Penn State football is back. Here’s how to park at Beaver Stadium and find your spot

Matt DiSanto
·7 min read
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Penn State’s long-awaited 2023 football season is nearly here, bringing with it plenty of dedicated fans and tailgaters to Happy Valley for the first time in a long while. But before game day arrives, you should make sure you’re prepared for new changes in and around Beaver Stadium.

Some of the most important topics for fans heading to Penn State this fall are traffic and parking. Knowing where you’re heading and when to get there before leaving home can make a big difference in your planning this fall.

Here’s what you need to know about getting to Beaver Stadium and parking at football games this season.

How can I pay for parking?

Single-game parking passes for lots 11, 25, 33 and 34 are sold in advance leading up to each Penn State home game, the athletics department says.

Advanced-sale passes, starting at $50, are available online until 15 days before each game. During the two weeks leading up to game day, fans can purchase single-game parking passes at Bryce Jordan Center’s box office while supplies last. The box office is open between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Day-of-game parking is always subject to availability, Penn State says. Such passes, which start at $80, are available for lots 25 and 35, accessible by following “E Zone” signage until reaching Park Avenue. From there, follow signs for day-of-game parking sales at Lot 25 or Lot 36.

When do parking lots open?

This season, Beaver Stadium lots will open at 7 a.m. for noon games and 8 a.m. for non-noon games, Penn State says. Lots will open at 6 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, when Penn State hosts Michigan for a noon kickoff.

Penn State’s overnight RV lots generally open at 6 p.m. Thursdays and close by approximately 4 a.m. Saturday.

When do modified traffic patterns start?

Just like in previous years, Penn State will operate a one-way traffic pattern in stadium-area streets and roads before and after all home games.

This year, Penn State’s one-way traffic pattern will begin 2.5 hours before each game kicks off. A noon game would have its one-way traffic pattern begin at 9:30 a.m., for example, while a 7:30 p.m. kickoff would prompt a one-way traffic pattern starting at 5 p.m.

One-way traffic patterns for outbound traffic usually expire between 60 and 90 minutes after each game ends, Penn State says.

The 2023 Beaver Stadium parking map, courtesy of Penn State Athletics. Lots marked with a green $ will sell day-of-game parking passes.
The 2023 Beaver Stadium parking map, courtesy of Penn State Athletics. Lots marked with a green $ will sell day-of-game parking passes.

How can I get to my parking spot?

Beaver Stadium parking is generally split into four zones — North, South, East and West — that must be accessed through different routes.

Those who paid for parking in advance should see their zone and lot information on their passes. The same applies to fans arriving in RVs, though it should be noted same-day parking is not sold for RVs.

Here’s a brief overview of directions that should get you to each parking zone and lot this fall:

North: You can access the North zone through Fox Hollow Road by traveling south from Toftrees Avenue, Waddle Road, Interstate 99 or U.S. Route 322.

  • ORV: Turn left at Orchard Road and follow the signage for ORV.

  • Lot 21 (RV): Turn left at the Lot 21 entrance.

  • Lot 22: Turn left at Orchard Road and follow signage for Lot 22.

  • Lot 23: Turn left at Orchard Road and follow signage for Lot 23.

  • Lot 24: Turn left at Orchard Road and follow signage for Lot 24.

  • Lot 25 (cash lot): Turn left at Orchard Road and follow signage for Lot 25.

South: You can access the South zone through Porter Road (except the Family Friendly lot) by traveling north from College Avenue.

  • Lot 41: Following the signage for Lot 41, turn left at the lot entrance.

  • Lot 42: Following the signage for Lot 42, turn right at the lot entrance.

  • Lot 43: Following the signage for Lot 43, turn right at the lot entrance.

  • Lot 44: Turn right at the lot entrance and follow the signage for Lot 44.

  • Lot 45: Turn right at the lot entrance and follow the signage for Lot 45.

  • Lot 46: Using the left lane, turn left at Hastings Road and follow signage for Lot 46.

  • Lot 47: Using the left lane, turn left at Hastings Road and follow signage for Lot 47.

  • Family Friendly (FF): Access this lot through University Drive by traveling north from College Avenue. Using the left lane, turn left at Hastings Road and follow signage for FF. You can’t access this lot via Porter Road.

East: You can access the East zone through Park Avenue by traveling west from Interstate 99 and U.S. Route 322.

  • Lot 31: Using the left lane, turn left at the visitors center and follow signage for Lot 31.

  • Lot 32: Using the left lane, turn left at the Lot 32 entrance.

  • Lot 33: Using the left lane, turn left at Orchard Road and make a right at the Lot 33 entrance.

  • Lot 34: Using the left lane, turn left at Orchard Road and make a right at the Lot 33 entrance. Follow the signage for Lot 34.

  • Lot 36 (cash lot): Using the left lane, turn left on Hospital Drive and make a right into the Lot 36 entrance.

  • Lot 37: Using the right lane, make a right at Hospital Drive and follow the signage for Lot 37.

  • Lot 38: Using the right lane, turn right at Hospital Drive and follow the signage for Lot 38.

  • Lot 39: Using the right lane, make a right at Hospital Drive and follow the signage for Lot 39.

West: You can access the West zone by traveling east from Atherton Street and U.S. Route 322.

  • Lot 11: Using the left lane, turn left at Bigler Road and follow signage for Lot 11.

  • Lot 12: Using the left lane, make a left at the Lot 12 entrance.

  • Lot 13: Using the left lane, turn left at University Drive and make a right into the Lot 13 entrance.

  • Lot 14: Using the left lane, turn left at the Lot 14 entrance.

  • Lot 15: Using the left lane, make a left at Stadium West Road.

  • Lot 16: Using the left lane, make a left at the Lot 16 entrance.

  • Lot 17: Using the right lane, turn right at the Lot 17 entrance.

  • Lot 18: Using the right lane, turn right at Stadium West Road and follow the signs for Lot 18.

What else should I know?

Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible parking is offered in the stadium area’s West zone, though season-long parking permits for this fall are already sold out, Penn State says. However, single-game ADA parking pass sales are expected to be issued for the East Parking Deck, subject to availability. The parking deck will connect to Beaver Stadium through complimentary game day shuttles.

Fans who have an ADA permit but no placard can park in the East Parking Deck for no additional charge, Penn State says. Conversely, those who have a placard but not a pre-purchased permit can park in the East Parking Deck after purchasing a permit.

Penn State will run shuttles from its ADA lots to Beaver Stadium before and after each game. Shuttle service for the Shields, Wagner, IM and Softball lots will begin roughly 2.5 hours before games begin and continue through kickoff. Shuttle service for fans parking at the Katz Building and East Parking Deck will begin four and two hours before kickoff, respectively.

ADA shuttles will drop fans off along Curtin Road near Beaver Stadium’s Gate B. Once games end, shuttle service will operate “until waiting demand is serviced,” Penn State says.

Penn State offers a ride-share drop-off and pick-up zone along Hastings Road, located south of the stadium. If you hope to avoid parking fees and traffic, that might be your best bet.

Still have questions? You can reach Penn State’s Customer Relations Service Center by emailing GoLions@psu.edu or calling 1-800-648-8269 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.