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Need some Game-Day advice from you regulars...
Posted on 10/3/17 at 7:07 pm
Posted on 10/3/17 at 7:07 pm
I'm bringing my wife and 3 kids down for the Arkansas game from NC. Will be our kid's first game, and we haven't been to a game in Tuscaloosa since 2003. Any advice on where to stay hotel wise, which roads to drive in on Gameday, parking, etc? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
This post was edited on 10/3/17 at 7:14 pm
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Posted on 10/3/17 at 7:14 pm to tider04
You might want to look into a hotel right now if you plan on staying in ttown. I park at the mall and ride the buses to the stadium.if I don't plan on doing much except watching the game. I've parked all over to and never had a problem. I prefer parking above the cemetery by the tracks
This post was edited on 10/3/17 at 7:18 pm
Posted on 10/3/17 at 7:16 pm to tider04
Stay in Columbus or Birmingham.
The rooms in Tuscaloosa during a game weekend are expensive as hell.
If you stay in Columbus you may even be in the same hotel as the team.
The rooms in Tuscaloosa during a game weekend are expensive as hell.
If you stay in Columbus you may even be in the same hotel as the team.
Posted on 10/3/17 at 7:18 pm to TideSaint
Columbus, MS?
Posted on 10/3/17 at 7:25 pm to tider04
Yes.
They have added 3-4 brand new hotels in the last few years. It's about a 45 minute drive, but you'll be spending $100 for a room as opposed to $250.
My wife is from Columbus and I was stationed there for 4 years. They have some seriously good local restaurants in that small town like Hucks, J Broussards, Ole Hickory Steakhouse, Umi's Japanese Steakhouse, etc.
They also have a lot of your usual national chain restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wing, Logan's Roadhouse, Longhorn, Chili's, Applebee's, etc.
It's a straight shot to Tuscaloosa via Highway 82.
ETA: If you decide to stay there I highly recommend eating at Hucks. It's outstanding.
Dinner Menu
J Broussards is across the street from Hucks and it is really good too.
Dinner Menu
They have added 3-4 brand new hotels in the last few years. It's about a 45 minute drive, but you'll be spending $100 for a room as opposed to $250.
My wife is from Columbus and I was stationed there for 4 years. They have some seriously good local restaurants in that small town like Hucks, J Broussards, Ole Hickory Steakhouse, Umi's Japanese Steakhouse, etc.
They also have a lot of your usual national chain restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wing, Logan's Roadhouse, Longhorn, Chili's, Applebee's, etc.
It's a straight shot to Tuscaloosa via Highway 82.
ETA: If you decide to stay there I highly recommend eating at Hucks. It's outstanding.
Dinner Menu
J Broussards is across the street from Hucks and it is really good too.
Dinner Menu
This post was edited on 10/3/17 at 7:33 pm
Posted on 10/3/17 at 7:29 pm to TideSaint
Thanks. Any ideal parking spots if we want to walk around campus and be within walking distance of restaurants before the game and also not be stuck in horrible traffic getting out of T-Town?
Posted on 10/3/17 at 7:29 pm to tider04
Yeah hotels in Tuscaloosa for gameday are a nightmare.
They fill up way in advance, they are all extremely expensive, and they usually try to have a 2 night minimum.
Depending on the direction you're coming from look to get a hotel outside of Tuscaloosa. Hoover has a lot of decent hotels reasonably priced and it's very closet o Tuscaloosa (assuming you're coming from that direction).
As for parking, you'll be able to find decent free parking within walking distance of the stadium if you go early enough, say 3-4 hours before kickoff. The closer you are to kickoff, the harder it will be to find a spot and the further away you'll have to park most likely (in addition to fighting more traffic).
Don't bother trying to drive in or through campus, they shut down all the roads, you have to sort of stick to the perimeter of campus.
They fill up way in advance, they are all extremely expensive, and they usually try to have a 2 night minimum.
Depending on the direction you're coming from look to get a hotel outside of Tuscaloosa. Hoover has a lot of decent hotels reasonably priced and it's very closet o Tuscaloosa (assuming you're coming from that direction).
As for parking, you'll be able to find decent free parking within walking distance of the stadium if you go early enough, say 3-4 hours before kickoff. The closer you are to kickoff, the harder it will be to find a spot and the further away you'll have to park most likely (in addition to fighting more traffic).
