Fair Park's Cotton Bowl Stadium packs 91,000 fans into one of the most storied venues in college football — and on Red River Rivalry weekend, every one of those fans is trying to squeeze onto I-30 or find a spot in a lot that was sold out by noon. The single question that decides whether your group rolls in together or scatters across East Dallas is simple: where exactly does the bus drop your group, and where does it park?

This guide answers it plainly, using the stadium's own published information and the 2025 event logistics, then walks you through everything else a group trip needs: which vehicle fits your crew, what shapes the price, and how a Dallas charter bus rental lets everyone focus on the game instead of the parking scramble. The Cotton Bowl is one of our most-requested destinations — State Fair weekend, the Red River Rivalry, the State Fair Classic, and New Year's Day — so what follows comes from running these trips, not from a brochure.

Stadium address

3750 The Midway, Dallas, TX 75215 (inside Fair Park)

Capacity

91,000+ seats — one of the largest stadiums in the country

Bus/rideshare drop-off

Gate 1 · Gurley Ave & S. Haskell Ave

Recommended entry

Gate 2 · 925 S. Haskell Ave, Dallas, TX 75223

DART access

Green Line · Fair Park Station (Parry Ave) or MLK Jr. Station

Red River Rivalry 2025

Saturday, October 11 · 2:30 PM kickoff

Why Rent a Bus to Cotton Bowl Stadium?

The Cotton Bowl doesn't have a standalone parking garage. It sits inside Fair Park — a 277-acre fairgrounds that floods with State Fair crowds on top of game-day traffic every time OU and Texas come to town. On Red River Rivalry weekend, Fair Park's official lots open at 7 a.m. and the closest spaces are spoken for well before kickoff.

The lots accessible at Gates 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 15 all require proof of a game ticket before you can even pull in, and the surrounding streets on East Grand and Haskell fill within the first hour. A Dallas party bus rental changes all of that: your group rides together from a single pickup point, the pre-game energy builds on the road, and nobody draws the short straw of staying sober to navigate the I-30 merge back toward downtown.

Plus, every game ticket already includes State Fair admission — which means your bus drops your crew at Gate 1 or Gate 2 with hours to sample Big Tex's midway before the Cotton Bowl gates even open at 11:30 a.m. That's the whole reason a bus is worth it: the day starts the moment you board, not the moment you find parking.

Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Cotton Bowl Stadium

Here is the part most group-travel pages get wrong or leave vague — so let's go straight to the source.

For the Red River Rivalry and State Fair events, rideshare, taxi, and pre-arranged vehicle drop-off is designated at Gate 1, located at the 4200 block of Gurley Avenue at S. Haskell Avenue. That is Fair Park's official pick-up and drop-off spot — the one published by both the State Fair of Texas and the University of Oklahoma's "Know Before You Go" guide. From Gate 1, your group walks directly into the fairgrounds and follows the midway toward the Cotton Bowl.

For groups coming in by vehicle, Gate 2 at 925 S. Haskell Avenue is the entry point Fair Park and OU's travel guide both steer fans toward, reached via I-30 Exit 48A toward Haskell Avenue. That exit bypasses the worst of the Grand Avenue and Parry Avenue backups that clog the north side of the park on game day. Your bus takes that route; your group steps off at the curb.

The one-line version: the designated pre-arranged vehicle drop-off is at Gate 1, Gurley Ave & S. Haskell Ave — not curbside on Grand Avenue where buses get stuck in the Fair Park entrance crawl. That single spot, published by the State Fair of Texas itself, is what keeps a 40-person fan group together and on time for the Fair before kickoff.

Cotton Bowl Stadium at Fair Park, 3750 The Midway, Dallas — home of the Red River Rivalry, the State Fair Classic, and 91,000 fans on the biggest Saturdays of the college football calendar.

Where the Bus Parks — Lot 15 and the Oversized Vehicle Situation

Here is the detail that catches first-timers off guard: Fair Park's official guidance on large vehicle parking is event-specific, and the answer changes based on what's happening that day. For the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic bowl game — the New Year's Six game that historically drew top-ranked programs — bus parking has been designated in Lot 15, with a separate pass required and no day-of purchasing at the lot entrance. For the Red River Rivalry and State Fair Classic, Fair Park's general line is that there is currently no standing designated area for large vehicles, and groups should contact Fair Park directly at (214) 670-8400 to confirm oversized vehicle logistics for their specific event date.

