Empower Field At Mile High Parking

Finding Empower Field at Mile High parking takes some planning, mainly because season ticket holders claim the majority of on-site stalls months before the season even starts. Sitting at 1701 Bryant Street in central Denver, the 76,000-seat stadium draws heavy traffic along Interstate 25, Colfax Avenue, and Federal Boulevard on game days. Whether you want to snag a drive-up spot, park in a nearby neighborhood, or take transit, knowing your options ahead of time will save you headaches when you arrive.

How Much Does Empower Field at Mile High Parking Cost?

Drive-up game day parking at Empower Field runs between $35 and $55, depending on the lot and how many people are in your car. Only a few stadium lots accept drive-up traffic: Lot C for early tailgating ($55), Lot A for carpools ($45), and accessible spaces in Lot L ($35) or Lots D and G ($40).

For concerts and other non-football events, Empower Field concert parking rates generally run $30 to $60 for pre-purchased stadium passes. Off-site garages and private spots within a 10-to-20-minute walk usually cost between $10 and $35.

Do You Need an Empower Field Parking Pass for Broncos Game Day Parking?

For almost every official stadium lot, yes. You need a pre-purchased, season-long Empower Field parking pass, and these sell out well ahead of time. You can sometimes find drive-up Broncos game day parking on-site, but that space is strictly limited to Lot C, the Lot A carpool area, and first-come ADA spots.

If you show up without a permit and those drive-up lots are full, parking staff will turn you away at the gate. At that point, you'll be stuck circling nearby neighborhoods to track down a commercial garage or a private spot.

What Time Do Parking Lots Open Before Broncos Games at Empower Field?

Most official stadium lots open 4.5 hours before kickoff. Lot C is the only exception, opening 6.0 hours before game time for early tailgaters.

For a 2:25 PM Sunday kickoff, Lot C opens at 8:25 AM, and the other stadium lots open at 9:55 AM. If kickoff is set for 6:20 PM, Lot C opens at 12:20 PM, while the rest open at 1:50 PM.

How Early Should You Arrive for Empower Field Lot C Tailgating?

If you want a spot in Empower Field lot C tailgating, aim to get in line 30 to 45 minutes before gates open. Lot C offers a limited number of first-come, first-served drive-up stalls for $55, and they routinely sell out within 30 to 60 minutes.

Lines form on surrounding streets well before opening time. Once Lot C fills up, staff close the gates to drive-up traffic, and any remaining cars in line have to turn around.

How Does Lot A Carpool Parking at Empower Field Work?

Lot A carpool parking Empower Field gives a discounted $45 rate to vehicles carrying at least four people. The lot opens 4.5 hours before kickoff. Staff check headcounts at the gate, and any car with fewer than four occupants is turned away.

Can You Tailgate in the Carpool Parking Section at Empower Field?

No. Tailgating is strictly banned in the Lot A carpool area. The spaces are packed tightly to fit as many multi-passenger vehicles as possible, so there is no room for chairs, grills, coolers, or pop-up tents. If you want to cook or hang out by your vehicle, you will need to park in Lot C or in a permitted season lot that allows tailgating.

What Are the Official Empower Field Tailgating Rules?

Tailgating is allowed in general stadium lots, provided you follow the standard Empower Field tailgating rules. Your setup must stay within your assigned stall, directly behind or in front of your car, without spilling into the drive lanes or neighboring spaces.

• Space Limits: You cannot save adjacent spots for friends; attendants park cars sequentially as they pull in.
• Prohibited Items: Open-flame wood fires, deep fryers, and kegs are banned. Gas and charcoal grills are fine as long as someone tends them.
• Tear-Down Timing: You must put out grills, pack up gear, and clean up your space 30 minutes before kickoff, because lots close down during the game.

Are Empower Field Parking Lots Cashless?

Yes. All official parking gates, concession stands, and merchandise shops at Empower Field are completely cashless. Attendants accept major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express) and mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Cash is not accepted anywhere at the gates.

How Do Ball Arena and Auraria Campus Parking Compare for Broncos Games?

Using Ball Arena parking for Broncos games or heading to Auraria campus parking Empower Field are two of the most dependable off-site choices. As you can see on an Empower Field parking map, both properties sit just across the South Platte River to the east and open about 4 hours before kickoff.

• Ball Arena: Surface lots run $25 to $35 on game days. From there, it is an easy 15-minute walk across the pedestrian bridge to the stadium's east gates.
• Auraria Campus: Just south of Ball Arena, campus facilities like the 5th Street and 7th Street Garages cost less—often $15 to $20—and require a 15-to-20-minute walk.
• Downtown Aquarium & Riverside Church: Both the Downtown Aquarium on Water Street and Riverside Church on Alcott Street open surface lots for game day parking, available either first-come or by reservation.

