Securing convenient Texas vs Texas State parking in Austin requires a clear plan before heading toward campus. When the Texas Longhorns host the Texas State Bobcats at Darrell K Royal - Memorial Stadium on September 5, 2026, more than 100,000 fans will pour into Central Austin for the 2:30 PM kickoff. Sorting out your parking ahead of time keeps you from getting stuck in delays as spots fill up across the area. Between strict perimeter closures, donor-only lots, and ongoing Interstate 35 construction, finding reliable Darrell K Royal - Memorial Stadium parking comes down to knowing your choices before you leave the house. Whether you head for a state garage, take a park-and-ride shuttle, or book a private driveway in advance, having a route mapped out makes for a much smoother gameday.

Where to Park for Texas vs Texas State at Memorial Stadium

When deciding where to park for Texas vs Texas State, fans without donor permits generally have two reliable options: Texas Facilities Commission State Garages (such as Garages A, E, or F) just south of campus, or pre-booked private spaces arranged through platforms like Prked near the stadium perimeter. Both get you to the gates without sending you into the gridlocked permit zones right around Darrell K Royal - Memorial Stadium.

Texas vs Texas State Parking Cost: How Much Is Gameday Parking at DKR?

Gameday parking rates run anywhere from $10 for off-site park-and-ride lots up to $75 for premium drive-up state facilities, though most public state garages charge between $25 and $40. Private garages and surface lots around West Campus and Downtown usually fall in the $15 to $40 range, depending on how far you are willing to walk.

If you are looking at state-operated facilities for UT football, pricing breaks down into three main groups:

• Budget Park-and-Ride ($10): State Lot 26 at 701 W 51st St offers parking with free shuttle bus service to and from the stadium included.
• Standard State Garages ($25 to $40): Garage J and the Capitol Visitors Garage charge $25, while State Garages A, E, and F cost $40 for standard passenger vehicles.
• Premium State Locations ($75): State Garage G and surface Lot 24 charge a flat drive-up fee of $75 due to their location right by the south side of DKR.

Longhorn Foundation Permit Lots vs. Public Garages: DKR Stadium Public Parking Garages Without a Permit

You can pay for parking on gameday without a Longhorn Foundation permit, but you cannot use the university garages sitting directly next to the stadium. Core facilities like San Jacinto Garage (SJG), Manor Garage (MAG), Brazos Garage (BRG), and Trinity Garage (TRG) are restricted to Longhorn Foundation members who hold seasonal donor permits or special credentials.

Drivers without permits should look south toward the State of Texas Capitol Complex garages below Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd (MLK) or book an off-campus commercial spot. A few state garages accept drive-up card or cash payments if space allows, but buying a digital pass in advance is the safest way to lock down a spot.

State Garage Parking for UT Austin Football: Which Facilities Are Open to the Public?

On football gamedays, the Texas Facilities Commission opens State Garages A, E, F, G, and J, along with the Capitol Visitors Garage, to the general public. These garages sit south of MLK Blvd between Trinity Street, Colorado Street, and San Jacinto Boulevard, adding thousands of walkable spaces just off campus.

Garages A, E, and F along North Congress Avenue and Colorado Street see the most foot traffic. Garage J and the Capitol Visitors Garage are located slightly further south near San Jacinto Blvd and 12th/13th Streets, which makes getting out after the game a lot easier since you avoid campus traffic. State Garage G, right on Trinity St near MLK Blvd, serves mainly as a premium drive-up facility.

Can You Park at the Capitol Visitors Garage for Texas Longhorns Football Gameday Parking?

The Capitol Visitors Garage at 1201 San Jacinto Blvd is open for Texas Longhorns gameday parking at a flat rate of $25. It sits roughly 0.7 miles south of Darrell K Royal - Memorial Stadium, which amounts to a simple 15-minute walk up San Jacinto Boulevard or Trinity Street.

This garage is particularly handy for avoiding postgame gridlock. Because it sits south of 12th Street, departing cars can skip the mess on MLK Blvd and University Avenue entirely, heading straight onto 11th Street, Lavaca Street, or southbound I-35 frontage roads.

How to Book Texas vs Texas State Parking in Advance

You can reserve spaces ahead of time through LAZ Parking for official state garage spots, or through private booking platforms like Prked. Reserving early gives you a mobile pass ready at the gate and saves you from circling crowded streets in the September heat.

Third-party services list private driveways, church parking lots, and commercial garages throughout West Campus, the Medical Arts district, and Downtown Austin. For comparison, SpotHero and ParkWhiz listings in nearby neighborhoods run from $15 to $35 for spots within an 8-to-18-minute walk of DKR. Booking through Prked (rated 5.0/5 on Trustpilot across 750+ reviews) gives you access to neighborhood spots along direct pedestrian routes to the stadium gates.

Why Reserving Parking Near Memorial Stadium in Residential Driveways Offers the Fastest Gameday Exit

Renting a residential driveway in the neighborhoods near campus is one of the quickest ways to park near Memorial Stadium and get away cleanly after the final whistle. Neighborhood homeowners offer off-street spaces close to the stadium that let you head straight onto major roads without getting trapped by police roadblocks around campus.

