Red River Rivalry 2026 Parking, DART & Transportation Guide

The 2026 Red River Rivalry is scheduled for Saturday, October 10 at 2:30 p.m. CT inside Cotton Bowl Stadium. Because the game takes place during the State Fair of Texas, transportation planning is different from a normal stadium trip: fair traffic, game traffic, security lines, transit crowds, and postgame departures all overlap.

For October 10, the State Fair lists official parking at Gates 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15, opening at 7 a.m. DART serves the fairgrounds at Fair Park Station and MLK, Jr. Station. DART and TRE have published game-day plans; check their latest schedules before traveling.

Quick answer: the simplest transportation plan

For most visitors who can reach the DART system, rail is the easiest plan to understand and the least dependent on finding a space near Fair Park. The Green Line serves:

• Fair Park Station, on Parry Avenue near the main fair entrance
• MLK, Jr. Station, south of R.B. Cullum Boulevard near Gate 6

Drivers using official State Fair parking can use the Fair’s suggested I-30 exit 48A toward Haskell Avenue, then follow event traffic signs. Rideshare passengers should use the current State Fair staging instructions instead of selecting a stadium pin that may place the driver inside a restricted traffic pattern.

No option eliminates crowds. The practical goal is to choose one arrival method, save the route before leaving, and make a separate postgame plan before entering the stadium.

Option 1: Ride DART to Fair Park

DART publishes a dedicated State Fair service page for the 2026 fair, which runs from September 25 through October 18. It notes special weekend operations, including changes to Orange Line service and new State Fair Flyer bus service from selected locations. Those details matter on rivalry Saturday, so do not rely on a weekday rail habit or an old screenshot.

For Saturday, October 10, DART’s game-day page says the Orange Line will serve Fair Park on its DFW Airport–Buckner routing. Four special southbound Red Line trains from Parker Road will also run directly to Fair Park. Other Red and Blue Line riders should check DART’s specified transfer station before leaving. DART’s six special game-day shuttle origins are Addison, CityLine/Bush, Downtown Rowlett, Glenn Heights, Lake Ray Hubbard and SMU/Mockingbird. Shuttles drop at Lot 8, and the detailed game-day page lists the last return shuttle at 8 p.m. Keep the color-coded shuttle wristband for the trip back.

SMU/Mockingbird parking on October 10: DART’s station page describes ordinary commuter parking but explicitly says no parking is available on game day, October 10, 2026. Do not drive there expecting a game-day parking space. Drivers should compare the other shuttle origins and check their current parking instructions.

For the first shuttle, DART’s detailed game-day page lists 9:30 a.m., while its October 5 announcement says service starts at 8 a.m. Check the live timetable for your departure point in GoPass before counting on an early bus. The game-day shuttles also differ from the ordinary weekend State Fair Flyer schedule.

Coming from Fort Worth or another TRE stop? TRE has posted a special October 10 schedule. At Victory Station, riders may transfer to a Green Line train or a shuttle for Fair Park. TRE says additional Green Line trains between Victory and Lawnview are planned approximately every five to ten minutes from roughly three hours before until three hours after the game. For the return, riders who arrived by bus should look for DART buses along Parry Avenue in front of Fair Park Station. Check the October 10 TRE schedule and the last train that connects to your trip before leaving home.

Before leaving

1. Open DART’s current State Fair page and trip planner.
2. Check the first leg, any required transfer, and the final station.
3. Buy or activate the correct fare through an official DART channel.
4. Save both Fair Park Station and MLK, Jr. Station in your phone.
5. Take a screenshot of the return route in case mobile service is congested.

DART recommends its GoPass app for fares and trip planning. If you are traveling with a group, confirm that every person has a usable pass and knows the return station. A group should also choose a meeting point outside the busiest platform area in case people become separated.

Which station should you use?

Fair Park Station is convenient to the Parry Avenue entrance. MLK, Jr. Station serves the south side of the grounds near Gate 6. The better choice depends on your ticket, planned entrance, mobility needs, and where you want to be after the game. Use the current State Fair map rather than treating either station as universally faster.

Option 2: Use official State Fair parking

The State Fair’s game-day notice lists parking at Gates 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15. It recommends I-30 exit 48A toward Haskell Avenue. Follow the posted signs and staff directions once you reach Fair Park; a stadium pin alone may send you toward a closed or congested approach.

Those parking gates open at 7 a.m. on October 10. The Fair’s ordinary 9:30 a.m. parking time does not apply to this game day. Opening time does not guarantee a space or a quick drive; check current availability, payment instructions and accessibility information before setting out.

Avoid building a plan around an old blog’s exact price or a privately operated lot’s past rate. Prices, operators, accepted payment methods, and access rules can change. Before paying anywhere outside the official system, confirm:

• the lot’s address and operator
• whether the space is valid for the full game and fair visit
• the closing time and re-entry policy
• whether your vehicle can be blocked in
• the walking route to a staffed entrance

Never leave a ticket, phone, bag, or other visible item in the vehicle. Photograph the parking location and note the gate used to enter the fairgrounds.

Option 3: Rideshare or taxi

The State Fair’s current transportation page lists a recommended rideshare staging area at 4206 Gurley Ave. for drop-off and pickup. It also lists a taxi stand near Pacific and Gurley outside Gate 1. These locations can be revised with event operations, so confirm them on the official page shortly before the trip.

Rideshare is often straightforward on arrival but less predictable after a major game. Crowds leave at different times, streets may be controlled, and drivers may have difficulty reaching a pin placed too close to the stadium. A stronger pickup plan includes:

• a named official pickup area rather than a generic map pin
• a backup meeting point on a legal, well-lit pedestrian route
• a charged phone and portable battery
• the driver’s name and plate checked before entering
• enough time for walking and traffic delays

Do not cross closed roads or ask a driver to stop in an active traffic lane.

Build an arrival timeline without guessing

State Fair admission and parking open at 7 a.m. on rivalry Saturday. Midway rides and outdoor concessions open at 8 a.m., exhibit buildings at 9 a.m., Cotton Bowl gates at 11:30 a.m., and football kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CT. The State Fair and Texas Athletics both publish the 7 a.m. Fair and 11:30 a.m. stadium openings. Allow time for separate Fair and stadium screening.

Work backward from the time you want to be seated. Include separate buffers for:

1. parking or the rail trip
2. walking to the fair entrance
3. State Fair entry screening
4. walking through the grounds
5. Cotton Bowl screening and locating the correct section

Families, first-time visitors, large groups, and guests with accessibility needs should allow more time and consult the official accessibility information before game day.

Plan the return trip before kickoff

The postgame trip is where an incomplete plan usually fails. Decide in advance whether the group will leave immediately, spend more time at the fair, or meet at a fixed location. The 2026 fair’s Saturday operating hours extend beyond the game, but individual attractions, transit frequencies, and entrances can follow different schedules.

For rail riders, check the current return service and transfer requirements before entering the stadium. For drivers, keep the parking receipt and save the lot location. For rideshare users, expect to walk to the designated pickup area rather than summoning a car directly to the Cotton Bowl gate.

Game-day transportation checklist

• Confirm the kickoff on the 2026 game guide.
• Recheck the State Fair getting-here page and DART service page.
• Save the full parking, station, or pickup address.
• Download tickets and transit passes before reaching crowded areas.
• Carry a charged phone and portable battery.
• Follow the current Cotton Bowl bag policy.
• Pick a group meeting point and a postgame departure method.
• Ignore unverified social posts offering “guaranteed” parking or shortcuts.

The best route is not the one with the boldest promise. It is the route that uses current official instructions, gives your group enough time, and still works if traffic or mobile service becomes slow.