What that means practically: a 56-passenger charter bus cannot just pull into any Fair Park lot and expect to park. The pass must be pre-arranged, and the correct lot depends on the event. When you book a charter bus to Cotton Bowl through Party Buses Dallas, confirming the correct lot assignment and approach route for your specific game date is part of the coordination — not something you discover at a closed gate.

The bus parking reality, plainly stated: oversized vehicles need a pre-confirmed pass and a specific lot assignment that varies by event. There is no walk-up bus parking option at Fair Park. That's another reason booking early and confirming the logistics in advance matters more at this venue than at most stadiums.

Call 469-430-0949 to lock in your date and we handle the planning.

One note worth knowing: the "Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic" bowl game — the New Year's Day CFP Quarterfinal matchup — is not held at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park. That game is played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. If your group is heading to the bowl game, the address and parking logistics are completely different.

This guide covers Cotton Bowl Stadium at Fair Park — the Red River Rivalry, the State Fair Classic, and State Fair events — not the AT&T Stadium bowl game across the Metroplex.

Post-Game Pickup — the Part That Unravels Most Groups

Getting out of Fair Park after 91,000 people empty into the same streets is, bluntly, the most painful part of the day. The Gate 1 drop-off zone on Gurley Avenue may not be accessible for pickup immediately post-game due to pedestrian and traffic volume, per Fair Park's own published notes. That means your group needs a clear pickup plan set before you ever walk through the turnstile — an agreed time, an agreed gate, and a bus that waits nearby rather than re-entering the Fair Park vehicle flow at its worst moment.

With Party Buses Dallas, you set that pickup window when you book. The bus waits on a nearby surface street during the game and moves to your agreed gate once pedestrian traffic has cleared — so your group walks out to a waiting vehicle, not to a Lyft surge or a parking lot traffic jam that stretches back to I-30. Call 469-430-0949 to confirm your specific event date and we coordinate the post-game plan in advance.

Cotton Bowl Transportation: Every Option Compared

Dallas has real public transit options for Fair Park, and for a solo traveler or a pair, some of them are genuinely good. Here is the honest comparison for a group.

Option Cost shape Arrive together? Door-to-door Drinking / pre-game Best group size
Private charter bus or party bus One flat rate, split by the group Yes — one vehicle, one arrival Best — Gate 1 drop, direct Yes — no designated driver needed 15–56
DART Green Line Per-person fare Only if all on the same train Good — Fair Park Station to gate No pre-game drinking en route Any, but no group control
DART Special Shuttle Buses Per-person, from 7 park-and-ride stations Only if same shuttle Fair — drops inside Fair Park at Lot 8 No Any, but fixed schedule
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft/Alto) Per car each way + post-game surge No — multiple cars, multiple ETAs Fair — Gate 1 area, then walk Yes, but fragmented and expensive post-game 1–4 per car
Everyone drives and parks $25/car pass + gas per car No — caravans split up Varies — depends on your lot No — everyone needs someone to stay sober 1–2 cars

The honest read: for one or two people coming from downtown Dallas, the DART Green Line to Fair Park Station is a genuinely good option — the train runs every 15 minutes on game day, and special express buses run from Victory, Mockingbird, Bachman, CityLine/Bush, and Trinity Mills stations starting at 9 a.m. on rivalry game days. For a pair, there is no reason to charter a bus. But the moment your group exceeds a handful of people — different cars, different parking lots, coordinating who's the designated driver for the ride back on I-30 — a single bus resolves every one of those problems for one flat number split across the whole crew.

That's the group this guide is written for.

DART to Cotton Bowl Stadium — What You Should Actually Know

The DART Green Line stops at two stations that serve Fair Park events:

  • Fair Park Station — on Parry Avenue at the fairgrounds entrance. From here it's roughly a half-mile walk through the grounds to Cotton Bowl Stadium — manageable, but with a 91,000-person crowd filing in the same direction, plan extra time.
  • MLK Jr. Station — south of R.B. Cullum Boulevard, convenient to Gate 6 and the south side of Cotton Bowl Stadium. This station tends to be less crowded than Fair Park Station at peak pre-game times.

On Red River Rivalry game day, DART also runs special Red Line trains southbound directly into Fair Park Station, plus express shuttle buses every 30 minutes from seven stations. Trains begin filling up more than three hours before kickoff, so DART itself encourages early arrival. The Green Line runs every 15 minutes all day.

