Where Is the Best Place to Park at Red Rocks?

First, let's start with parking options. In the image of the Red Rocks Park Map, you can see a number of parking lots. Below is a list in order of our favorites to park at (and why).While some lots are closer to the venues than others, they all require some walking to get there and there will be elevation gain no matter where you park. Red Rocks can get extremely congested with traffic, making the choice on where to park an art as much as a science. For EDM and Jam bands, traffic isn't quite as congested, because many people will pack in a car or party bus, meaning fewer vehicles. In contrast, shows for country artists or comedians usually have fewer people packed into each vehicle leading to more cars and more traffic. It's also important to note that all these lots are below the venue, so if you are sitting at the top of the seating sections, there will be a little extra exercise for you. The elevation is over 8,000 ft and many of the parking lots require long walks with significant elevation gain. Many paths are dirt paths, so make sure you wear comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting dirty, bring water, don't be afraid to take a break, and keep an eye out for wildlife. The walks to the venue can be tough, but it's a fun pre-show tradition with great views and a taste of the Rocky Mountains, so try your best to soak it in and enjoy it.

For people with accessibility needs, Red Rocks has shuttles that can get people to the venue from the Upper South Lot, Trading Post Lot, and the Top Circle Lot.

Upper South Lot

The Upper South Lot is the perfect combination of easy to get to. It's hands down the best parking lot at Red Rocks. It's the closest lot to an entrance/exit (Entrance 3), which means an easy escape from the park after the event. But it's also the closest to the venue with the least amount of increase in elevation to get to the amphitheatre. In other words, it's less of a hike. Unfortunately, unless you get to the park at least an hour and a half before the event, you don't have much of a chance to park here. It has also recently been closed at times due to construction. However, for many events the lot has been reopened, so it's always worth checking out if there are any spots available. To get here, enter at Entrance 3, take a left at the first fork, and it will be on your left. It takes just a few minutes to leave the park from this lot. This is also the main designated accessible parking lot for event goers in rows 1, 2, or 3. The accessibility shuttle runs all night to get you to and from your accessible seats. There are also some electric charging stations here, but those are first come first serve so we recommend getting to the venue early to secure a spot.

Triangle Lot

The Triangle Lot is a triangle shaped lot adjacent to The Upper South Lot. On the map, you can see the brown triangle located south of the venue along Ship Rock Road between the Upper South lot and Trading Post Rd. This lot has roughly 25 spaces and is first come first serve. It’s extremely close to the South Ramp and makes for a very quick and easy escape from the venue. You usually have to get to the park hours before the show to find a spot here, but if you do then you’ll have the best parking spots in the entire park.

Upper North Lot

This is a highly sought after parking lot for many of the same reasons the Upper South lot is. While it's very close to the venue, it's extremely far from the entrance. In fact, it's the furthest lot from an entrance. Because of its close proximity to the venue this lot fills up fast. Much like the Upper South Lot, you won't have much of a chance to park here unless you arrive at the venue an hour and a half before the show starts (or longer).The biggest caveat is that when you arrive, it's a long and winding road to the top to reach this lot. When the show is over, it's a long and winding road down and you also run into traffic from the Lower North Lot. It can take up to 45 minutes to leave the park from this lot, mostly because traffic in the lot is very congested, and it's a one lane road to entrance 1.

Half Moon Parking Lot and Small Parking Lot

These two parking lots are hidden gems. Half Moon Parking Lot only has room for 21 vehicles and Small parking lot only has room for 18 spots plus some additional street spots. These lots are so secretive they aren't even on any of Red Rocks maps, however you can find them on Google Maps. For your convenience, they're marked on the map with a red dot (Half Moon Lot) and a blue dot (Small parking lot). Both these lots are great because you can usually sneak out of the park via Entrance 2, so you don't have to deal with traffic from the Upper and Lower North Lots. While you still have to hike up a large elevation gain to get to the venue, these lots are very convenient and generally hassle free. If you arrive an hour or more before the event starts, it might be worth it to check out these lots.

