Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Parking

Getting a parking spot for a Florida Gators game in Gainesville takes some planning, especially when more than 90,000 fans pack into The Swamp [1]. Most lots right next to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium are reserved for booster permit holders. That leaves single-game ticket holders, visiting fans, and tailgaters to pick between general university lots, park-and-ride shuttles, residential yards, and pre-booked driveways. Getting a handle on road closures, bus routes, and campus rules before you head out will keep you from spending your Saturday stuck in traffic on University Avenue.

Where Is the Best Place to Find Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Parking on Gameday?

The right parking spot depends on whether you want a short walk or a quick getaway after the game. If you want a guaranteed spot near the gates, you can reserve private driveway parking along NW 17th Street or SW 2nd Avenue using platforms like Prked—the top-rated parking company on Trustpilot across both the Parking Garage and Parking Lot categories. If you would rather skip campus traffic altogether, take the Regional Transit System (RTS) Gator Aider park-and-ride shuttle [2].

If you do not have a season-long Gator Booster permit or stadium parking pass, gameday parking breaks down into five main choices:

Where Can You Find Free Parking for a UF Football Game on Campus?

Free gameday parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in select non-reserved campus lots and commuter garages, mostly on the southwest side of campus.

University of Florida Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) lifts standard permit restrictions in designated perimeter surface lots and commuter garages starting at 8:00 AM on gameday Saturdays [4]. A few of the main spots with open public parking include:

• Garage 14 (Southwest Recreation Center): On Hull Road. It is a 20-to-25-minute walk across campus, or you can hop on campus transit.
• Park and Ride Lot 2 (SW 34th Street): A large surface lot with free parking, though many drivers pay for the RTS bus connection to get directly to the stadium [2].
• Fraternity Row Perimeter Surface Spaces: Along the south side of Museum Road. These fill up almost immediately after sunrise.

Because these spaces are open to anyone and cost nothing, they routinely fill to capacity three to four hours before kickoff.

Lot 113 UF Gameday Parking vs. Booster Permit Lots: Where Can General Public and Visiting Fans Park?

Visiting fans and non-booster attendees can park on campus at Lot 113 on Hull Road for a flat fee of $30. The lots directly surrounding Ben Hill Griffin Stadium are strictly reserved for Gator Booster permit holders.

The official Ben Hill Griffin Stadium parking map shows that the athletic department sets aside nearly all central surface lots and garages—including Lots 18, 20, 21, 25, 107, and 114—for donors with physical or digital passes from Gator Boosters. Officers will turn away any car without a valid permit.

Options for non-booster drivers include:

• Lot 113 Public Access: Located near the Southwest Recreation Center off Hull Road and SW 34th Street. Spaces go for $30 per vehicle on a first-come, first-served basis. You cannot reserve these ahead of time; payment is collected on arrival through the Passport Parking app or by on-site staff.
• Secondary Market Passes: If you want to park in donor facilities like Garage 1 across from the stadium or the Stephen C. O'Connell Center surface lot, you will need to buy a resale permit on a ticket exchange beforehand.

How Does the Gator Aider Shuttle for Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Work and What Does It Cost?

The Gator Aider shuttle is a park-and-ride service run by Gainesville's Regional Transit System (RTS). Rides cost $20 per person for a round trip on single gamedays, or $100 for a season pass [2].

Buses start running three hours prior to kickoff and continue until one to two hours after the game ends [2]. They drop passengers off right by the gates along Stadium Road or Gale Lemerand Drive [2], letting you skip the walk through packed sidewalks.

Gator Aider runs from several hubs around town:

• Celebration Pointe: Right off I-75 at Archer Road, with parking in the surface lots near Bass Pro Shops or the outlet garage [2].
• UF Park and Ride Lot 2: On SW 34th Street near Hull Road [2].
• Garage 9 (UF Health / Archer Road): On the medical campus at Archer Road and Gale Lemerand Drive [2].
• UF Health Professional Park: Located on Williston Road near I-75 [2].
• Downtown Gainesville Parking Garage: On SW 2nd Avenue, handy for anyone spending time in downtown restaurants before the game.

You can buy tickets through the GoRTS Fares app or pay cash when boarding [2]. Children under five ride free with an adult.

Which Roads Around Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Close on Game Day and When?

Road closures right around the stadium begin three hours before kickoff, while checkpoints on Gale Lemerand Drive go up five hours before game time.

To protect pedestrian crowds that often top 90,000, the University of Florida Police Department and Gainesville Police shut down the following corridors:

• Gale Lemerand Drive: Closed to through traffic from University Avenue south to Stadium Road three hours before kickoff. Five hours before game time, access north of Museum Road is limited to authorized booster pass holders.
• Stadium Road: Closed to unauthorized cars between Gale Lemerand Drive and Fletcher Drive starting three hours prior to kickoff.
• University Avenue (FL-26): Both directions between Gale Lemerand Drive and NW 17th Street (Buckman Drive) close to regular traffic three hours before kickoff to give pedestrians safe crossing from College Park.
• Woodlawn Drive: Restricted to permit holders heading toward north campus lots and the track facility.

After the game, traffic patterns reverse. Police run one-way outbound routing along Archer Road, University Avenue, and SW 34th Street for about 90 minutes.

Can You Pay Cash to Park in Residential Yards Near Ben Hill Griffin Stadium?

