Sanford Stadium parking ranges from $15-$40+ across official stadium lots and surrounding garages. Georgia Bulldogs game day parking passes can be prepaid online for the closest lots, with cheaper options available within walking distance of the venue. Tailgating is allowed in designated lots only; find lot maps, ADA accessible parking, and rideshare drop-off details below.
Common questions
How much is parking at Sanford Stadium?
Where can I find cheap parking near Sanford Stadium?
Where do I park for a Georgia Bulldogs game at Sanford Stadium?
Can you tailgate at Sanford Stadium?
How Much Is Parking at Sanford Stadium?
Parking at Sanford Stadium ranges from $15 to $40 or more depending on lot location, game opponent, and how far in advance you purchase.
Official UGA Athletic Association lots and university-managed decks typically fall in the $20-$40 range, with closer lots commanding higher prices. The East Campus Road Parking Deck is priced around $30 per game for general public entry. Health and Visitor Center lots E02 and E10 have been priced at $20. Remote lots and overflow areas such as the Intramural Fields tend to be the most affordable options on campus.
Private and commercial lots scattered around Athens can range from $15 to $50 or more, set entirely by the lot owner based on demand and proximity. Prices can also shift based on opponent, rivalry games and marquee matchups typically push prices higher across all tiers. Cash is not accepted at UGA parking lots; all transactions are handled through ParkMobile or card readers on-site.
Season parking packages are also available through the UGA Athletic Association and third-party resellers like TicketCity, with full-season bundles starting around $662 and up. Always check georgiadogs.com for the official pricing schedule tied to each specific home game.
Sanford Stadium Parking Lots and Maps
Sanford Stadium is surrounded by a network of university-managed lots, parking decks, and private lots spread across the UGA campus and nearby Athens neighborhoods.
The closest official parking to the stadium, roughly a 5-minute walk, includes the Fine Arts Lot and Tate Center Deck on Lumpkin Street. The South Deck Parking Lot and Green Park (southbound) are both under a 10-minute walk from the gates. Fans willing to walk 20-30 minutes can find more affordable options on the far edges of campus.
Athletic Association permit parking covers a large number of designated lots including Tate Center, Railroad, East Hull Street, Hardman Hall, Field Street areas, Physical Plant, Legion Field, Lipscomb Hall, Psychology-Journalism, Conner Hall, Hull Street Deck, Clark Howell Hall, East Campus Road, Boggs Hall, E. Green Street, and Chemistry lots. A valid color-coded Athletic Association permit is required to park in these controlled areas. The Physics lot is reserved exclusively for Sky Suites holders.
For fans using the official UGA parking map, the current PDF version is posted each season at georgiadogs.com before the first home game. The official GPS address for stadium navigation is 100 Sanford Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602. All university lots open at 7:00 AM on game day, and no entry is permitted before that time.
Preferred/Premium Parking at Sanford Stadium
The best premium parking at Sanford Stadium is reserved for Bulldog Club members and high-priority donors, with lot access tied directly to annual contribution levels and accumulated priority points.
Bulldog Club parking is effectively bundled into donor benefits rather than charged as a separate per-game fee, the higher the Hartman Fund contribution, the better the parking location. Top-tier donors can secure lots within a short walk of the stadium gates. To request accessible or premium lot placement, contact the UGA Athletic Association Ticket Office at 877-542-1231 or gatickets@sports.uga.edu.
SkyClub ticket holders have access to the SkyClub Lounge beginning two hours before kickoff via Gate 7A on Field Street on the south side of Sanford Stadium. The Physics Lot is designated exclusively for Sky Suites holders and is not available to the general public.
For fans without donor standing, the closest publicly accessible paid parking is the Tate Center Deck and the Fine Arts Lot on Lumpkin Street, both within a 5-minute walk of the gates. Third-party resellers such as Vivid Seats list premium game-day parking passes starting from around $143 per game for high-demand matchups. Prepaying through ParkMobile is the most reliable way for general fans to lock in a closer lot before they sell out.
Free Parking Near Sanford Stadium
Free parking near Sanford Stadium does exist, but it requires knowing where to look and arriving early enough to claim a spot before the crowds do.
The highest concentration of free spaces on campus is in the East Campus area near the Ramsey Center, which includes the East Village Parking Deck and the Intramural Field Parking Deck. Once those spaces fill up, UGA opens additional overflow parking at the Intramural Fields across College Station Road. These remote lots are free but require taking the S-Stadium Loop shuttle bus to Gate 6, which runs starting 3.5 hours before kickoff.
