.lsu.edu/housing/move-in/what-to-bring.php)
• LSU Welcome Week (https://www.lsu.edu/welcomeweek/index.php)
• LSU Fall 2026 Calendar (https://www.lsu.edu/registrar/academics/schedule-booklet/fall-calendar.php)
Download the Free 2026 LSU Move-In Guide:
https://www.ourmomsrestaurant.com/s/Our_Moms_2026_LSU_Baton_Rouge_Move-In_Guide.pdf