For groups of 12 or more, the logistics of keeping everyone on the same train and same car, coordinating after the game when trains are packed, and managing the crowd after the final whistle make a private bus the cleaner choice — but knowing the DART option exists is part of being a good group organizer. Check current schedules at DART.org before your visit.

What Size Bus Does Your Group Need?

We offer a massive variety of vehicles, meaning you never have to pay for seats you do not actually need. Here is how the fleet breaks down for a Cotton Bowl run.

Vehicle Typical seats Gear / tailgate storage Best for Key amenities
14-passenger Sprinter limo / Sprinter van Up to ~14 Modest — a cooler and a few bags Small VIP groups, suite holders Premium leather, USB charging, tinted privacy windows
Party bus (15–50 passengers) ~15–50 Onboard, lighter load Fan groups who want the rolling tailgate Built-in bar, color-changing LED lighting, Bluetooth sound, flat-panel TVs
15–35 passenger minibus ~15–35 Overhead plus some underfloor Mid-size fan groups, department outings Powerful A/C, plush reclining seats
40–56 passenger charter bus Up to 56 Excellent — deep undercarriage bays Large fan groups, corporate tailgates, alumni groups Reclining seats, climate control, overhead storage, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restrooms, undercarriage bays

For a State Fair weekend, the right call usually comes down to headcount and gear. Fan groups wanting the rolling pre-game experience — a cooler on board, the rivalry playlist already running before the bus hits Haskell Avenue — will love a party bus with its built-in bar, LED lighting, and sound system. For larger alumni groups or corporate outings, a full-size charter bus gives you enough undercarriage storage for a serious tailgate setup, plus an onboard restroom for a group that's been at the Fair since 7 a.m.

ADA-accessible vehicles are always available — just let us know before your event date.

The Cotton Bowl's Big Events — and Why Each One Creates Its Own Transportation Problem

Cotton Bowl Stadium runs a full event calendar across the fall, and the transportation challenge is genuinely different for each one. Here is what groups heading to the major dates need to know.

Red River Rivalry — Saturday, October 11, 2025 (2:30 PM Kickoff)

The Allstate Red River Rivalry between the University of Texas Longhorns and the University of Oklahoma Sooners is the single biggest day at Fair Park every year — 91,000 fans in scarlet and burnt orange filling the same fairgrounds where the State Fair is simultaneously running at full capacity. Parking lots open at 7 a.m. at $25 per car and require proof of a game ticket. The Cotton Bowl gates open at 11:30 a.m. for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff.

The traffic situation is straightforward but severe: Fair Park sits just off the I-30/I-45 interchange east of downtown, and on rivalry day both highways slow to a crawl beginning three or more hours before kickoff. Fair Park recommends taking I-30 Exit 48A toward Haskell Avenue for quicker lot access — but that exit itself backs up. The rideshare and taxi drop-off spot is Gate 1 at Gurley Ave & S. Haskell Ave. Lone fans who drove from Oklahoma often report the I-35 southbound corridor through Purcell and Ardmore as heavily congested the morning of the game.

A Dallas party bus rental resolves the math cleanly. Book early — this is the highest-demand date on the Cotton Bowl calendar, and right-size vehicles in the DFW area book out weeks in advance for Red River weekend. Call 469-430-0949 the moment your group headcount is confirmed.

State Fair Classic — Saturday, September 27, 2025 (6:00 PM Kickoff)

The State Fair Classic between Grambling State and Prairie View A&M celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025 — one of the longest-running HBCU rivalries in college football, played at Cotton Bowl Stadium during the opening weekend of the State Fair of Texas. The 2025 centennial drew national attention, and every ticket included Fair admission and pre- and post-game concerts.

A 6 p.m. kickoff means your group is arriving at Fair Park right as the afternoon State Fair crowd peaks — midway, food, performances all running simultaneously. DART is a reasonable individual option, but getting a group of 20 or 30 fans through a packed fairground in the early evening, all needing to clear the gate before first kickoff, is exactly where a single bus earns its value. The bus drops everyone at Gate 1, your group moves through the Fair together, and nobody gets separated at the funnel cake stand.

Call 469-430-0949 to reserve your bus well before September — State Fair weekends book quickly across DFW.

State Fair of Texas — September 26 through October 19, 2025

The State Fair of Texas runs 24 days at Fair Park each fall, drawing more than two million visitors. For groups making a day trip — a church outing, a corporate social, a family reunion — a DFW minibus rental picks everyone up from a single location, drops them at Gate 1 or Gate 2, and cuts out the $20–$40 per car parking cost for every vehicle in your group. State Fair parking ranges from $20 (standard lots) to $40 (premium).

