Parking Can Ruin Your Day Before the Game Starts
Tickets? Sorted. Outfit? Ready. Then you circle a parking lot, overpay for a spot a long walk from the gate, and arrive at your seat already annoyed. Stadium parking is the most underplanned part of game day. A little homework changes everything.
Cheapest NFL Parking
These stadiums keep it reasonable. Each figure is the cheapest parking we list there, the same figure our NFL game day cost ranking sorts by:
| Stadium | Team | Cheapest Parking | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lambeau Field | Packers | Free | Residential streets within walking distance |
| Gillette Stadium | Patriots | Free | General parking across Route 1 |
| Huntington Bank Field | Browns | $5 | Port of Cleveland Lot |
| SoFi Stadium | Rams/Chargers | $5 | A Metro station park-and-ride, then the game-day shuttle |
| Paycor Stadium | Bengals | $10 | Covington, Kentucky, across the Roebling Suspension Bridge |
Most Expensive NFL Parking
Plan ahead or skip the car entirely. These three have the highest cheapest-parking figures in the same ranking:
| Stadium | Team | Cheapest Parking | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Financial Field | Eagles | $50 | The stadium lots, at the Eagles game rate |
| Empower Field at Mile High | Broncos | $45 | Lot A's carpool section, four or more people |
| Levi's Stadium | 49ers | $30 | Great America Overflow Lots |
Take Transit Instead
At some stadiums, public transit isn't just cheaper. It's genuinely better than driving.
Excellent Transit
- Caesars Superdome Walk from the French Quarter or take the streetcar. You don't need a car in New Orleans.
- Bank of America Stadium LYNX Light Rail stops right at the stadium. Park at a suburban park-and-ride and ride in; the parking comes with the fare.
- US Bank Stadium Metro Blue and Green lines drop you at the door.
- Lucas Oil Stadium Downtown hotels connect to the stadium by enclosed skywalk, so you can walk in without going outside.
- Ford Field QLine streetcar and People Mover connect the whole downtown. Walk from Greektown for dinner first.
Solid Transit Options
- Lincoln Financial Field Broad Street Line subway runs directly to the stadium complex
- Lumen Field Link Light Rail from downtown Seattle
- Empower Field RTD light rail to the Empower Field station
Every NFL team's Parking & Directions page on Visit Your Team has transit directions. Most also have lot maps, and most say where rideshare picks up.
Strategies That Work Everywhere
Book Ahead
Pre-paid parking through the team website or apps like SpotHero and ParkWhiz can be cheaper than drive-up.
Get There Early
Official lot opening times vary by stadium, so check yours before you leave. First ones in get the best spots. If you're tailgating, early arrival isn't optional.
Walk a Little Further
The lots right next to the stadium charge the most, so a lot farther out is worth the walk. Bonus: the walk warms you up for cold-weather games, and the atmosphere builds as you get closer.
Know Where Rideshare Picks Up
Most NFL stadiums name one lot or street for Uber and Lyft, and it is not always near the gates. Hard Rock Stadium sends rideshare to an off-site lot on NW 199th St, and Gillette Stadium to Lot 15 by the CVS Health Gate. Find the spot before the game. Searching for it in a crowd of 70,000 after the final whistle is not fun.
Have an Exit Plan
Postgame traffic is the worst part of driving to a game. Some options:
- Leave a few minutes early. Miss the last play of a blowout and get a head start on the lot.
- Stay and tailgate. Some lots allow postgame tailgating. Let traffic clear while you eat.
- Pull through when you park. Back in or pull through your spot so you can drive out forward without waiting.
- Check alternate routes before the game. Waze and Google Maps postgame send everyone to the same highway on-ramp. Local roads are often faster.
Urban vs. Suburban vs. Shared-Complex
Urban stadiums like Soldier Field, Caesars Superdome, and US Bank Stadium have limited, expensive official parking but offer transit and scattered private lots. Transit is usually the move.
Suburban stadiums like Arrowhead, AT&T Stadium, and Gillette Stadium have large parking complexes. Check the alternatives before assuming you need a car: Gillette has special-event trains, with tickets and schedules tied to the game. Our car-free NFL stadium guide covers that trip and seven other rail options.
Shared-complex stadiums like MetLife and SoFi have structured but pricey parking. Pre-booking is basically required.
Factor parking into your total game day budget with the Game Day Cost Calculator, and check each team's parking page for lot-by-lot details.