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Lucas Oil Stadium Guide

NFL · Indianapolis · 62,421 capacity

Last updated: 3/4/2026

Lucas Oil Stadium’s downtown location makes it walkable from nearby hotels, allowing fans to bypass gameday traffic. For those driving, arriving at least three hours before kickoff is essential to navigate heavy traffic and potential road closures.

At a glance

Bag policy: Clear bag policy
Cashless: Cashless
Re-entry: No re-entry
Gates open: Gates open 2h before
Outside food: No outside food
Getting here: Lucas Oil Stadium is located in downtown Indianapolis and is accessible via several public transit options.
Family friendly: Lucas Oil Stadium offers several family-friendly amenities.
Capacity: 62,421

Home team:Indianapolis Colts

No upcoming multi-sport weekend featuring Lucas Oil Stadium on the calendar. See Indianapolis home weekends on the city hub →

Where to stay for Lucas Oil Stadium

Downtown Indianapolis is considered the ideal hotel neighborhood due to its proximity and walkable distance to Lucas Oil Stadium, as well as other downtown attractions.

Downtown Indianapolis (Mile Square/Wholesale District)

This is the most central and walkable neighborhood, known for being extremely safe and a strong tourism hub. It offers a wide array of dining options and is in close proximity to major attractions and sports venues.

Downtown Indianapolis is highly walkable and bikeable. It is served by numerous IndyGo bus routes, including the Red Line, which connects through downtown. The Julia M. Carson Transit Center, a major hub for IndyGo, is located downtown. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail also runs through this area.

Mass Ave Cultural District

Mass Ave is a vibrant cultural district known for its lively atmosphere, unique shopping, diverse dining options, and active nightlife. It's considered a popular and bike-friendly area.

Mass Ave is serviced by several IndyGo bus routes (e.g., 10, 2, 21, 3, 4, 5, 19). The Red Line also provides connections to Mass Ave. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail runs along Mass Ave and in surrounding areas, offering excellent biking and walking opportunities.

Fountain Square

Fountain Square is an eclectic and artsy cultural district with a unique blend of art galleries, vintage entertainment, diverse dining, and quirky nightlife featuring indie music, comedy, and burlesque. It is also a historic district.

Fountain Square is directly connected to IndyGo's Red Line, providing rapid transit to downtown and other areas. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail also connects Fountain Square to downtown. Several local bus lines, such as routes 90, 26, and 56, serve the neighborhood.

White River State Park Area

This area is home to numerous world-class attractions, museums, and sports venues, alongside green spaces and trails. It's a highly accessible location for visitors.

White River State Park is easily accessible by various IndyGo bus routes, including 24, 8, 90, 92, 3, 10, and 37. The Line 8 bus from Indianapolis Airport provides direct service to a stop near the park. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail and the White River Greenway run through the park.

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Arrival and exit strategy

Transit and approach

Lucas Oil Stadium is located in downtown Indianapolis and is accessible via several public transit options. The IndyGo bus system provides numerous routes that stop near the stadium, including Routes 8, 10, 31, 16, 24, 25, 56, 90, and 92. The Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) also stops close to Lucas Oil Stadium at the Maryland Street Station. Indianapolis Union Station, serving Amtrak and Greyhound passengers, is within walking distance of the stadium.

Rideshare and parking

Rideshare: The designated pick-up and drop-off location for rideshare services like Uber and Lyft is Northbound Illinois Street, one block east of Lucas Oil Stadium. To request a ride after an event, guests must exit the stadium and walk towards Illinois Street, outside of the geofenced perimeter, to ensure a smooth pick-up. Designated zones near South Street and Capitol Avenue are also mentioned for drop-offs.

Parking: Lucas Oil Stadium offers official parking in lots such as the South Lot and North Lot. There are over 70,000 parking spots available downtown in various lots, garages, and on-street. It is highly recommended to arrive at least 3 hours prior to kickoff for Colts games to allow time for navigation and parking due to potential road closures and heavy traffic. Accessible parking may be available in the South Lot for some events, requiring a valid placard/license plate and a Colts parking pass for Colts games. Advance parking passes can be purchased through services like ParkWhiz.com. Victory Field, a short walk from the stadium, also offers parking.

After the event

Downtown Indianapolis offers numerous bars and restaurants for post-game activities.

