Arriving early at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and spending the wait in the lot is a long-standing part of the culture — and since the upper lots fill 60 to 90 minutes before showtime, you’ll often be there anyway. This Red Rocks tailgating guide covers the timing, the rules that matter, and the hard line at the gate. Call 720-492-7819.
The Timing
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Lots open | Two hours before doors |
| Box office | Typically four hours before showtime |
| Upper lots fill | 60–90 minutes before showtime |
| Parking | Free, first-come, staff-directed |
| Lot assignment | You don’t choose — staff direct you |
Rules are set by the venue and can vary by event. Confirm what’s permitted for your specific show at 720-865-2494 before you plan around it.
Nothing From the Lot Comes Inside
This is the rule that catches people. Outside alcohol, glass bottles, aerosols and large or multi-pocket bags are all on the prohibited list for entry, and there’s no bag check — anything refused at screening goes back to your vehicle. Whatever you bring to the lot stays in the lot.
Vehicle Options
| Vehicle | Photo | Guests | Round trip | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprinter Passenger Van |  | 14 | $1,200 | $86 |
| Sprinter Limo |  | 10 | $1,400 | $140 |
| Luxury SUV |  | 5 | $650 | $130 |
The Problem With Driving Yourself to a Tailgate
It’s the obvious one, and it’s worth saying plainly. If the point of arriving early is to relax before the show, somebody in your group ends up not relaxing — and then drives a winding foothills road in the dark afterward. A Colorado DUI conviction runs well over $13,000 once fines, legal fees, licence reinstatement and insurance increases are counted. A red rocks car service removes the question entirely, at as low as $86 per person.
You Don’t Choose Your Spot
Staff direct traffic to whichever lot is currently filling, so you can’t plan to tailgate in a specific place. Oversized vehicles over about 6’5″ wide are directed to Lower South Lot 2, which is also one of the longer walks to the gates.
The Walk Afterward Is Real
However you spend the wait, you still have to get up to your row — 5 to 15 minutes depending on your lot, much of it uphill or on stairs at 6,450 feet. A denver to red rocks car service drops closer to the gates than any general lot, which shortens that considerably.
Bring the Layers In With You
It’s tempting to leave a jacket in the car during a warm afternoon in the lot. By the encore, at 6,450 feet with no cover anywhere, you’ll want it — and that’s exactly when walking back is least appealing. Carry layers in and keep spares in a vehicle that’s genuinely close.
Groups
A red rocks shuttle arrives as one party rather than a convoy that gets separated and parked across different lots. A car service denver to red rocks booking also lets everyone enjoy the wait equally. Full options are on our Red Rocks Transportation page.
Travelling In?
Visitors can add denver airport to red rocks transportation with flight tracking to the same reservation.
Before You Go
You’ll be outdoors for hours before the show even starts. Check the National Weather Service forecast and current road conditions through CDOT, and bring sunscreen as well as layers.
Lot Checklist
- Lots open two hours before doors; upper lots fill 60–90 minutes early
- Confirm current lot rules at 720-865-2494 for your show
- Nothing from the lot gets through screening — no bag check
- Nobody in the group should be driving home
- Book red rocks transportation — 720-492-7819, or see pricing and the FAQs page
Book Your Ride to Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Everyone enjoys the wait, nobody drives home. Call 720-492-7819 or book red rocks transportation with Red Rocks Voyager, your reliable red rocks transport service to Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Click -> Book
