Darrell K Royal - Memorial Stadium Parking

Heading into central Austin on a game day takes some preparation, especially with over 100,000 fans heading toward Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium. The stadium sits on the east edge of the University of Texas at Austin campus right along I-35, meaning you will run into street closures, donor-only lots, and backed-up highway traffic. Whether you are heading to a big SEC matchup or an early-season non-conference game, figuring out where to park, which garages take drive-ups, and how to dodge the post-game rush will save you a lot of time.

Where is the best place to find Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium parking for Texas Longhorns games?

Where you should park for a Longhorns game mostly comes down to whether you have a donor permit. If you have one, stick to your assigned campus lot or garage. General fans usually get the best mix of price and convenience at the Texas Capitol Complex State Garages (Garages A, E, and F) or by reserving a private space on Prked, which is the #1-ranked parking company on Trustpilot in both the Parking Garage and Parking Lot categories.

If you want to be relatively close and do not mind a 10 to 15-minute walk, the state garages south of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Blvd give you fixed rates and an easier exit away from the stadium crowd. If you would rather skip the campus congestion altogether or save some money, the park-and-ride lots north of campus make getting in and out much simpler.

DKR Gameday Parking Map: Campus Garages vs. State Garages and Off-Site Options

Darrell K Royal Stadium Parking Prices: How much does game day parking cost?

Parking prices for Darrell K Royal Stadium range from $10 for park-and-ride shuttles up to $75 for surface tailgate lots, though most public garages run between $25 and $40.

On-campus garages like Manor, Brazos, and San Jacinto require annual Longhorn Foundation memberships, which involve hundreds of dollars in seat-related donations. If you are looking for single-game parking, the Texas Facilities Commission sets flat public rates across state facilities:

• State Garages A, E, and F: $40 per vehicle.
• State Garage J and Capitol Visitor Garage: $25 per vehicle.
• State Garage G and Surface Lot 24: $75 per vehicle (premium/tailgate proximity).
• State Lot 26 (North Austin Park-and-Ride): $10 per vehicle for single-day parking, or $20 per space from 6:00 PM the evening before kickoff through noon Sunday.
• ADA / Special Accommodation Spaces (Lot 118 & Trinity St): $50 to $62 per vehicle on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can you pay drive-up rates or do you need Texas Longhorns football parking passes?

You cannot drive up and pay at official campus garages on game day without a prepaid parking pass or donor permit. You can, however, pay drive-up rates with cash or card at state-run Capitol garages and remote state lots.

Main campus facilities (like Manor, San Jacinto, Brazos, Trinity, and East Campus garages) are reserved strictly for Longhorn Foundation members and fans holding pre-purchased digital permits. Attendants turn away anyone without proper credentials at campus checkpoints. If you did not buy a pass ahead of time, head south toward the state complex along 15th through 18th Streets, or reserve a guaranteed private driveway or spot on Prked.

Texas Capitol State Garages Game Day Parking: Which lots allow public parking?

The Texas Facilities Commission opens State Garages A, E, F, G, J, and the Capitol Visitor Garage to the general public on game days.

Garages A, E, and F sit between MLK Blvd and 15th Street east of Congress Avenue, putting you about a half-mile walk from DKR's south gates. Garage J is near 16th and Colorado Streets, and the Capitol Visitor Garage is at 1201 San Jacinto Blvd. You can pay on arrival with cash or card (depending on the booth) or book a spot in advance through LAZ Parking.

Keep in mind that State Garages B, Q, and R are leased to UT for home games, so they stay closed to general public parking.

What time do DKR parking garages and surface lots open before kickoff?

Official UT campus garages and surface lots open at 7:00 AM on game days, moving up to 6:00 AM if kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 AM.

Road closures start even earlier. By 5:00 AM, key campus roads (including San Jacinto Blvd between Dean Keeton and MLK, Robert Dedman Dr, Trinity St, and Clyde Littlefield Dr) shut down to unauthorized vehicles.

The university also begins towing cars on Friday night along nearby streets, especially on San Jacinto Blvd and 21st Street. If you have a regular campus parking permit and do not move your car out of designated game day zones by the Friday deadline, it will be towed to the impound lot at your expense.

Is there an official UT Austin football park and ride shuttle option?

Yes. An official game day park-and-ride shuttle runs out of State Lot 26, located at the North Austin Complex at 701 W 51st Street.

Parking costs $10 per standard car. UT shuttles start running 3 hours before kickoff and keep going until an hour after the game ends. Buses drop off and pick up along Dean Keeton Street near Robert Dedman Drive, right next to the stadium's north entrance and the Bevo Blvd setup. Lot 26 also accommodates RVs and oversized vehicles from 6:00 PM Friday through noon Sunday for $20 per space (note that there are no hookups).

Where are ADA accessible stalls and the DKR handicap parking shuttle?

ADA and Special Accommodation parking is available in Surface Lot 118 (south of MLK Blvd between Red River St and the I-35 Frontage Rd) and on Trinity Street near DeLoss Dodds Way.

These spots cost between $50 and $62 and open at 7:00 AM on a first-come, first-served basis. The person to whom the state-issued disability placard or plate is registered must be in the car and show an ID at the security checkpoints (either at Robert Dedman Dr & Dean Keeton St, or the Lot 118 I-35 entrance).

