Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Rams Parking 2026: Empower Field at Mile High Guide

The Broncos vs. Rams showdown on September 27th kicks off under the lights at 6:20 PM, and if you think you can just roll up to Empower Field at Mile High at 6:00 PM and find a spot, you're setting yourself up for a nightmare. With prime tailgating lots like Lot C selling out literally 30 minutes after they open, having a guaranteed parking strategy is the only way to do game day right.

Denver traffic on a Sunday evening, especially when paired with a high-profile prime-time NFL game, creates massive bottlenecks on I-25, Federal Boulevard, and Colfax Avenue. The local neighborhoods lock down their streets, the official lots turn away cash buyers, and unprepared fans end up missing the first quarter entirely.

Here is everything you need to know to secure your spot, avoid the worst traffic, and start your tailgate on time.

Ready to lock in your space now? You can reserve your Prked spot ahead of time to guarantee a stress-free arrival.

Where to Park for the Broncos vs. Rams Game: Official Empower Field Lots

If you want to know exactly where the official spots are and how much they cost, the reality is that the immediate stadium footprint is highly restricted. Official stadium lots command a massive premium and require extreme punctuality.

Most official stadium lots at Empower Field—specifically Lots A, B, E, J, L, and M—open exactly 4.5 hours before kickoff. For this specific 6:20 PM game on September 27, that means the gates to these standard lots swing open at 1:50 PM.

A massive portion of the immediate stadium lots are strictly reserved for season ticket holders who hold pre-paid permits. If you show up hoping to just hand an attendant a $50 bill, you will be turned away. Cash parking on game day is incredibly limited and mostly restricted to off-site auxiliary lots that are a significantly longer walk to the stadium.

To avoid the scramble, you absolutely must secure a digital parking pass before you leave your house. The official lots scan your digital pass from your smartphone upon entry. Cell service around Empower Field can get notoriously slow as 76,000 fans pack into the area, so take a screenshot of your QR code before you get off the highway.

If you are hunting for standard game-day inventory, check out the Broncos vs Rams standard parking block to secure a verified space.

Official Empower Field Parking Lot Breakdown

Here is a quick look at what you can expect if you choose to hunt for an official lot pass on the secondary market. Keep in mind that prices fluctuate wildly depending on how close we get to game day.

Pro Tip for Official Lots: If your seats are on the east side of the stadium (Sections 100-115), aim for Lots A, B, or C. If you are sitting on the west side (Sections 118-132), Lots E, F, or L will save you a long walk around the crowded stadium concourse exterior. For general venue information, you can always review the broader Empower Field at Mile High parking guidelines.

Tailgating at Empower Field: Securing a Spot in Lot C on September 27

What time do Broncos parking lots open? If you are planning to fire up the grill, throw a football, and soak in the pre-game atmosphere, you need to know the exact timeline.

Lot C is the holy grail for early tailgating at Empower Field. While the standard lots open 4.5 hours early, Lot C operates on a totally different schedule designed specifically for the die-hards. For the 6:20 PM kickoff against the Rams, Lot C opens a full 6 hours prior to the game—at exactly 12:00 PM.

Do not hit snooze on this. Lot C operates strictly on a first-come, first-served basis for those who have access. It typically sells out within 30 to 60 minutes of opening. You will see a massive line of trucks, SUVs, and RVs staging along the access roads well before noon. If you arrive at 1:30 PM expecting to find a sprawling space for your tent and grill in Lot C, you will be deeply disappointed.

Because of this intense early rush, many fans opt to secure guaranteed Broncos vs Rams Tailgate parking passes to ensure they aren't left circling the stadium while everyone else is already on their second beer.

Broncos Tailgating Rules You Must Follow

The stadium management enforces tailgating rules heavily. If you break them, they will shut down your setup and potentially revoke your parking privileges.

• One space per vehicle: You cannot buy a second parking spot just for your tent or grill. All your tailgating activities must take place directly behind your parked vehicle.
• Keep the drive aisles clear: Your chairs, coolers, and games cannot bleed into the lanes where cars are driving. Security patrols this constantly.
• No open wood fires: Only propane or charcoal grills are allowed. You must properly dispose of charcoal in the designated hot coal bins scattered throughout the lots—do not dump hot coals on the asphalt or in standard trash cans.
• No kegs or glass bottles: Cans and plastic cups only.
• Pack it in, pack it out: Bring your own heavy-duty trash bags. The stadium provides dumpsters, but leaving a massive mess in your spot is a quick way to anger the lot attendants.

