Looking to book rather than read? See car rental for Austin events for the live fleet, daily rates and delivery, or compare every category on our economy car rental Austin page.
A home game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium puts more than 100,000 people onto a few blocks between I-35 and San Jacinto Boulevard. Texas announced in August that the 2026 home season had sold out, and the four home games left on the calendar are Florida on October 17, Ole Miss on October 24, Mississippi State on October 31 and Arkansas on November 21. If you have tickets, the next problem is getting there, parking, and getting back out.
Here is how game day actually works in Austin, from someone who has sat in the I-35 traffic.
Kickoff times and when to arrive
SEC kickoff times are usually set by the TV networks, often only a week or two before the game. Do not book a tight schedule until the time is announced.
Stadium gates generally open about two hours before kickoff. For a 6:30 p.m. game, that means 4:30 p.m. A good rule for drivers:
- Tailgating: be parked four to five hours before kickoff.
- Just the game: be parked at least 90 minutes before kickoff. The walk from most garages is 10 to 20 minutes, and security lines at the gates build fast in the last hour.
- Leaving: expect 45 minutes to an hour before the garages and I-35 loosen up. Many fans stay on campus or head to a restaurant and let the first wave clear.
Where to park near DKR
Most on-campus lots on game day are reserved for donors and permit holders, so visitors usually park in one of three places.
- Capitol Complex state garages. The Texas Facilities Commission opens several state garages around the Capitol to the public on game days. Recent game-day rates were about $25 a space in the main garages, with a few lots closer to the stadium at about $50. These garages sit roughly 10 to 15 minutes on foot from the stadium.
- Downtown garages. Garages south of the Capitol are farther, closer to a 20 to 25 minute walk, but often easier to exit after the game because you are not leaving into the stadium crowd.
- Neighborhood streets. Hyde Park, North University and the area east of I-35 have residential permit zones, and the city tows on game days. Read every sign, twice.
The University of Texas parking office posts game-day closures and towing notices before each home game. Check it the week of the game, because some campus garages and streets close early for event setup.
Tailgating: Bevo Blvd and beyond
Bevo Blvd is the official university tailgate, set up outside the stadium on San Jacinto. It opens hours before kickoff, has food trucks, music and drinks, and you do not need a game ticket to walk it. The Longhorn Band and the team walk through before the game.
The Texas Exes tailgate at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, also on San Jacinto, opens about three hours before kickoff and is the one place along Bevo Blvd with air conditioning and a full bar. Entry is handled by the Texas Exes, so check their site for passes.
Classic trunk tailgating with a grill is harder near DKR than at most big college stadiums, because so little surface parking is open to the public. If a trunk tailgate is the plan, look at the Texas Facilities Commission's reserved tailgate spaces in the Capitol Complex, which are sold ahead of time.
Staying in the suburbs and driving in
Hotels near campus and downtown often charge peak rates on home-game weekends, especially for SEC games. A car makes the suburbs realistic, and the math can work in your favor.
- Round Rock and Pflugerville: about 25 to 30 minutes to campus without traffic, more on game day. Take I-35 south, or MoPac and drop east on MLK. See our Round Rock car rental page.
- Cedar Park and Leander: 183A to US 183 to MoPac, about 30 to 40 minutes. Our Cedar Park car rental page covers delivery there.
- Kyle and Buda: about 25 to 30 minutes up I-35 on a clear day. Hotels here often price below downtown on game weekends.
The trick on game day is to avoid I-35 in the last two hours before kickoff. MoPac to the west and SH 130 to the east are usually better ways to reach the edge of the city, and then you come into campus on surface streets.
After the game: getting out without the gridlock
The first 30 minutes after the final whistle are the worst time to start the car. Every garage empties onto the same streets, and the I-35 ramps near MLK and 15th Street back up quickly. A few habits help:
- Park facing out if the garage allows it, and note your level and stairwell before you leave.
- Head away from I-35 first. Going west to Lamar or MoPac and then north or south is usually faster than joining the interstate near campus.
- Eat first. A meal on Guadalupe Street or downtown lets the traffic clear, and the drive home to Round Rock or Kyle is often half as long an hour later.
For a night game, decide who is driving before the tailgate starts. If nobody stayed sober, leave the car parked (check that your garage allows overnight parking), take a ride home and pick it up in the morning. That costs far less than a DWI.
Game weekends with something else going on
Austin rarely has just one thing happening. The Ole Miss game on October 24 falls on the same Saturday as Formula 1 qualifying at Circuit of the Americas, so hotels, restaurants and the roads east of the city will be busy all weekend. If you are in town for both, read our F1 at COTA guide too.
Families coming for a game during a campus visit or a family weekend should also see our guide to UT parents' weekend and graduation, which covers the same parking problems on a non-game weekend.
Which car works on game day
A smaller car is easier to fit into a state garage and easier to get out of one. A Honda Civic or similar or a Toyota Corolla or similar runs $98 a day and is what we would pick for two or three people. If you have a cooler, chairs and four adults, a Mazda CX-5 or similar at $114 a day handles the gear without being hard to park.
A group of eight to twelve fans can share one parking space instead of three by coming in the 12-seat Ford Transit or similar at $296 a day. Just check the height clearance before pulling into any garage: most parking structures are too low for a passenger van, so plan on a surface lot.
Getting the car before the game
We deliver free anywhere in Greater Austin, so the car can meet you at your hotel in Round Rock, your rental house in Hyde Park or the arrivals curb at AUS. Drivers 21 and older pay no young-driver surcharge, and every car is recent and automatic with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For a longer stay over several games, our guide to weekly and monthly rates explains how longer rentals are priced. To book a game weekend, start on our economy car rental in Austin page or call or text 512-851-0490.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I get to DKR on game day?
Gates usually open about two hours before kickoff. If you are tailgating, be parked four to five hours early. If you only want the game, be parked at least 90 minutes before kickoff.
Where can visitors park for a Texas football game?
The Capitol Complex state garages open to the public on game days, recently at about $25 for most garages. Downtown garages are a longer walk but often easier to leave. Avoid residential permit streets, which are towed.
Do I need a ticket to go to Bevo Blvd?
No. Bevo Blvd, the official tailgate outside the stadium, is open to all fans. The Texas Exes tailgate at the alumni center has its own entry, handled by the Texas Exes.
Can you deliver a rental car to a hotel outside Austin for a game weekend?
Yes. Delivery is free anywhere in Greater Austin, including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville and Kyle. Call or text 512-851-0490 with your hotel and dates.