A 35-passenger minibus replaces anywhere from seven to ten cars, simplifying the cost and getting rid of the inevitable caravan chaos on the return.

A Note on the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic — the New Year's Day CFP Quarterfinal — is held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, not at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park. The name refers to the bowl game's legacy, not its current location. If your group is heading to that bowl game, the address is 1 AT&T Way, Arlington, TX 76011, and the parking and drop-off logistics are completely different from the Fair Park venue.

Confirm which stadium you need before booking so your bus goes to the right place on New Year's Day.

Cotton Bowl Bus Rental Prices

Party Buses Dallas offers all-inclusive pricing online in under 30 seconds — you will know the exact price before you ever book. There is no single sticker number, because the quote is shaped by a handful of clear factors:

  • Vehicle size — a 56-passenger charter bus and a 14-passenger Sprinter limo are different rates.
  • Total hours — how long the vehicle is dedicated to your group, including State Fair time and the post-game wait.
  • Date and event — Red River Rivalry weekend prices differently than a mid-October State Fair day trip.
  • Mileage and pickup point — a pickup from Uptown Dallas is a shorter run than a group gathering in Fort Worth or Frisco.

For real ranges to anchor your estimate: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–20 passenger party buses run $204–$378/hour; 20–30 passenger party buses run $244–$414/hour; 35–50 passenger party buses and minibuses run $294–$490/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. Pricing depends on mileage, time of year, and vehicle type, but you will never be surprised by hidden costs.

Here is the value math worth knowing. Once you split the cost of one charter bus across 30, 40, or 56 people, the price per head typically beats coordinating separate cars — each paying $25 for a game-day parking pass, each burning gas on I-30, and each designating one person who stays sober for the drive back. One bus gives you a single, predictable number and keeps everyone in one place.

Call 469-430-0949 any time for a free, all-inclusive price quote at no obligation.

A Real Game-Day Example

For the 2024 Red River Rivalry, a 42-person OU alumni group booked a 56-passenger charter bus from their hotel in the Medical District. Pickup was at 9:00 a.m., arrival at Gate 1 by 9:45 a.m. — well before the midway crowds thickened. The group spent four hours at the State Fair before the Cotton Bowl gates opened, rode straight to their section together, and the bus waited nearby for a 6:30 p.m. post-game pickup.

The 9-hour all-inclusive rental came to $2,100 — about $50 per person, with the designated driver problem, the parking scramble, and the post-game rideshare surge all resolved in a single number.

Getting There: Routes, Traffic & Timing

Cotton Bowl Stadium sits inside Fair Park on the east side of Dallas, roughly two miles east of downtown via I-30. Approximate distances and drive times from common DFW pickup areas (before event traffic):

From… Approx. distance Typical drive time (off-peak)
Downtown Dallas / Uptown ~3 miles 10–15 minutes
Deep Ellum / East Dallas ~2 miles 8–12 minutes
Addison / North Dallas ~15 miles 20–30 minutes
Fort Worth ~35 miles 40–55 minutes
Frisco / Plano ~25–30 miles 35–45 minutes
Arlington ~20 miles 25–35 minutes

Those times increase significantly on Red River Rivalry weekend and State Fair weekends. I-30 eastbound from the downtown interchange and I-45 northbound both slow to a crawl beginning two to three hours before a Cotton Bowl kickoff. The recommended approach is I-30 Exit 48A toward Haskell Avenue, per the State Fair of Texas itself — but even that exit backs up when 91,000 fans are all using the same tip.

A charter bus rental gets your group to the Fair Park gates in a dedicated vehicle on the same road, but it does so without anyone in your group sweating the navigation or the driving. The route is taken care of.

Downtown Dallas to Cotton Bowl Stadium at Fair Park — roughly 3 miles east via I-30, typically 10–15 minutes off-peak but significantly longer on Red River Rivalry and State Fair days.

