Michigan Stadium Parking: 2026 Michigan Wolverines Parking Guide

How Much Is Parking at Michigan Stadium?

Parking at Michigan Stadium ranges from roughly $25 to $95 depending on the lot, proximity to the stadium, and game demand.

The most affordable game-day option is the on-campus parking structures, which start around $25 per vehicle, but expect a walk of at least half a mile to the stadium. The U-M Golf Course, the largest public lot and the most convenient for single-game visitors, starts at $70 and goes up from there based on vehicle type and game tier. Official U-M Athletics campus lots (Blue, Grey, Green) run $70-$95 for standard spots and are primarily reserved for season permit holders.

For fans with a University of Michigan football season parking permit, the cost is $60 per regular home game, totaling $480 for the full 2026 regular season. Permit payments were due May 5, 2026, with any remaining open permits made available for purchase starting June 1, 2026. Pioneer High School, the major off-site lot directly across Stadium Boulevard, charges separately through MichiganGamedayParking.com, with single-game general passes, preferred passes, and reserved tailgate packages all priced at different tiers. Onsite game-day sales at Pioneer are credit card only.

Michigan Stadium Parking Lots and Maps

Michigan Stadium is surrounded by a network of color-coded University of Michigan lots, off-campus school lots, and the famous U-M Golf Course, giving fans multiple options at different price points and walking distances.

The U-M Golf Course is the largest parking area available to single-game visitors and sits directly across Stadium Boulevard from the stadium. Parking here starts at $70 and is cash-only at the Stadium Boulevard entrance; the State Street, Main Street, and driving range entrances are closed on game days. The Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club (AAGOC) on Stadium Boulevard also provides game-day parking with handicap-accessible spaces at the front of the lot, accessed via Gate 1 off Stadium Blvd. Pioneer High School on Main Street is the other major public lot, managed by LAZ Parking through MichiganGamedayParking.com, with multiple zone tiers (Zone D, E, F, G, H) ranging from general auto to reserved tailgate packages.

The official U-M Athletics campus lots, Blue, Grey, Green, Maize, Brown, Champions North, and the Triangle Lot, are primarily permit-only and reserved for season ticket holders, boosters, and donors. The Blue Lot is located directly adjacent to the stadium near Crisler Center and is among the most coveted spots on campus. The Maize Lot on State Street is one of the few campus lots that accepts oversized vehicles on game day, with RV spaces starting at $60. Several on-campus parking structures (Thompson Street Structure, Hill Street Structure, Thayer Street Structure) are also activated on game days and offer a more affordable entry point around $25, though the trade-off is a longer walk. The DPSS has partnered with Waze to provide real-time directions to each lot, and the university updates its website when a lot reaches capacity.

Preferred/Premium Parking at Michigan Stadium

The closest and most premium parking to Michigan Stadium is found in the Blue Lot and Champions North, both of which require official football parking permits tied to season ticket or donor status.

Blue Lot parking areas sit near the stadium adjacent to Crisler Center and are among the most sought-after spots on the athletic campus. Champions North is another permit-required premium option close to the stadium’s north side. These lots are not available for single-game cash purchase, they are assigned annually based on giving level and seniority in the U-M athletics priority system.

For fans without a season permit who still want proximity, the Preferred Auto pass at Pioneer High School offers placement in Zone E or Zone G, the closest sections at Pioneer to the stadium, with a dedicated Gate 3 access point shared only with ADA passholders. The Reserved Tailgate pass at Pioneer is the most premium public option available: it includes three parking spaces in Zone D or along the perimeter of Zone H, plus an adjacent 25-foot by 25-foot tailgate area that can accommodate up to 40 people. This pass is available for presale only and is not sold on game day. For a full VIP experience, the UMCU All-Star Lounge at Mortenson Plaza is a premium gameday package that includes access to a tented area between Michigan Stadium’s East Tower and Crisler Center, overlooking the Champions East and Blue parking lots.

