Plan Your Visit.

We look forward to welcoming you to Northeastern University's Oakland campus. Located in the Oakland foothills, we’re proud to be part of the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area performing arts community. Below you’ll find COVID-19 updates, directions to the Oakland campus, campus access policy, information on performance venues and parking, prohibited items, and options for enjoying the Oakland culinary scene before or after your visit.

Directions to Northeastern University in Oakland

Northeastern University's Oakland campus is located immediately off of Highway 580 in Oakland at the junction of 580 (MacArthur Freeway) and Highway 13 (Warren Freeway), approximately seven miles from the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

For detailed driving directions: Use the map above or enter the following address into your GPS app: 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA. For recorded directions, call 510.430.3250. There are three MacArthur Boulevard exits from 580 east, so please follow driving directions carefully.

For public transportation: Visit 511.org to plan your trip. Northeastern University's Oakland campus is on AC Transit routes 57 & NL. There are bus stops on MacArthur Blvd. at the campus entrance.

For rideshare: After entering your destination on campus, be sure to confirm within your ridesharing application and/or with your driver that the planned route will pass through the University's front entrance off of MacArthur Boulevard and onto Richards Road.

Campus Access

Northeastern University is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for the university community, visitors, and guests.

Effective Monday, September 18th, 2023, all vehicle drivers and pedestrians entering campus will be required to identify themselves and state their business on campus at all hours. All vehicle drivers are expected to make a full stop at the stop sign and present government-issued ID to the gate officer.

All persons entering campus between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. are required to sign-in and present a Husky Card or a government-issued ID at the Richards Road gate.

Accepted government-issued IDs are state or provincial driver’s license or identification card, passport or passport card, military ID card, or permanent resident card. ID will be requested from the driver of a vehicle and from individuals entering on foot.

Any individual unable to present an accepted ID will not be granted access to campus.

Please allow yourself extra time when accessing campus to accommodate the Campus Access Policy.

Mills Performing Arts Venues & Parking

You can locate all Northeastern University at Oakland venues and the most convenient parking areas using our campus map (PDF). Our on-campus parking is free to all visitors, but you must park in areas designated for commuter or guest parking only. Parking is always available in the Richards Road lot, located to the right of the campus entrance/security gate.

Mills Performing Arts events generally are hosted in one of these campus venues:

  • Littlefield Concert Hall (LCH) in the Music Building — in B2 on the campus map
  • Greek Theatre (GRK) behind the Music Building — in B2 on the campus map
  • Holland Theater in Lisser Hall (LIS) — in B2 on the campus map
  • Digital Performance Theater in Lisser Hall (LIS) — in B2 on the campus map
  • Rothwell Theater (RT) in Rothwell Center (RTC) — in C2 on the campus map

Prohibited Items

The following items are prohibited from being brought into Mills Performing Arts venues:

  • Dangerous weapons*
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Backpacks or bags larger than 12”x12” (purses or baby bags of acceptable size may be allowed after being searched.)
  • Laser pointers
  • Drones
  • Artificial noise makers or bullhorns
  • Balloons or banners/signs (unless previously approved)
  • Outside food or beverage
  • Strollers

*"Dangerous weapon" means those items which are, by their nature, capable of causing serious injury or death, including but not limited to firearms, knives, stilettos, daggers, switch knives, double edge knives, ballistic knives, knives with a detachable blade capable of being propelled, metallic knuckles, black jacks, blow guns, sling shots, nunchaku, zoobow, kung fu sticks, throwing stars, leather armbands or other clothing that has metallic spikes, points, or studs, explosives, explosive agents of any kind, chemical sprays, mace, oleoresin capsicum (pepper spray), tear gas, or other dangerous weapons or articles. Any item, including innocent items, when used in a dangerous fashion such as an assault and battery, may be considered a dangerous weapon.

COVID-19 Information

For current information about COVID-19 and our venues, please visit the Northeastern University Oakland campus website.

Situational Awareness Tips

  • Securing Valuables – Do not advertise your valuables in public, and remove valuables from your vehicle before parking. Do not leave valuables unattended in your vehicle.
  • Be Aware of Your Surroundings – Travel in well-lit areas. Remove distractions such as listening to music, talking on a cell phone, and text messaging whenever possible. Know what is going on around you and keep alert. There is safety in numbers and it is always beneficial to travel with others, especially at night and in the early hours of the morning. Plan your route and avoid unfamiliar streets whenever possible.

Local Restaurants

Laurel District

Degrees Plato
$$—tacos, beer bar
4251 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94619
510.479-3366
0.6 miles from campus

Communitē Table
$$—American, French
4171 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94619
510.482.2114
0.7 miles from campus

Fist of Flour Pizza Company Doughjo
$$—pizza
4166 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94619
510.531.6367
0.7 miles from campus

Café Santana Roasting Company
$—coffee, tea, bagels, empanadas
4100 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94619
510.842.3027
0.7 miles from campus

Phnom Penh House
$$—Cambodian, Asian fusion
3912 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94619
510.482.8989
0.8 miles from campus

Dimond District

Cafe Umami
$$—Asian fusion, cafe
2224 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94602
510.646.2394
2.1 miles from campus

Dimond Slice Pizza
$—pizza, vegetarian
2208 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94602
510.842-8773
2.1 miles from campus

Grand Lake Kitchen (Dimond)
$$—cocktail bar, sandwiches
2042 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94602
510.866-2639
2.2 miles from campus

Southern Cafe
$$—Southern
2000 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94602
510.336.2013
2.7 miles from campus

Greater Oakland

Marzano
$$—Italian
4214 Park Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94602
510.479.1448
3.7 miles from campus

The Star on Grand
$$—pizza, Italian
3425 Grand Ave.
Oakland, CA 94610
510.843-7827
4.2 miles from campus

Homeroom
$$—macaroni and cheese, American
400 40th St.
Oakland, CA 94609
510.597.0400
5.5 miles from campus

Judoku Sushi
$$—Japanese
3314 Piedmont Ave.
Oakland, CA 94611
510.645-1912
5.1 miles from campus

FOB Kitchen
$$—Filipino
5179 Telegraph Ave.
Oakland, CA 94609
510.817.4169
6.6 miles from campus

Everett and Jones BBQ
$$—barbecue
126 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94607
510.663.2350
6.7 miles from campus

Souley Vegan
$$—vegan, soul food, burgers
301 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94607
510.922.1615
6.8 miles from campus

Burma Superstar
$$—Burmese
4721 Telegraph Ave.
Oakland, CA 94609
510.652.2900
7.1 miles from campus

Le Cheval
$$—Vietnamese
1007 Clay St.
Oakland, CA 94607
510.763.8495
7.3 miles from campus

Zachary’s Chicago Pizza
$$—pizza
5801 College Ave.
Oakland, CA 94618
510.655.6385
7.9 miles from campus

Contact Us

Mills Performing Arts
5000 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94613
P: 510.430.2191
E: millsperformingarts@northeastern.edu