When the Arizona State Sun Devils host the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, tens of thousands of fans will head to campus for one of the biggest home matchups on the Big 12 schedule. The stadium is wedged directly between the main campus, Tempe Town Lake, and busy East Valley commuter corridors. Showing up without a clear parking strategy usually means sitting in long backups along Rio Salado Parkway and Rural Road. Whether you want to park in a campus deck, reserve a private spot within walking distance, or hop on light rail straight to the stadium gates, here is what you need to know about Mountain America Stadium parking for this rivalry game.

Where to park for Sun Devils vs Colorado at Mountain America Stadium

Your parking options depend largely on permits. Sun Devil Club passholders get priority access to the Gold and Maroon lots right next to the stadium gates. General fans without permits will find the best mix of space and convenience at Fulton Center Garage or the Novus Structure. If you would rather skip campus garage backups altogether, you can book private parking near Mountain America Stadium in downtown Tempe through Prked, which puts you in a reserved space a 10-to-15-minute walk away.

Campus parking is split between donor-reserved permit areas, public pay garages, and outer surface lots.

For fans without donor credentials who just need a reliable pay spot on campus, Novus Structure gameday parking and Fulton Center Garage ASU parking are your best bets.

What is the Sun Devils vs Colorado parking cost at Mountain America Stadium?

Official parking near Mountain America Stadium usually runs between $20 and $40 for regular passenger cars, depending on the garage and how close it sits to the gates. Oversized vehicles and RVs parking in assigned areas like Lot 10 generally pay $75 to $100 per game.

Expect rates to fall into these ranges across different campus facilities:

• Premium Public Structures ($30–$40): Novus Structure and University Center lots near the stadium typically charge around $40 on arrival. Fulton Center Garage, University Towers, and Lot 82 generally cost $30.
• Perimeter Campus Lots ($20–$30): Several surface lots farther south on University Drive or near 10th Street run $20 to $30.
• Off-Site and Private Parking ($15–$35): Private downtown Tempe garages and lots reserved through platforms like Prked or SpotHero run anywhere from $15 to $35. These give you a guaranteed space and a much cleaner postgame exit route away from campus choke points.
• RV Gameday Parking ($100): RVs need dedicated permits, cost $100, and are limited to specific areas like Lot 10.

Drive-up rates for Sun Devils vs Colorado parking in November tend to hit the upper end of these ranges because of high conference attendance, so keep that in mind when budgeting.

Do ASU football parking lots accept cash on game day?

No. Mountain America Stadium parking operations are entirely cashless. Attendants will not accept cash at any campus gate or payment booth on game days.

You will need a credit card, debit card, or a mobile option like Apple Pay or Google Pay to pay at the gate. If you have a digital parking pass, download the barcode or QR code to your phone wallet ahead of time. Cell service right outside the venue gets notoriously sluggish in the hour before kickoff.

How to book Sun Devils vs Colorado parking and get a Mountain America Stadium parking pass

You can purchase a single-game Mountain America Stadium parking pass ahead of time through the Sun Devil Athletics ticket portal or via third-party booking platforms. Reserving your spot early is a smart move; drive-up public spots at Novus Structure and Fulton Center Garage often sell out hours before kickoff for big conference games.

A few things to know about getting an advance pass:

• Digital passes purchased through Sun Devil Athletics get scanned right off your phone screen at the entry gate.
• Off-site private reservations made through Prked give you an assigned spot in an off-campus lot or garage, so you never pull up to a "Lot Full" sign. Prked holds a 5.0/5 rating on Trustpilot across 750+ customer reviews.
• Donor lots like Gold, Maroon, Green, and Copper require season permits tied to Sun Devil Club status. You cannot buy drive-up access to these lots on game day.

What time do lots open for ASU football gameday parking?

Passholder lots and main parking structures open 7 hours prior to kickoff. General public drive-up lots open 3.5 to 5.5 hours before game time.

Here is how ASU staggers lot access throughout game day:

• 7 Hours Before Kickoff: Donor permit lots (Maroon, Gold, Blue, Orange, Copper, Black, and Pink) and primary decks like Stadium Structure, Packard Drive Structure, Fulton Garage, and Novus Structure open for passholders.
• 5.5 Hours Before Kickoff: Secondary garages and overflow university lots open.
• 3.5 Hours Before Kickoff: Public cash-free pay lots open for drive-up parking, based on available room.
• Closing Time: University lots close 1 to 2 hours after the game ends. Overnight parking is forbidden unless you have a student dorm permit.

If kickoff is scheduled for early afternoon, get there as soon as public gates open so you can grab a shaded garage spot and get your tailgate going.

Official ASU Garages vs. Off-Site Tempe Event Parking

Choosing between an on-campus garage and off-site Tempe parking comes down to a trade-off: a shorter walk before the game versus an easier drive home afterward.

Campus facilities like the Novus Structure and Fulton Center put you a short 5-to-10-minute walk from Frank Kush Field. The catch comes when 50,000 people leave all at once. Cars in those structures often sit in long queues waiting to turn onto Packard Drive, Veterans Way, or Rio Salado Parkway.

Private parking west of Mill Avenue or south of University Drive, which you can book on Prked, adds a 10-to-15-minute walk through downtown Tempe. The upside is immediate access to Broadway Road, Priest Drive, or University Drive, letting you skirt right around police roadblocks and stadium traffic.

Can I find private driveway parking near Mountain America Stadium?

Renting a residential driveway or private yard from a neighborhood local has become a popular workaround for high-profile Sun Devil games. Instead of sitting in long garage lines, you get an easy walk to the stadium and a quick route out onto open neighborhood streets after the fourth quarter.

