Can't miss
- Ralphie's Run Before each half, a live buffalo runs a horseshoe around the field with a crew of handlers sprinting beside her. Nothing else in college football looks like it.
- The Pearl Street Stampede The night before most home games, the band and spirit squads parade down Pearl Street downtown.
- Flatirons over the stands The rock slabs above Boulder are right there from the stands. For a noon kick, look west before the game starts.
Quick answers
What time do the Folsom Field lots open?
6 hours before kickoff, but never earlier than 8 a.m. Lots close 1 hour after the game, and there's no overnight parking on campus.
Can you grill at Folsom Field?
Yes. CU's lot rules allow charcoal or gas cooking. Deep fryers, any oil-based frying and open-flame fires are banned. The reserved Franklin Field zone is propane only.
Can you drink at Colorado tailgates?
CU's parking-lot rules prohibit drinking or carrying open containers on any street, sidewalk, alley, car or other public area, and giving alcohol to anyone under 21 or already drunk. Inside, beer is sold at the stands, and intoxicated fans are turned away at the gate.
Do you need a ticket to tailgate?
No ticket rule is posted for the lots. Ralphie's Road is open to everyone, and guests without game tickets can join a reserved tent on Franklin Field.
How do you buy parking?
Public lots on main campus are first come, first served, and you pay by Text to Pay after you park. Main campus public parking is very limited and fills every game. East Campus lots are cheaper and come with a free shuttle.
The game-day timeline
- 6 hrs beforeCampus lots open (never before 8 a.m.)
- About 3 hrs beforeRalphie's Road and Chip's Kids Club open; East Campus shuttle starts
- About 2.5 hrs beforeThe team arrives at Ralphie's Road and walks through Franklin Field
- 2 hrs beforeGates open
- About 1.5 hrs beforeRalphie arrives at Ralphie's Road for photos
- 15 min beforeBe in your seat for Ralphie's Run
Where to park
Most campus lots are donor permit only. The public options fill fast, so pick one before you leave.
- Main campus public
- Euclid, Grandview and Regent (440) garages and lots 416, 402 and 470. First come, Text to Pay after you park.
- East Campus
- Off Colorado Ave and Discovery Dr. Cheaper, Text to Pay, with a free shuttle to the stadium.
- Donor lots
- Permit only, including the Folsom garage and Lot 360. Some donor passes are mobile this year.
- RV / limo
- Lot 544 on East Campus, bought on game day with a credit card. RVs park only if there's room in a row.
- Accessible
- Lot 204 at 18th St and Euclid Ave, state placard or plate required, with a wheelchair-accessible shuttle to the stadium.
- Charter buses
- Drop off and pick up at 18th St and Euclid Ave, then park or stage on East Campus.
Main campus public parking fills every game. If you're not early, plan on East Campus and the shuttle.
Unpaid event parking can get you a ticket, so text to pay as soon as you park.
No car? RTD buses and the HOP run to campus from downtown Boulder. Rideshare drops off and picks up at Euclid Ave and 18th St, with backups at the Safeway on Arapahoe and at University Ave and Macky Dr.
The rules
Rules last verified Oct 14, 2026 against colorado.edu and cubuffs.com.
These come straight from CU Boulder's posted parking-lot rules. The alcohol one is stricter than most people expect.
- Grills
- Charcoal or gas cooking is allowed. No deep fryers, no oil-based frying, no open-flame fires.
- Alcohol
- No drinking or open containers on any street, sidewalk, alley, car or other public area. Never serve anyone under 21 or anyone already drunk.
- Your space
- No saving parking spaces. No hired vendors or entertainers in a lot without written approval.
- Not allowed
- Selling anything, weapons, fireworks and smoking or vaping. CU Boulder is a smoke-free campus.
- When it ends
- Lots close 1 hour after the game. No overnight parking anywhere on campus.
- Bags at the gate
- Clear, up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a 1-gallon freezer bag, plus a clutch about 4.5 x 6.5 inches. No re-entry.
- Gates open
- 2 hours before kickoff. Folsom is cashless inside.
Before you go
CU Boulder football parkingUtah game: Know Before You GoFolsom Field A-Z guideFranklin Field Tailgate Zone FAQ2026 main campus football parking map (PDF)Official pages. Rules change; check them the week of the game.
Pack for Boulder
What we'd bring.
-
Ultralight Tall-Back Camp Chair
$45
Ships free
-
Opener & Shotgun Tool
$7.99
Free over $50 (our gear)
Our opener pops caps and clips to your keys, so it's never the thing nobody packed.
More for this lot
-
Tailgate Trekker 20L Soft Backpack Cooler$149 · Free over $50 (our gear)
Fall in Boulder swings hard. Late-season and night games get cold, so bring layers for after dark.
Where the party is
Folsom is a campus stadium with most of its close lots held for donors, so the public pregame lives on the street. Ralphie's Road turns Colorado Avenue into a party, and the team and the buffalo both come through it.
Open to everyone
Ralphie's Road
CU's official pregame street party on Colorado Ave: food trucks, a DJ and a big screen. The team arrives here, and Ralphie stops by in her trailer before her run.
The reserved zone
Franklin Field
Season-long reserved tents just east of the stadium. The team walks through on the way in. Guests are welcome, even without game tickets. Propane only, no glass.
The family stop
Chip's Kids Club
Free inflatables and games on Duane Field, next to Ralphie's Road. Reserved tailgate spaces sit next door on Benson Field.
What to eat
Grill what you like, because charcoal and gas are both fair game, and leave the fryer at home. Short on time? Ralphie's Road has food trucks.
Cook thisWhat to cook at a tailgate (that survives the lot)Getting out
CU tells fans to expect up to an hour getting out of the lots. Plan around that hour. Your options, best first:
- Ride the shuttle. The free East Campus shuttle runs for 1 hour after the game, and East Campus is off Colorado Ave, away from the worst of it.
- Rideshare from Euclid and 18th. Or walk to the backups at the Safeway on Arapahoe or University Ave and Macky Dr. Expect delays either way.
- Take the bus. RTD and the HOP serve campus. Check the Transit app or RTD's trip planner before you go.
Skip this
Pull out at the final whistle. Lots stay open an hour after the game. Pack up slowly and let Colorado Ave drain first.
First time here?
- Lots open 6 hours before kickoff, never before 8 a.m.
- Public lots are Text to Pay after you park. Pay right away.
- No fryers. Charcoal and gas grills are fine.
- Drinking in public areas, streets and cars is against CU's lot rules.
- Be in your seat 15 minutes before kickoff for Ralphie's Run.
- Clear bag only, and there's no re-entry.
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