Heading to Neyland Stadium to watch the Tennessee Volunteers take on the Furman University Paladins on Saturday, September 5, 2026? You will want a solid parking plan before you leave the house. Kickoff is set for 3:30 PM, and with over 100,000 fans descending on Rocky Top, finding Tennessee vs Furman parking knoxville will be one of the biggest challenges of the day. Campus lots are restricted to permit holders, so anyone without a pass will need to look at downtown garages, city shuttles, or private spaces around town. Here is a realistic look at pricing, transit routes, street closures, and lot hours to help you get to your seat without the headache.

Can I Buy a UT Football Parking Pass vs Furman on Campus on Game Day?

No. You cannot buy a single-game Neyland Stadium parking pass on campus when you pull up on game day. Every official university lot near the stadium is reserved in advance for Tennessee Fund donor season permit holders.

Because these official passes require an annual athletic donation, there are no drive-up cash or card sales on campus grounds. If you arrive at a campus checkpoint without a physical or digital UT permit for the Furman game, staff will turn you around. If you lack a permit, save yourself the hassle and go straight to downtown public garages, the Civic Coliseum, or off-campus private lots.

Where to Park for Tennessee vs Furman Without a UT Donor Permit

If you do not hold a donor pass, your best bets for Tennessee vs Furman parking are the City of Knoxville downtown garages, the Knoxville Civic Coliseum, side streets in the Fort Sanders neighborhood, or private spaces booked through Prked.

The municipal garages downtown sit between 0.8 and 1.3 miles east of the stadium. From there, it is a straightforward walk down Cumberland or Clinch Avenue. If you would rather not walk the whole way, you can catch a park-and-ride shuttle from the Civic Coliseum. Fans wanting to enter through the north gates often look for yard and driveway spaces sold by homeowners, students, and businesses across Fort Sanders on game mornings. To skip the hassle of driving around looking for open spots, you can reserve private spaces near campus ahead of time on Prked, which ranks as the #1 parking company on Trustpilot in both the Parking Garage and Parking Lot categories.

What Is the Expected Tennessee vs Furman Parking Cost Near Neyland Stadium?

Expect to pay anywhere from $3 to $60 on game day, depending on how close you want to get and who runs the lot.

City garages have set standard rates, while private properties adjust pricing based on distance and crowd demand. Here is what parking runs across the primary areas around campus:

Where Are the Best Cheap Garages for Neyland Stadium Gameday Parking in Downtown Knoxville?

City-operated garages downtown—especially Market Square and State Street—are usually your cheapest options. Parking downtown gives you predictable pricing along with quick access to pregame spots.

The Market Square Garage at 406 Walnut St has some of the lowest weekend rates in town, sometimes starting at a flat $3 during non-peak hours, though event rates may apply on game days. The State Street Garage at 520 State St offers covered multi-deck parking just off Gay Street. Leaving your car downtown puts you right by local restaurants on Market Square and transit pickups at Krutch Park.

How to Take the Knoxville Downtown Parking Shuttle to Neyland Stadium on Game Day

Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) runs dedicated, cashless shuttles straight from downtown pickup points to the stadium starting three hours before kickoff.

For the 3:30 PM start against Furman, buses start rolling continuously at 12:30 PM. You have two main pickup locations:

• Route 51E (Market Square / Krutch Park): Leaves from Clinch Avenue near Krutch Park. Wristbands are $10 round-trip per rider and must be purchased via the Transit mobile app. Buses drop riders off on campus within a short walk of Neyland Stadium.
• Civic Coliseum Neyland Stadium Parking & Shuttle: Coliseum Garages A and B (500 Howard Baker Jr. Ave) charge a flat $25 to $30 per car, covering garage parking and round-trip bus rides for everyone in your vehicle.

Buses run back and forth throughout the game and continue for about an hour after it ends.

Where to Find UT Ag Campus Free ADA Parking for Neyland Stadium Games

Free accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UT Ag Campus).

The designated ADA lot is located at 2450 E.J. Chapman Drive and has roughly 150 accessible spots. You do not need a donor pass to use this lot, but you must display a valid state-issued disabled plate or placard.

An accessible shuttle runs back and forth between the Ag Campus and the Student Union loading dock starting three hours before kickoff (12:30 PM for a 3:30 PM start) and wraps up an hour after the game ends. If the lot fills up, staff redirect overflow accessible parking to the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.

What Time Do Lots Open for Tennessee vs Furman Parking in September?

Official campus lots open at 7:00 AM on game day.

