Fans attending major events at Neyland Stadium, preserved by Pilot, will notice improved traffic patterns beginning with Tennessee’s 2026 football season opener on September 5 against Furman.
Tennessee Athletics has partnered with Visit Knoxville, the City of Knoxville, Knox County, TDOT, KPD, UTPD, campus leadership and engineering consultant Kimley-Horn to develop comprehensive gameday traffic solutions for fans attending events on Rocky Top.
The updated traffic flow plan was tested during two major May events at Neyland Stadium: Luke Combs’ My Kinda Saturday Night Tour on May 2 and the Savannah Bananas game on May 23.
“This project has required close collaboration with numerous local partners, and we are excited to see the plan realized this fall,” said Tennessee Athletics Director and Vice Chancellor Danny White. “Enhancing the fan experience when leaving Neyland has been a key focus for us, and this initiative marks a significant step forward.”
Fans will see the following new post-game traffic patterns to and from Neyland Stadium:
Fans with designated parking passes are advised to enter campus via the recommended routes provided by Kimley-Horn Engineering and Design consultants: https://utsports.com/sports/2026/7/29/2026-football-parking
Fans without parking passes are recommended to avoid the campus corridor, stay in the downtown area or use the KAT shuttle options. Some drivers will be asked to go in the opposite direction of traditional daily traffic patterns – this is essential to help expedite traffic flow after major events.
Three westbound lanes on Neyland Drive will guide vehicles toward Alcoa Highway, I-40, and Kingston Pike.
· The far-left lane will function as a Kingston Pike Express Lane for faster access and reduced bottlenecks.
Those parking on the west side of campus around the AG school, G11, G17 or around Volunteer Blvd will notice additional University Police presence and a more active pull of traffic.
Those parking in the Fort on gameday will now see three zones on gameday, managed by KPD helping traffic in each area move in a more coordinated effort post-game.
For additional recommendations on how fans should leave campus, visit https://utsports.com/sports/2019/7/29/football-gameday#parking
“Visit Knoxville is proud to be part of this collaborative effort to enhance the experience for everyone coming to Knoxville for major events,” said Kim Bumpas, President of Visit Knoxville. “This partnership creates an experience for our visitors that extends well beyond the event itself, and improving traffic flow and post-event navigation helps make their entire time in our destination more seamless and enjoyable.”
These changes are designed to make post-event departures more efficient. Enhancing the fan experience remains our central focus, and this updated traffic plan demonstrates our continued commitment to improving operations for major events at Neyland Stadium.
“For those of us who have spent a lifetime cheering for the Vols, this project was more than transportation planning,” said Chris Rhodes, project lead for the Kimley-Horn team. “It was an opportunity to team with Visit Knoxville, the City, Knox County, TDOT, and UT stakeholders to create a gameday playbook designed around the fan experience. Because while the final score matters, the memories fans take home often begin and end with how they get to and from Neyland Stadium.”
Additional recommendations for all fans:
- The officers and traffic personnel directing vehicles on the roadway may send you along a route or direction that differs from a non-gameday route because they are aware of traffic backups around campus and are working to keep traffic moving as efficiently as possible.
- After hours of studying, Kimley-Horn asks fans to consider going east to go west or go south to head west. There are four easterly routes to leave campus and those routes are destined for westbound Interstate 40. Fans may see much quicker routes going southbound on Alcoa Highway, then westbound on Pellissippi Parkway, then westbound on Interstate 40.
- Cumberland and Neyland Drives get heavily congested pre- and post-game; if you do not have a parking pass and can avoid these areas, it is recommended.
- Only cars with permits for Lot 9 and Middle Drive will be allowed to turn onto Phillip Fulmer Way from Cumberland Ave. No cars will be permitted access to Lot 9 down Peyton Manning Pass and only pre-approved / commercial vehicles will be permitted up Phillip Fulmer from Lake Loudoun Blvd.
- Those using ride-share apps, take note that pre- and post-game ride-share drops off and picks up at “The Hill.”
- For anyone without a parking pass, consider using the City Shuttles. KAT operates shuttles from Civic Coliseum and Market Square parking garages for all games. Additional shuttle service will be provided from Old City for SEC-only games. Information regarding the shuttle service can be found at https://katbus.com/schedules-maps/football-service-options/
The upcoming 130th season of Tennessee football will see the Vols carry a streak of 27 consecutive Neyland Stadium sellouts into the Furman opener on Sept. 5. That game starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.
