The drive from Mesa looks manageable on paper — US-60 West, a merge onto the Loop 101, off at University Drive, and you're practically pulling into Tempe. Then game day arrives. The same corridor that runs smoothly at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday turns into a crawl three hours before kickoff on a Saturday, Packard Drive closes to all northbound traffic throughout the event, and the surface lots closest to the gates — the ones worth waking up for — fill on a first-come basis well before your group has finished tailgating.
After the final whistle, 53,000 Sun Devils fans all point toward the same Loop 101 on-ramps at once. Renting a charter bus or party bus to Mountain America Stadium is how you skip every part of that.
Mountain America Stadium sits at 500 E Veterans Way, Tempe, AZ 85287 on the ASU campus — about eight miles west of downtown Mesa, a straight shot down US-60. This guide covers exactly where a bus drops off and picks up, how game-day parking actually works (and what it costs), which vehicle fits your group's headcount, and everything else you need locked in before kickoff. For a full view of bus options and pricing for ASU games and other East Valley events, see the Mesa sporting event bus rental page.
Why Groups Rent a Party Bus or Charter Bus to Mountain America Stadium
The parking math at Mountain America Stadium is not complicated — it just adds up faster than most groups expect. General admission lots run $20 per vehicle, open 5.5 hours before kickoff on a first-come basis, and are spread across a color-coded system that wraps around the entire ASU campus. The premium lots closest to the gates require a Sun Devil parking pass.
Arrive 90 minutes before kickoff without a pass and your options are the farthest surface lots or an expensive garage — plus a walk that first-timers typically underestimate. After the game, the same roads that carry your group in carry 53,000 other fans out, and rideshare surge pricing in campus Tempe is real: every other fan in the stadium opens the same app at the same time.
A charter bus or party bus rental to Mountain America Stadium changes the whole equation. Your group loads once at your Mesa hotel, home, or office; the bus navigates the game-day traffic and approach route adjustments; and the vehicle drops everyone near the gates while the group stays together from pickup to final whistle. The post-game pickup is set before you walk in — no one is circling the lot, splitting into separate rideshares, or drawing straws over who stays sober for the drive home.
One flat rate covers the whole trip, split across everyone on board.
Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off at Mountain America Stadium
ASU's official drop-off point for guests without parking passes — including ADA guests and those with limited mobility — is at the South Packard Drive Structure (Structure 7), per the ASU Sun Devil Athletics Game Day Guide. From that staging area, cart service runs to the stadium entrances. For a charter bus or party bus, your group offloads at the South Packard Drive area, the bus either stages nearby or returns at an agreed pickup window, and everyone walks straight to the gates.
There is no Lot 44-style rideshare zone a 25-minute walk away — the drop is close, the cart service covers the gap for anyone who needs it, and the group arrives together.
The critical planning note is this: Packard Drive closes to all northbound traffic on game days. ASU's own "Know Before You Go" game-day releases confirm the closure consistently across multiple 2025 matchups — so the approach to the South Packard Drive area comes from the south, not down from the north campus side. Because the exact traffic management plan can also shift with kickoff time and event size, checking the official Mountain America Stadium venue page before your game — and verifying the current approach route when you request a quote — keeps your group from discovering the closure at the wrong intersection.
Mountain America Stadium Parking: What to Expect on Game Day
ASU uses a color-coded lot system that wraps around the entire Tempe campus. The current lot names — updated in 2023 — are worth knowing before you arrive, because the old numbers still show up in some apps and GPS directions. Black Lot (former Lot 6) and Pink Lot (former Lot 9) sit on the east side, accessed by taking Rural Road south and turning east on Sixth Street.
The Copper/RV Lot (former Lot 10) is north-side, accessed via Rio Salado Drive. Gold Lot (former Reserved South) and Maroon Lot (former Reserved North) are the premium pass lots closest to the stadium. Gray, Green, and Orange Lots fill in the surrounding ring.
