MSU gameday parking: What you need to know to park for Michigan State football games

Eric Lacy | Lansing State Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Zeke the Wonderdog's performs with his caretaker during Play in the Park in East Lansing Zeke the Wonderdog's caretaker Jim Foley talks about what it means to work with the famous dog at a performance at Play in the Park in East Lansing.

EAST LANSING — Parking on or near the campus of Michigan State University for sporting events can involve a lot of strategy and intense maneuvering for fans.

Consider it the game before the game.

The 2018 football season, like others in the past, will pose challenges for fans who seek convenient and affordable parking options.

Below is your guide to avoid game-day headaches.

How early do the campus lots open?

It's important to know the parking lot rules before you get in your vehicle and head to the game.

All on-campus parking locations are open at 7 a.m. for noon and 1 p.m. kickoffs; 9 a.m. for 3:30 p.m. kickoffs; 3:30 p.m. for Friday evening kickoffs; and 1 p.m. for Saturday evening kickoffs.

These rules also apply to tailgaters.

How much will parking cost?

Several numbered parking lots and ramps are available on campus. Fees range from $20 to $100 per game, depending on the vehicle.

For a printable map of all lots and ramps visit bit.ly/2FGumSs.

Lots that charge $20 per game:

Ramp 1 (MSU College of Law ramp, off of Shaw Lane)

Ramp 5 (Communication Arts & Sciences ramp, near corner of Trowbridge Road and Red Cedar Road)

Ramp 6 (West Circle Drive)

Food Safety and Toxicology lot (near the corner of Trowbridge Road and Farm Lane)

Handicap accessible parking is available at Lot 48 by the Natural Resource Building, 480 Wilson Road. The fee is also covers shuttle transport to the northeast corner of Spartan Stadium.

The shuttle starts two hours prior to kickoff and returns "for a reasonable amount of time after the game," according to MSU's athletics website.

Cherry Lane is available for parking; it's $30 for a pass. Entrance to parking at Cherry Lane can be made at Lot 70 off Birch Road.

Parking for RVs is available at Lot 97, behind the Engineering Research Building, southeast of Bouge Street and Woodlot Drive. The cost is $60 per vehicle.

Charter buses can also park in the area; the fee is $100.

Is there free parking anywhere?

Lot 89, at the corner of Mount Hope and Farm Lane, offers free parking. It's a bit of a walk to Spartan Stadium, but many fans do it.

There also is a shuttle bus that costs $5 round-trip per person. It picks riders up at Lot 89 and drops them off at the southeast corner of the stadium. Tickets can be purchased at Lot 89.

Is Munn Field still alcohol free?

Yes. Munn Field is no longer available for parking or tailgating; the university's policy changed after last season.

A family-friendly Meijer Fan Fest will be held at Munn Field on game days.

RELATED: Munn Field no longer an option for MSU football parking

Can mopeds park on campus?

The quick answer: yes.

But moped operators cannot park at bike racks. They must park in approved spaces.

Operators are required to register their vehicles with the MSU Police Department's Parking Office.

What are the off-campus parking options?

It pays to think ahead.

Recent MSU graduate Zach Brewer, 23, created a free app before the 2017 season called Prndl which allows people to reserve one of about 200 off-campus parking spots up to a year in advance.

The app launched last year without glitches and taught Brewer lessons in parking space supply and demand, based on Spartan success — or lack thereof — on the field.

"Things are always changing, so you really have to stay on top of it," Brewer said.

Brewer has partnered with property owners to offer parking spaces that are as close as a 5-minute walk to Spartan Stadium.

Individual game day parking rates range from about $10 to $30, Brewer said.

The Prndl website, prndlparking.com, sells season passes that usually range from $80 to $120. Email zach@prndlparking.com or call (989) 414-0069 for more information.

The Capital Area Transportation Authority offers over 30 bus routes including several in the Lansing region that run through East Lansing and MSU's campus.

CATA's "Spartan service" line has a dedicated route that serves all campus apartments, residence halls, commuter lots and main campus facilities.

These routes are active throughout the day and evening. For information visit cata.org/Routes-Schedules/Where-can-I-Ride/MSU-Campus.

If you're not willing to take a bus, there's a new, creative form of transportation in East Lansing. Skoop, a city-based company, has drivers who give free rides on their motor-assisted bicycle rickshaws.

Each "skoop" can go up to 25 miles per hour and carry at least two people.

The company runs three routes in East Lansing. It makes money from advertisers who pay to have their ads broadcast on a video screen attached to the end of each skoop.

“We can slide past all those cars in the bike lane and really get our advertising partners some great exposure," said Josh Cooper, a 19-year-old MSU sophomore and Skoop's CEO.

For information, visit rideskoop.com, email info@Rideskoop.com or call Cooper at (248) 660-0293.

The City of East Lansing has several parking lots and garages. It also has free app called PassPort Parking allows you to pay, monitor time left and add time to your parking session.

City lots and ramps may be difficult to access on game days due to massive construction in the downtown area.

Rates for lots and garages are $15 to $20 per day. The city offers a $40 "VIP parking" rate on game days at 20 designated spaces. For information call 337-1277.

Still have questions?

For more parking and Spartan game day information, including what you can and cannot bring into the Spartan Stadium, visit bit.ly/2N8gK96.

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MSU turf crew puts finishing touches on Spartan Stadium

Should MSU sell beer, liquor at football games?

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.