• Cherrywood and French Place (East of I-35): Driveways on Manor Road, Lafayette Avenue, and Cherrywood Road are a 10-to-15-minute walk (0.5 to 0.8 miles) from DKR across the Clyde Littlefield Drive and Manor Road bridges. Leaving after the game, you can head east toward Airport Boulevard or US-183, skipping the usual snarl on the I-35 frontage roads and MLK.
• North University and Hancock (North of Dean Keeton): Spaces on 30th Street, 32nd Street, Duval Street, and Speedway put you an easy 8-to-14-minute walk (0.4 to 0.7 miles) from the north gates. Heading north up Duval or west across 38th gets you straight to MoPac (Loop 1) without crossing stadium traffic.
• West Campus Neighborhood Corridors: Driveways between San Gabriel Street, Rio Grande Street, and 26th Street are roughly 12 to 16 minutes on foot from DKR and give you a straight shot west toward Lamar Boulevard or Windsor Road.
• Bypassing Garage Ramp Queues: While drivers in structures like San Jacinto Garage (SJG) or State Garages A and E often wait 45 to 90 minutes just to reach the street, parking in a driveway lets you pull out and drive away immediately.

Prked holds the top rating on Trustpilot in both the Parking Garage and Parking Lot categories, connecting drivers with local hosts in these neighborhoods at rates that often beat nearby commercial decks. With upfront prices, verified reviews, and someone on-site, you get a reserved space and a much faster trip home.

Lot 26 UT Shuttle Parking in Austin: Is There a Free Park and Ride to Memorial Stadium?

State Lot 26 at 701 W 51st Street operates as a park-and-ride option. Parking costs $10 per vehicle, and the bus shuttle is free for everyone in the car. Buses start running three hours before kickoff (11:30 AM for this 2:30 PM game) and continue until roughly an hour after the game ends.

The shuttle drops riders off near Dean Keeton Street and Robert Dedman Drive, putting you right by Gates 1 through 8 on the north side of DKR. Postgame shuttles pick up at the exact same corner. This setup works especially well for fans coming in from North Austin, Round Rock, or Georgetown via I-35 or MoPac.

East Campus Garage ADA Parking for Texas Football: Where Is Accessible Gameday Parking Located?

Accessible gameday parking is available at the East Campus Garage (1200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd) for $10 on a first-come, first-served basis. You will need to show a valid state-issued ADA placard or disability license plate along with matching ID to enter at that rate.

The university provides free accessible transportation between the garage and the stadium:

• UT ADA Golf Carts: Golf carts run back and forth continuously between ECG and stadium entrances for guests with limited mobility.
• Accessible Shuttle Buses: Low-floor ADA shuttle buses run from the garage across the MLK pedestrian bridge straight to Gate 25.
• Drop-Off Access: If you are dropping off a guest with mobility needs before parking, designated curb zones are open on Robert Dedman Drive before gameday street closures close the area.

What Time Do Memorial Stadium Parking Garages and Lots Open for a 2:30 PM Kickoff?

For a 2:30 PM start, state garages and campus permit lots open at 7:00 AM, while perimeter street closures and parking enforcement start at 5:00 AM. If you plan to tailgate or grab a drive-up spot, arriving between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM helps you get in before the worst of the traffic.

Enforcement starts early. Unauthorized cars left along campus streets like San Jacinto Blvd, Robert Dedman Dr, and Trinity St can be ticketed and towed starting at 12:01 AM Saturday. Fan areas like Bevo Blvd, Smokey’s Midway, and Longhorn City Clubhouse on San Jacinto Boulevard open around 10:00 AM (four and a half hours prior to kickoff), bringing heavy foot traffic along the west side of the venue.

Where Is the Rideshare Drop-Off Location for Darrell K Royal - Memorial Stadium Parking?

The designated drop-off and pickup area for Uber, Lyft, and taxis is on the south curb of Dean Keeton Street between Robert Dedman Drive and Red River Street. Campus police do not allow rideshare drop-offs along San Jacinto Boulevard, MLK Blvd, or University Avenue.

After the game, walk north past the LBJ Library toward Dean Keeton Street to find the rideshare area. Surge pricing and cellular delays are common right after the final whistle. Walking a few blocks west toward Speedway or Guadalupe Street (The Drag) before ordering a ride usually makes pickups easier and cheaper.

How Bad Is Postgame Traffic Around Memorial Stadium and I-35?

Postgame traffic near Memorial Stadium and the I-35 corridor is heavy, with backups often lasting an hour to an hour and a half. Roads right around campus turn into one-way outbound routes, and ongoing work on the TxDOT I-35 Capital Express project adds to the delays.

A few route adjustments can save you time leaving the area:

• Northbound I-35 Access: If you are heading north toward Pflugerville or Round Rock, keep in mind that construction on the upper and lower decks closes select MLK Blvd ramps. Stick to lower deck frontage roads or take 15th Street or Enfield Road over to MoPac instead.
• Southbound Egress: If you parked in State Garages A, E, F, or the Capitol Visitors Garage, head south toward 11th or 12th Street to reach downtown roads or open southbound I-35 ramps.
• Avoiding MLK Jr. Blvd: MLK Blvd between Red River St and Guadalupe St fills with both pedestrians and stopped cars. Avoid using it as a cross-town route for at least an hour after the game.

CapMetro Public Transit and Alternative Routes for Austin Event Parking

CapMetro bus and rail lines provide a simple way to skip campus parking altogether. Fans coming from North or South Austin can leave their cars at CapMetro Park & Ride stations and ride straight into the campus area.

CapMetro Route 801 (MetroRapid) and Route 803 run along Guadalupe Street right next to West Campus, leaving you with an easy 10-minute walk across campus to DKR. Local Route 10 travels down Red River Street and San Jacinto, while Route 1 covers North Lamar and South Congress. Leaving your car at The Triangle Park & Ride at 4600 Guadalupe St lets you take quick bus connections right to the stadium without paying gameday garage prices.