Residential street parking in surrounding Athens neighborhoods is another option for budget-conscious fans. However, many blocks near campus are permit-restricted, and violators are subject to fines and towing. Always verify signage before leaving your vehicle, as enforcement is active on game days.
Private lots operated by churches, schools, office buildings, and residents across Athens are also worth considering. These vary widely in price, some charge as little as $10 to $15, and some allow pre-booking online. Getting there 3-4 hours before kickoff is essential if you want a free or cheap spot that does not require a long walk.
Can You Tailgate at Sanford Stadium?
Yes, tailgating is a major part of Georgia Bulldogs game day culture, and it is permitted in most campus lots with specific rules in place.
Tailgating officially begins at 7:00 AM on game day. Fans may arrive and park prior to 7:00 AM, but no tailgate equipment, tents, tables, chairs, grills, or other items, may be set up before that time. All items must remain inside the vehicle until the 7:00 AM window opens. Tailgating is not permitted within open parking spaces themselves; setups must take place in front of or behind the vehicle, not within the marked stall.
Charcoal grills are allowed, but open wood-burning fires or physical-material fueled fires are strictly prohibited anywhere on campus. Generators are allowed in most lots but are discouraged due to safety hazards, plugging into any UGA power source is strictly prohibited. Generators are banned entirely on North Campus.
Alcohol consumption is legal and allowed on campus on game days as long as it is done responsibly. The Bulldog Tailgate Club opens at 7:00 AM and closes at the end of the first quarter; game-specific hours are posted the Monday before each game. Large corporate-style tailgates with fencing, private security, banners, or admission charges require separate authorization through Georgia Sports Properties at 706-354-4685. The Tate Center parking lot is a popular tailgate hub and is where the Dawg Walk takes place roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes before kickoff.
ADA and Handicap Parking at Sanford Stadium
ADA-accessible parking at Sanford Stadium is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and fans with disabilities are strongly encouraged to arrive early.
In accordance with federal law, two percent of all parking spaces on the UGA campus are set aside for disability parking, meaning every lot has a designated number of accessible spaces. The primary ADA game-day lot is S13, which is available to guests who display a valid state-issued disability parking permit. Overflow accessible parking can be accommodated in front of Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall or at the Rankin Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center.
The recommended approach for fans with disabilities is to park at the East Campus Deck and use the free S-Stadium Loop shuttle to Gate 6. All S-Stadium Loop buses are equipped with ramps or lifts and are fully wheelchair-accessible. These shuttles begin running 3.5 hours before kickoff and drop off at Gate 6. Disability parking at the Intramural Fields is discouraged due to uneven terrain.
Gates 2, 4, 6, and 8 are all accessible for entering and exiting the stadium. Elevators inside the stadium are located near Gate 2, Gate 4, Section 119, Gate 9, and Gate 10, and are reserved for wheelchair patrons and credential holders. Silver Dawgs ambassadors are stationed at all gates to assist guests who require a wheelchair or need help locating accessible seating. Season ticket holders needing accessible parking can contact the UGA Athletic Association Ticket Office at 877-542-1231 and will be placed on a waiting list; a copy of a state-issued permit is required.
Uber and Lyft Drop-Off at Sanford Stadium
Rideshare drop-off at Sanford Stadium is best handled along the campus perimeter streets, particularly on Lumpkin Street and surrounding roads close to the stadium gates, as Sanford Drive itself is closed to non-bus vehicle traffic between the Tate Student Center and the stadium on game days.
Because UGA enforces road closures around Sanford Drive on game day, drivers using Uber or Lyft should set a drop-off point on an accessible perimeter street and walk the remaining distance to their gate. From Lumpkin Street, most gates are reachable within a 5-10 minute walk. Always confirm the specific drop-off pin with your driver before the ride, since GPS can sometimes route to blocked roads.
Post-game rideshare pickup is significantly more complicated due to traffic volume after 90,000-plus fans exit the stadium simultaneously. Surge pricing is common immediately after the final whistle. A practical workaround is to walk several blocks away from the stadium before requesting a pickup, which reduces both wait time and fare cost. Confirm your pickup point with your driver in advance to avoid confusion in the congested post-game environment.
Taxis and rideshares do not have a designated on-site pickup zone managed by the university. Plan your post-game exit strategy before you arrive, and communicate a specific landmark meeting point with your driver.
Public Transit to Sanford Stadium
The primary public transit option for Sanford Stadium is the UGA S-Stadium Loop bus, which runs a dedicated game-day route between the East Campus Deck and Gate 6 at the stadium.