UT Fan Services runs a free golf cart shuttle for fans with mobility needs. Carts pick up at Lot 118, the East Campus Garage, and along outer campus drop points, running riders directly to accessible stadium gates:

• Gate 7 (West Side / Bellmont Hall elevator)
• Gate 14 (North End Zone / Red McCombs Red Zone)
• Gate 16 (Northwest Corner)
• Gate 27 (East Side elevator access)

If you are only dropping someone off and not parking, head to the designated drop-off spot at MLK Jr. Blvd and Trinity Street.

What is the official DKR stadium rideshare drop off location?

The designated rideshare drop-off and pick-up zone is along the south curb of Dean Keeton Street, between Robert Dedman Drive and Red River Street.

Because police and parking staff close off the inner campus roads, entering "DKR Stadium" in Uber or Lyft automatically directs drivers to this Dean Keeton zone. You will head back to this same stretch after the game to find your ride.

If you want to dodge the worst surge pricing and crowded sidewalks, walk about 10 minutes west past Speedway over to Guadalupe Street (The Drag), or head south past 15th Street toward downtown before ordering a car.

How do I avoid I-35 traffic and road closures when driving to DKR parking?

With TxDOT's ongoing I-35 Capital Express construction creating bottlenecks, you are usually better off coming in from the west on MoPac Expressway (Loop 1) or Lamar Boulevard rather than taking I-35.

If you do use I-35, keep a few key traffic details in mind:

• MLK Blvd Exit Change: Coming south from North Austin, stay on the lower deck to catch the MLK Blvd exit. You cannot reach MLK from the upper deck.
• 15th Street Northbound Ramp Closure: The old 15th Street on-ramp to northbound I-35 is permanently closed, meaning post-game traffic from 15th Street gets routed onto the southbound frontage road or down to 12th Street to get back on the highway.
• Arrive via West Campus: Take the 24th Street or Enfield Road exit off MoPac, drive east, and take San Antonio, Nueces, or Guadalupe south toward downtown garages to avoid highway work entirely.

Reserving Private Residential Parking Near Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium

Booking a private driveway or off-street spot from a resident in the neighborhoods around UT is one of the easiest ways to dodge game day gridlock. Unlike campus garages that empty thousands of vehicles into the exact same contra-flow routes, parking in a nearby neighborhood puts you just outside the road closure zone with direct access to local streets:

• Cherrywood and French Place (East of I-35): Driveways on Concordia Avenue, Robinson Avenue, French Place, and Lafayette Avenue leave you a comfortable 10- to 15-minute walk from DKR's east gates and LBJ Lawn tailgates using the footbridges at Dean Keeton or Manor Road. Leaving after the game is simple: you can drive east on Manor or north toward Airport Boulevard and US-183, skipping the I-35 backups and the 45- to 90-minute lines at Manor and East Campus garages.
• North University and Aldridge Place (North of Dean Keeton): Spots along Speedway, Duval Street, and East 30th through 33rd Streets put you 8 to 14 minutes north of Gate 14 and Bevo Blvd. When the game is over, you can head west on 30th or 38th Street toward North Lamar and MoPac, or north on Duval toward 45th Street without getting tangled in MLK Blvd traffic.
• West Campus (West of Guadalupe Street): Driveways and private stalls on San Gabriel, Nueces, and Rio Grande Streets are a 12- to 16-minute walk through campus to the stadium's west gates. When leaving, you can skip the highway altogether and take 24th Street or Enfield Road straight onto MoPac.

Reserving ahead on Prked makes securing residential parking near DKR simple. You can read reviews, check walking distances, and pay in advance. Rated 5.0/5 on Trustpilot with over 750 reviews, it lets you park on private property with an on-site host, steering clear of city tow zones and crowded public garages while keeping post-game departure quick.

Public Transit and Alternative Neighborhood UT Football Parking Options

If you want to skip driving entirely, Austin's CapMetro transit system runs frequent bus service right to the edge of campus:

• MetroRapid Routes 801 and 803: Run every 10–15 minutes along Guadalupe Street, dropping off at the UT West Mall (about an 8-minute walk across campus to DKR).
• CapMetro Bus Routes 6, 7, 10, 18, and 837: Serve stops around the stadium and Capitol Complex. Note that Routes 7 and 10 run on detours around game day street closures.
• Private Off-Campus Booking: Free street parking in West Campus and North University is virtually non-existent due to City of Austin residential parking permit (RPP) rules, which are strictly enforced on game days. Booking a private driveway or spot through Prked gives you a reserved, guaranteed space within walking distance without risking a ticket or tow.

How long does it take to exit Manor Garage and other DKR parking facilities after the game?

Getting out of on-campus garages right next to the stadium, like Manor or San Jacinto Garage, often takes 45 to 90 minutes after the fourth quarter. Foot traffic and police contra-flow patterns slow departures to a crawl.

State garages located farther south in the Capitol Complex (like Garages E, J, and the Capitol Visitor Garage) usually clear in about 20 to 30 minutes since their exits lead onto downtown one-way streets away from the main crush. If you are parked right by the stadium, you might want to stick around for the post-game band concert or hang out on the LBJ Lawn for 45 minutes while the initial rush clears out.