Four parking structures — Packard Structure, Novus Structure, Fulton Center Garage, and Stadium Structure — provide covered options that mix pay-and-park with pass-required sections depending on the event.
The general admission lots cost $20 per vehicle on game days and open 5.5 hours before kickoff on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserved pass lots open 7 hours before kickoff. ADA parking is available in the Blue Lot (designated disability lot) and the lower levels of Packard, Novus, and Stadium Structures on a first-come basis with a valid disability placard.
For north-side lots, approach via Rio Salado Drive; for south-side lots, use E. University Drive. And because all concessions — including many parking payment lanes — are cashless at Mountain America Stadium, bring a card or mobile payment.
One thing worth knowing heading into 2026: construction on a new indoor practice facility near the stadium is reallocating approximately 800 parking spaces for season ticket holders starting this summer. Per ASU Athletics, parking inventory is not being reduced — only reallocated, with expanded surface lots added north and east of the stadium. Season pass holders will go through parking selection in May 2026; day-of general admission availability stays intact.
Check the Sun Devil Football parking page before your game for the most current lot assignments and any access changes tied to the construction footprint.
Getting to Mountain America Stadium From Mesa and the East Valley
The standard route from Mesa is the one ASU's own directions page lists: US-60 West to Loop 101 North, then exit at University Drive (Exit 52). From there, bear left on Rio Salado Drive for north-side lots and straight on E. University Drive for south-side lots. From Gilbert and Chandler, the Loop 101 corridor from the south runs the same way.
From Scottsdale, Loop 101 South to University Drive is direct. Phoenix and Glendale groups typically take I-10 East to Loop 202 East, then connect via Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Drive for the north lots.
Off-peak, the US-60/Loop 101 run from downtown Mesa to the stadium covers about eight miles in 15–20 minutes. On a game-day Saturday — especially a night game or a ranked Big 12 matchup — that same run adds 30 to 45 minutes and your group arrives in a separate car for each parking space. A Mesa party bus rental consolidates the whole group into one vehicle and one game-day approach, while everyone else is navigating the merge from the south.
Mountain America Stadium Transportation: Charter Bus vs. Every Other Option
Mountain America Stadium is one of the better-served venues in the Southwest for public transit. The Valley Metro Light Rail stops at Veterans Way/College Ave station, directly adjacent to the west side of the stadium — walking distance is genuine, not optimistic. The Tempe Streetcar serves the Marina Heights stop on the north side.
The free Orbit bus runs until 10 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays (8 p.m. Sundays). Eight regional Park and Ride locations — including Apache/McClintock and Camelback/19th Ave — let riders ditch the car and connect to light rail.
For additional route and schedule details, Valley Metro can be reached at 480-858-2350 or through the Valley Metro app.
Transit is a genuinely good option for individuals and pairs. For a group of 20 or more, it falls apart: your group splits across multiple train cars, reassembles on the platform if you're lucky, and trickles through security at different times. Post-game, the light rail works the same way — the whole stadium exits at the same moment, and the Veterans Way platform fills fast.
Here is an honest look at the options side by side.
| Option | Cost shape | Arrive together? | Door-to-near-the-gates | Best group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter bus or party bus | One flat rate, split across the group | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival, one pickup spot | Best — drops at South Packard Drive Structure area, cart service to gates | 15–56 |
| Valley Metro Light Rail | Per person each way | No — group splits across cars and trains | Good — Veterans Way/College Ave station is adjacent | Any, but no group control |
| Tempe Streetcar | Per person each way | No — limited car capacity | Good — Marina Heights stop, north side | Small groups only |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | Per car each way + post-game surge | No — multiple cars, multiple ETAs | Variable — app-designated pickup, not stadium-side | 1–4 per car |
| Everyone drives and parks | $20/vehicle + gas per car | No — caravans split at every light | Varies by lot and when you arrived | 1–2 cars maximum |
One bus replaces a full caravan: a 56-passenger charter bus equals roughly 14 cars, each needing its own $20 parking slot, each adding a post-game rideshare or designated driver to the math. Once your group is past a handful of cars' worth of people, the per-head cost of one bus routinely beats the coordination cost of separate vehicles — and everybody arrives at the same gate, at the same time.
