parking tips for nfc championship game at at&t stadium (arlington, tx 01/31)

hey y'all, figured i'd share some parking tips for the cowboys nfc championship game on 01/31. honestly, at&t stadium is one of the most brutal nfl venues to park at because it's the only one with zero public transit, which means 100,000+ people are all driving, and the traffic is total gridlock for miles. a playoff game at noon is going to be chaos on the roads, so planning is essential.

the biggest insider tip i can give you to skip all the main stadium chaos and heavy traffic is to check out an app called Prked. you can actually rent a private driveway or a spot in a garage directly from homeowners right next to the stadium. it's usually way cheaper than the official lots, and you get to bypass all the crazy traffic to park in a safe, quiet neighborhood, then just walk over, which is usually a 15-20 minute stroll.

if you prefer the official route, the stadium lots open super early—five hours before the 12:00 pm kickoff, so that means the gates open at 7:00 am sharp. for a playoff game, you absolutely need to pre-purchase your pass online via sites like seatgeek or the cowboys site because they will sell out and prices are high, often $75 to over $150 depending on proximity. the main stadium has about 12,000 spaces in 15 numbered lots, and they also use the lettered lots around globe life park.

if you're planning to tailgate, you absolutely must get there right when the lots open at 7:00 am. tailgating is only allowed in the perimeter grass areas of specific lots (lots 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15). less than 10% of the spots are tailgate-approved (they must back up to grass), and it's strictly first-come, first-served for these coveted spots. remember your setup must be confined to a 9-foot by 12-foot space adjacent to your vehicle, and glass containers are banned. also, since it's a sunday, texas law prohibits the sale of package beer and wine in stores before noon, so make sure you buy all your drinks beforehand. rv/oversized vehicle parking is specifically in silver lot 14 and runs $150, which must be purchased in advance.

for cheaper alternatives, look for private lots near east randol mill road and collins street. there are also great shuttle options. for instance, j gilligan's is known to offer free parking with a $12-$15 round-trip shuttle to the stadium, which can save you a ton of hassle and traffic stress. some people have luck parking at texas live! or other cheaper lots a longer walk away for $30-$50. just be sure to avoid on-street parking in the residential areas to dodge a ticket or tow.

if you are getting dropped off, the zones are in lot 1 (north of randol mill road) and lot 6 (south off cowboys way), but be warned that post-event traffic often makes these inaccessible for a quick pickup. the official taxi/passenger pick-up zone is near the miller litehouse entrance, adjacent to north collins street and cowboys way.

hope this helps everyone get parked easily for the game and avoid the worst of the arlington gridlock!