Fans in crimson walking across the Quad under oak trees, tailgate tents set up, with Bryant-Denny Stadium behind

The Quad before the Iron Bowl, November 2008. Photo: CH52584 (Wikimedia Commons user), Public domain

SEC · Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Where to stay for an Alabama game Hotels near Bryant-Denny Stadium, by time to the gate

Checked against 14 sources on November 10, 2026 · Editorial team · How we check

Stay downtown if you can get a room: it is a 26–31 minute walk. If not, east and south Tuscaloosa are 5–8 minutes away, and Bessemer, towards Birmingham, is next.

The downtown hotels on University Boulevard and Jack Warner Parkway, west of campus, are a 26–31 minute walk to the stadium. The chain hotels east of campus and south by I-20/59 are a 5–8 minute drive with no traffic, and the free Crimson Ride shuttle serves the east campus lots. When Tuscaloosa is full, the hotels at Bessemer's I-20/59 exit are 48 minutes away; Birmingham is 67.

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Hotels in Downtown Tuscaloosa →See the 2027 weekends

Stadium: Bryant-Denny Stadium, 100,077 seats [11]
Public parking: 2026: $40 a game, on Clutch; lots open at 7 a.m. with a free shuttle to the Quad [6]
Road closures: Core campus closes 4.5 hours before kickoff and reopens about 2.5 hours after [9]
Downtown shuttle: Tuscaloosa Transit from the Intermodal Facility, $1 cash, from 3 hours before kickoff [7]
Gates: Renumbered for 2026, east to west around the stadium [5]

Alabama weekends by the numbers

0.9stadium seats for every resident of Tuscaloosa: 100,077 seats (capacity) [11] against 114,316 residents [12]
26 minwalk from the closest hotel, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Tuscaloosa Alabama Downtown, to the stadium (1.2 mi) [13]
3hotels we list within a 40 minute walk of the stadium [13]
67 mindrive, with no traffic, from the furthest overflow town fans use when Tuscaloosa is full [13]

Alabama's 2027 home weekends, rated

Two non-conference home dates are reported. Alabama hosts five SEC games in 2027; the SEC has not published their dates. Auburn and Ohio State are away in 2027. [2] Hardest so far: Florida, Tennessee and Texas (Very hard). How we rate weekends.

Panorama of a full Bryant-Denny Stadium in crimson during the fourth quarter of a game — Bryant-Denny Stadium during the Kentucky game, October 2008. Photo: Latics, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Alabama 2027 home games and how hard rooms will be
Date	Opponent	Rooms	Why	Book
Sat, Aug 28, 2027	Marshall Non-conference	Busy	Non-conference, no billed weekend Season opener, moved up from 4 September. [4]	Rooms Fri–Sun →
Sat, Sep 11, 2027	Mercer Non-conference	Busy	Non-conference, no billed weekend [4]	Rooms Fri–Sun →
Date not yet set	Florida SEC	Very hard	Conference game · Visiting fans travel [2]	Rooms →
Date not yet set	Mississippi State SEC	Hard	Conference game One of Alabama's three annual SEC opponents. [2]	Rooms →
Date not yet set	Missouri SEC	Hard	Conference game [2]	Rooms →
Date not yet set	Tennessee SEC	Very hard	Conference game · Visiting fans travel One of Alabama's three annual SEC opponents. [2]	Rooms →
Date not yet set	Texas SEC	Very hard	Conference game · Visiting fans travel [2]	Rooms →

Kickoff times may not be set until a few weeks before the game. Book Friday and Saturday nights, and check the time before you travel.

Hotels closest to Bryant-Denny Stadium

Of the 10 hotels we list, the closest is the Embassy Suites by Hilton Tuscaloosa Alabama Downtown at 2410 University Boulevard: a 26 minute walk (1.2 mi) to the stadium. 3 are within a 40 minute walk. Times are routed on OpenStreetMap from each hotel to the stadium with no traffic [13]; on game day the drive takes longer and the lots fill early.