What Size Bus Does Your Group Need to Rent for Mountain America Stadium?
The right vehicle depends on two things: your headcount and how much tailgate gear you're hauling. Folding chairs, a small propane setup, and a cooler ride fine in the overhead storage of a minibus; a full tailgate spread needs the deep undercarriage bays of a full-size charter bus. Here is how the vehicle lineup maps to a Mountain America Stadium run.
| Vehicle | Seats | Gear capacity | Best for | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-passenger Sprinter limo / Sprinter van | Up to 14 | Modest — bags, small coolers | Small group, premium arrival, corporate suite access | Premium leather, USB charging, tinted windows |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | 15–35 | Overhead bins plus some underfloor | Mid-size groups; better maneuverability on tight campus streets | Powerful A/C, plush reclining seats |
| Party bus (15–50 passengers) | 15–50 | Onboard, lighter | Fan groups who want the energy building from pickup to kickoff | LED lighting, premium sound system, flat-panel TVs, perimeter seating |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Excellent — deep undercarriage bays | Large groups, full tailgate setups, longer hauls from Scottsdale or Chandler | Reclining seats, climate control, overhead storage, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restrooms, undercarriage bays |
For fan groups in the 15-to-35 range, a Mesa minibus rental is usually the best fit — small enough to navigate the campus approach roads and turn into the South Packard Drive area without the turning radius of a full-size coach, big enough to keep the whole group in one vehicle. For groups hauling a complete tailgate setup — propane grill, folding table, chairs — the charter bus's undercarriage bays handle all of it so nobody is cramming gear into overhead bins. ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network; just note your needs in the quote request when you get in touch.
Party Bus and Charter Bus Rental Prices for Mountain America Stadium Trips
Pricing for a Mountain America Stadium run depends on vehicle size, how many hours you need the bus (tailgate time before the game plus the post-game wait), your pickup location, and the date. To give you an idea of planning ranges from the network of bus companies serving Mesa: a 15–35 passenger minibus typically runs $200–$250 per hour on weekdays and $200–$275 on weekends; a 25-passenger party bus comes in around $250–$350 weekdays and $275–$375 on weekends; and a 40–56 passenger charter bus runs roughly $200–$350 per hour regardless of day. These are example planning ranges to help you budget — the actual number for your group moves with the specific date, vehicle, hours, and demand.
For exact pricing on your trip, fill out the quick quote form or call 602-338-9088 and you can get a quote in about a minute.
The per-head math usually lands in a group's favor. A 40-person fan group on a 40-passenger party bus for an 8-hour game-day run covers pickup, drop at the stadium, tailgate time, the game, and the post-game return — split 40 ways, that often comes out competitive with (or cheaper than) $20 parking per car plus separate post-game rideshares for everyone. For a fuller breakdown of vehicle ranges and rates, see the Mesa party bus prices page.
Tailgating at Mountain America Stadium with a Charter Bus Group
ASU's tailgate scene is genuinely impressive and stretches for several blocks around the stadium. The official Dos Equis Pitchfork Pregame on the north side opens three hours before kickoff and runs in a climate-controlled space — a nice option when a September afternoon in Tempe is 105 degrees. Sparky's Touchdown Tailgate near College Avenue Commons, run by the Alumni Association, adds live music and food trucks.
The surface lots handle their own separate tailgate culture, and ASU enforces real rules that affect every group's setup.
Straight from the official Game Day Guide: tailgating is permitted within your assigned parking space only — you cannot block driving lanes or save extra spots for other cars in your caravan. Propane grills only — charcoal is prohibited, and no open flames. Glass containers are not allowed in the lots.