• University Heights & East-Campus Streets: Homes on East 5th, 6th, and 7th Streets, as well as Terrace Road just east of Rural, sit between 0.4 and 0.7 miles from the east gates (about an 8-to-14-minute walk). While cars leaving Novus and Packard structures get funneled into police stops on Rural Road, these driveways let you pull straight onto University Drive or 5th Street heading east toward McClintock and Loop 101.
• Maple-Ash Historic District: Southwest of campus, between University Drive, Mill Avenue, and Ash Avenue, driveways on Maple, Ash, and 9th through 12th Streets sit 0.6 to 0.9 miles away. That makes for an easy 12-to-18-minute walk past "A" Mountain. When the game ends, you can drive west along University toward Priest or south on Ash toward Broadway, skipping the snarl on Veterans Way and Rio Salado entirely.
• Cost and Protection: Driveway spots usually cost $15 to $25. That beats the $30 to $40 campus garage rates, and your car avoids cramped multi-deck ramps.

Booking a driveway spot on Prked guarantees the space in advance, includes verified host reviews, and handles payments securely in the app. Prked ranks #1 on Trustpilot in both the Parking Garage and Parking Lot categories, giving you peace of mind when booking with an individual homeowner.

Is there free parking near Mountain America Stadium on game day?

No. You will not find free street or garage parking within walking distance of the stadium on game days. Parking meters across the Mill Avenue District and around the ASU campus have strict enforcement on weekends and during stadium events. Nearby residential streets require resident permits, and tickets are handed out quickly.

The only practical way to park for free is leaving your car at a Valley Metro Park-and-Ride lot farther out and riding the Valley Metro Light Rail right to the gates. Stations like McClintock Drive/Apache Blvd and Dorsey Lane/Apache Blvd both offer free surface parking for riders.

How to use Valley Metro Light Rail Veterans Way parking and transit

Taking light rail to the Veterans Way station is by far the simplest way to skip traffic. Board anywhere in Phoenix, Mesa, or southern Tempe and get off at Veterans Way/College Avenue, right across from Mountain America Stadium.

Here is how the trip works:

1. Park at a Free Lot: Head to a Valley Metro Park & Ride. Good options include McClintock & Apache in Tempe, Price-101 & Apache in Mesa, or the 38th St/Washington stop in Phoenix.
2. Get a Ticket: A single-ride light rail ticket is $2.00, or you can buy an all-day pass for $4.00 at station kiosks or via the Valley Metro app.
3. Take the Train to Veterans Way/College Ave: Step off right at the campus transit center.
4. Walk to the Gates: Mountain America Stadium's southwest and northwest entrances are under 200 yards from the platform.
5. Heading Home: Follow the platform boarding queues after the game. Valley Metro runs extra trains to clear out the postgame crowd.

Where to find Mountain America Stadium ADA parking

Accessible parking spaces are located mainly in the Stadium Structure and the South Packard Drive Structure. You must display a valid state-issued disability placard or license plate and pay the regular garage fee to use these stalls.

A few important points on accessible parking:

• Arrival Time: ADA stalls are first-come, first-served and usually fill up 2 to 3 hours before kickoff.
• Golf Cart Shuttles: ASU runs free golf cart shuttles for visitors with mobility needs. Pickups run near the Stadium Structure and South Packard Drive Structure, dropping off near stadium gates.
• Passenger Drop-Offs: If you do not have an ADA pass, you can drop off passengers along South Packard Drive or near the Sun Devil Hall of Fame plaza before heading off to park in a general garage.

What are the ASU football tailgate parking rules for grills and alcohol?

Tailgating is permitted in surface parking lots around Mountain America Stadium, but university rules set clear limits on what you can bring.

Make sure you follow these guidelines:

• Grills: Propane grills only. Charcoal setups, wood fires, deep fryers, and open fire pits are banned everywhere on campus property.
• Alcohol: Only beer and wine are allowed in designated tailgate lots. Hard liquor, kegs, funnels, and any glass bottles are strictly prohibited and will be confiscated.
• Space Limits: Keep all chairs and games within your single marked parking stall, directly in front of or behind your car. Spilling into neighboring stalls or driving lanes is not allowed.
• Kickoff Cutoff: Tailgating shuts down at kickoff. Police and parking staff sweep through the lots at game time to move everyone inside.
• Garages: Cooking, setting up furniture, and tailgating inside parking garages—including Novus, Fulton Center, and Stadium Structure—are strictly banned. Keep the tailgating to uncovered surface lots.

What is the fastest way to exit Tempe after an ASU football game?

The quickest way out of Tempe is avoiding the on-ramps at Rural Road and the Loop 202. They become massive bottlenecks as soon as the stadium empties. Instead, stick to surface streets heading south or west until you hit an open highway.

Here are routes that save time based on where you park:

• From Fulton Center or Downtown Tempe: Take University Drive west to Priest Drive, then head north to pick up the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway or south toward US-60. This keeps you completely clear of Mill Avenue and Rural Road.
• From Novus Structure or Packard Drive: Police typically route cars south down Packard toward 6th Street or east onto University Drive. Take University east toward McClintock Drive or Loop 101, which avoids the long line waiting to go north on Rural.
• Heading Toward Scottsdale or the East Valley: Use McClintock Drive or Hayden Road going north instead of trying to hit the Loop 202 on-ramp at Rural Road, where signal cycles easily create 30-to-45-minute delays.

Picking your parking spot and postgame route before you leave home will keep you moving while everyone else sits in Tempe event traffic after the final whistle.