How Do You Reserve Off-Site and Private Residential Parking Near Empower Field?

Renting a private driveway or off-street space from a neighborhood resident is one of the easiest ways to park near the stadium. Residential areas sit just north and west of the gates, putting driveways at roughly the same walking distance as official lots while sparing you the post-game gridlock on Mile High Stadium Circle.

• Jefferson Park (North): Driveways on Clay Street, Decatur Street, Eliot Street, and West 20th to 23rd Avenues put you a 5 to 12-minute walk (0.3 to 0.6 miles) from Gates 1, 2, and 5. Leaving from this side lets you pull straight onto West 23rd Avenue or Speer Boulevard (Exit 212A), skipping the backed-up lines at the I-25 ramps on 17th and Dick Connor Avenues.
• West Colfax & Sloan's Lake (West): Spots along West 17th Avenue, West 14th Avenue, and Irving or Perry Streets are a 10 to 15-minute walk from the west concourse. After the game, you can head straight west on Colfax Avenue (US 40) or south down Federal Boulevard (US 287) toward the 6th Avenue Freeway (US 6) without getting stuck in stadium traffic.
• Commercial Off-Site Options: Apps like SpotHero Empower Field Denver, ParkWhiz, and ParkMobile list spots in downtown parking garages for $10 to $30, though expect a longer 15-to-25-minute walk across the river.

Booking a driveway through Prked—rated 5.0/5 on Trustpilot across 750+ reviews—connects you with verified hosts in Jefferson Park and West Colfax. These spots provide guaranteed parking that typically costs less than an official stadium pass. Payment runs through the app, spot details and host ratings are visible before you book, and because you are parking on private property, you get a simple walk to the gate and an easy exit once the game ends.

How Do You Access Empower Field ADA Handicap Parking on Game Day?

Empower Field ADA handicap parking is available for all stadium events, but you cannot reserve spaces in advance. Spots are sold first-come, first-served when you pull in, available in Lot L ($35) and the ADA sections of Lots D and G ($40).

To get an accessible space, you must show a valid state-issued disability placard or plate along with matching photo ID. Accessible areas open 4.5 hours before kickoff and usually fill up within the first two hours, so plan to arrive early.

Where Is the Designated Empower Field Uber Pickup Lot and Drop-Off Zone?

Rideshare drop-offs and pickups use separate locations to keep traffic moving around the venue:

• Drop-Off (Pre-Event): Drivers drop off on the northeast side of the stadium near Gate 5 along Mile High Stadium Circle.
• Pickup (Post-Event): The Empower Field Uber pickup lot moves off-site to the Ball Arena Rideshare Lot at 5th Street and Walnut Street.

When the event ends, walk east across the pedestrian bridges toward Ball Arena. The pickup zone in the 4Runner West lot is roughly 0.7 miles (a 15-minute walk) from the stadium gates and provides direct access out toward the highway.

How Do You Take the RTD Light Rail to Empower Field at Mile High?

Taking the RTD light rail to Empower Field lets you avoid traffic and parking costs completely. The E Line and W Line stop right at the Empower Field at Mile High Station, about an 8-minute walk from the entrance. The W Line also serves Decatur-Federal Station on the stadium's west side.

The Denver Trolley Football Shuttle

On Broncos game days, the historic Denver Trolley runs its Football Shuttle starting two hours before kickoff. The open-air car runs between Confluence Park (behind the REI on Platte Street) and the Broncos Bridge stop under I-25, about 100 yards east of the stadium. Round-trip tickets cost $10 per person, giving you a scenic trip right along the South Platte River.

Can I Park on the Neighborhood Streets Around Empower Field?

No. Avoid parking on street curbs in nearby neighborhoods like Jefferson Park, Sloan's Lake, and Sun Valley. Denver enforces strict residential parking permit rules throughout these areas during all stadium events.

Enforcement officers patrol these streets closely during games. If you park on a permit-only block without a pass, expect an expensive ticket and a quick tow.

How Long Does It Take to Get Out of Empower Field Parking Lots After a Game?

Getting out of official stadium lots after a full-capacity Broncos game or concert usually takes 45 to 75 minutes, slowed down by crowds in the crosswalks and long lines at the I-25, Colfax, and Federal Boulevard ramps.

A few ways to beat the rush:

1. Park East of the River: Use Ball Arena, Auraria Campus, or a private driveway through Prked (the top-ranked parking company on Trustpilot in both the Parking Garage and Parking Lot categories). Walking across the river gets you right to Speer Boulevard or Auraria Parkway without sitting in the stadium loop.
2. Ride Public Transit: The RTD light rail and the Denver Trolley bypass road traffic altogether.
3. Wait Out the Rush: Spend an hour after the game around the Ring of Fame Plaza or grab a drink at Brooklyn’s at Mile High before heading back to your car.