Tips for Visiting Cotton Bowl Stadium

A few things every group should know before arriving, drawn from the State Fair of Texas and event-specific guidance:

  • All game tickets include State Fair of Texas admission. For the Red River Rivalry and State Fair Classic, your ticket gets your whole group into the Fair before the Cotton Bowl gates open. Plan extra time on the midway — Big Tex's fairgrounds have been running since 1886 and there's always a line at the fried food stands.
  • Cotton Bowl gates open at 11:30 a.m. for the 2:30 p.m. Red River Rivalry kickoff. The Fair opens earlier — your bus can get there at 9 a.m., you spend the morning in the Fair, and you're already on-site when the gates open.
  • Download your tickets before arrival. Large crowds at Fair Park can overwhelm cellular networks, making ticket-loading slow or impossible at the gate. Have everything downloaded to your phone before the bus pulls out.
  • Enter at Gate 2 for the quickest vehicle approach. Via I-30 Exit 48A, Gate 2 at 925 S. Haskell is the approach Fair Park recommends for driving arrivals. Gate 1 at Gurley Ave is the designated drop-off for rideshare and pre-arranged vehicles.
  • Parking is $25 per car and requires game-ticket proof. For Red River Rivalry specifically, lots open at 7 a.m. and proof of a ticket is required at the entrance — so anyone parking individually in a separate car needs their ticket on hand before they try to enter a lot.
  • Post-game pickup needs a plan in advance. Gate 1 on Gurley Ave may not be accessible immediately post-game due to pedestrian traffic. Set your pickup time and location with our team before the game so your bus is staged and ready when the crowd clears.
  • The $140M renovation is complete. The 2025 renovation added 14 escalators, expanded concourses, more restrooms, and premium seating — so the crowd-flow inside the stadium is significantly improved from prior years, but the parking and approach roads remain unchanged.

Trip Types We Handle to Cotton Bowl

Different groups, same destination. A few of the runs we handle most often:

  • Fan groups and alumni associations. OU and Texas alumni clubs, chapter tailgates, and booster groups who want the pre-game energy to start on the bus — built-in bar, LED lighting, and sound from pickup to Gate 1.
  • State Fair day trips. Corporate social committees, church groups, and family reunions making a full day of the Fair without anyone designated to stay sober for the drive home.
  • HBCU alumni for the State Fair Classic. Grambling and Prairie View alumni groups coming in from Houston, Baton Rouge, or across DFW for the centennial rivalry weekend.
  • Corporate suite groups. Companies hosting clients at Cotton Bowl for the Red River game, where a minibus keeps everyone together from the office to the gate without anyone fighting for parking passes.
  • Out-of-town visiting fans. Oklahoma fans flying into Dallas Love Field (DAL) or DFW International and needing a single coordinated pickup — one bus collects the group at baggage claim and runs straight to Fair Park.

Planning a Cotton Bowl trip that starts or ends at DFW or Love Field? Party Buses Dallas handles airport pickups as part of the itinerary — one bus, one coordinated plan, from the terminal curb to Gate 1.

Booking, Timing & Pickup

Booking a bus to Cotton Bowl Stadium is straightforward, and a little advance planning makes it seamless:

  1. Request a quote with your group size, pickup location, event and date, and whether you want arrival time at Fair Park for the State Fair before gates open.
  2. Confirm the vehicle and drop-off approach. We verify the correct Gate 1 drop approach and bus parking logistics for your specific event date — because, as covered above, the oversized vehicle process varies by event at Fair Park.
  3. Set your post-game pickup window. Agree on a meeting point and time before the game so the bus is staged and ready when your group walks out — no regrouping in a surge-priced rideshare queue.

How early should you arrive? For the Red River Rivalry, Fair Park opens at 7 a.m. and the Cotton Bowl gates at 11:30 a.m. for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff — most fan groups arrive by 9 or 10 a.m. to enjoy the State Fair before the game. For State Fair day trips without a game, the Fair opens at 10 a.m. daily.

For the State Fair Classic's 6 p.m. kickoff, plan to arrive mid-afternoon so your group gets time on the midway before the gates open.

How far in advance should you book? Red River Rivalry weekend is the single highest-demand date for DFW party buses and charter buses each year. Vehicles for October 11, 2025 start booking in late summer and the right-size options go first.

For any State Fair weekend date, four to eight weeks of lead time is the minimum — and more is better. Call 469-430-0949 as soon as your headcount is confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly does a charter bus drop off at Cotton Bowl Stadium?

The designated drop-off for pre-arranged vehicles, rideshare, taxi, and Uber/Lyft is at Gate 1, located at the 4200 block of Gurley Avenue at S. Haskell Avenue. Fair Park also recommends Gate 2 at 925 S. Haskell Avenue as the vehicle entry point via I-30 Exit 48A. From either gate, your group walks into the fairgrounds and follows the midway to the Cotton Bowl.

Where do buses park at Fair Park?

