Finding parking in Ann Arbor for the Michigan vs. Michigan State game takes advance planning. More than 110,000 fans converge on Michigan Stadium when the Paul Bunyan Trophy is on the line. For this matchup, official permit lots sell out months ahead, neighborhood roads shut down to through-traffic, and drive-up rates spike throughout town. Where you should park comes down to what you want out of the day: an all-day tailgate, a short walk to the gates, or an easy exit via park-and-ride.

Where to park for Michigan vs Michigan State: Best lots and game day options

Your best parking choice depends on your game-day plans. Pioneer High School and the Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club provide the top tailgating scenes right by the gates. University of Michigan campus structures offer a cheaper, lower-stress option if you are comfortable walking 15 to 20 minutes. If avoiding the post-game gridlock is your top priority, leave your car near Briarwood Mall and take the AAATA FootballRide shuttle.

The lots directly bordering Michigan Stadium, such as the Blue Lot, Champions Lot, and Crisler Center lots, are strictly permit-only areas for athletic donors and long-time season pass holders. General public drivers must choose among school district properties, off-campus grass lots, university garages, or local residential yards.

Michigan vs Michigan State parking cost: Golf courses, Pioneer High School, and structures

For the Michigan State game, parking runs $85 at the Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club and $65 on the U-M Golf Course. Pioneer High School typically charges between $60 and $90+ for standard drive-up or pre-booked spots, with preferred spaces priced higher.

The $85 rate at the Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club reflects Tier 1 pricing used for high-profile Big Ten games. Because both golf facilities park cars on grass fairways, heavy rain or ground thaw can force lot closures to protect the turf. Expect to pay more across the board for this matchup than for non-conference games, as commercial operators and private lawn owners raise prices for rivalry weekend.

Pioneer High School parking (Michigan game) vs. Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club

Choosing between these two tailgate spots comes down to whether you prefer pavement or grass, how you want to pay, and whether you need a guaranteed space in advance.

• Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club (AAGOC): Located directly across Stadium Boulevard from Crisler Center and Gate 4, this club offers classic lawn tailgating on manicured golf turf. Spots are filled strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendants will not let you hold spots for friends coming later, so if you want to park together, your group must arrive in line together.
• Pioneer High School: Situated across Main Street southwest of the stadium, Pioneer High School offers extensive paved parking managed by LAZ Parking. Unlike the golf courses, Pioneer lets drivers buy guaranteed spots ahead of time online. It feels like an open-air festival on game morning, but rules on tailgating gear are tighter here.

Tailgating rules and regulations for Ann Arbor event parking

Tailgating policies vary depending on who owns the property:

• Pioneer High School Regulations: Because Pioneer is Ann Arbor Public Schools property, charcoal grills, open flames, and fuel-powered generators are banned. Portable propane or electric heaters must stay at least 20 feet away from tents. Alcohol and tobacco are prohibited on school grounds under Michigan state law, though staff and officers on site primarily focus on rowdiness, open glass containers, and disruptive crowds.
• Golf Course Regulations: AAGOC prohibits charcoal grills, deep fryers, and open fire pits; only portable propane grills are allowed. Walking across, parking on, or pitching tents inside roped-off greens and sand traps is strictly forbidden.
• City Alcohol Ordinances: Ann Arbor enforces open-container laws on public streets, sidewalks, and municipal parks outside designated downtown social districts. Open drinks are fine inside private tailgating lots, but stepping onto Main Street or Stadium Boulevard with an open beer or cocktail can earn you a ticket.

How to book Michigan vs Michigan State parking: Passes and advance reservations

You can buy advance passes through Pioneer High School's booking system, secondary ticket sites, or private parking platforms like Prked. University of Michigan parking decks and surface lots do not offer advance sales; they accept drivers only on game morning until full.

Here is how advance options break down:

• Pioneer High School Passes: LAZ Parking sells spots online and issues digital QR codes that gate staff scan from your phone or a printout.
• Secondary Market Official Passes: Donor permits for the Blue Lot and Champions Lot routinely appear on resale sites like StubHub or Vivid Seats. Expect rivalry prices to run anywhere from $200 to over $400.
• Pre-Booked Private Driveways: Through Prked, which is ranked #1 on Trustpilot in both the Parking Garage and Parking Lot categories, you can reserve spaces in residential driveways or private commercial lots within walking distance of the gates. Booking ahead guarantees a space and saves you from circling crowded streets on game morning.
• Drive-Up Day-of-Game Cashless Purchases: If you do not book ahead, head early to the U-M campus parking decks or line up early at the U-M Golf Course for first-come, first-served entry.

What time do lots open for Michigan vs Michigan State parking in November?

Opening times hinge on kickoff. For games starting at 3:30 p.m. or earlier, Pioneer opens at 6:00 a.m., athletic department lots open at 7:00 a.m., AAGOC opens at 7:30 a.m., and university structures open at 8:00 a.m. For night games kicking off after 6:00 p.m., Pioneer opens at 11:00 a.m., while AAGOC, the U-M Golf Course, and campus structures open at noon.

