Camp Randall Stadium: Guide for Visiting Fans

Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) is just 7 miles away — about a 13–15 minute drive under normal conditions. A rideshare from MSN will run you roughly $15–20 pregame; expect surge pricing postgame. If you're flying in from farther afield, Milwaukee Mitchell International (MKE) is about 86 miles east — roughly 1 hour 35 minutes — and is the better option for national flights.

By bus, Madison Metro routes A, C, D, E, and F serve the stadium area, with the nearest stop — Monroe at N Randall — just a 2-minute walk from the gates. It's the cleanest option on a congested game day and costs around $2. The Bucky Shuttle also runs from remote Lots 60 and 76 (near UW Hospital on Walnut St.) for $10 round trip per person, starting 2.5 hours before kickoff and for 1 hour after the game.

Driving in from Chicago? Take I-90/I-39 North — it's about 149 miles and roughly 2.5 hours. From Milwaukee, I-94 West gets you there in about 80 miles and 1 hour 25 minutes. Budget an extra 30–45 minutes for game-day traffic on surface streets near campus. Rideshare pickup and drop-off is designated on N. Charter Street between Regent and Dayton streets.

Parking near Camp Randall is a Rubik's Cube of university lots, ramps, and neighborhood street politics — and most of the good stuff sells out on season passes. UW Athletics sells football parking on a season basis; single-game parking is available for first-come, first-served purchase from lot attendants on game days only.

Single-game parking runs $5 in Lots 60 and 76, $20 in Lots 46 and 67, and $50 in Lot 64 for buses and RVs. The $5 lots are remote, which is why the Bucky Shuttle for $10 round trip is part of the deal — you're not walking from Walnut Street. Tailgating is permitted in designated surface lots with charcoal grills only — propane is prohibited. Private lots in the neighborhood surrounding Monroe Street fill up fast, often listed on SpotHero or ParkWhiz for $25–40; book at least a week out for big games. The real move for away fans without pre-paid parking: park in a Capitol Square ramp (paid city ramp, normal rates), take the Bucky Shuttle, and skip the post-game lot gridlock entirely.

Skip the airport-area chains unless you want a rental car dependency. The two neighborhoods worth knowing are the Monroe Street/Regent Street corridor and downtown/State Street.

The Monroe Street area — walking distance to the stadium — has limited hotel inventory, so rates spike on game weekends (expect $180–300/night). What it offers is the ability to walk to pregame bars, walk in, and walk home. If you're staying in this neighborhood, book 6–8 weeks out for marquee Big Ten games.

Downtown Madison, centered around State Street and Capitol Square, is the better bet for selection and atmosphere. It's roughly a 1.5-mile walk to the stadium or a short rideshare. Hotels like the Graduate Madison (on Langdon Street, directly on campus) put you in the thick of the pregame scene with easy walkability; mid-range rooms here run $150–250 on game weekends. The Edgewater on Lake Mendota is the splurge option — beautiful, pricier, and a solid rideshare away. If you want walkability and a real neighborhood vibe, the Monroe-Regent pocket is the choice; if you want options for dinner and nightlife that extend beyond game day, downtown wins.

Luedtke's Stadium Sports Bar & Eatery (1419 Monroe St.) is the most obvious pregame destination — located directly across from Camp Randall, it has the biggest beer garden in Madison and is a go-to spot for a Bloody Mary and a brat before kickoff. Get there 2+ hours early if you want a table in the garden. It gets very crowded very fast.

Jordan's Big Ten Pub (1310 Regent St.) is a short walk down Regent and a better bet if you want something slightly less chaotic. It's a beloved neighborhood spot that truly comes alive on game days, known for friendly service, an extensive beer list, and a genuine passion for Badger sports. It's still heavily home-fan territory, but manageable.

Mickies Dairy Bar (1511 Monroe St.) is the right call if you're arriving the morning of a noon kickoff. A Madison staple, it's famous for colossal pancakes and retro ambiance — not a bar, but the kind of diner that makes a game day feel like an actual trip rather than a commute. Get there right when it opens; the line gets long fast.

The Old Fashioned (23 N. Pinckney St.) is worth the short rideshare to Capitol Square. It's celebrated for its extensive collection of Wisconsin beers, liquors, and expertly crafted Old Fashioned cocktails. The menu leans into Wisconsin-centric dishes — fish fry, cheese curds, wild game. This is genuinely the best place in Madison to eat and drink before a game if you have the time to get back.

Once inside Camp Randall itself, fans can continue the party with plenty of food and drink options.

Cans of beer — Coors Light, Busch Light, Varsity Golden Ale, and Spotted Cow — cost $11.99, while flavored vodka drinks like High Noon and Carbliss are priced at $12.49. Concession fare covers the classics: pretzels, fries, burgers, mac & cheese, and wings, with vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Alcohol sales expanded to the general seating area in 2024, making Camp Randall the 16th Big Ten school to do so — a relatively recent change worth knowing if you've been here before. You're limited to two drinks per purchase, and anyone who looks under 40 is required to show ID.

Each ticket holder is allowed one small clutch purse (no larger than 6.5" x 4.5") and one large clear bag — either a one-gallon clear Ziploc-style storage bag or a 12" x 6" x 12" clear tote bag. Prohibited bags include backpacks, mesh bags, fanny packs, camera bags, binocular cases, tinted plastic totes, and solid drawstring bags. There is no check-in location for prohibited bags , so if you show up with a non-compliant bag you're walking it back to your car — plan ahead.

Gates open for the general public 1.5 hours prior to kickoff. Premium ticket holders on the east side (Gates 2 and 3) and south end zone (Gates 1 and 10) can enter 2 hours before kickoff. For away fans in general seating, plan to arrive at the 90-minute mark to clear security without rushing. All concession stands are cashless , so have a card or mobile pay ready. Merchandise stands accept cash as well as cards and contactless payment.