Bus and oversized vehicle parking assignments at Fair Park are event-specific. For the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (when held at Fair Park), Lot 15 has been designated for bus parking with a pre-purchased pass required. For the Red River Rivalry and State Fair Classic, Fair Park recommends calling (214) 670-8400 to confirm oversized vehicle arrangements for your specific event date.

There is no walk-up bus parking available — pre-arrangement is required. Party Buses Dallas handles this coordination as part of your booking.

How much does it cost to rent a bus to Cotton Bowl Stadium?

Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours (including State Fair time and post-game wait), the event date, and your pickup location. As a guide: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; small party buses (15–20 passengers) run $204–$378/hour; mid-size (20–30) run $244–$414/hour; large party buses and minibuses (35–50) run $294–$490/hour; and full-size charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. All-inclusive pricing in under 30 seconds — call 469-430-0949 or use the online tool.

Is the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park?

No. The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic bowl game — the New Year's Day CFP Quarterfinal — is played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (1 AT&T Way, Arlington, TX 76011), not at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park. The Red River Rivalry, the State Fair Classic, and State Fair events are at Fair Park. Confirm your destination before booking so your bus goes to the correct stadium on game day.

What is the best way to get to Cotton Bowl Stadium on Red River Rivalry day?

For a group, a charter bus or party bus rental drops your crew at Gate 1 on Gurley Avenue, bypassing the parking lot scramble entirely. For individuals, DART's Green Line to Fair Park Station (Parry Ave) or MLK Jr. Station (Gate 6 side) is the best option — the Green Line runs every 15 minutes on game day, with special express shuttle buses from Victory, Mockingbird, Bachman, CityLine/Bush, and Trinity Mills stations every 30 minutes starting at 9 a.m. DART trains fill quickly more than three hours before kickoff, so early arrival is recommended.

When do Cotton Bowl gates open for the Red River Rivalry?

Cotton Bowl gates open at 11:30 a.m. for the 2:30 p.m. kickoff. Fair Park itself opens at 7 a.m., and since all game tickets include State Fair admission, your group can arrive early and enjoy the midway, food, and attractions before the game begins. Party Buses Dallas can time your pickup to get your crew to Fair Park by 9 or 10 a.m. for the full pre-game experience.

Can the bus wait for us during the game?

Yes — the bus is reserved as a block of hours, so it can drop your group at Gate 1 and wait on a nearby street during the Fair and the game. You set the post-game pickup window with our team in advance so the bus is right there when your group is ready to leave — no scrambling for a rideshare when 91,000 people are all doing the same thing at once.

Is there parking available at Fair Park on game day?

Yes, but it is event-ticketed and fills quickly. Official lots are accessible at Gates 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 15, opening at 7 a.m. for the Red River Rivalry at $25 per car. Proof of a game ticket is required to enter a lot.

Lots closest to the stadium fill within the first hour. Street parking on surrounding blocks fills nearly as fast. A charter bus or party bus rental bypasses all of this — one vehicle, one pass, one drop at Gate 1.

Are there ADA-accessible buses available?

Yes — ADA-accessible vehicles are always available. Let us know your group's specific needs before your event date and we will arrange the right vehicle from our fleet.

How far in advance should we book for Red River Rivalry weekend?

As early as your headcount is confirmed. Red River Rivalry weekend in October is the highest-demand date for DFW party buses and charter buses each year. Vehicles for rivalry weekend start booking in late summer, and the right-size options go first.

For other State Fair dates, four to eight weeks of lead time is the minimum — but the sooner you call, the better your vehicle options. Call 469-430-0949 right now to lock in your date.

Book Your Cotton Bowl Bus Today

The perfect ride to Fair Park is just a call away. Whether it is a Red River Rivalry alumni group, a 100th State Fair Classic celebration, a company outing to Big Tex's fairgrounds, or a group of out-of-town fans needing a pickup from Love Field, Party Buses Dallas has access to a huge fleet of party buses, charter buses, minibuses, Sprinter vans, and Sprinter limos across the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex — and we drop your group at Gate 1 while everyone else circles the lot on Haskell. Give us a call any time at 469-430-0949 for an all-inclusive price quote — or use our online tool for instant availability.

Sources & Last Verified

Transportation logistics, parking prices, and event details at Fair Park and Cotton Bowl Stadium change by season and event. Drop-off, parking, and transit details verified in June 2026 against the venues and agencies that publish them — confirm event-specific figures against the official pages below before your trip.