Parking Near Kroger Field
Kroger Field sits at 1540 University Drive, on the corner of Alumni Drive and University Drive at the south end of the UK campus. Gameday parking comes down to three choices: a permit lot next to the stadium, a free lot that costs you a walk, or the shuttle.
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Red marker is Kroger Field. Green P markers are free lots. Tap any pin for walking distance.
Free Parking Near Kroger Field
Free gameday parking exists, but it is a walk. These three hold up year to year.
Hilltop Avenue Garage (PS #2)
538 Rose Street, next to the W.T. Young Library. Free, covered, and the closest of the three: about 0.8 miles, roughly a 16 minute walk through campus.
Press Avenue Lot
721 Press Avenue, at the corner of Press and Virginia. Free, and a good backup when Hilltop fills: about 1.2 miles, roughly a 24 minute walk.
Waller Avenue Shopping Center (near St. Joseph Hospital)
Free, and worth trying first on gameday. It sits farther west than the campus lots, so plan on a longer walk or a short rideshare.
Find Your Parking Spot
Answer three questions for a plain recommendation.
Do you have a UK parking permit?
How far are you willing to walk?
Do you want to tailgate?
Answer all three questions to see a recommendation.
Paid Parking and UK Permit Lots
- •Official UK permit lots around the stadium open at 8 a.m. on game days.
- •A mobile parking permit is required and gets scanned at the lot entrance. Load it before you leave home.
- •Lots fill fast in the two hours before kickoff.
- •Season permits and single-game passes are sold through UK Athletics, and prices change every season.
LexTran Gameday Shuttle
LexTran runs a gameday shuttle to the stadium. It has historically run from KSBar and the downtown transit center at $1 each way, on a continuous loop from three hours before kickoff until 30 minutes after the game.
Confirm current 2026 route and fare at lextran.com before gameday.
Traffic and Gameday Routing
Gameday changes the streets around campus. Some go one way, some close entirely. UK partners with Waze for gameday routing, so download Waze before you leave home.
Nicholasville Road, Alumni Drive, and University Drive back up for hours before and after kickoff. Approaching from the south side, by way of Nicholasville Road and Alumni Drive, is the natural route from most of Lexington. Our live Lexington traffic cameras show those corridors before you leave.
Tailgating at Kroger Field
Kroger Field tailgating is part of the experience, not just something that happens before it. You bring what you want: foldable chairs, a cooler, your own spread of food. There is no wrong way to do it. Some people keep it simple with a few chairs and a bag of chips. Others go all out, and I mean all out: campers and RVs, generators, big screen TVs set up for everyone nearby to watch, full food spreads that would make a restaurant jealous. I have seen setups that honestly looked more impressive than some tailgate parties I have paid to attend. It is that kind of atmosphere. Arrive early, find your spot, and enjoy it. The parking lot becomes a neighborhood before the game.
2026 Season Details
Check before gameday
UK Athletics releases official parking information and lot prices each August before the season. Check ukathletics.com for the current 2026 home schedule, lot prices, and any permit purchase links before gameday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there free parking near Kroger Field?
Yes, three of them, if you are willing to walk: the Hilltop Avenue Garage at 538 Rose Street, about 0.8 miles out, the Press Avenue lot at 721 Press Avenue, about 1.2 miles out, and the Waller Avenue shopping center lot near St. Joseph Hospital, worth trying first on gameday.
What time do Kroger Field lots open on game days?
Official UK permit lots open at 8 a.m. on game days and fill fast in the two hours before kickoff.
Is there a shuttle to Kroger Field?
Yes. LexTran has historically run one from KSBar and the downtown transit center at $1 each way, from three hours before kickoff until 30 minutes after the game, so confirm the current 2026 route and fare at lextran.com.
What is the walking distance from the free lots?
Hilltop Avenue Garage is about 0.8 miles, roughly 16 minutes, and the Press Avenue lot about 1.2 miles, roughly 24 minutes. The Waller Avenue lot sits farther west, so plan on a longer walk or a short rideshare.
Can I tailgate at Kroger Field?
Yes, in the stadium lots, anywhere from a few chairs and a cooler to RVs, generators, and big screen TVs. Arrive when the lots open at 8 a.m. to set up.
Where do I buy a parking pass for Kroger Field?
Through UK Athletics, which sells season permits and single-game passes. Permits are mobile and scanned at the lot entrance, so load yours on your phone before you leave home.
Lot prices, shuttle fares, and permit rules change each season. Verify current details with UK Athletics and LexTran before gameday.