Coming to Kinnick for the Iowa vs. Iowa State football game? Here's where you can find parking

Paris Barraza, Iowa City Press-Citizen
·5 min read
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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 streets and busier tailgating parties make heading to Iowa City difficult, and when you make it, you’ll have to find parking.

Ahead of Saturday’s 3 p.m. game against Iowa State and all future games, here are some places to park so that you spend less time circling for parking and more time at Kinnick Stadium.

What time do parking lots open and how you can pay

All UI-managed parking lots, such as the Hancher Commuter Lot and Newton Ramp Road, will open no more than six hours before kickoff, and no earlier than 6 a.m. For folks in RVs, parking on the night prior to home football games is allowed only in the following lots from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

  • Lot 40

  • Lot 43N

  • Lot 65S

  • Lot 75S

Credit cards will be the only accepted form of payment at parking lots on game day.

Plan ahead: A look at Iowa football's 2022 schedule, opponents, TV information and more

Where to find free public parking with shuttle services

The following lots provide free parking, plus complimentary shuttle services. The shuttle service begins two hours before kickoff, and postgame shuttle service is available up to about an hour after.

  • Hancher Auditorium Lot, or lot 55, is located at 298 N. Riverside Drive. The lot is located west of Hancher Auditorium. Shuttle service pickup 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 you arrive before the shuttle service begins, know that it’s slightly more than a mile to get to the stadium.

  • Hawkeye Commuter Lot, or lot 85, is located at 3350 Hawkeye Park Road. The lot is located west of Mormon Trek Boulevard and the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. This parking lot is free and offers shuttle services as well. Pickup is located at the bus stop within 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 opt out of the shuttle services, the walk to Kinnick is over 2 miles, making it a more than 40-minute trek. So come prepared for a hike, or make sure to time your plans up with shuttle services.

  • Hall of Fame Lot, or lot 71, is located by 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, this makes for a more than half-hour walk to Kinnick Stadium.

  • Downtown Iowa City. While not necessarily free, folks in downtown can be picked up at the bus stop on Washington Street outside of Schaefer Hall and be dropped off at the Veterans Affairs bus loop.

More: Leistikow's 10 game-week thoughts on Iowa's football season ahead

Other public parking options

  • Finkbine Commuter Lot. You have two options here. You can park at the Finkbine Golf Course Lot, which is off Melrose Avenue. Or you can park at the Finkbine Commuter Lot, also known as lot 65, located at 1380 Melrose Ave., which is the address for the Finkbine Golf Course. Essentially, you’ll take Finkbine Commuter Drive to access the commuter lot, which is located on the northeast side of the Finkbine Golf Course and can be accessed off Hawkins Drive. Gameday attendees can purchase parking here for $30. The walk to Kinnick Stadium is about a mile or less, depending which lot you park at, so it’ll take 20 minutes or so to get to the stadium.

  • Library Lot, or lot 3, or the Main Library lot, costs $30 for a parking pass. Availability here is dependent upon how many prepaid passes were sold for the lot, which also costs $30 for those interested in buying ahead. The walk to Kinnick Stadium takes about 18 minutes, a little less than a mile depending on which route you take.

  • Lot 11 (CRWC). The Recreation Center lot is located at 500 S. Madison St. Parking here costs the hourly rate. Over one hour costs $1.80, and costs $1.20 every additional hour. If you walk along West Burlington Street, the trek 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 the hourly rate. Over one hour costs $1.80, and costs $1.20 every additional hour. It’s about an 11-minute walk, or exactly half a mile, if you follow Newton Road 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 it’s 1.3 miles from the stadium, making it a 26-minute walk.

  • Lower Finkbine Lot. Lower Finkbine Lot is located before the Hawkeye Softball Complex, off Second Street and across from the Freddy’s Frozen Custard in Coralville. Parking here costs $30 and it is just over a mile walk to the stadium.

More: How can Iowa football's offensive line make Week 2 jump? Kirk Ferentz, players offer solutions

ADA parking

Ramp 4 offers ADA parking day of game for $30, as well as Lot 43N. To access ADA parking for Lot 43N, folks must enter the lot from the north off of Hawkins Drive, according to the Hawkeyes sports website.

RV Parking

If you have an RV, parking is available at the following lots for $100 day of game, or $500 prepaid season-long parking holders:

  • Finkbine Commuter Lot

  • Lower Finkbine Lot

  • Softball Fields Lot

You can also park your RV at the following lots for free:

  • Hancher Auditorium Lot

  • Hawkeye Commuter Lot

  • Hall of Fame Lot

Visit hawkeyesports.com for more information related to parking.

Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or (319) 519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Where to park for Iowa vs. Iowa State football near Kinnick Stadium