How to Survive a 6-Hour Tailgate in Denver

A noon arrival for a 6:20 PM game means you are staring down a marathon tailgate. September weather in Denver is notoriously unpredictable. It could be a blazing 85 degrees at 1:00 PM and quickly drop to a chilly 50 degrees by the time the fourth quarter rolls around.

Bring a pop-up canopy for shade during the afternoon sun, but make sure you have layers packed in your car for the walk to the stadium. Drink plenty of water—the Mile High altitude combined with a long day of drinking and eating heavy tailgate food will catch up to you faster than you think.

Best Cheap Parking Options Near Empower Field at Mile High

Official stadium lots command premium pricing, often hitting $50 to $100+ on the secondary market for high-profile prime-time games. If you balk at paying that much just to leave your car sitting on asphalt for a few hours, you have plenty of off-site alternatives.

However, you need to be incredibly careful about where you try to stash your vehicle. The immediate neighborhoods surrounding the stadium—specifically Jefferson Park to the north and Sun Valley to the south—are fiercely protected by permit-only restrictions on game day.

Do not try to play games with Denver Parking Enforcement. They blanket the neighborhood on game days. If you park on a residential street without a localized permit, you aren't just risking a ticket; you are risking an immediate tow. A $100 ticket plus a $250 tow fee ruins a game day instantly.

Why Private Spaces Are the Best Kept Secret

Booking a private driveway, garage, or off-street space via Prked in the neighborhoods surrounding the stadium can save you 30-50% compared to official lots.

Locals who live in the Highlands, Sloan's Lake, and Auraria areas frequently rent out their driveways for Broncos games. Not only do you get a guaranteed spot, but you also bypass the chaotic gridlock immediately surrounding the stadium gates. If you are someone who works in the city and regularly uses Denver monthly parking, you already know that stepping slightly outside the main venue bubble is the smartest way to handle your car in this city.

Parking a bit further away (for example, near the Auraria Campus across I-25) and walking the 15-20 minutes is consistently the best way to dodge the post-game traffic gridlock.

Cheap Broncos Parking Comparison

Here is a look at how your off-site and private parking options stack up against the official lots.

The Auraria Campus Hack

If you want to save money and get out of downtown quickly after the game, look for spots near the Auraria Campus (home to CU Denver, MSU, and CCD). You can often secure spaces here for around $20 to $30.

The walk is incredibly easy. You just head west across the campus, walk past the Ball Arena parking lots, and take the pedestrian bridge over I-25. It drops you off right at the east side of Empower Field. When the game ends, you walk back across the bridge, hop in your car, and you are immediately positioned to jump on I-25 North or South without fighting the massive crowds trying to leave the official lots via Federal Blvd.

ADA & Accessible Parking for Broncos vs. Rams

For fans requiring accessible parking and shuttle services, Empower Field is well-equipped, but the demand for these spots is exceptionally high for a prime-time game.

Accessible parking is available primarily in Lots D, G, and L. These spots operate entirely on a first-come, first-served basis. Simply having the credential does not guarantee you a spot if the lot is already full.

To park in these designated ADA areas, you must display a valid state-issued ADA placard or an ADA license plate. You also must have a valid game day parking pass or pay the game day parking fee at the gate (if cash parking is available for that specific lot, which is rare). The person to whom the ADA placard is issued must be in the vehicle.

ADA Shuttles and Drop-Off Zones

If you secure an ADA spot in one of the outer lots, you don't have to worry about a long, difficult walk. Empower Field operates a limited number of ADA shuttles (primarily heavy-duty golf carts) that pick up from designated locations within the official lots and drop off directly at the stadium gates. Look for the blue tents stationed in the lots—these are the pickup points.

If you are traveling via rideshare or having a friend drop you off, you need to use the correct location. The designated ADA drop-off zone is located on the west side of the stadium along Mile High Stadium Circle. You access this area via the intersection of 17th Avenue and Federal Boulevard. Police officers manage this intersection heavily, so have your ADA placard visible hanging from your rearview mirror as you approach so they wave you through the barricades.

