Husky Stadium-WA Parking

Husky Stadium sits squeezed between the Montlake Cut and Lake Washington, which means game day traffic hits some serious geographic chokepoints. Whether you're driving in for a Big Ten game, catching the light rail, or tying up a boat in the bay, getting your parking sorted out ahead of time will save you plenty of headaches on game day.

What Are the Current UW Football Parking Rates at Husky Stadium?

Standard single-game public Husky Stadium parking runs $60 for regular games and bumps up to $70 for high-demand Big Ten matchups against teams like Penn State or Indiana. If you're bringing an oversized vehicle, RV, or motorhome to park in the designated RV sections, expect to pay $120 for standard games and up to $250 for premium matchups.

If you'd rather skip the university's peak rates and lot lines, you can book a private spot through Prked (ranked #1 on Trustpilot in both the Parking Garage and Parking Lot categories). Reserving a private driveway or spot in nearby neighborhoods like Montlake, Ravenna, or the U-District locks in a set price so you can walk straight to the stadium without sitting in campus payment queues.

Do I Need a Husky Stadium Parking Pass PayByPhone Setup or Is Cash Accepted?

You can't pay with cash anywhere on the University of Washington campus. Every university parking facility is entirely cashless. For most general public surface lots and garages, you'll need to pay using the PayByPhone mobile app or website as soon as you pull in.

A handful of locations—specifically Padelford Garage, Portage Bay Garage, and the E2 lot gate—have attendants who can take standard credit and debit cards. Still, if you're parking in surface lots like E1, Central Plaza Garage (C1–C6), or the West Campus lots (W10, W12, W29, W35), download PayByPhone and set up your account before heading toward campus to avoid hold-ups at the entrance.

What Time Do Husky Stadium Gameday Parking Lots Open Before Kickoff?

Official University of Washington parking lots open exactly six hours before kickoff on Saturday game days. You cannot park overnight on campus without special permission.

If an unauthorized car is left in a lot overnight before a game, the driver has to be at the vehicle by 6:30 AM to buy or scan a valid game day parking pass. Any unattended cars left in event lots past 6:30 AM will be towed immediately at the owner's expense.

What Are the Best Options for Husky Stadium E1 Lot Parking and Padelford Garage?

If you don't have a season permit, the E1 lot is usually your best bet. Located just north of the sports complex off Montlake Boulevard Northeast and Northeast 45th Street, it's the largest public surface lot on campus and holds hundreds of cars on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you prefer covered parking and want a cleaner escape route west toward I-5 after the game, look at Padelford Garage. It sits on Montlake Boulevard NE just north of the stadium. You can pay with a credit card at the gate, and stairwells and elevators take you right out onto walkways heading down past Rainier Vista toward the turnstiles.

What Is the Postgame Traffic Like for Husky Stadium E1 Lot Parking?

Getting out of the E1 lot after the game can test your patience. Delays of 60 to 90 minutes are common after sellouts because thousands of vehicles try to spill onto Montlake Boulevard Northeast and Pacific Street at the exact same moment, jamming up access to SR 520 and NE 45th Street.

Traffic officers prioritize crossing pedestrians and city buses around the perimeter. If you don't feel like idling in the E1 exit line, consider tailgating for an hour after the final whistle, walking over to the U-District for a bite, or booking a spot through Prked on the west side of campus so you can head out along Roosevelt Way NE or 15th Avenue NE.

Can You Rent Private Residential Driveways or Yards Near Husky Stadium?

Renting a driveway or yard spot from a homeowner around the UW campus is an easy way to steer clear of the worst traffic. Because the stadium is hemmed in by Union Bay and the Montlake Cut, campus lots dump a massive amount of traffic onto just two main corridors: Montlake Boulevard NE and Pacific Street. Booking a residential spot nearby helps you route around those logjams:

• Montlake Neighborhood (South of the Montlake Cut): Driveways on streets like East Shelby, East Hamlin, and 24th Avenue East are an 8- to 12-minute walk (0.4 to 0.6 miles) from the gates across the Montlake Bridge. Parking south of the water puts you right next to the SR 520 on-ramps to the Eastside, or you can take Boyer Avenue East toward Capitol Hill and I-5 South without hitting game day street closures.
• Laurelhurst (East of Campus): Driveways along Northeast 41st Street, Mary Gates Memorial Drive NE, and Surber Drive NE sit about a 10- to 15-minute walk (0.5 to 0.8 miles) from the east gates via the paved Burke-Gilman Trail. When you leave, you can cut directly east onto Sand Point Way NE or NE 45th Street.
• Ravenna and the North U-District (North/Northwest of Campus): Driveway spots along 20th, 21st, and 22nd Avenues NE between NE 45th and NE 50th Streets put you about a 15- to 18-minute walk (0.8 to 0.9 miles) across upper campus. This gives you a direct shot west to I-5 on-ramps at NE 45th, NE 50th, or Ravenna Boulevard instead of waiting in the long line out of E1.