All tailgate activity wraps at kickoff, and lots must clear within one hour after the game concludes. With a charter bus group, the setup is simpler: the bus holds tailgate gear in its undercarriage bays, your group tailgates in the space associated with the bus's position, and nobody is making multiple trips from a car parked three rows over.
Mountain America Stadium Policies Every Group Should Know
Clear bag policy. Every guest is limited to one clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12″ × 6″ × 12″, a small clutch no larger than 4.5″ × 6.5″, or one one-gallon clear freezer bag. Backpacks, camera bags, and oversized purses are not permitted.
Brief your whole group before arrival — this policy is enforced at all gates without exceptions.
Gates and no re-entry. Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. Once a ticket is scanned and a guest enters the stadium, no re-entry is allowed.
Any tailgate setup outside the gates needs to be fully wrapped before the group goes in — there is no returning to the lot for a forgotten item.
All cashless. Every concession stand inside Mountain America Stadium is cashless, and many parking payment options are also card-only. Mobile payment works at most points.
Bring a card, full stop.
No drones. The FAA enforces a Temporary Flight Restriction within three miles of the stadium during events, reaching 3,000 feet. Leave drones at home.
ADA seating and cart service. Mountain America Stadium has 662 ADA seats distributed across 14 areas of the facility, including club and upper-level sections. Courtesy cart service runs from the South Packard Drive Structure area to the stadium entrances — the same area where bus drop-off occurs for non-pass holders.
ASU Sun Devils Football 2026 Home Schedule at Mountain America Stadium
The 2026 season brings six home games to Frank Kush Field — which was named the Collegiate Football Field of the Year in 2025 by the Sports Field Management Association, so the surface itself is worth seeing. The full home slate at Mountain America Stadium, per the Big 12 / Sun Devil Athletics schedule announcement:
- September 5: vs. Morgan State, 7 p.m. on ESPN+ — season opener
- October 3: vs. Baylor
- October 10: vs. Hawai'i
- October 24: vs. Kansas State
- November 7: vs. Colorado
- November 21: vs. Oklahoma State
Night games (the opener, and likely the late-October and November dates) are the sessions where parking fills fastest and rideshare pricing spikes hardest — the combination of darkness, a full crowd, and a campus that compresses all exit traffic onto the same two or three roads makes those post-game windows the most painful of the year. The Cactus Bowl is also returning to Mountain America Stadium in 2026, adding a December bowl game that draws out-of-town groups and presses the same parking system with a national audience. For those dates in particular, getting a party bus or charter bus to Mountain America Stadium reserved as soon as your group confirms is the move.
The vehicles in the network go fast for sellout windows — call 602-338-9088 the moment your date is set.
Frequently Asked Questions About Renting a Bus to Mountain America Stadium
Where does a charter bus or party bus drop off at Mountain America Stadium?
The official guest drop-off area for those without parking passes — including ADA guests and those with limited mobility — is the South Packard Drive Structure (Structure 7) area, per the ASU Game Day Guide. Cart service runs from that point to the stadium entrances. This is the closest coordinated drop-off point for vehicles not staging in a purchased lot.
Because Packard Drive is closed to northbound traffic on game days, the approach comes from the south, not from the north campus side. Confirm the current approach route for your specific game when you request a quote.
How much does parking cost at Mountain America Stadium?
General admission lots are $20 per vehicle on game days, first-come, first-served, opening 5.5 hours before kickoff. Reserved pass lots (Gold, Maroon, and others requiring a Sun Devil parking pass) open 7 hours before kickoff. ADA parking is available in the Blue Lot and lower levels of Packard, Novus, and Stadium Structures with a valid disability placard on a first-come basis.
All parking payment is cashless — card or mobile pay only.
What is the easiest transit option from Mesa to Mountain America Stadium?