Don't bother trying to drive in or through campus, they shut down all the roads, you have to sort of stick to the perimeter of campus.
This post was edited on 10/3/17 at 7:30 pm
Posted on 10/3/17 at 7:37 pm to tider04
quote:
Thanks. Any ideal parking spots if we want to walk around campus and be within walking distance of restaurants before the game and also not be stuck in horrible traffic getting out of T-Town?
We always parked at the end of University Boulevard in the empty field across the street from the hospital. It's a decent walk, but you can catch the shuttle and it's right off 82 so getting back on the highway is fairly easy.
Now, I'll be honest, this was 4 years ago so there may be better options now. I won't know until I attend the Mercer game once I move to Prattville in November.
Posted on 10/3/17 at 8:48 pm to TideSaint
There is a post office located at
1313 22nd Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
and it always has a lot of parking, both at it and around it.
It's reasonable walking distance to the stadium too.
The West side of campus/Bryant Denny tends to have more parking as most of the traffic to the game tends to come from MacFarland and the East side.
Another place I parked for years was at The Paint Spot off 15th Street (right near the Checkers). It always had plenty of spots and was also reasonable distance to the stadium. My car got broken into one evening at this location though (thankfully no damage and nothing taken) and after that I never parked there again. I'm guessing it was teens just being stupid.
1313 22nd Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
and it always has a lot of parking, both at it and around it.
It's reasonable walking distance to the stadium too.
The West side of campus/Bryant Denny tends to have more parking as most of the traffic to the game tends to come from MacFarland and the East side.
Another place I parked for years was at The Paint Spot off 15th Street (right near the Checkers). It always had plenty of spots and was also reasonable distance to the stadium. My car got broken into one evening at this location though (thankfully no damage and nothing taken) and after that I never parked there again. I'm guessing it was teens just being stupid.
This post was edited on 10/3/17 at 8:51 pm
Posted on 10/3/17 at 9:09 pm to tider04
The Embassy Suites in Tuscaloosa is my favorite, and it's walkable to the stadium, and you pass tons of restaurants and stuff on the way, but it will be expensive for a game.
If you don't want to pay gameday rates, stay in Birmingham, either in the Hoover area or on 280 near the I-459 interchange. That will be your best bet coming in from or going to NC.
If you don't want to pay gameday rates, stay in Birmingham, either in the Hoover area or on 280 near the I-459 interchange. That will be your best bet coming in from or going to NC.
Posted on 10/3/17 at 9:11 pm to Evolved Simian
I always stay at the Marriott on 280 in Birmingham, they just remodeled. Prices are reasonable normally, unfortunately it is Talladega weekend so I am not sure about availability.
Posted on 10/3/17 at 10:06 pm to UltimaParadox
thanks guys, got a hotel in Bham for $130 a night. Now to figure out the best place to park to get in and out of Tuscaloosa. Honestly more worried about getting out after the game to head back to Bham.
Posted on 10/3/17 at 11:36 pm to tider04
I wish I could give you a traffic free route, but over half of the gameday crowd heads for I59 North.
If you're parked downtown, Lurleen Wallace turns into 359 which hits 59. Or you can bypass a lot of 59 traffic by taking Greensboro down to Skyland/11 and taking it out as far as you want or until it ends at I59 past Mercedes.
If you park on campus or at the mall, you can take Hwy 215 out to Hwy 11 then to 59, or use Hwy 216 instead and take it all the way out to the interstate. You can also take McFarland out if you want, but that usually seems the worst to me.
If it matters, there's free parking in the deck downtown, as well as free and paid parking in other areas near the deck, and there's a shuttle for a very small cost. Campus parking costs $20 or $25, but it's all walkable or free transport on the Crimson Ride with pick up and drop off by Gorgas on the north end of the quad.
Someone mentioned the University Mall. I know they have parking and a shuttle there, but I don't know the cost of either. I haven't personally used it. It would be very convenient to Hwy 215 or Hwy 216.
If you haven't been since 2003, it's completely different. Back then, you could park anywhere on campus you could find. They don't let you do that anymore. Plus, now the north end of campus is now packed with new residence halls and class buildings.
