College Park gets packed on Big Ten game days. For the Maryland Terrapins vs. Wisconsin Badgers matchup on November 14, 2026, dealing with campus traffic and tight drive-up parking takes some foresight. Whether you want to set up an early morning tailgate, grab a spot in a campus garage, or walk in from off-campus lots along Baltimore Avenue, sorting out your Maryland vs Wisconsin parking college park plan early will keep you from sitting in gridlock near SECU Stadium.

Where to Park for Maryland vs Wisconsin at SECU Stadium

Where you should park for Maryland vs Wisconsin mostly comes down to what you care about most: tailgating, short walks, or beating the post-game rush. If you want the classic Big Ten tailgate scene right by the gates, the surface lots around the venue—specifically Lot 1 (Lots 1b, 1c, 1d, 1f) and Lot Z—put you 2 to 5 minutes from the entrance.

If you prefer covered parking and a direct route onto Route 193, Stadium Drive Garage parking Maryland football permit holders get multi-level parking on the north side of the stadium. Fans who are not tailgating and want to save some money or avoid traffic in the center of campus should look at Regents Drive Garage or commercial lots on the Route 1 corridor. They usually run cheaper, keep you out of the worst bottlenecks, and leave you with an easy 10- to 18-minute walk.

Maryland vs Wisconsin Parking Cost and Pricing Options

Single-game permits bought directly from the University of Maryland Department of Transportation Services (UMD DOTS) run between $25 and $45, depending on the tier and how close the lot is. On secondary ticket markets, donor passes for places like Lot 1 or Stadium Drive Garage regularly start around $50 and push past $100 for conference games like this one.

If you want to keep costs down, off-campus garages and lots along Baltimore Avenue offer solid college park event parking, typically costing between $10 and $25:

How to Book Maryland vs Wisconsin Parking and SECU Stadium Gameday Parking Passes

You need to buy a Maryland football parking pass before you go. UMD DOTS switched game days over to pre-purchased digital permits, so you cannot rely on pulling up and paying cash at the gate. Any drive-up space left on game day is completely cashless, severely limited, and sells out almost immediately.

Campus checkpoints turn away drivers without passes, so book Maryland vs Wisconsin parking before heading into Prince George's County. Official SECU Stadium gameday parking passes arrive digitally on your phone. Make sure to download your permit to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet ahead of time, because mobile service gets spotty near the stadium as kickoff draws closer.

UMD Football Parking Lots vs. Off-Site College Park Event Parking

Deciding between official UMD football parking lots and off-campus spaces really boils down to tailgating versus how quickly you want to get on the road after the game.

Campus lots put you in the middle of everything. You are right by SECU Stadium and have access to official tailgating spaces. The tradeoff is traffic. After the final whistle, pedestrians, blocked turns, and narrow campus roads can easily keep you stuck in your spot for an hour or longer.

Booking off-site through apps like Prked (the top-ranked parking company on Trustpilot in both the Parking Garage and Parking Lot categories) or SpotHero locks down a space along Route 1 (Baltimore Avenue) or nearby commercial streets, usually for less money. You will miss out on tailgating right next to your car and have a 15- to 20-minute walk through campus, but reserving parking near SECU Stadium off-site gives you a clean shot onto Route 1 or the Capital Beltway (I-495) without sitting in campus gridlock.

Renting a Private Driveway or Residential Parking Near SECU Stadium

Renting a private driveway or yard space from someone living near campus is one of the easiest ways to skip the headaches of university lots. Because post-game police barricades close off inner campus roads, parking in a nearby neighborhood puts your car past the checkpoints for a much quicker trip home:

• College Heights Estates and University Hills (West of Campus): Just west of campus across Adelphi Road, along streets like Stanford Drive, Tulane Drive, and Wells Parkway, residential driveways sit a 12- to 16-minute walk (0.6 to 0.8 miles) from SECU Stadium via Campus Drive. Leaving from here lets you bypass campus traffic controls completely, heading north on Adelphi Road straight to New Hampshire Avenue (MD-650) and the Capital Beltway (I-495 Exit 28) without touching the backups on MD-193.
• Old Town College Park (Southeast of Campus): East of Baltimore Avenue on streets like Yale Avenue, Princeton Avenue, Harvard Road, and Knox Road, driveways are a 15- to 18-minute walk across McKeldin Mall to the stadium. Leaving Old Town gives you quick access south down Route 1 toward Washington, D.C., or east along College Avenue to Kenilworth Avenue (MD-201) and I-95/I-495, avoiding campus delays and Route 193.
• Berwyn Neighborhood (Northeast of Campus): Situated north of Campus Drive and east of Baltimore Avenue on streets like Berwyn Road and 48th Avenue, spots here sit about 18 to 20 minutes on foot from SECU Stadium. You get a clean exit east onto Greenbelt Road (MD-193 East) toward Kenilworth Avenue and I-495, steering well clear of the stadium-area snarls.

Booking a spot through Prked is a simple way to arrange this. The platform carries a 5.0/5 rating on Trustpilot across 750+ reviews, letting you reserve a driveway in these neighborhoods with upfront pricing, verified host feedback, and secure checkout. Your car stays parked on private property while you skip inflated secondary-market prices and the 45- to 90-minute lines leaving Lot 1 or Stadium Drive Garage.

