Getting a good parking spot for Ohio State vs Ball State takes some advance planning. With over 100,000 fans heading toward the Olentangy River corridor for a Saturday afternoon kickoff at Ohio Stadium, Columbus traffic gets heavy fast. Finding a convenient space this September comes down to knowing your options before you leave the house, whether you plan to tailgate early, park on West Campus and catch a shuttle, or reserve a private driveway through Prked. Understanding official Ohio State football game day parking rules, rates, and local traffic patterns will help you get to the stadium without unnecessary headaches.

Ohio State vs Ball State Parking Cost: How Much Does Ohio Stadium Parking Cost?

Official CampusParc OSU football parking costs $30, $40, or $60 on game day depending on how close the lot is to Ohio Stadium. Off-campus private parking and pre-booked options near campus generally run between $25 and $50 based on walking distance.

CampusParc divides all public game-day event parking on campus into three tiers:

These rates remain the same across university-managed facilities for every regular season game.

Can I Pay for Parking With Cash at Ohio Stadium Lots?

No, all university parking facilities at Ohio State are 100% cashless on game days. Drivers parking in campus lots must pay using a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a pre-purchased digital pass. Attendants and garage pay machines do not accept cash at any entrance.

How Do You Book Ohio State vs Ball State Parking in Advance on ParkMobile or Prked?

Yes, fans can book Ohio State vs Ball State parking ahead of time through ParkMobile via the Ohio State Athletics Ticket Office or by reserving guaranteed private spaces on Prked.

Pre-purchasing a digital permit through ParkMobile guarantees access to a designated CampusParc zone, though specific spaces inside those public lots are still filled on a first-come, first-served basis. If you prefer a guaranteed physical space so you do not have to race other drivers at sunrise, booking private parking near Ohio Stadium through Prked lets you reserve driveways and private off-street spots in surrounding neighborhoods like the University District, Old North Columbus, and Upper Arlington. Prked holds the #1 ranking on Trustpilot in both the Parking Garage and Parking Lot categories.

What Time Do Ohio Stadium Parking Lots Open on Football Game Days?

All public CampusParc surface lots and parking garages open at 5:00 a.m. on game day. Spaces in the Proximity garages and Premiere lots closest to the stadium fill quickly, often hours before noon kickoffs, so getting there early is necessary if you are paying at the gate.

Vehicles left in university lots prior to 5:00 a.m. without valid overnight permits are subject to ticketing and towing. Overnight RV and camper parking is strictly limited to credentialed permit holders in designated RV lots.

Ohio Stadium West Campus Shuttle Parking: Where Is the Free Shuttle Pickup?

Ohio Stadium West Campus shuttle parking runs out of the Mount Hall Loop within the Carmack surface lots, located just west of SR-315 along Carmack Road and Kenny Road.

Parking in the Carmack lots costs $30 (the Non-Proximity rate) and includes free round-trip rides on the Ohio Stadium West Campus shuttle.

Key shuttle details:

• Operating Hours: Service begins 6 hours prior to kickoff and runs continuously until 1 hour after the game ends.
• Drop-Off Location: The shuttle drops riders at the Sisson Hall / Mid-West Campus Transit Hub, leaving an easy 8- to 10-minute walk east across the Woody Hayes Drive bridge to Ohio Stadium.
• Post-Game Return: Board the return shuttles at the same transit hub on Woody Hayes Drive to return to the Carmack lots.

Ohio Stadium ADA Accessible Parking: Where Are Disability Lots and Accessible Shuttles Located?

Official Ohio Stadium ADA accessible parking is located in the surface lots directly north of St. John Arena and inside the Lane Avenue Garage for a flat rate of $30. Entering these facilities requires a valid state-issued disability placard or license plate, and the registered individual must be in the vehicle.

A dedicated, complimentary wheelchair-accessible shuttle picks up riders next to the St. John Arena lots and drops off curbside at Gate 22 on the east side of Ohio Stadium. ADA shuttles begin running 6 hours before kickoff and continue for 1 hour post-game.

Ohio State Tailgating Parking Rules: Are Charcoal Grills Allowed in University Lots?

No, charcoal grills, open flame pits, wood-burning smokers, and deep fryers are barred across all Ohio State University surface lots and parking garages. Fans are permitted to use only portable propane/LP gas grills with a maximum tank size of 20 pounds.