For an intense rivalry game in November, staging lines form along Main Street and South State Street well before gates open. Ann Arbor police do not let vehicles idle or block traffic lanes on city streets, so time your arrival to hit the gates right as they open.

U-M campus structure and surface lot parking near Michigan Stadium

If you want paved, covered parking and do not care about tailgating, University of Michigan Parking Services opens several campus parking structures on game day for $40 per car. These decks open at 8:00 a.m. for afternoon games (noon for night games) and sit roughly 0.8 to 1.2 miles north of the stadium:

• Hill Street Structure (1001 Hill St.): About a 15-minute walk down South Division or State Street. This structure fills early because it sits closest to the stadium.
• Thompson Street Structure (508 Thompson St.): Near West Quad, roughly an 18-minute walk to the north gates.
• Thayer Street & Fletcher Street Structures: Located in the Central Campus core near the Michigan League, 22 to 25 minutes away on foot. These decks make for an easy getaway toward US-23 and Huron Parkway after the game.
• Surface Lots W32, W39, and W40 (Fifth Ave & Hill St.): University surface lots that run $50 on game day, with a direct walking route down Fifth Avenue toward the stadium.

Cashless payment vs. cash policies for Michigan Stadium parking

Official university athletic lots, campus parking structures, and Pioneer High School are strictly cashless. Gate attendants take only credit cards, debit cards, or valid pre-paid digital barcodes.

The Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club accepts both cash and cards at its gates. Homeowners selling lawn and driveway parking south of Stadium Boulevard and through Burns Park take cash, along with apps like Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle. Carrying a card plus around $100 in cash gives you the flexibility to take whatever spot opens up.

Briarwood Mall Michigan football shuttle: Hours, routes, and cost

The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority operates the FootballRide shuttle from Briarwood Mall directly to Gate 2 of Michigan Stadium. Fares are $1.50 per person each way ($3.00 round trip), and parking at the mall is free, making it the cheapest way to reach the game.

Shuttle details:

• Pickup Location: Buses pick up on the south side of Briarwood Mall near the Kensington Hotel and the former Sears auto center.
• Schedule: Shuttles run about every 20 minutes starting two hours before kickoff. The last bus leaves the mall 30 minutes before game time.
• Drop-off Point: Passengers get dropped off on Stadium Boulevard at Gate 2, right between Crisler Center and Michigan Stadium.
• Return Service: Return buses load at Gate 2 immediately after the final whistle and run for about one hour post-game.
• Payment: Buy tickets through transit apps like EZFare, Transit, Moovit, or Uber, or pay exact change on the bus. Drivers cannot make change.

TheRide also runs FootballRide shuttles from downtown garages, the Michigan Union, the Plymouth Road Park & Ride (DoubleTree by Hilton North), and the Ann Arbor Regent Hotel on Washtenaw Avenue.

Can I park on residential streets near Michigan Stadium without getting towed?

No. On game days, street parking is banned on most neighborhood roads near Michigan Stadium. The city enforces temporary on-street parking restrictions from 8:00 a.m. to midnight, backed by steep fines and quick towing.

To keep routes open for emergency vehicles, neighborhood streets like Pauline Boulevard, Snyder Avenue, Edgewood Place, and Stadium Commerce are posted with "No Parking – Special Event" signs. If you park on a restricted street or block a driveway apron, your car will be towed to an impound lot, running you $300 to $500 to retrieve it. If you want to park in a neighborhood, pay a resident directly to pull onto their lawn or into their driveway.

Residential lawn and student driveway parking near Michigan Stadium

Renting a driveway or front-lawn spot from a local resident is a practical alternative for the Michigan-MSU game. These spots put you as close to the gates as many donor lots, but with a far easier exit through residential streets once the game lets out:

• Allmendinger Park neighborhood (Potter Ave, Berkley Ave, Snyder Ave): Sitting three to five blocks west of South Main Street, these driveways put you a 6- to 10-minute walk (0.3 to 0.5 miles) from the stadium's west gates. Leaving from here is much easier than exiting Pioneer. Instead of getting channeled south on Main toward the I-94 backup, you can head west toward South Seventh Street or Maple Road, reaching Scio Church Road or M-14 quickly.
• North-of-stadium corridor (South Division St, Sybil St, Mary St): Just north of East Hoover Avenue, these spaces sit 5 to 8 minutes on foot from Gates 1 and 2. After the game, you can head north toward Hill Street or east onto Packard Street toward US-23, avoiding the road closures on South Main and the long exits at the golf courses.
• Burns Park perimeter (Granger Ave, Golden Ave, Woodlawn Ave): East of the athletic complex across South State Street, these neighborhood drives require a 10- to 14-minute walk to the east gates. When leaving, you can turn right onto Granger toward Packard or take East Stadium Boulevard toward US-23, avoiding both downtown congestion and the I-94 backup.