Hotels near Bryant-Denny Stadium, closest first, with walk and drive times
Hotel	Area	On foot	By car	Game-day bus
Embassy Suites by Hilton Tuscaloosa Alabama Downtown 2410 University Boulevard, Tuscaloosa	Downtown Tuscaloosa	26 min · 1.2 mi	5 min · 1.4 mi	None listed
Home2 Suites by Hilton Tuscaloosa Downtown University Boulevard 2610 University Boulevard, Tuscaloosa	Downtown Tuscaloosa	30 min · 1.4 mi	6 min · 1.9 mi	None listed
Homewood Suites by Hilton Tuscaloosa Downtown 2541 Jack Warner Parkway, Tuscaloosa	Downtown Tuscaloosa	31 min · 1.4 mi	6 min · 1.8 mi	None listed
Hampton Inn Tuscaloosa-University 600 Harper Lee Drive, Tuscaloosa	East of campus	46 min · 2.1 mi	7 min · 2.6 mi	None listed
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tuscaloosa-University 1120 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Tuscaloosa	East of campus	54 min · 2.5 mi	5 min · 2.3 mi	None listed
SpringHill Suites Tuscaloosa 4020 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa	South Tuscaloosa (I-20/59)	Drive	7 min · 3.0 mi	None listed
Fairfield Inn & Suites Tuscaloosa 4101 Courtney Drive, Tuscaloosa	South Tuscaloosa (I-20/59)	Drive	7 min · 3.0 mi	None listed
Courtyard Tuscaloosa 4115 Courtney Drive, Tuscaloosa	South Tuscaloosa (I-20/59)	Drive	7 min · 3.1 mi	None listed
Hilton Garden Inn Tuscaloosa 800 Hollywood Boulevard, Tuscaloosa	South Tuscaloosa (I-20/59)	Drive	8 min · 3.2 mi	None listed
Fairfield Inn Birmingham-Bessemer 4980 Academy Court, Bessemer, Bessemer	Bessemer (I-20/59)	Drive	48 min · 40.4 mi	None listed

Where to stay in Tuscaloosa, by area

East of campus 5 min drive
South Tuscaloosa (I-20/59) 7 min drive
Downtown Tuscaloosa 26 min walk
Bessemer (I-20/59) 48 min drive
Birmingham 67 min drive

Walk to the gatesShort drive or shuttleOverflow townsPositions are to scale in direction; distance is compressed. Times are routed with no traffic.

Walk to the gates

Downtown Tuscaloosa

Walk to the gatesNightlife

Hotels on University Boulevard and Jack Warner Parkway, west of campus by the river, with downtown's restaurants. A 26–31 minute walk or a 5–6 minute drive.

26 min Walk from Embassy Suites to the stadium (1.2 mi) [13]
31 min Walk from Homewood Suites (1.4 mi) [13]

Hotels here

Embassy Suites by Hilton Tuscaloosa Alabama Downtown · 2410 University Boulevard
The shortest walk of the downtown hotels, 26 minutes. [14]
Home2 Suites by Hilton Tuscaloosa Downtown University Boulevard · 2610 University Boulevard
Suites with kitchens on University Boulevard. [14]
Homewood Suites by Hilton Tuscaloosa Downtown · 2541 Jack Warner Parkway
Suites by the river, 31 minutes on foot. [14]

Hotels in Downtown Tuscaloosa →

A short drive or shuttle

East of campus

DriversShuttle

Hotels east of campus near Harper Lee Drive and Veterans Memorial Parkway, close to the east campus lots served by the free Crimson Ride. A 5–7 minute drive with no traffic.

5 min Drive from the Holiday Inn Express, no traffic (2.3 mi) [13]
7 min Drive from the Hampton Inn, no traffic (2.6 mi) [13]

Hotels here

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tuscaloosa-University · 1120 Veterans Memorial Parkway
East of campus, 5 minutes by car. [14]
Hampton Inn Tuscaloosa-University · 600 Harper Lee Drive
Near the east campus lots, 7 minutes away. [14]

Hotels in East of campus →

South Tuscaloosa (I-20/59)

DriversEasy from I-20/59More choice

A group of chain hotels south of town near I-20/59, the way in from Birmingham. A 7–8 minute drive with no traffic.

7 min Drive from Courtney Drive, no traffic (3.0 mi) [13]
8 min Drive from the Hilton Garden Inn, no traffic (3.2 mi) [13]

Hotels here

SpringHill Suites Tuscaloosa · 4020 Greensboro Avenue
The closest of the southern group, 7 minutes by car. [14]
Fairfield Inn & Suites Tuscaloosa · 4101 Courtney Drive
On Courtney Drive, 7 minutes away. [14]
Courtyard Tuscaloosa · 4115 Courtney Drive
Next to the Fairfield Inn. [14]
Hilton Garden Inn Tuscaloosa · 800 Hollywood Boulevard
Behind Courtney Drive, 8 minutes by car. [14]

Hotels in South Tuscaloosa (I-20/59) →

When the town is full

Bessemer (I-20/59)

OverflowComing from Birmingham

Chain hotels at Bessemer's I-20/59 exit, on the way to Birmingham. 48 minutes from the stadium with no traffic: the next hotels when Tuscaloosa is full.

