Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, GA

Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta Parking, Tailgating and Gate Information

Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts some of the country's premier sports and entertainment events. In addition to being the home of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United of MLS, the Stadium will have hosted a Super Bowl, Final Four, Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift and Beyonce within three years of opening its doors. Continue reading to discover the best way to make the most out of your next visit.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium Parking

With more than 20,000 parking spots within a 20 minute walk of the stadium, MBS is a fairly convenient stadium by modern NFL standards. The official parking site of the stadium lists more than 75 lots and garages - all within 1.1 miles of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Here's how we've secured the best parking on our multiple trips to Atlanta:

1) Browse Mercedes-Benz Stadium parking passes (ParkWhiz and SpotHero) are good alternatives
2) Compare parking options from Step 1 on parking.mercedesbenzstadium.com to learn about tailgating and accessibility
3) Book your parking pass
4) On event day, type your lot name into the Waze app for the best directions
5) Find a designated driver and head to Guest Relations during your event to receive a free soft drink for your driver (in partnership with MADD)

For Falcons games and concerts, parking prices typically range from $15 to $60. If you're able to, we recommend one of the cheaper lots about a mile away. Besides for the cost-savings, these areas aren't as crowded after the game so exiting the stadium campus is much easier. You'll walk an extra ten minutes, but you might avoid an extra half hour stuck in traffic.

Getting to MB Stadium from Hartsfield Jackson Airport

Traveling to an event directly from the airport? The stadium is ten miles from Hartsfield Jackson, which is about 20 minutes by car in normal Atlanta traffic (there is no such thing as normal Atlanta traffic). Considering a rideshare? The stadium has partnered with Lyft and has dedicated pickup and drop-off zones.  

Atlanta has a highly under-utilized public transportation system named MARTA. Hop on the Red or Gold lines from the airport towards the Five Points station. If you don't feel like walking you can transfer to one of the westbound routes and get dropped off near the stadium. Otherwise, exit at Five Points and follow the crowd for a fifteen minute walk to MBS.  

General Tailgating Information

Head an hour northeast to Athens, and you'll find that tailgating is a way of life for Georgia Football. You won't find the same dedication for Falcons games, but you will find a few passable options. And if you're attending an Atlanta United game, you'll find some very organized fan groups.

To learn if your parking lot allows tailgating, visit MB Stadium's parking lot info page. As a general rule of thumb, most flat parking lots allow tailgating and all parking garages prohibit tailgating.

Home Depot Backyard

Tailgating is supposed to be a little dirty and a little rough around the edges - kind of like camping. At Mercedes-Benz Stadium they have The Home Depot Backyard - more glamping than camping. For those looking for an organized tailgate that is more family-friendly, this is a good choice.

The Backyard prohibits loud music and drinking games (at least according to their website), but what it lacks in fun it makes up for in safety and convenience. And the best part is, you don't have to be a season-ticketholder to access the tailgating area. For Falcons games the Backyard is serviced by the Tailgate Guys where packages run a few hundred dollars for an entry-level party.

Terminus Legion Tailgate

Looking to tailgate at an Atlanta United match? One of our favorites is through the Terminus Legion supporter group. They get going four hours before the match starts and literally march to the stadium an hour before kickoff.

Elliott Street

For our money, the best thing you can do with a little extra time is to visit the Elliott Street Deli and Pub. It's an absolute hole in the wall that serves cold beer and delicious sandwiches. It's a five minute walk from the stadium and you won't find an ounce of pretense. Think of it as the anti-Home Depot Backyard.  

Gate Times for Falcons, Atlanta United and Concerts

Whether you're attending a Falcons game, a United match or a concert, gates almost always open two hours before the event begins. The most common Falcons kickoff time is 1:00 pm and for these games gates open at 11:00 am sharp.

If you're at the stadium a bit early, we recommend taking a selfie with the Falcon statue. After all, it isn't often that you have the opportunity to be photographed with a 73,000 pound bird.