If you're parked downtown, Lurleen Wallace turns into 359 which hits 59. Or you can bypass a lot of 59 traffic by taking Greensboro down to Skyland/11 and taking it out as far as you want or until it ends at I59 past Mercedes.
If you park on campus or at the mall, you can take Hwy 215 out to Hwy 11 then to 59, or use Hwy 216 instead and take it all the way out to the interstate. You can also take McFarland out if you want, but that usually seems the worst to me.
If it matters, there's free parking in the deck downtown, as well as free and paid parking in other areas near the deck, and there's a shuttle for a very small cost. Campus parking costs $20 or $25, but it's all walkable or free transport on the Crimson Ride with pick up and drop off by Gorgas on the north end of the quad.
Someone mentioned the University Mall. I know they have parking and a shuttle there, but I don't know the cost of either. I haven't personally used it. It would be very convenient to Hwy 215 or Hwy 216.
If you haven't been since 2003, it's completely different. Back then, you could park anywhere on campus you could find. They don't let you do that anymore. Plus, now the north end of campus is now packed with new residence halls and class buildings.
Posted on 10/5/17 at 9:48 am to tider04
With the fam in tow, I'd park downtown. If you get there early enough, street parking down there is free, and there are golf cart companies that can give you a ride to campus. Plus, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from, and it's on the parade route since that weekend is Homecoming.
Getting out is tricky from everywhere, but I find it easiest from downtown. Just hop on Lurleen Wallace Blvd S, and it turns into I-359, which hits 20/59 a few miles south. Traffic will be heavy most of the way back to Bham, especially if that ends up being a night game. But it's really not all that bad once you get to the Mercedes plant area.
ETA: I grew up in Tuscaloosa and don't even attempt to navigate the surface streets back to the interstate anymore. It used to be a breeze before the expansions of BDS and before the traffic flow changes.
Getting out is tricky from everywhere, but I find it easiest from downtown. Just hop on Lurleen Wallace Blvd S, and it turns into I-359, which hits 20/59 a few miles south. Traffic will be heavy most of the way back to Bham, especially if that ends up being a night game. But it's really not all that bad once you get to the Mercedes plant area.
ETA: I grew up in Tuscaloosa and don't even attempt to navigate the surface streets back to the interstate anymore. It used to be a breeze before the expansions of BDS and before the traffic flow changes.
This post was edited on 10/5/17 at 9:50 am
Posted on 10/5/17 at 9:54 am to tider04
quote:
Now to figure out the best place to park to get in and out of Tuscaloosa. Honestly more worried about getting out after the game to head back to Bham.
Park downtown on 23rd avenue. If you are coming in from Birmingham, you can just take the I-359 exit of 20/59. If will take you right into downtown. Take 11 or 12th street once I-359 becomes Lurleen Wallace Blvd. It will take you over to 23rd. The deck will be hard to miss. Parking is free and there's bus service if you don't want to walk.
Posted on 10/5/17 at 12:13 pm to The Spleen
quote:
Getting out is tricky from everywhere,
Not really.
Posted on 10/5/17 at 12:52 pm to pvilleguru
quote:
Thanks. Any ideal parking spots if we want to walk around campus and be within walking distance of restaurants before the game and also not be stuck in horrible traffic getting out of T-Town?
Put this in your GPS: 1325 14th Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. There is a vacant lot that'll hold only about 20 cars, but it is completely free and a short walk to the stadium IF you get there 3 hours early (which we like to do).
Posted on 10/5/17 at 10:44 pm to tider04
I always park at the Tuscaloosa Public Library on jack Warner. It’s a good little walk and will put you up near innisfree on university. It’s free so that’s really the best part and it’s close interstate access.
Posted on 10/6/17 at 11:42 am to The Spleen
Thanks guys. Sounds like the best plan is to arrive 3-4 hours early, park downtown and then take Lurleen Wallace Blv back to interstate after the game. That sum it up pretty well?
Posted on 10/6/17 at 11:54 am to tider04
quote:
Sounds like the best plan is to arrive 3-4 hours early
Yeah, just check the parade schedule. University Blvd will be blocked off downtown for an hour or two around the parade time. It starts at Greensboro Ave/university intersection I think, and ends at the Quad. If the game is at 6, the parade should be around 1 or 2. If it's the 2:30 game, parade should be around 9 or 10.
You can still navigate the side streets fine. It's just University that will be closed.
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