It’s the most wonderful time of the year for University of Iowa football fans, but all the joy it brings doesn’t change the fact that getting to Kinnick Stadium can be a real challenge.
Busy roads and busier tailgate parties make it difficult to get to Iowa City, and when you do, you’ll need to find parking.
Ahead of Saturday’s 11 a.m. home game against South Dakota State and all upcoming games, here are some places to park so you can spend less time driving around for parking and more time at Kinnick Stadium .
What hours are the parking lots open and how can you pay?
All UI-managed parking lots, such as the Hancher Commuter Lot and Newton Ramp Road, will open no later than six hours before kickoff and no earlier than 6 a.m. For people in RVs, overnight parking is allowed before the football game in home. only in the following lots from 19:30 to 22:00
- Lot 40
- Lot 43N
- Lot 65S
- Lot 75S
Credit cards will be the only form of payment accepted in the parking lots on game day.
Plan ahead:A look at the Iowa 2022 football schedule, opponents, TV info and more
Where to find free public parking with shuttle services
The following lots offer free parking, plus free shuttle services. Shuttle service begins two hours before kickoff and post-game shuttle service is available until approximately one hour after.
- Part of the Hancher Auditorium, or lot 55, is located at 298 N. Riverside Drive. The land is located west of Hancher Auditorium. The shuttle pick-up is located at the bus stop within the lot and drops off at the bus loop on Newton Road, according to the Hawkeye Sports website. If you prefer to walk to Kinnick Stadium, or perhaps arrive before the shuttle service begins, know that it’s just over a mile to get to the stadium.
- Tear for Hawkeye travelers, or lot 85, is located at 3350 Hawkeye Park Road. The site is located west of Mormon Trek Boulevard and the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. This parking lot is free and also offers transportation services. Pickup is located at the bus stop inside the lot and drops off at the bus stop east of Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Elliott Drive, according to the Hawkeye Sports website. If you forgo the ferry services, the walk to Kinnick is over 2 miles, making it a 40+ minute trip. So come prepared for a hike, or be sure to plan your plans with transportation services.
- The Hall of Fame tear, or lot 71, is located across from the UI Athletics Hall of Fame at 2425 Prairie Meadow Drive. This lot offers free parking and shuttle services. Pickup is located on Prairie Meadow Drive and drops off at the bus stop east of Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Elliott Drive, according to the Hawkeye Sports website. At about 2 miles, it makes for a more than half-hour walk to Kinnick Stadium.
- In downtown Iowa City. While not necessarily free, people downtown can be picked up at the Washington Street bus stop outside Schaefer Hall and dropped off on the Veterans Affairs bus circuit.
More:Leistikow’s thoughts on 10 games a week for Iowa’s football season ahead
Other public parking options
- Tear for Finkbine travelers. You have two options here. You can park in the Finkbine Golf Course Lot, which is located off Melrose Avenue. Or you can park in the Finkbine Commuter Lot, also known as lot 65, located at 1380 Melrose Ave., which is the address of the Finkbine Golf Course. Basically, you will take Finkbine Commuter Drive to access the commuter area, which is located on the northeast side of Finkbine Golf Course and can be accessed from Hawkins Drive. Game day attendees can purchase parking here for $30. The walk to Kinnick Stadium is about a mile or less, depending on where you park, so it will take about 20 minutes to get to the stadium.
- Library lot, or lot 3, or the main lot of the Library, costs $30 for a parking permit. Availability here depends on how many prepaid passes are sold for the lot, which also costs $30 for those interested in buying in advance. The walk to Kinnick Stadium takes about 18 minutes, just under a mile depending on which route you take.
- Lot 11 (CRWC). Part of the Recreation Center is located at 500 S. Madison St. Parking here costs an hourly rate. Over an hour it costs $1.80 and every additional hour costs $1.20. If you walk along West Burlington Street, the trip to Kinnick Stadium is one mile, which will take about 22 minutes.
- Newton Road Ramp, or lot 10, is located at 426 Newton Road. Parking here costs an hourly rate. Over an hour it costs $1.80 and every additional hour costs $1.20. It’s an 11-minute walk, or exactly half a mile, if you follow Newton Street to get to the stadium.
- Softball Fields Lot. This parking lot is next to the Hawkeye Softball Complex, which is located at 105 First Ave. in Coralville. Parking here costs $30 and is 1.3 miles from the stadium, making it a 26-minute walk.
- Low Finkbine Lot. The Lower Finkbine Lot is located in front of the Hawkeye Softball Complex, off Second Street and across from Freddy’s Frozen Custard in Coralville. Parking here is $30 and it’s just over a mile walk to the stadium.
More:Leistikow: Inside the rise of Riley Moss – Iowa’s unconventional and underrated cornerback
ADA parking
Ramp 4 offers ADA game day parking for $30, as well as Lot 43N. To access ADA parking for Lot 43N, people must enter the park from north of Hawkins Drive, according to the Hawkeyes sports website.
RV Parking
If you have an RV, parking is available at the following locations for $100 per game day, or $500 per prepaid parking pass during the season:
- Tear for Finkbine travelers
- Low Finkbine Lot
- Softball Fields Lot
You can also park your RV for free at the following locations:
- Part of the Hancher Auditorium
- Tear for Hawkeye travelers
- The Hall of Fame tear
Visit hawkeyesports.com for more information about parking.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and the arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Contact him at [email protected] or (319) 519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.