Booking a private driveway on Prked lets you lock in a spot before kickoff, often for less than the standard $60 to $70 campus rate. The platform holds a 5.0/5 rating on Trustpilot across 750+ reviews, letting you check host ratings, pay securely online, and leave your car at a private residence rather than in a packed university lot.

How Do You Access Husky Stadium ADA Handicap Parking on Gameday?

Single-game accessible parking for the public is located in the E1 lot on a first-come, first-served basis. You'll need to show a valid state-issued disability placard or license plate and pay the regular game day parking rate at the entrance.

These accessible spaces fill up quickly for major games, so if you need mobility parking, it's worth contacting the Husky Athletics Ticket Office ahead of time to see if pre-reserved ADA options are open.

Are Mobility Shuttles Available From the Husky Stadium E1 Lot Parking Area?

Yes. Free mobility shuttles, known on campus as "Dawg Sleds" (golf carts and passenger vans), run back and forth between the E1 lot and the stadium gates. The main pickup spot is inside E1, directly opposite Husky Ballpark.

Dawg Sleds start running two hours before kickoff, bringing fans with limited mobility to the North and South gates. They run limited trips during the game and ramp back up after the final whistle to take passengers back to E1.

What Are the Rules for Husky Stadium Tailgating Lots vs Garages?

Open flames, charcoal grills, propane burners, and deep fryers are not allowed in Padelford Garage, Central Plaza Garage, Portage Bay Garage, or any other covered UW structure.

If you plan to cook or put up a canopy, you must park in one of the open surface tailgating lots, such as E1, E18, or E12. In these open-air lots, your setup, chairs, and coolers must fit within the footprint of your single parking space, directly in front of or behind your vehicle, without spilling out into driving lanes.

How Does Husky Harbor Sailgating Parking Work on Lake Washington?

Husky Harbor hosts one of college football's coolest traditions: arriving at the game by boat across Lake Washington and Union Bay. The harbor holds up to 140 boats at dock slips, though these spots require season or single-game moorage permits through a UW Athletic Department waitlist.

If you don't have a slip permit, you can drop anchor out in Union Bay north of the marked navigation buoys. UW operates water taxi shuttles out of the Waterfront Activities Center (WAC) to ferry anchored boaters to shore.

• Signaling the Shuttle: Wave a bright life vest or standard boating flag so the shuttle crew can spot you.
• Operating Hours: Shuttles run starting two hours before kickoff and finish one hour after the game ends.
• Shuttle Cost: Getting from your boat to the dock is free; the ride back out costs $10 per person (kids under 2 ride free), which you pay by credit card at the WAC office.

Where Is the Official Husky Stadium Rideshare Drop Off Zone?

The official rideshare drop-off and pickup spot is on Rainier Vista along Okanogan Lane, just off Stevens Way on the main campus. Uber, Lyft, and taxi drivers cannot pull over on Montlake Boulevard, Pacific Street, or Walla Walla Road during game days.

To catch a ride after the game, take the pedestrian bridge from the west plaza across Montlake Boulevard and walk up Rainier Vista toward Stevens Way. Wait until you get to Okanogan Lane before calling your ride so you don't rack up wait-time fees while your driver navigates traffic.

Husky Stadium Parking Map and Directions: Best Light Rail Park-and-Ride Options

If you're looking over directions and maps, the Sound Transit Link 1 Line has a stop at University of Washington Station right across from the stadium, making light rail one of the simplest ways to get to a game. Trains arrive every 6 to 10 minutes and drop you a couple of minutes from the West and South gates.

A few reliable park-and-ride garages along the Link 1 Line include:

• Northgate Station: Over 1,000 garage and surface spots off I-5 at NE 103rd St; the train ride to Husky Stadium takes about 8 minutes.
• Shoreline North / 185th Station: Multi-level garage right off I-5 at 185th St; train ride to the stadium is roughly 14 minutes.
• Lynnwood City Center Station: Large multi-story parking decks north of Seattle; direct light rail travel time to UW is about 20 minutes.
• Angle Lake Station: Great pick if you're coming up from Tacoma or South King County, with over 1,000 stalls; train ride north to UW Station takes around 45 minutes.