48 min Drive from Academy Drive, no traffic (40.4 mi) [13]

Hotels here

Fairfield Inn Birmingham-Bessemer · 4980 Academy Court, Bessemer
At the I-20/59 exit, 48 minutes away. [14]

Hotels in Bessemer (I-20/59) →

Birmingham

Big weekendsFlying in

Past Bessemer, Birmingham's hotels are 67 minutes from the stadium with no traffic, and its airport is the nearest big one.

67 min Downtown Birmingham, no traffic (57.7 mi) [13]

Hotels in Birmingham →

Booking rules: when rooms open and what big weekends cost

Parking is $40 and sells out

In 2026 a single-game public parking pass cost $40, sold ahead on Clutch and delivered to your phone; several lots were sold out for the season. Every pass includes a free shuttle to and from the Quad. [6]

RVs: one lot, no hook-ups

RVs park only in the Northeast RV lot, with a pass bought ahead. There are no hook-ups; entry is from 6 p.m. on the Friday before the game and RVs must leave by noon on Sunday. [8]

Quad tailgating is free, first come

Tailgating on the west side of the Quad is free and needs no reservation: set-up can begin on Friday morning, and everything must be gone by 10 a.m. on Sunday. [10]

Downtown is the walkable base

Of the hotels we list, only the downtown hotels are a walk from the stadium, 26 to 31 minutes. The rest are a 5–8 minute drive, with free shuttles from the east campus lots. [13]

Coming as a group or a family? Houses and apartments in and around Tuscaloosa are on Vrbo: vacation rentals in Tuscaloosa →

What we saw in the 2026 season

Our own readings of Booking.com search results: two nights, two adults, prices before taxes, one reading on one day. A record of last season, not a forecast for 2027, and not used in the rating.

November 10, 2026 11 days before the Chattanooga game (Saturday 21 November), Booking.com showed 75 places with rooms in Tuscaloosa for the nights of 20–22 November, at a median of $518 for two nights. In Bessemer, the overflow town, the same nights showed 11 places at a median of $243. [1]
November 10, 2026 18 days before the Auburn game (Saturday 28 November), Booking.com showed 51 places with rooms in Tuscaloosa for the nights of 27–29 November, at a median of $1,118 for two nights. That was also Thanksgiving weekend. In Bessemer, the overflow town, the same nights showed 8 places at a median of $358. [1]
November 10, 2026 For a weekend with no home game, 4–6 December 2026, Booking.com showed 100 places with rooms in Tuscaloosa, at a median of $211 for two nights. [1]

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Game day at Bryant-Denny Stadium: parking, traffic and buses

Lots and shuttles

Lots open at 7 a.m. on game day, and every parking pass includes a free shuttle to the Quad from 7 a.m. The free Crimson Ride serves the east campus RV lots, Lot A and the lots along Peter Bryce Boulevard, from 7 a.m. until 1.5 hours after the game. [6]

Shuttles from town

Tuscaloosa Transit runs from the Downtown Intermodal Facility (601 23rd Avenue) to 12th Street from three hours before kickoff, $1 cash, until an hour after the game. A shuttle from free parking at University Mall to 12th Avenue costs $20 cash round trip, starts four hours before kickoff, pauses at kickoff and resumes at the end of the third quarter. [7]

Road closures and routes

Core campus roads close 4.5 hours before kickoff and reopen about 2.5 hours after the game; some streets turn one-way until traffic clears. UA publishes four routes in: the McFarland Route suits most fans coming from Birmingham. [9]

New for 2026

Gates and sections were renumbered, east to west around the stadium. The Soccer Lot grass is closed for construction: use Grass Lot 2 across from it or Grass Lot 1 near the RV lot. Construction in Alberta has cut University Boulevard to one lane each way, so use Veterans Memorial Parkway or McFarland Boulevard. [5]

Charter buses

Commercial and charter buses park at Rhoads Stadium for $150, first come, first served, cashless. [7]