Works well with these Indianapolis venues

Gainbridge FieldhouseNearby · 0.5 mi

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The game-day experience

Atmosphere area: Centrally located in downtown Indianapolis, near the Indiana Convention Center.
Tailgating: Tailgating is permitted in parking lots around Lucas Oil Stadium, often at the discretion of individual lot operators. General guidelines include: parking is first-come, first-served; vehicles wishing to tailgate together must arrive at the same time; tailgating must occur in front of or behind the parked vehicle without blocking drive aisles; no tailgating in empty parking spaces (all spaces must be occupied by a vehicle); no tents blocking aisle ways. Charcoal grills are generally prohibited, with some lots allowing only gas and propane grills. All trash should be disposed of in provided receptacles. Organized pre-game options include the free 'American Family Insurance Touchdown Town' at the Lucas Oil North Gate and the ticketed 'Colts VIP Tailgate' at the Bullseye Event Center. At Victory Field (a nearby parking option), the lot opens 4 hours prior to game time, pre-game tailgating concludes 15 minutes after game start, and post-game tailgating concludes 1 hour after game end time.
Fan tradition: Tailgating is a significant local fan tradition for Colts games at Lucas Oil Stadium. Organized tailgating experiences like the American Family Insurance Touchdown Town and Colts VIP Tailgate are popular pre-game activities.
Pregame institution: American Family Insurance Touchdown Town (Lucas Oil North Gate (part of Lucas Oil Stadium at 500 South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN))

Where to eat and drink nearby

Pregame picks

Tom's Watch Bar
140 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225 · Downtown Indianapolis
Massive sports bar with 100+ to 140+ screens and 360° viewing, creating a high-energy atmosphere for watching NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB, NCAA, MLS, UFC, boxing, and European soccer. It serves as an official away-game headquarters for Pacers fans and unites Blackhawks/Blues hockey fans.
What to order: Elevated bar food, craft beers, and cocktails. Signature dishes include Prime Rib Dip, Lobster & Shrimp Mac and Cheese, All American Burger, Deep-Dish Birria Nachos, Ahi Tuna Tower, Crispy Nashville Hot Chicken & Cornbread Pancake, Buffalo and Korean BBQ Jumbo Wings, and the Tom's Party Starter cocktail.
Coaches Tavern
28 S Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis, IN 46204 · Downtown Indianapolis
Offers the excitement of being in the heart of Downtown Indianapolis, directly across from Gainbridge Fieldhouse and a short distance from Lucas Oil Stadium. It's a popular spot for beer, famous 'Tavern Sticks' (chicken tenders), and features numerous TVs and occasional live music.
What to order: Tavern Sticks (chicken tenders), Cajun-rubbed wings, and Black Angus burgers.
The Dugout Bar
621 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203 · Fletcher Place
Operating since 1954, it offers a traditional dive-bar atmosphere with a robust food and drink menu, friendly service, and walls adorned with old beer ads. It's known for its laid-back 'neighborhood bar feel' and is a go-to spot for cheap drinks and good food, with a spacious outdoor patio.
What to order: General food menu and drinks.
Kilroy's Bar & Grill
201 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225 · Downtown Indianapolis
Voted best sports bar downtown, offering a full menu, famous 32 oz. Long Islands, over 40 flat-screen TVs, outdoor patio seating, shuffleboard, and other video games. It's known for its hand-rolled, pepperoni-stuffed breadsticks and in-house smoked meats.
What to order: Hand-rolled pepperoni-stuffed breadsticks and 32 oz. Long Islands.

Postgame spots

Harry & Izzy's
153 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225 · Downtown Indianapolis
An upscale American grill, serving as a companion to the iconic St. Elmo Steak House. It offers a vibrant bar, classic steakhouse dishes, premium steaks, fresh seafood, and expertly crafted cocktails in a Prohibition-era ambiance. It's a beloved culinary destination for both locals and visitors.
What to order: World-famous St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail, premium steaks, fresh seafood, grilled slab bacon, and prime beef meatballs.

Late-night options

Slippery Noodle Inn
372 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225 · Downtown Indianapolis
An 'authentically local, originally eclectic' downtown original, known for its impressive collection of decorations, stages featuring blues performers, and some of the city's best pizza, breadsticks, and specialty sandwiches. It's a historic institution, one of Indiana's oldest bars.
What to order: Pizza, breadsticks, and specialty sandwiches.