Homeowners and residents living just north of campus regularly open their yards, driveways, and private lots for gameday parking. Choosing a residential spot gives you a few clear advantages over university lots:

• College Park & University Heights (NW 17th to NW 21st Streets): These streets sit right across West University Avenue, just a 5-to-10-minute walk (0.2 to 0.5 miles) from Gate 1 and the stadium's north entrance. That puts you far closer than remote lots like Lot 113 or Garage 14.
• Direct Northern Exit via NW 8th Avenue: Cars parked north of University Avenue can pull straight out toward NW 8th Avenue or NW 16th Avenue. From there, you can connect to NW 34th Street (FL-121) or 13th Street (US-441) without getting trapped in the one-way detours on Gale Lemerand Drive and Archer Road.
• Skipping Garage Exiting Delays: Instead of waiting in long lines inside campus decks while officers meter traffic out onto main roads, you can pull straight out of a driveway and onto neighborhood streets.

If you would rather not drive around searching for an open yard with cash in hand, booking ahead on Prked guarantees your spot before you hit town. The platform holds a 5.0/5 rating on Trustpilot from over 750 reviews. It costs less than aftermarket booster passes, shows you exact walking distances and host reviews upfront, ensures someone is on-site at the property, and lets you handle payment digitally.

How Early Do You Need to Arrive for Florida Gators Football Parking on Gameday?

Plan on reaching Gainesville at least four hours before kickoff if you need public parking, want a free spot, or have to work around road closures.

For major SEC games against opponents like Ole Miss, South Carolina, Oklahoma, or Vanderbilt, traffic off I-75 (Archer Road, Williston Road, and Newberry Road) frequently backs up five to six hours ahead of kickoff. Getting in early gives you time to park, unload tailgate supplies, and make it over to Gale Lemerand Drive for the "Gator Walk," which takes place two hours and fifteen minutes before game time.

What Are the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Tailgating Rules and Opening Times?

Tailgating on general campus open spaces can begin at 6:00 AM on Saturday [4], while reserved booster lots and standard university surface lots open at 8:00 AM [4].

Key Ben Hill Griffin Stadium tailgating rules from the University of Florida include:

• Setup Windows: Setting up gear on campus green spaces (like Flavet Field or Plaza of the Americas) is not allowed before 6:00 AM on gameday [4]. Everything must be cleared out by 3:00 AM Sunday [4].
• Tent Rules: Tents larger than 10x10 feet require an administrative permit. Staking tents into the ground is banned across campus to protect underground utilities, so you must use sandbags or weights.
• Alcohol Policies: Open containers are permitted in designated outdoor tailgating areas on gameday, but glass containers are not allowed anywhere on campus.

Can You Tailgate in the Parking Garages at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium?

Tailgating inside parking garages, stairwells, and driving aisles is strictly prohibited across the UF campus.

University rules require garages (including Garage 1, Garage 14, and Garage 50) to stay clear for moving traffic. Setting up chairs, tables, TVs, grills, or tents inside parking decks is banned to prevent carbon monoxide buildup and keep escape routes open. Grilling with charcoal, propane, or wood pellets is never allowed on garage decks, rooftops, or in drive aisles.

Where Is Ben Hill Griffin Stadium ADA Accessible Parking and Lot 109 Located?

Public ADA accessible parking is centered in Lot 109 on the south side of Archer Road at Gale Lemerand Drive [3].

Spaces in Lot 109 are available first-come, first-served for drivers with a state-issued disabled parking placard and matching driver's license [3]. Key details include:

• Lift Shuttle Service: A free RTS shuttle equipped with wheelchair lifts runs between Lot 109 and the stadium concourse starting three hours before kickoff [3].
• Drop-Off Point: The shuttle drops off guests at Gate 14 on the west side of the stadium [3].
• Return Trip: After the game, shuttles line up outside Gate 14 to bring fans back to Lot 109 [3].
• Booster ADA Parking: Donors with booster-issued accessible passes use Lot 107 or the Percy Beard Track lot north of the stadium.

Where Is Ben Hill Griffin Stadium RV Parking and Gators RV City Lot 78 Located?

RV parking is based at Gators RV City Lot 78, which opens at 4:00 PM on the Friday before gameday [4].

Lot 78 sits along Gale Lemerand Drive across from the UF baseball stadium. You must buy an RV permit in advance through the Gator Ticket Office or TAPS.

• Generator Exhaust Rules: Any RV running an on-board generator must use an exhaust stack (such as a "Gen-Turi") that routes exhaust above the vehicle's roofline to protect neighbors.
• Utilities and Parking Rules: Hookups are limited. Parking an RV in regular commuter lots or along campus curbs is prohibited, and unauthorized vehicles are towed quickly [4].
• Departure Window: RVs in Lot 78 have to leave campus by 12:00 PM on Sunday [4].

Where Is the Designated Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Rideshare Drop Off and Pickup Area?

Designated rideshare drop-off and pickup areas sit along the edge of campus on Newell Drive (near Tigert Hall) and outside Garage 14 on Hull Road [3].

Because police close University Avenue, Stadium Road, and north Gale Lemerand Drive [3], apps like Uber and Lyft route drivers to specific perimeter spots:

• East Side Drop-Off / Pickup: Newell Drive between University Avenue and Union Road. From here, it is a 7-to-10-minute walk west through campus to Gate 1.
• South Side Drop-Off / Pickup: Hull Road by Garage 14, near the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

To avoid surge pricing and spotty cell service right outside The Swamp, walk 10 to 15 minutes east down University Avenue toward Midtown or downtown before calling a ride. You can also book a private driveway spot through Prked ahead of time to keep your vehicle within walking distance and head out smoothly once the game wraps up.