Getting back after the game

Core campus reopens about 2.5 hours after the game, and some streets run one-way until traffic clears. From downtown, walking back is usually quicker. [9]

Getting to Tuscaloosa

Driving

Tuscaloosa sits on I-20/59, about 67 minutes south-west of Birmingham with no traffic. [13]

Live traffic

UA's game-day site links pregame and postgame traffic maps and live traffic updates. [9]

Flying in

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (BHM) is 74 minutes' drive from the stadium with no traffic (62.5 mi). [13]

Travel news for the 2027 season

October 5, 2026 Reports put Marshall (28 August) and Mercer (11 September) at Bryant-Denny Stadium to open 2027. [4]
December 2, 2025 Alabama announced Marshall as a 2027 home opponent. [3]
September 23, 2025 The SEC set Alabama's opponents through 2029. In 2027 Alabama hosts Florida, Mississippi State, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. [2]

Alabama game weekends: questions fans ask

What is the closest hotel to Bryant-Denny Stadium?

Of the hotels we list, the Embassy Suites at 2410 University Boulevard, a 26 minute walk (1.2 miles). The Home2 Suites and Homewood Suites nearby are 30–31 minutes on foot. [13]

Where should I stay if Tuscaloosa is sold out?

Bessemer first: its hotels at the I-20/59 exit are 48 minutes away with no traffic. Birmingham is 67 minutes away. [13]

When are Alabama's 2027 home games?

Marshall on 28 August and Mercer on 11 September have been reported. Florida, Mississippi State, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas also come to Bryant-Denny Stadium; the SEC has not published their dates. [2]

How much is parking at an Alabama game?

In 2026 a single-game public pass was $40 on Clutch, with a free shuttle to the Quad. A shuttle from free parking at University Mall costs $20 round trip. [6]

Is there a shuttle to Bryant-Denny Stadium?

Yes: the free Crimson Ride from the east campus lots, Tuscaloosa Transit from downtown ($1), and a $20 shuttle from University Mall. [7]

Can I bring an RV to an Alabama game?

Yes, with a pass for the Northeast RV lot, bought ahead. There are no hook-ups; arrive from 6 p.m. on Friday and leave by noon on Sunday. [8]

Sources

Our reading of Booking.com search results (two nights, two adults, before taxes): searches for Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States on booking.com, for the nights given with each reading, FootballStay (10 November 2026). Checked November 10, 2026.
Football's Annual Opponents, 2026-29 Foes Released on Tuesday, Alabama Athletics (23 September 2025). Checked November 10, 2026.
Crimson Tide Football Adds Future Opponents, Adjusts Date for USF, Alabama Athletics (2 December 2025). Checked November 10, 2026.
Alabama adds FCS opponent to 2027 and 2029 football schedules, FBSchedules.com (5 October 2026). Checked November 10, 2026.
What to know for Alabama football game days in 2026, University of Alabama News (September 2026). Checked November 10, 2026.
Parking, UA Gameday (University of Alabama, 2026). Checked November 10, 2026.
Shuttles, UA Gameday (University of Alabama). Checked November 10, 2026.
RV Parking, UA Gameday (University of Alabama). Checked November 10, 2026.
Traffic, UA Gameday (University of Alabama). Checked November 10, 2026.
Tailgating, UA Gameday (University of Alabama). Checked November 10, 2026.
Bryant–Denny Stadium, Wikipedia. Checked November 10, 2026.
City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2025 (Vintage 2025), U.S. Census Bureau. Checked November 10, 2026.
Routed walk and drive times (OSRM on OpenStreetMap, no traffic), FOSSGIS routing.openstreetmap.de. Checked November 10, 2026.
Hotel positions and addresses, OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Checked November 10, 2026.

Photos

The Quad before the Iron Bowl, November 2008. CH52584 (Wikimedia Commons user), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Bryant-Denny Stadium during the Kentucky game, October 2008. Latics, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Photos are openly licensed, resized and cropped for this page. None shows a hotel we list or implies endorsement.

Walk and drive times are routed on OpenStreetMap with no traffic; game-day traffic adds to them. Found something out of date? Tell us and we fix it with a dated correction.

FootballStay is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the NFL, the NCAA, any conference, university or team. Team and stadium names are used only to describe where games are played.

Keep planning

The season planner: every home weekend we cover, by how hard rooms will be. Every college football team we cover, ranked by stadium seats per resident. How we rate weekends.