Driveway spots typically run $50 to $90 for the Michigan State game. Booking one through Prked, which holds a 5.0/5 rating on Trustpilot across 750+ reviews, locks in your spot with a vetted host ahead of time. You get clear reviews from other fans and a prepaid confirmation, so you can head straight to your space without carrying cash or hunting for open driveways on game morning.

Michigan Stadium handicap accessible parking: ADA lots and shuttles

Public accessible parking is available at the University of Michigan Golf Course in the Green Lot on Stadium Boulevard for $65 per vehicle, first come, first served. You must display a valid state disability placard or license plate, and the person registered to that credential must be in the vehicle.

The Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club also provides a limited number of first-come, first-served accessible spaces at Gate 1 off Stadium Boulevard for $85. Both locations run free golf cart shuttles to help mobility-impaired fans reach Stadium Gates 2 and 4. On the athletic campus, accessible spots near the Triangle Lot and Crisler Center are reserved for donor permit holders. Arrive at the U-M Golf Course Green Lot early to get an ADA spot before the area fills.

Where are Uber and Lyft drop-offs located near Michigan Stadium?

Rideshare drivers cannot drop off or pick up passengers right outside Michigan Stadium because police close perimeter roads to non-permitted cars well before kickoff. Plan on getting dropped off and picked up roughly half a mile to a mile away from the stadium.

Good spots to meet your rideshare include:

• Downtown Ann Arbor / Michigan Union (530 S. State St.): Walk about 0.8 miles north on State Street to catch a ride clear of stadium traffic.
• Pauline Boulevard & Main Street (Northwest): Walk four blocks north of Pioneer High School along Main Street to Pauline Boulevard, where cars can move normally.
• Eisenhower Parkway Corridor (South): Walk south down State Street or Main Street past the golf course toward Eisenhower Parkway or the hotels around Briarwood Mall.

Right after the game, cellular networks often crawl as 110,000 people try to use their phones at the same time. Walking toward downtown or scheduling a pickup spot away from Stadium Boulevard makes finding your ride much easier.

Are RVs allowed to park at Pioneer High School or Michigan Athletics lots?

RVs, campers, trailers, and buses are not permitted at Pioneer High School. Every vehicle entering Pioneer must measure under 19 feet long and 9 feet wide, fitting completely inside a standard stall.

For official campus lots, RV rules are tight:

• Maize Lot (South State St. near Varsity Tennis Center): U-M permits game-day RV parking here for $200 per vehicle on a cashless, first-come, first-served basis. No overnight parking is allowed; RVs can enter after 7:00 a.m. (noon for night games) and must leave within two hours after the game ends.
• Blue Lot: RV spaces in the Blue Lot are restricted to donors holding a season RV pass. No drive-up RV parking is sold here.
• Off-Site Overnight RV Tailgating: Fans looking to camp all weekend often book spots through third-party event operators at Briarwood Mall, where self-contained rigs can stay from Friday afternoon through Sunday noon.

How long after the game do you have before your car gets towed?

You have two hours after the game ends to clear your vehicle before lots close and towing starts. This two-hour rule is strictly enforced by U-M Athletics, Pioneer High School (LAZ Parking), and the Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club.

Any car left in university lots, school grounds, or on golf fairways past the two-hour mark gets towed to a local impound lot at the driver's expense. If you plan to head downtown to celebrate after the game, move your car into a city deck (like the Fourth & William or Maynard structures) first.

Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club parking cost, payment methods, and cash policies

The Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club takes both cash and credit cards at its entrance gates. While staff can process card payments on the spot, paying with cash often helps speed up entry during the morning rush.

How bad is post-game traffic leaving Michigan Stadium and what routes avoid gridlock?

Leaving Michigan Stadium can easily take 60 to 90 minutes of stop-and-go driving if you park right near the gates. With 110,000 fans pouring into narrow residential corridors alongside planned road closures, traffic moves slowly in every direction.

Game day road closures

Starting hours before kickoff and running through the end of the game, city officials shut down several main roads to through-traffic to protect pedestrians:

• South Main Street: Closed between Stadium Boulevard and Pauline Boulevard.
• East Keech Street: Closed between South Main Street and Greene Street.
• East Hoover Street: Closed between South Division and South State Street.

Police traffic flush and outbound departure routes

After the game, police route traffic onto specific one-way outbound streets to clear the stadium area:

• Exiting South (I-94): Vehicles leaving Pioneer High School and the golf courses onto South Main Street are pushed south toward I-94. If you are heading toward Detroit or Jackson, stay on Main straight to the highway instead of trying to cut through side streets.
• Exiting North or East (US-23 / M-14): If you park in a Central Campus deck (like Hill or Thompson) or along Burns Park, drive east on Hill or Packard toward Washtenaw Avenue to connect directly to US-23 without getting tangled in stadium foot traffic.
• Avoiding Main Street Completely: If you park west of the stadium, take neighborhood streets to Seventh Street or Maple Road. From there, you can head north to M-14 or south toward Scio Church Road, staying completely off Main Street.

Planning your exit route ahead of time, getting into town early, and securing a parking spot before game day will keep you focused on the game instead of sitting in traffic on South Main.