When setting up before the game, make sure to follow the official Ohio State tailgating parking rules:

• Space Limits: All tailgating equipment, chairs, canopies, and coolers must fit entirely within your assigned 8.5-by-15-foot parking space.
• No Space Saving: Saving parking spaces for arriving friends using cones, tape, or lawn chairs is prohibited.
• Canopy Restrictions: Canopies and pop-up tents cannot exceed 10x10 feet and must be safely anchored without blocking drive aisles or pedestrian pathways.
• Trash Disposal: University staff provide trash and recycling bags throughout surface lots; all waste must be bagged and placed in designated dumpsters prior to entering the stadium.

Where Do Uber and Lyft Drivers Drop Off and Pick Up at Ohio Stadium?

Rideshare and taxi vehicles are barred from the inner campus loop and roads directly surrounding the stadium on game day. All Uber, Lyft, and taxi drop-offs and pick-ups must use one of two designated campus zones:

• North Zone: Borror Drive, located immediately along the south side of the Jerome Schottenstein Center (best for fans sitting in B-Deck, C-Deck, or North Rotunda sections).
• East Zone: The intersection of West 17th Avenue and Neil Avenue (best for fans approaching from South Campus or High Street).

After the game ends, head directly to either Borror Drive or 17th & Neil to request your driver. Expect cell service delays around the stadium immediately following the game, along with higher surge pricing along the Olentangy corridor.

What Roads Close Around Ohio Stadium Before and After Kickoff?

Woody Hayes Drive closes to all unauthorized vehicular traffic between Cannon Drive and Tuttle Park Place approximately 4 hours prior to kickoff. John Herrick Drive, Cannon Drive, and Tuttle Park Place also experience rolling closures and directional changes as game-time traffic peaks.

Post-Game Traffic and Egress Routes

Following the game, Columbus Police and university traffic officers convert surrounding roads to one-way outbound patterns to empty campus lots:

• From West Campus (Carmack Lots): Vehicles are directed straight onto SR-315 North and South via Lane Avenue or Kenny Road, bypassing central campus entirely.
• From North Campus (Lane Ave Garage, St. John Arena): Traffic is funneled westbound onto Lane Avenue toward SR-315 or eastbound toward High Street and I-71.
• From South Campus (Neil Ave Garage, 12th Ave): Vehicles exit south toward King Avenue, 5th Avenue, and I-670.

Why Private Residential Driveways and Lots Offer the Fastest Game-Day Exit

Renting a private driveway or off-street space from a homeowner in the neighborhoods bordering campus gives you a noticeable edge over university garages. Instead of getting stuck in garage lines that can take up to an hour to empty onto one-way campus roads, private parking near Ohio Stadium lets you bypass inner-campus closures and reach major roads right away:

• North Campus & Old North Columbus (West Norwich, Northwood, Oakland, and Patterson Avenues): Situated just north of Lane Avenue, these private residential driveways sit between 0.5 and 0.8 miles from Ohio Stadium (an easy 10- to 15-minute walk south down Tuttle Park Place or Neil Avenue). Because these streets sit outside the university's closed zone, you can leave eastbound toward North High Street and Indianola Avenue or head north toward Ackerman Road for an open merge onto SR-315 and I-71, bypassing the bottlenecks at Lane Avenue Garage and Tuttle Park Place.
• South Campus & University District (West 9th, 10th, and 11th Avenues): Located roughly 0.7 to 1.0 miles south of the stadium (a 14- to 18-minute walk past Mirror Lake and the South Oval), these residential spaces allow you to pull straight out onto Neil Avenue, Perry Street, or Highland Street. This route leads south directly toward King Avenue, 5th Avenue, and the I-670 ramps without running into post-game gridlock around the medical campus or John Herrick Drive.
• Upper Arlington (East of North Star Road near Lane Avenue): Positioned 1.0 to 1.3 miles west of Ohio Stadium across the Olentangy River, private driveways in this neighborhood give you a straight, flat walk across the Lane Avenue bridge. Post-game departure is simple toward Tremont Road, Fishinger Road, or SR-315 North without having to deal with central campus congestion.

Using Prked is an easy way to book these residential spaces ahead of time, often for less than the $40 to $60 charged at official CampusParc facilities. With a 5.0/5 rating on Trustpilot from 750+ reviews, every reservation is processed securely online. You can view host ratings and spot details before arriving, knowing a property owner is keeping an eye on the space during the game.

Where to Park for Ohio State vs Ball State: CampusParc OSU Football Parking vs. Pre-Booked Private Spaces

Deciding where to park for Ohio State vs Ball State comes down to your budget, how far you want to walk, and how fast you want to leave after the game:

To make the most of your trip to Columbus, plan your route, have an electronic payment method ready, and book your spot early so you can focus on the game.