Where to Stay for Texas Tech Graduation

Y'all. They did it. After all the late-night study sessions, the care packages and the "can you Venmo me" texts, your Red Raider is walking across that stage.

Now you just need somewhere for Grandma, the aunts, the little cousins and everybody else to stay. Here's what we tell every family who reaches out to us about Texas Tech graduation weekend.

When is Texas Tech graduation?

Texas Tech holds commencement three times a year at United Supermarkets Arena on campus: December, May and August.

• Fall 2026: December 11 and 12, 2026

• Spring 2027: May 14 and 15, 2027

• Summer 2027: August 7, 2027 (this year's summer ceremonies ran on a Friday and Saturday, so plan for the 6th and 7th)

All three are still marked tentative on the university's calendar, and each college walks at its own time. Check the Texas Tech commencement page for your graduate's exact ceremony before you lock in your dates.

How early should you book?

As soon as you know the date. Seriously. Graduation is one of the busiest weekends of the year in Lubbock, right up there with Parents Weekend and football games at Galaxy Stadium. Hotels near campus fill up months ahead, and the homes that sleep a big family are always the first to go. If you're coming for May, booking in the fall is not too early.

Why a home instead of a hotel?

Because graduation isn't a one-night thing. It's a whole weekend with everybody you love in one place, and a hotel splits you up across three floors and four keycards. A home gives you:

• Everyone under one roof. Morning coffee together, not a group text asking who's awake.

• A kitchen. Breakfast before the ceremony, and a big family dinner after without fighting for a reservation.

• Room to spread out. A living room for photos, a backyard for the kids and space for the grad to finally relax.

• Parking right outside. No garages, no valet, no hauling bags through a lobby.

• A better deal for big groups. Split between a couple of families, a home often costs less than a block of hotel rooms.

What to look for when you book a vacation rental in Lubbock

Not every rental is created equal, and graduation weekend is not the weekend to find that out. Before you book, look for these:

• A real person behind the listing. Look for a host with an actual name and photo, not a faceless company account. You want to know who's taking care of you if something comes up.

• Lots of recent reviews. Read them, not just the star rating. Look for what guests say about check-in, communication and whether the home matched the photos.

• Really good photos. High-quality photos of every room tell you the host takes their home seriously. Dark, blurry or missing photos usually mean something's being left out.

• A host who responds to reviews. Check whether the host replies to guest feedback, especially the not-so-glowing ones. A host who cares about what past guests said is a host who'll care about your stay.

• The house rules on events. Most vacation rentals don't allow events or parties, and that includes inviting a big group over, even if it's local family and friends. If you're planning a graduation celebration with a crowd, book a party or event space for that part and keep the rental for sleeping and hanging out with your crew.

Where to stay for Texas Tech graduation

Simply Stay manages homes all over Lubbock, and a lot of them are close enough to walk to campus. That includes Home On The Range LBK, our own family collection, where every home is less than 5 miles from Texas Tech. Here are our favorites for graduation weekend, by the size of your crew.

For the whole family

Entire Sawyer (6 bedrooms, sleeps 12). A main house and a guesthouse on one property, steps from Texas Tech. Book the whole thing and nobody gets stuck on an air mattress. The shared yard has two grills, so the celebration dinner basically plans itself.

The Peggy Sue and The Cricket (sleep 8 together). Our ode to Buddy Holly, plus the cute suite tucked right behind it with its own entrance. Book both and Grandma and Grandpa get a little privacy while everybody stays together.

Overton Manor (4 bedrooms, sleeps 8). Walk to campus, with a king bed for the grown-ups and a garage for easy parking.

The Chicago (3 bedrooms, sleeps 8). A game room house within walking distance of Texas Tech. The cousins will thank you.

For parents and grandparents

Rustic Raider (3 bedrooms, sleeps 6). Close to campus, designed by a local designer we love, with a garage.

Tranquil Terrace (2 bedrooms, sleeps 4). Calm and quiet in Tech Terrace. Exactly what you want after a long, emotional day.

The BuddyHOLLYWOOD (2 bedrooms, sleeps 4). A condo in the historic Buddy Holly neighborhood, an easy walk to Tech.

For two

Historic Firehouse (1 bedroom, sleeps 2). A real converted firehouse with a Ms. Pac-Man arcade, about 3 minutes from the stadium.

June (studio, sleeps 2). A renovated studio in Tech Terrace, one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Lubbock to walk around.

Want more options close to campus? Here are all the homes you can walk to Texas Tech from.

Our favorite hotels near Texas Tech

Only need a room or two? We love a good hotel too, and these are the two we send people to.

The Overton Hotel. Right next to campus and within walking distance of Galaxy Stadium, so it's an easy pick for graduation and game weekends alike.

Cotton Court Hotel. This place is a little slice of heaven in Lubbock. It's absolutely beautiful, and so many locals book it for staycations. If you want graduation weekend to feel like a getaway too, this is it.

Tips for graduation weekend in Lubbock

• Leave early for the ceremony. Traffic around campus backs up fast. Give yourself extra time, or grab an Uber and skip parking altogether.

• Check the bag policy, then shop local. Last year's ceremonies used a clear bag policy, so leave the big purse at the house. Need a clear bag? Grab one in town. Barque, Odds and Ends, Red Raider Outfitters and Old School Tradition all carry clear bags and the cutest Lubbock and Red Raider gifts, so you'll go home with a souvenir too.

• Make dinner reservations now. Every restaurant in town is packed that weekend. Or skip the wait and cook a family dinner at your rental. Just check the listing first to make sure the kitchen has what you need. Too many times guests show up ready to bake and there's no muffin tin. If you're planning a big meal, message your host ahead of time and ask about pans, serving dishes and enough plates for everyone.

• Pack for the weather. December can be cold, and May and August can be HOT. It's windy no matter what. Bring a jacket and a hair tie for the photos.

• Stay an extra night. Everyone's exhausted after the ceremony. An extra night means you get to actually enjoy it instead of rushing to the airport.

Book your graduation stay

Graduation weekends book up fast, and booking direct with us means you're talking to real people who know Lubbock. Find your graduation stay, or reach out and we'll help you pick the right home for your crew. Congrats to your grad. Wreck 'em!