The S-Stadium Loop begins service 3.5 hours before kickoff and runs continuously until at least one hour after the game ends. The route connects the East Campus Parking Deck, located near the Ramsey Center, directly to Gate 6, making it the most reliable transit corridor for fans arriving by car or walking from the East Campus area. If overflow parking at the Intramural Fields is activated, the S-Stadium Loop also serves that location, though post-game traffic prevents buses from returning directly to the Intramural Fields after the game; a nearby drop-off area adjacent to the fields is used instead.
All S-Stadium Loop buses are wheelchair-accessible with ramps or lifts. UGA Campus Transit also runs broader network routes throughout Athens and the campus on game days, though several stops near Sanford Drive are suspended due to road closures, including service to The Arch and Downtown Athens, the Main Library, and Tate Center bus stops. Detour routes run along Lumpkin Street with temporary stops at Lumpkin St @ BLC (southbound) and Hull St @ BLC (northbound).
Athens-Clarke County Transit (Athens Transit) connects downtown Athens to the broader campus area and can get fans within walking distance of the stadium. The ACC Multi-Modal Transportation Center downtown is a key connection hub. For fans arriving from Atlanta or other Georgia cities, driving remains the most practical option as there is no direct commuter rail service to Athens.
Sanford Stadium Parking Tips
The single most effective strategy for parking at Sanford Stadium is to prepay through ParkMobile well before game day, lots near the stadium sell out quickly, especially for rivalry games and night kickoffs.
Arrive at least 3 to 4 hours before kickoff for a close lot, or 2 hours before kickoff if you are using a remote lot with shuttle access. All university lots open at 7:00 AM on game day regardless of kickoff time, so early arrival locks in your spot and gives you maximum tailgate time. The Fine Arts Lot and Tate Center Deck on Lumpkin Street are the closest publicly available lots to the gates at a 5-minute walk. The South Deck and Green Park are solid mid-distance options under 10 minutes from the stadium.
If budget is the priority, head to the East Campus area near the Ramsey Center first, the East Village Parking Deck and Intramural Field Parking Deck offer free parking with shuttle access to Gate 6 via the S-Stadium Loop. Get there early, as these free spots fill up fast on high-demand game days.
Cash is not accepted anywhere on UGA property on game days, so download the ParkMobile app and load your payment method before you leave home. Permits must be displayed from the rearview mirror at all times, and vehicles parked illegally, including on sidewalks, grass, or landscaped areas, are subject to towing at the owner’s expense. Post-game exits are slow; plan to stay in your tailgate area for 30-45 minutes after the final whistle to let the heaviest traffic clear.
Heading to a show? See our Sanford Stadium bag policy for everything else you need to know before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does parking cost at Sanford Stadium?
Official UGA parking lots range from $15 to $40 or more per game. The East Campus Road Deck is typically $30, Health and Visitor Center lots run around $20, and private lots near campus can range from $15 to $50 depending on the owner and opponent.
Can I prepay for parking at Sanford Stadium?
Yes. UGA offers prepaid parking through the ParkMobile app for several campus decks and lots. Purchasing in advance guarantees your spot and locks in the listed price, which is especially valuable for sold-out or high-demand games.
What time do parking lots open at Sanford Stadium?
All university parking lots and decks open at 7:00 AM on game day. No entry is permitted before that time. Lots fill progressively, with spaces closest to the stadium typically gone 2-3 hours before kickoff.
Is there free parking near Sanford Stadium?
Yes. The East Village Parking Deck and the Intramural Field Parking Deck in the East Campus area offer free parking with access to the free S-Stadium Loop shuttle to Gate 6. These spots fill quickly, so arrive early.
Where is ADA parking at Sanford Stadium?
The primary ADA game-day lot is S13, available on a first-come, first-served basis to guests with a state-issued disability permit. Overflow accessible parking is available in front of Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall. The East Campus Deck is the recommended option for accessible fans using the free wheelchair-accessible shuttle.
Is tailgating allowed at Sanford Stadium?
Yes, tailgating is allowed in most campus lots starting at 7:00 AM on game day. Setups must be in front of or behind the vehicle, not within the parking space itself. Charcoal grills are permitted, but open wood-burning fires are not. The Bulldog Tailgate Club operates from 7:00 AM through the end of the first quarter.
Where do Uber and Lyft drop off at Sanford Stadium?
There is no single designated rideshare zone. Drivers typically drop off along campus perimeter streets such as Lumpkin Street, as Sanford Drive is closed to non-bus traffic on game days. Walk 5-10 minutes from your drop-off point to reach your gate.
Is there a shuttle from parking to Sanford Stadium?
Yes. The S-Stadium Loop bus runs between the East Campus Deck and Gate 6 starting 3.5 hours before kickoff. The shuttle is free, wheelchair-accessible, and continues for at least one hour after the game ends.