Accessible seating improved significantly during the 2001–2005 renovation, growing from 99 seats to 292 accessible seats , and the south end zone renovation added further premium accessible options. Wheelchair-accessible seating is distributed across multiple levels, with dedicated accessible routes from the main entrances. Elevators serve the multi-level east-side superstructure and the west side upper deck — ask staff at any gate for the nearest lift location, as elevator access points are not uniformly visible from the outside.

Accessible parking is available through UW Athletics; single-game accessible parking can be purchased in advance online , unlike general single-game lots which are day-of only. Assistive listening devices are available — check with Guest Services in the south end zone concourse upon arrival. The stadium's open-air design means no sensory relief spaces from crowd noise, so plan accordingly for guests with sound sensitivities.

There is no dedicated away section at Camp Randall — visiting fans buy tickets through standard secondary market channels and are scattered throughout the stadium. The Wisconsin Badgers sideline runs in front of sections D–F; the opposing team's sideline is in front of sections S–U. If you want to be near your own team's bench, sections S through U on the west side lower deck are your target.

Wisconsin student sections occupy sections J through P — you don't want to be surrounded by that as an away fan. Avoid the student section entirely. The upper deck on the west side has solid sightlines and tends to run a bit cheaper; the east-side premium structure offers better amenities but at a premium price. For a first visit, lower-deck west sideline (sections R–V) gives you good angles and proximity to the visitor bench without being too deep in home territory. Mid-upper rows on either sideline are fine once you're used to the altitude — the upper deck at Camp Randall is genuinely steep.

Away fans venturing into Camp Randall should brace for a loud, passionate, and overwhelmingly red crowd.

Camp Randall is legitimately intimidating in a way that doesn't feel manufactured. The crowd is passionate and loud — particularly during "Jump Around" between the third and fourth quarters, when the entire stadium jumps in unison and the place genuinely shakes — and you will feel that if you're sitting in a neutral section. That said, Wisconsin fans are Midwestern, not hostile; expect good-natured ribbing rather than anything threatening, especially outside the student section. Away jerseys are fine anywhere in the stadium. The thing that catches visitors off guard isn't the crowd noise — it's the cold. Late October and November games in Madison are genuinely brutal. Sub-freezing temperatures in November have limited actual turnout despite announced sellouts , which means if you're there for a cold-weather Big Ten game, dress for it in a way you wouldn't at most other venues. The open-air bowl channels wind something fierce in the upper deck.

By bus: Metro routes along Monroe and Regent resume relatively quickly after the final whistle, but they're packed for the first 30–40 minutes. Your best move is to wait 20 minutes in the stadium for the Fifth Quarter — the Wisconsin Marching Band's postgame tradition keeps many spectators in the stands for 20 minutes after the game anyway — and then join a slightly thinned crowd at the Monroe/Randall stop.

By car: The lots directly adjacent to the stadium are gridlocked for 45–90 minutes after a sellout. Lot 60 and Lot 76 with the shuttle are actually faster exits because you're getting away from the stadium first and can move more freely. If you're in a nearby private lot, the east side (toward University Avenue) clears faster than the south (toward Regent). Realistically plan on 60 minutes before you're on a moving road.

By rideshare: Rideshare pickup is on N. Charter Street between Regent and Dayton streets — the designated zone. Surge pricing hits hard immediately after the final whistle. The single best tip: walk 5–6 blocks north toward University Avenue and request your pickup there instead; you'll get a faster match and a lower fare because drivers can approach without getting stuck in the stadium traffic knot. Wait at least 25 minutes before requesting — requesting at the final whistle and standing on Charter Street is the worst outcome on all metrics.

Opinionated tip: Go to the Fifth Quarter. Stay until the band wraps. You'll exit in a stadium that's 30% emptier, it's genuinely a memorable experience, and the buses and rideshares will actually be moving by then.

What's the best way to get to Camp Randall Stadium without a car?

The nearest bus stop is Monroe at N Randall, served by Metro routes A, C, D, E, and F — a 2-minute walk from the stadium. Buses from downtown Madison take about 15–20 minutes. It's the most reliable option on a congested game day.

What is the Camp Randall Stadium bag policy?

Each ticket holder may bring one clear bag (12" x 6" x 12" tote or 1-gallon Ziploc) and one small clutch purse no larger than 6.5" x 4.5". No fanny packs, backpacks, or camera bags. There is no bag check at the stadium.

How much does parking cost at Camp Randall?

Single-game lots run $5 in Lots 60 and 76, and $20 in Lots 46 and 67. Private neighborhood lots typically run $25–40 on game days and need to be booked in advance for major matchups.

What airport should I fly into?

Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) is just 7 miles from Camp Randall — about 13 minutes by car. It's the closest option, though flight selection is limited. Milwaukee Mitchell International (MKE) is 86 miles east and serves more major carriers.

What time do gates open?

Gates open for the general public 1.5 hours before kickoff. East-side premium and south end zone gates open 2 hours before kickoff for premium ticket holders.

Is Camp Randall Stadium cashless?

All concession stands are cashless and accept credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Merchandise stands accept both cash and cards.

Where should away fans sit? Target sections S–U on the west lower deck — that's the visiting team's sideline. Avoid the student sections (J–P). The upper deck west side is fine for value tickets with good sightlines, but dress warmly for late-season games.

Can I buy beer inside Camp Randall?

Yes — alcohol sales expanded to the general seating area in 2024. Most beers cost $11.99 , and you're limited to two per purchase, with ID required for anyone appearing under 40.