Mills College at Northeastern University is an Oakland campus with historic architecture, green space and a public art museum.
- Location: 5000 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94613
- Museum admission: Free
- Campus access: Open during standard business hours; visitors need government-issued identification at the gate to visit the museum
- Parking: Visitor parking locations are shown on the university campus map
For a wider trip plan, see how to fit Oakland into a day from the airport area.
About the Mills College campus
Mills College is part of Northeastern University, whose Oakland campus combines a long college history with a broader university setting. Mills College was founded in 1852, and Northeastern’s Oakland campus was established in 2022 following the merger with Mills College.
The campus covers 135 acres and includes a community farm, museum, concert hall and green spaces. Mills Hall, constructed in 1871, was the campus’s first building and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1971.
The Mills College Art Museum adds a public-facing destination to the campus. Founded in 1925, it occupies a building designed by architect Walter Ratcliff Jr. that contains 6,000 square feet of gallery space.
Planning a campus visit
The Mills College Art Museum is open to the public with free admission, but its opening pattern follows Northeastern’s calendar. Regular hours are Wednesday from 11 AM to 7:30 PM and Thursday through Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM; the museum closes on university holidays and during summer months.
Check the official site before setting out, since hours and access can change. The museum asks visitors to show government-issued identification at the campus gate. Accepted identification includes a driver’s license or identification card, passport or passport card, military ID, or permanent resident card.
If you’re arranging how to get to Oakland from the airport, plan the campus leg separately. The campus is accessible from MacArthur Boulevard, off Interstate 580.
How do you get from the airport area to campus?
Driving is an option: Mills College at Northeastern University is about an 11-minute drive from Oakland Airport Executive Hotel.
For your route, use the campus map to identify buildings and parking areas before arrival. The map also marks accessible parking and EV charging stations. The Visitor Center is marked at grid location B2.
Access, parking and visitor rules
Northeastern’s Oakland campus is private property and is open during standard business hours. Parking access is divided into commuter, residential, guest and faculty/staff designations, so check the campus map for visitor parking locations.
The museum has three accessible parking spaces in the lot in front of its building, with curb cuts connecting the lot to the sidewalk. You can reach the entrance by a wheelchair-accessible ramp or by seven steps with a handrail. The galleries welcome manual and electric wheelchairs, electric mobility scooters and other power-driven mobility devices.
Accessible restrooms with automatic doors are in Aron Art Center A, 125 feet across the plaza from the museum. The building doors are not automatic, but staff can open them on request. For campus access after hours, from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Pacific time, visitors must show a Northeastern ID card or government-issued ID at the front gate.
FAQs
What is the campus address?
Mills College at Northeastern University is at 5000 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94613.
Is the Mills College Art Museum free?
Yes. Admission is free, and the museum is open to the public.
Where can visitors find parking information?
The Northeastern Oakland campus map identifies parking lots and accessible parking areas.