Free Parking Near Michigan Stadium

Truly free parking within a mile of Michigan Stadium is extremely scarce on game day, but it does exist for fans willing to walk or plan ahead.

Free street parking spots are available in Ann Arbor’s surrounding neighborhoods but are nearly impossible to find within a mile of the stadium by the time most fans arrive. Locals often claim their spots the evening before a game, and the residential streets within the closest blocks fill up within hours of lots opening. The neighborhoods tend to fill for two miles around the stadium, and street parking is blocked or metered in many of the closest zones.

The most practical free parking strategy is the Park and Ride system. Two Park and Ride lots, Miller Road Park and Ride (west side) and Plymouth Road Park and Ride (north side), offer free parking spaces on a limited, first-come, first-served basis. From either lot, fans catch the AAATA FootballRide shuttle for just $1.50 each way to Gate 2. This combination is one of the best budget options available and removes the stress of traffic and lot hunting entirely. For fans driving from the east or south, using Briarwood Mall area parking and taking the shuttle is another low-cost alternative.

Can You Tailgate at Michigan Stadium?

Yes, tailgating is allowed at Michigan Stadium in select lots, and the scene around The Big House is one of the best in all of college football, but the rules are strictly enforced.

The U-M Golf Course is widely considered the best tailgating destination for fans without season permits. Lots open at 8:00 a.m. for noon games and at noon for 3:30 p.m. and evening games. Tailgating is weather-permitting at the golf course, if rain is in the forecast, the grass lots may not open at all, so always have a backup plan. Pioneer High School is the other primary tailgating hub, with small tailgate setups permitted in auto parking zones, provided everything stays within the vehicle’s space. The Reserved Tailgate pass at Pioneer is the only option that includes a dedicated 25-foot by 25-foot tailgate area.

University rules require that your vehicle and all tailgate equipment fit within the assigned parking space (8 feet 9 inches wide by 18 feet long for standard auto spaces). Tailgate equipment may not extend into drive lanes or neighboring spaces. RVs are allocated four spaces and must keep all equipment, including awnings, chairs, coolers, and tables, within those four spaces. Charcoal and solid-fuel grills are prohibited in all U-M lots; generators must be placed at least 20 feet from any tent or combustible structure; and propane appliances cannot be used under tents or canopies. Branded commercial tents and promotional tailgates are not allowed without a U-M sponsorship agreement. All vehicles must vacate the lots within two hours after the game ends, or they will be towed. Overnight parking is prohibited.

ADA and Handicap Parking at Michigan Stadium

ADA-accessible parking at Michigan Stadium is available in multiple locations, but supply is limited and most spots are first-come, first-served.

For standard football game days, a limited number of single-game ADA parking passes are available in the Green Lot for a fee, on a first-come, first-served basis. A valid state-issued disability parking placard or disability license plate is required to access any designated accessible space. The Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club (AAGOC) also provides handicap-accessible parking at the front of the golf course lot, accessed via Gate 1 off Stadium Boulevard, with the same placard requirement. For special events and spring games, a limited number of ADA spots are available free of charge in Lot SC-6.

At Pioneer High School, the Accessible Auto game-day pass places vehicles in Zone F, some of the closest spaces at Pioneer to the stadium, with a dedicated Gate 3 access point shared only with Preferred Auto passholders. Pioneer’s ADA passes are available through MichiganGamedayParking.com and have historically been priced around $55. Accessible pathways connect parking areas to stadium entrances, and Gate 8 along East Keech Avenue is designated for students with disabilities needing Will Call access. Wheelchair seating is available inside the stadium, and accessible restrooms are located throughout the venue. For full details, fans should consult the Michigan Stadium Guide for Guests with a Disability on mgoblue.com before game day.

Uber and Lyft Drop-Off at Michigan Stadium

The primary Uber and Lyft drop-off and pick-up location at Michigan Stadium is near Gate 2 on Stadium Boulevard by Crisler Center.

Gate 7 on the official parking and pedestrian map also includes a designated drop-off location. For fans heading to tailgates rather than directly into the stadium, there is a dedicated rideshare drop-off point on Hoover Street that is well-positioned for accessing the golf course and surrounding tailgate areas.