The Valley Metro Light Rail stops at Veterans Way/College Ave station, directly adjacent to the west side of the stadium. From Mesa, catch the light rail on the East Main line — the ride from downtown Mesa typically runs 20–30 minutes. The Tempe Streetcar covers the Marina Heights stop on the north side.
For game-day schedules and route details, call Valley Metro at 480-858-2350 or use the Valley Metro app. Transit is the best individual option, but it scatters groups across multiple cars; for 15 or more people, a Mesa party bus rental keeps everyone in one vehicle with one departure and one pickup.
How early should our group arrive at Mountain America Stadium?
For a full tailgate, the general admission lots open 5.5 hours before kickoff — arriving 3–4 hours early is realistic for most groups. For night games and rivalry matchups (especially the Territorial Cup vs. Arizona, typically in late November), plan 3.5–4 hours early because those games draw capacity crowds and the lots closest to the gates fill quickly. ASU recommends at least one hour before kickoff for guests without tailgate plans.
Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff.
Can our group tailgate with a charter bus at Mountain America Stadium?
Yes — tailgating is allowed in your assigned parking space, propane grills only (no charcoal, no open flames), no glass containers, within one parking space, with the lot clearing within one hour after the game. A charter bus group tailgates in the space associated with the bus's position — and the undercarriage bays of a full-size charter bus handle gear so no one is making repeated car trips across the lot. Any setup wraps at kickoff per ASU's published rules.
Are there parking changes at Mountain America Stadium for 2026?
Yes. Construction on a new indoor practice facility near the stadium is reallocating approximately 800 parking spaces beginning summer 2026. Per ASU Athletics, the total parking inventory is not being reduced — just reallocated, with expanded surface lots added to the north and east.
Season pass holders will go through a new parking selection process in May 2026. Day-of general admission availability is expected to remain intact. Check the Sun Devil Football parking page before your specific game for the current lot map.
How far in advance should we book a bus to Mountain America Stadium?
For regular-season home games, 3–6 weeks of lead time is workable for most dates. For high-demand windows — the season opener, Big 12 night games, the Territorial Cup rivalry game, and the 2026 Cactus Bowl — book as early as your date and group size are confirmed. The right-size vehicles in the network fill for these dates, and waiting until two weeks out usually means fewer options and higher rates.
Call 602-338-9088 any time to check availability — there's no account required and no obligation to book.
Are ADA-accessible buses available for Mountain America Stadium trips?
Yes. ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the Partybusinmesa.com network — note your needs in the quote request at least 48 hours before your trip. At the stadium, ADA parking is available in the Blue Lot and lower levels of Packard, Novus, and Stadium Structures with a valid placard; courtesy cart service runs from the South Packard Drive Structure area to the entrances, and there are 662 ADA seats distributed across 14 sections of the facility.
What is the bag policy at Mountain America Stadium?
Each guest may bring one clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12″ × 6″ × 12″, a small clutch no larger than 4.5″ × 6.5″, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag. Backpacks, tinted bags, camera bags, and oversized purses are not allowed through any gate. Brief your group before the event — the policy is strictly enforced.
Check the official Game Day Guide for the most current version of the policy before your visit.
Book a Bus to Mountain America Stadium Today
Whether it's a season-opener group run from Mesa, a rivalry night charter for the Territorial Cup, a large corporate suite outing where nobody should worry about who is driving home, or an out-of-town fan group flying into Phoenix Sky Harbor and needing one clean transfer straight to Tempe — Partybusinmesa.com makes finding the right vehicle fast and straightforward. Fill out the quick online form or call 602-338-9088 any time — pricing for your specific group, date, and pickup location comes back in about a minute, with no account required and no obligation to book. Compare vehicles and rates from a large network of bus companies serving Mesa and the East Valley, and lock in your Mountain America Stadium trip before your date fills up.
Also planning a Diamondbacks game at Chase Field or a Suns or Coyotes game at Footprint Center on the same visit? Those guides cover their own drop-offs and parking situations.