Downtown municipal garages and private yards in Fort Sanders open early as well, which helps if you want to set up an early tailgate. Since early September games tend to bring warm weather and thick mid-day traffic, plan to park at least three to four hours before the 3:30 PM kickoff so you are not stuck in traffic when roads start closing.

What Roads Are Closed Around Neyland Stadium on Tennessee Game Days?

Campus perimeter closures kick in at 5:00 AM, cutting off Peyton Manning Pass and Phillip Fulmer Way between Cumberland Avenue and Lake Loudoun Boulevard to general drivers.

Expect these main disruptions:

• Phillip Fulmer Way: Closed to general traffic. Only authorized commercial vehicles and Lot 9 permit holders entering from Cumberland Avenue can pass through.
• Peyton Manning Pass: Closed to all unauthorized vehicles.
• Volunteer Boulevard: Shuts down temporarily from east Andy Holt Avenue to Pat Head Summitt Street and Lake Loudoun Boulevard for about 30 minutes during the Vol Walk and the band march.

Where Is the Rideshare Drop-Off and Pick-Up Spot for Neyland Stadium?

The official drop-off and pickup area for Uber, Lyft, and taxis is at Circle Drive on The Hill.

Because of street closures along Phillip Fulmer Way and Volunteer Boulevard, drivers cannot pull right up to stadium gates. Set your destination to Circle Drive near Cumberland Avenue. When leaving the game, walk back to The Hill, or walk a few blocks north into Fort Sanders or down toward Clinch Avenue to hail a ride away from the worst post-game traffic.

Why Private Residential Driveway Parking in Fort Sanders Is a Smart Game Day Choice

Renting a driveway or yard space in the Fort Sanders neighborhood offers a great balance of walking distance and an easy post-game exit. Located directly north of campus, it lets you bypass donor requirements and skip the long lines waiting to leave downtown parking decks:

• Primary Street Locations: Spaces are mainly found along Clinch Avenue, White Avenue, Lake Avenue, Highland Avenue, and Laurel Avenue, between 16th Street and 19th Street.
• Walking Distance: Parking here leaves you 0.4 to 0.8 miles (about an 8- to 15-minute walk) from the north stadium gates, cutting right down 16th or 17th Street across Cumberland Avenue.
• Quicker Exit Routes: Official campus decks like G10 on Phillip Fulmer Way and donor lots on Volunteer Boulevard get trapped behind pedestrian holds and street closures for 45 minutes or longer. In contrast, parking north of Cumberland lets you head straight up 17th Street or 11th Street toward I-40 East/West and I-275, steering clear of campus and Neyland Drive traffic.

Reserving a driveway or private spot in advance through Prked—which holds a 5.0/5 rating on Trustpilot with 750+ reviews—saves you from having to negotiate cash prices on street corners on game morning. You get a guaranteed space from a local host, verified guest reviews, secure online payment, and pricing that is often much lower than event garages.

Official Donor Lots vs Off-Campus Gameday Parking

Here is how official campus passes compare to off-campus alternatives:

• Campus Donor Lots: Right next to the stadium (Lots G10, 9, 30A), but they require significant annual donations, sell out on a full-season basis, and take a long time to exit after the game.
• Downtown Garages & Park-and-Ride: Budget-friendly ($3 to $40) with straightforward routes back to I-40 and I-75, but they require a 15-to-20-minute walk or a ride on the KAT shuttle.
• Pre-Booked Private Parking via Prked: Lets non-donors secure a guaranteed driveway or private lot spot within walking distance of the gates, removing the morning search entirely.

Neyland Stadium Tailgating Guidelines and Game Day Timeline

If you are setting up a tailgate for the Furman game, keep these campus rules in mind:

• Tents and Space: Tents must stay within a 10x10-foot footprint and cannot block walkways, driving lanes, or open parking spaces.
• Grills: Grills are allowed in designated parking sections but need to be watched at all times. Open ground fire pits and dumping hot charcoal into campus landscaping are not allowed.
• Vol Walk Timing: The Vol Walk begins 2 hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff (1:15 PM for a 3:30 PM start). The team walks past the Torchbearer statue in Circle Park, down Peyton Manning Pass, and into the stadium.
• Pride of the Southland Band: The band marches out from the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center about 1 hour and 40 minutes before kickoff (1:50 PM), heading down Volunteer Boulevard toward Gate 21.

Securing your parking well ahead of game week means you can enjoy the pregame build-up instead of getting stuck in traffic. Map your route, arrive early, and enjoy Saturday on Rocky Top.