Post-game rideshare is a different story. With over 107,000 fans exiting simultaneously, expect wait times of 20 to 45 minutes and significant surge pricing immediately after the final whistle. The best strategy is to walk 10 to 15 minutes away from the stadium to a quieter side street before requesting your ride, this cuts wait times substantially and reduces the surge multiplier. After games, South Main Street runs one way southbound from Michigan Stadium to I-94, which affects driver routing, so factor in extra time when requesting rides heading south.

Public Transit to Michigan Stadium

The best public transit option for Michigan Stadium is the AAATA FootballRide shuttle, which runs five dedicated routes from hotels, parking structures, and park-and-ride lots across Ann Arbor directly to the stadium.

The FootballRide costs $1.50 each way and requires either a mobile ticket or exact cash. Shuttles run approximately every 20 minutes beginning two hours before kickoff, with the last outbound shuttles departing 30 minutes before kickoff. All routes drop off at Gate 2 of Michigan Stadium near Crisler Center. Return shuttles run for approximately 60 minutes after the game ends and pick up passengers on the south side of the stadium. During rain or heavy snow, the shuttle continues to run throughout the game. The five routes cover a wide range of the city: the Downtown Shuttle stops at the Michigan Union and Graduate Ann Arbor Hotel; the West Shuttle picks up at Weber’s Ann Arbor and the Miller Road Park and Ride Lot; the East Shuttle boards at the Regent Hotel and Suites; the South Shuttle stops at the Sheraton Hotel, Red Roof Inn, and Kensington Hotel; and the North Shuttle departs from the DoubleTree by Hilton and the Plymouth Road Park and Ride Lot.

Amtrak also serves Ann Arbor, with the Ann Arbor station located approximately 1.5 miles from the stadium. Fans arriving by train will need a rideshare or taxi for the last leg of the trip. There is no direct rail connection to the stadium itself. Fans driving from Detroit should take I-94 West to Exit 172 (Ann Arbor-Saline Road) and head north; from the west, take I-94 East to the same exit. Note that several streets around the stadium are closed beginning three hours before kickoff, including East Keech Street, portions of East Stadium Boulevard, and South Main Street between Stadium Boulevard and Pauline.

Michigan Stadium Parking Tips

The single most important thing you can do for Michigan Stadium parking in 2026 is prepay before you arrive, do not count on showing up and finding a spot without a plan.

Online sales at MichiganGamedayParking.com close at noon the day before the game, and on-site game-day sales at Pioneer are credit card only and depend entirely on remaining availability. Season permit holders should note that their permit is tied to a specific lot and cannot be used in any other campus area; photo ID matching the permit holder’s name is required to enter. Digital QR codes will not be accepted if printed, mobile-only is enforced. For noon kickoffs, lots open as early as 8:00 a.m.; for 3:30 p.m. and evening games, most lots open at noon. Arriving even 30 to 45 minutes after lots open on a big-game Saturday can mean a significantly longer walk or a full lot.

For budget-conscious fans, the on-campus parking structures starting around $25 offer the lowest-priced official spots, but plan for a walk of more than half a mile. If you are tailgating at the golf course, check weather forecasts in advance, grass lots close in wet conditions and there is no refund. Fans without a permit who want to be close should target Pioneer High School’s Preferred Auto or Reserved Tailgate passes, which open Gate 3 access on the main street side. After the game, Main Street runs one way southbound to I-94; if you are parked in a lot north or east of the stadium, account for the extra time to navigate around street closures.

Heading to a show? See our Michigan Stadium (The Big House) bag policy for everything else you need to know before you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Michigan Venues

Van Andel Arena Bag Policy: Size Rules & Tips

Grand Rapids, MI

Concerts

Michigan Stadium Bag Policy

Michigan Wolverines — Ann Arbor, MI

College Basketball

Comerica Park Bag Policy

Tigers — Detroit, MI

Baseball · Concerts