Public Transit & Rideshare: RTD Light Rail vs. Uber

Deciding between driving your own car, taking the train, or calling an Uber requires understanding just how messy downtown Denver gets after a night game. A 6:20 PM kickoff means this game is ending around 9:30 PM to 10:00 PM.

The RTD Light Rail Advantage

The RTD Light Rail is an absolute cheat code for Broncos games. The stadium has its own dedicated stop: the Empower Field at Mile High Station.

You can take the C, E, or W lines directly to this station. From the platform, it is a straightforward 5 to 10-minute walk up the ramp and right to the south entrances of the stadium.

If you are coming from the south (Littleton, Englewood) or the west (Golden, Lakewood), park your car at a local Park-n-Ride and take the train in. It costs just a few dollars for a round-trip ticket.

Pro Tip: Buy your return ticket on the RTD mobile app before you even leave your house. The ticket vending machines on the platform after the game will have lines 50 people deep. Skip the line, activate your mobile ticket, and walk right onto the train.

The Reality of Taking Uber or Lyft

Rideshare sounds great in theory until you actually try to use it after a prime-time NFL game. When 76,000 people pull out their phones at the exact same time, the local cell towers struggle, and the rideshare algorithms go crazy.

Surge pricing after a prime-time game will be brutal. Expect wait times of 45+ minutes just to get matched with a driver, and fares easily topping $60 to $85+ just to get a few miles into downtown or the Highlands.

If you do take rideshare, you need to know where to go. Drivers cannot just pull up to the stadium gates. The official rideshare pickup and drop-off point is located on Howard Place, which is just south of the stadium near the intersection of Federal Blvd and West Colfax Ave.

The scene at Howard Place post-game is chaotic. You will be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds of other fans trying to find the one silver Honda Civic out of fifty that actually belongs to their driver.

The Ultimate Exit Hack

If you drive, parking a 15-minute walk from the stadium via a pre-booked private Prked spot is consistently faster than waiting in the rideshare queue. By the time an Uber finally reaches the Howard Place pickup zone, you could have already walked to your car in Jefferson Park or Auraria, turned the key, and merged onto the highway.

What to Know About Driving to Empower Field on Game Day

If you are committing to driving on September 27th, you need to map your route based on where your parking spot actually is, not just plugging "Empower Field" into your GPS.

If you are parking on the West side (Federal Blvd side): Do not use I-25 to Colfax. Instead, get off I-25 further north at Speer Blvd or 38th Ave, cut over to Federal Blvd, and approach the stadium from the north. The Colfax exit off I-25 turns into a parking lot roughly three hours before kickoff.

If you are parking on the East side (I-25 side): You can use the Auraria Parkway exit or the Colfax exit, but stay in the right lanes. The police heavily restrict left turns around the stadium footprint starting at 2:00 PM.

Road Closures to Watch For:

• Dick Connor Avenue: Completely shut down to non-permitted vehicular traffic.
• Mile High Stadium Circle: Restricted to ADA drop-offs and premium suite permit holders.
• 17th Ave & Federal: Highly restricted turning lanes.

Post-Game Exit Strategy: How to Get Out of Denver Faster

The final whistle blows. The Broncos (hopefully) secure the win against the Rams. Now comes the hardest part of the night: leaving.

The traffic management plan at Empower Field forces cars into specific outflow patterns. You rarely get to choose which way you turn out of a lot.

• If you are in Lots A, B, or C, you are going to be funneled southward toward Colfax Ave and the southbound I-25 on-ramps.
• If you are in Lots J, L, or M, you will be pushed northbound onto Federal Blvd.

If you parked in a private driveway or a neighborhood street spot, back your car into the space when you arrive. You do not want to be trying to blind-reverse into a street flooded with pedestrians and angry drivers. Facing outward allows you to pull straight into the flow of traffic.

If you are heading back downtown or to the eastern suburbs, avoid Colfax Avenue entirely. Walk across the pedestrian bridges, get in your car, and use Speer Boulevard or Auraria Parkway to cut through the city.

By having your digital pass ready, understanding the Lot C tailgating rush, respecting the neighborhood permit zones, and booking your parking strategy in advance, you can focus on the September 27th matchup instead of circling Federal Boulevard looking for a miracle spot.