Lower South Lots 1 and 2

The Lower South Lots are both very close to each other. Lower South 1 is the better one to park in because it's a couple hundred yards closer to the venue, but the exact same distance from the entrances. They both have easy access to Entrance 2 and Entrance 3, but are both the furthest lots from the venue. Sometimes it's tough to get out of the parking lots, but the traffic once we leave the parking lot is rarely congested. These lots are fantastic for tailgating and having a great time pre-show. If you don't mind walking, then these lots are great options. They usually fill up last, so you can arrive at the event's start time and still have a shot at getting a parking spot in these lots. And the biggest positive is how easy it is to exit from here. It usually takes about 10 minutes to leave the park at the end of the night. Large RV and Bus Parking is located at the back (south side) of Lower South Lot 2.

Lower North Lot

The Lower North Lot is last on our list. It usually fills up about 30 minutes before show time so is oftentimes the best option if you're arriving close to the event's start. However, it is far from the venue. There are two routes to get to the venue from this lot. The first is to head up to W. Alameda Parkway, climb a short steep set of stairs and then hike up the road to the venue's entrance. Second, Head south down Trading Post Road until you get to the half moon lot. Then climb a very steep set of stairs stretching over a tenth of a mile. Neither option is ideal, which is why this lot is last on our list. It can also take up to 45 minutes to leave the park from here, because you'll be fighting traffic from the Upper North Lot as well.

Trading Post Lot

The Trading post Lot is reserved for attendees with accessibility needs, especially those sitting in rows 1, 2, or 3. This lot is in a great location because you can exit via entrance 3, or entrance 2, and usually only takes a few minutes once you make it back to your vehicle. Assuming you don't take the shuttle, it's fairly close to the venue, so it is easy to hike your way to and from the venue's doors. There are also EV charging stations located in the Trading Post Lot.

Top Circle Lot

The Top Circle Lot is reserved for Limousines, and accessibility parking. It is first come first serve for the accessibility parking, so it's necessary to get there extremely early to capture a spot. This is ideal because the entrance to the venue is only steps away from this lot, but traffic can be terrible coming from this deep in the park, and it can take up to 45 minutes to leave the venue after the show ends. The advantage, however, is that because the lot is so close to the venue, you often get to your car first for a head start.

Street Parking

Last on our list is street parking throughout the park. This is a hassle, you rarely get close to the venue and there are hundreds of horror stories about people being unable to find their cars at the end of the night. This should be the last resort when parking at Red Rocks, though in many cases this does allow for an incredibly easy exit in just minutes. So if that's a priority for you, parking on the streets might not be such a bad option for you.

Driving Directions to Red Rocks

Traffic in Morrison can be tough on event days, and some entrances are busier than others. If you arrive over an hour before the event, then traffic should be fine, but we know that sometimes it's just not feasible to arrive that early, so here are our recommendations to navigate traffic as best as possible.

Coming from I70

When you come from I70, taking exit 259 to Morrison is the most straightforward option. Oftentimes, it's the best option too, especially for shows that are not sold out, or are during the weekdays. Once you take the exit, head south on 93 and you'll first run into Entrance 1 first. We recommend going past entrance 1, as this mostly just leads to the North lots. Entrance 2 is great to get to the South Lots, Half Moon and Small Parking Lot. Personally, I always enter the park via entrance 2. Finally, if you want to enter via entrance 3, we recommend taking 470 to get to Hwy 74. From there Entrance 3 will be on your right and you'll be good to go.

Coming from South of Red Rocks

If you are coming from 285 or from 470, then we recommend using Entrance 3 or in some cases Entrance 2. It can be a bit of a hassle to get to Entrance 1 from here so we suggest avoiding that altogether. Usually, there is less traffic coming from the South so this is a much easier trip.

Red Rocks Tickets

Now that you're an expert in getting to Red Rocks and knowing where to park, you can relax and prepare for an unforgettable evening at Red Rocks. If you haven't already, browse all Red Rocks events and buy tickets to see it live, right here on our Red Rocks Tickets Page!