What to know about parking, road changes for Penn State football’s White Out game
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Penn State encourages early arrival and reduced vehicle travel on game day.
- Major traffic changes and parking deck fees take effect Saturday across campus.
- Several lots and roads close Friday night to accommodate ESPN College GameDay.
As Penn State football’s biggest home game of the season arrives, with it comes some traffic and parking changes in Happy Valley.
Penn State’s White Out game against Oregon kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, with premium gates at Beaver Stadium opening at 4:30 p.m. and all other public gates opening at 5:30 p.m. The university encourages fans to arrive early for the football team’s first Big Ten game of the 2025 regular season.
Lots will open at 8 a.m., and ESPN’s “College GameDay” will air from the Old Main lawn beginning at 9 a.m. The free block party on Curtin Road between University Drive and Porter begins at noon, with live music, food trucks and other family friendly activities. The team arrival is set for 5:15 p.m.
Penn State encouraged fans to avoid unnecessary vehicle travel on Saturday. CATA will have its game day shuttle operating to and from the game. Its Blue Loop, White Loop and Red Link service will also operate, with a few adjustments.
“Traffic on and near campus will be heavy, and unnecessary vehicle travel is discouraged. Drivers traveling to campus should allow extra time to reach their destination,” the university said in a release.
Below are traffic and parking changes for the White Out game.
Traffic restrictions
The one-way traffic pattern will be in effect beginning 5 p.m. Saturday. North passes will enter from Fox Hollow Road, East passes will enter from Park Avenue, South passes will enter from Porter Road and West passes will enter from Park Avenue via North Atherton Street.
Those accessing the East Parking Deck or Orange faculty/staff lots north of Services Road can only enter by traveling eastbound on Park Avenue from Atherton Street. Otherwise, Park Avenue should only be used by those with football permits with West Zone and East Zone parking. Porter Road will only be open for South Zone permit parking.
Curtin Road will be closed between Bigler and Porter roads.
Those trying to get to central campus parking areas can travel northbound on Shortlidge or Burrowes roads from College Avenue.
Parking
Football parking areas between Bigler Road and Mount Nittany Medical Center will require a football permit, valid only in the assigned lot. Lots will open at 8 a.m.
Other on-campus parking on game day is available at all five campus parking decks: East, Eisenhower, HUB, Nittany and West. Those who need to park overnight must park in one of those decks. Weekend rates will apply to vehicles parked on Saturday; standard rates apply otherwise.
Rates for East, HUB and Nittany decks on Saturday are $2 for the first hour and $1 for the second hour if parked for less than two hours, $40 if more than two hours. The daily parking rate of $2 for the first hour and $1/hour up to the $16 daily max will be in effect for all other days.
West Deck rates on Saturday are $2 for the first hour and $1 for the second hour if parked for less than two hours, $25 if more than two hours. The daily parking rate applies for other days.
At Eisenhower, parking is available on Saturday only for $40, through the HONK zone PSUYF.
A number of campus lots will close at midnight Friday: Commuter lots (Jordan East, Stadium West, Porter North, Porter South), Orange L (all sections), Yellow H (all sections), Yellow M, Yellow V, Orange A OPP (east and west), Orange A Katz, Orange B1 (Section along Services Road), Orange D, Orange H (all sections), Orange J (all sections) and Silver J (all sections). All vehicles must be removed from these areas before midnight Friday. It will reopen after outbound football traffic has concluded.
Faculty and staff parking permits are honored at all faculty/staff lots west of Bigler Road, and student parking permits will work at all areas west of Bigler Road that usually permit weekend student parking.
The State College borough is lifting the “no parking 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.” and the one and two hour restrictions beginning noon Friday. All restrictions will go back into effect at 2 a.m. Monday.
What to know about ‘College GameDay’
ESPN’s “College GameDay” will air live from the Old Main lawn from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, so several parking adjustments and some road closures will be in place, the university said in a release.
Pollock Road between Fraser Road and the entrance of the Brown B parking lot is closed through Saturday. It will extend from Burrowes Road to Shortlidge Road on Saturday.
Because of those road closures, Brown B and Brown E parking areas will be closed through Saturday. Permit holders can park at Eisenhower or Nittany decks.
The Old Main parking lot will be closed through Saturday so ESPN production vehicles can have a staging area. Those with ROO permits who park at Old Main will be temporarily reassigned to the part of Brown A parking behind the Willard Building. That parking lot will be reserved for ROO permit only, except for ADA spaces, the university said. Overflow parking for Brown A permit holders will be in Red A.
For students who want to attend College GameDay, Penn State recommends they walk to Old Main or take the CATA White or Blue Loops and walk from the Burrowes Street or Schlow Library stops if they live on campus. Off-campus students or State College residents are encouraged to walk or take the CATA bus and walk from the Schlow Library stop.
Those wishing to park near the College GameDay site, paid on-campus parking is available at East and Nittany Decks ($2 for one hour, $3 for two hours and $40 for more than two hours), West Deck ($2 for one hour, $3 for two hours and $25 for more than two hours) and Eisenhower Deck ($40). Three downtown parking decks are nearby; hourly paid parking is available at Beaver Avenue Garage, Fraser Street Garage and Pugh Street Garage. Metered street parking is also an option.
If fans are parking at the Beaver Stadium lots to attend College GameDay, they are encouraged to walk to Old Main or take the CATA White or Blue Loops downtown and walk.