What Time Do SECU Stadium Parking Lots Open Before Kickoff?

Official University of Maryland football parking lots and garages open six hours before kickoff. If kickoff is set for 11:00 AM, gates open at 5:00 AM. A 3:30 PM start puts opening time at 9:30 AM, and an evening 7:30 PM game opens SECU Stadium parking at 1:30 PM.

Try to pull in within the first hour to hour and a half if your permit is for general admission surface parking. Good spots along the grassy edges go fast, and showing up early lets you clear perimeter checkpoints before area roads clog up.

What Is the Color-Coded Entrance System for Maryland Football Gameday Parking?

Every digital parking pass features a color and symbol showing exactly which gate you must use to enter campus. UMD uses this system to keep Maryland football gameday parking flowing smoothly and manage traffic around local road projects, including Purple Line light-rail construction on Campus Drive.

Police and DOTS staff will turn you away if you try entering through the wrong gate. Check your pass before leaving home and follow the designated route:

Where to Find Maryland vs Wisconsin Tailgating Parking at SECU Stadium

Tailgating in SECU Stadium surface lots opens six hours before kickoff. Lot 1, Lot 11b, and Lot Z draw the heaviest crowds for Maryland vs Wisconsin tailgating parking, filling with fans early in the day.

The university enforces several tailgating rules to keep things safe and organized:

• Single Space Allocation: Each digital pass covers one parking stall. Your vehicle, grill, and gear have to fit within that single marked space. If you need room for an extra canopy or setup, you have to purchase another permit.
• Canopy and Tent Dimensions: Tents must be 10x10 feet or smaller, cannot block driving lanes or sidewalks, and cannot be staked into grass or turf.
• Perimeter Green Space: Grassy areas bordering parking spaces are open on a first-come, first-served basis for chairs and gear, with priority going to cars parked directly alongside them.
• Post-Game Window: All tailgating has to wrap up within two hours after the game ends.

Are Grills and Open Flames Allowed When Parking in Campus Garages at UMD?

No. Open flames, charcoal grills, and deep fryers are banned in all campus parking garages, including Stadium Drive Garage, Regents Drive Garage, and Terrapin Trail Garage. Due to low ceilings and carbon monoxide dangers, the campus fire marshal prohibits combustible cooking inside covered decks. If you park in a garage and still want to grill, you'll need to haul your setup down to ground level and cook in an approved outdoor green space.

Where Is ADA Handicap Accessible SECU Stadium Parking Located?

Accessible parking for SECU Stadium is located in Stadium Drive Garage, accessed via the north entrance off Stadium Drive. This puts you on a paved, flat path right outside the stadium gates.

To use these stalls, you must display both a pre-purchased SECU Stadium ADA parking permit and a valid state disability placard or plate registered in your name. Spaces in Stadium Drive Garage are limited and tend to sell out weeks early for Big Ten games, so contact the Maryland Athletics ticket office well ahead of time. Free accessible shuttles also operate along perimeter campus routes for visitors with limited mobility who park in outer lots.

Can I Park at the College Park Metro Station for Maryland Football Gameday Parking?

Yes. Leaving your car at the College Park-U of Md Metro station (Green Line) and catching the free campus shuttle is one of the easiest ways to handle Maryland football gameday parking. Parking in the Metro garage is free on Saturdays and Sundays, which saves you the cost of a campus pass.

Shuttle-UM runs its game day QuickBus service directly between the Metro station bus loop and campus. Buses start running about three hours before kickoff and continue until two hours after the game wraps up. Taking the bus lets you avoid perimeter checkpoint delays and crowded drop-off areas near the stadium.

Where Is the Best Rideshare Drop-Drop Location for SECU Stadium?

The best drop-off spot for Uber and Lyft is on the edge of campus along Baltimore Avenue (Route 1) near The Hotel at UMD, or by the intersection of Campus Drive and Paint Branch Drive.

Police turn away drivers without game day permits from inner roads like Stadium Drive and Union Drive. Telling your driver to take you straight to SECU Stadium will only get you trapped in checkpoint traffic and rerouted. Getting dropped off on Route 1 lets you hop out quickly and take a 10- to 15-minute walk past the main gatehouse and down Campus Drive to the gates. After the game, walk past the campus perimeter to one of the businesses on Baltimore Avenue before calling a ride.

Maryland vs Wisconsin Parking November Post-Game Traffic and Exit Routes

Traffic leaving College Park after a Big Ten matchup crawls, often taking 45 to 90 minutes just to get off campus. Roadways clog instantly as thousands of cars funnel toward MD-193 (University Boulevard) and US-1 (Baltimore Avenue).

Maryland State Police and UMD Police enforce strict turns at key exits to keep cars moving:

• Vehicles exiting Stadium Drive onto Route 193 are generally forced to turn right toward the Capital Beltway (I-495).
• Traffic coming out of Campus Drive onto Baltimore Avenue enters dedicated one-way lanes, with mid-block turns cut off.
• Pay attention to officers directing traffic rather than your GPS, which regularly tries to guide drivers down blocked campus streets.

For an easier time with Maryland vs Wisconsin parking November departures, plan to hang out at your tailgate for an hour after the game or park off campus near Route 1 to bypass the worst of the congestion.