Big Ten Football Championship Parking

Visitors to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Football championship between Michigan and Iowa have several options for downtown parking during the big weekend. The Big Ten Football championship game is Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium, which sits within easy walking distance of thousands of garage, surface and street parking spaces. Here are a few of your best options for parking:

• Book a spot in advance. Several local parking garages and lot owners allow you to make a parking reservation before you head downtown. The upside is you can plan ahead exactly where you're going and how close you'll be to Lucas Oil Stadium.
  
  
• Choose a metered spot. The spots fill up fast, so plan to arrive early to get within walking distance of the stadium. How much will you have to pay? Check out our Parking Meter Fee Schedule.
  
  Post updated Nov. 28, 2023.

Indianapolis Colts Parking Tips for Game Days

Whether you're going to the game or just visiting downtown, finding parking can be a challenge on Indianapolis Colts game days. There are dozens of options, ranging from pay lots next door to Lucas Oil Stadium to metered spots several blocks away. A few tips:

• A metered spot could make the most sense, particularly for Sunday games, when the spots are free. Not a Sunday game? Check out our Parking Meter Fee Schedule. The spots fill up fast, so plan to arrive early to get within walking distance of the stadium.
• Park at Circle Centre mall. The mall typically charges a $20 event rate on Colts game days, but if you spend $20 at a mall merchant (including the Colts Pro Shop), you get the regular rates. Check out the details at our Circle Centre Mall Parking page.
• Book a spot in advance. Several local parking garages and lot owners allow you to make a parking reservation before you head downtown. The upside is you can plan ahead exactly where you're going and how close you'll be to Lucas Oil Stadium.
• Surface lots near the stadium provide convenient access, but prices can be steep depending on game-day demand. Some lots including the Indy Blue Crew lot offer season parking passes and a festive environment for tailgating. If you park close, plan to grab a beer or a bite after the game and let the traffic dissipate.
• Several nearby garages also are a good option for parking on game days. Many of the city's more than 72,000 parking spaces are in covered garages. Make sure to check for event rates and find out what time your garage closes. The garages that sit farther from the stadium and are not attached to hotels tend to have the lowest rates. Check out our full list of Indianapolis Parking Garages and Lots.
• Wherever you choose to park, check out our Downtown Parking Tips before you go. Go Colts!

Indy Express Bus Routes from Carmel and Fishers to Indianapolis

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Carmel route has been discontinued as of December 2014, and the Fishers route will stop running on May 1, 2015.

The Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority and Miller Trailways have partnered to offer two weekday commuter bus routes between Fishers and downtown Indianapolis, and between Carmel and Indianapolis. The buses also stop at IUPUI. The cost is $5 each way or $150 for a calendar-month pass and includes Wi-Fi during the trip. Here are a few of the details:

Fishers route

• Departs from the northeast corner of 106th Street and Lantern Road at Prairie View at Crosspoint (west side of Interstate 69).
• Departures from Fishers begin at 6:25 a.m.; with the first bus arriving at Pennsylvania and Ohio streets downtown at about 7 a.m. and at IUPUI's University Place by about 7:10 a.m..
• Weekday evening departures begin at 3:40 p.m. at IUPUI, with pick-ups at Pennsylvania and Ohio streets starting at 3:50 p.m.
• Indy Express Bus also offers a reverse-commute option with a $3 fare per trip.

Carmel route

• Departs from Meijer at Pennsylvania Street and West Carmel Drive.
• Departures from Carmel begin at 6:25 a.m.; with the first bus arriving at Pennsylvania and Ohio streets downtown at about 7 a.m. and at IUPUI's University Place by about 7:20 a.m.
• Weekday evening departures begin shortly after 3:30 p.m. at IUPUI, with pick-ups at Pennsylvania and Ohio streets starting at 3:45 p.m.
• Indy Express Bus also offers a reverse-commute option with a $3 fare per trip.

 More information on Commuter Connect, click here.

Free Parking in Downtown Indianapolis

Parking for the most part is affordable and abundant in downtown Indianapolis when no major event is underway. However, you can do better than affordable if you play your cards right. Here are a few tips to snag free parking downtown:

• Street spaces in areas with new digital meters are free after 9 p.m. and on Sundays and holidays. Spaces with old meters are free after 6 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends. Make sure to look for signs and read instructions on your meter for exceptions. *
• Parking at Circle Centre Mall? Catch a flick at the United Artists Theater or buy a gift card there, and you can get up to four hours of free parking. Remember to bring your parking ticket to the box office for validation.
• Some downtown retailers and banks offer parking validation for customers. Check in advance to see if such an offer applies to your visit.
• A limited number of free street parking spaces are available if you're willing to park on the edges of downtown and walk. Make sure to check for no-parking signs.

* Updated May 2011 for installation of new parking meters.

Parking for FFA National Convention

By popular demand and courtesy of the FFA organization, here are some details on parking for the FFA Convention this week in Indianapolis:

• Prepaid parking passes for regular-sized vehicles will be available for purchase when you register for convention online . A parking pass will allow you in-and-out privileges in the same parking lot or garage, Tuesday through Saturday during the convention.
• The passes will be priced to reflect negotiated group rates, which are expected to range from $27-$77. If you chose not to purchase a pass through convention registration, daily parking passes can be purchased at each parking facility. Daily parking passes do not include in-and-out privileges, and prices are at the discretion of the parking facility.
• Prepaid parking passes for school and charter buses can be purchased when you register for convention online. Note: If your chapter is staying in one of the hotels in downtown Indianapolis during the convention, you must purchase a prepaid bus parking pass. Most downtown hotels do not provide parking for buses.
• If your chapter is staying at a hotel in downtown Indianapolis during the convention, you will have the option to use the hotel's parking lots for your vehicles. Parking arrangements must be made through the hotel. At this time, parking rates for downtown hotels are between $12 and $30 dollars per day.
• Open parking in the downtown area is available on a first come first served basis. Costs range from $5-25 per entry with no in and out privileges. Please note that access to these spaces is not guaranteed. You will find abundant and affordable parking options in downtown Indianapolis. 

Source: National FFA
Updated: Oct. 23, 2012