Charter Bus Parking & Dropoff Guide to East Palo Alto Sports Venues & Arenas
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Levi's Stadium (Home of the San Francisco 49ers)
Ready to cheer on the San Francisco 49ers or catch a massive summer stadium tour at Levi's Stadium? Located just 15 miles south of East Palo Alto in Santa Clara, this iconic venue is a breeze to visit when your group travels together in a 56-passenger charter bus or a party bus. Skip the multi-car caravan and store all your tailgating coolers right in the undercarriage luggage bays!
Major Roadways to Levi's Stadium
Most groups departing from East Palo Alto take US-101 South (Bayshore Freeway) straight down the Peninsula and connect to CA-237 East toward Great America Parkway. If US-101 is backed up near Moffett Field, your driver can also use Central Expressway or I-280 South to Lawrence Expressway as an alternate route. Local stadium access runs along Great America Parkway, Tasman Drive, and Lafayette Street.
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Levi's Stadium
Charter buses can drop off and pick up passengers along Great America Parkway between Tasman Drive and Bunker Hill Lane, or at the designated group loading zone in Red Lot 7. Because Santa Clara police strictly prohibit curbside waiting, make sure your entire group is gathered together before texting your driver to pull up after the final whistle.
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Levi's Stadium
Dedicated oversized vehicle and charter bus parking is available in Red Lot 7 (accessed via Great America Parkway and Patrick Henry Drive) and Green Lot 1, with tailgating permitted in designated bus spaces. You must purchase a charter bus parking pass in advance through the Levi's Stadium parking portal, as oversized lots sell out fast on NFL game days.
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
Expect Tasman Drive directly in front of the stadium and portions of Marie P DeBartolo Way to close to through-traffic roughly three to four hours before kickoff. Game-day congestion on US-101 South and Great America Parkway builds quickly, so plan to depart East Palo Alto at least three hours early to enjoy a relaxed tailgate. After the event, traffic officers direct all buses out of Red Lot 7 along a set exit route toward CA-237 and US-101.
PayPal Park (Home of Bay FC and the San Jose Earthquakes)
It's never been easier to rally your soccer club, youth team, or fan group for a match at PayPal Park! Situated right across from San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) about 20 miles southeast of East Palo Alto, this intimate 18,000-seat stadium hosts roaring Bay FC NWSL matches and San Jose Earthquakes MLS games. Whether you book a 25-passenger minibus or a full-size motorcoach, everyone steps off together right by the gates. Plus, you can see live East Palo Alto charter bus prices online in under 30 seconds!
Major Roadways to PayPal Park
From East Palo Alto, the fastest route is US-101 South straight to I-880 South, taking the Coleman Avenue exit directly to the stadium entrance. On busy weeknights, your driver can also hop onto I-280 South to I-880 North to bypass Bayshore Freeway bottlenecks near Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Final approach streets include Coleman Avenue, Airport Boulevard, and Newhall Drive. Sharing your itinerary through our online form ensures your confirmation team maps out the smoothest route!
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at PayPal Park
Charter buses load and unload passengers in the designated commercial drop-off zone inside the Tailgate Lot or along the outer loop off Champions Way near the main Audi Gate entrance. Active loading is limited to five minutes, so keep your group together for a speedy post-match boarding.
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at PayPal Park
Oversized vehicles and charter buses park on-site in the Tailgate Lot or Pink Lot off Coleman Avenue with a pre-purchased bus parking pass. Tailgating is allowed in the designated Tailgate Lot beginning three hours prior to kickoff, making it an awesome spot for your fan group to hang out before heading inside! If you only booked a drop-off and pickup, your driver can stage off-site near Brokaw Road or commercial areas along De La Cruz Boulevard. Always check the PayPal Park parking guide before match day to lock in your oversized space.
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
Because PayPal Park sits right beside the SJC airport terminals and major commuter corridors, Coleman Avenue between I-880 and Brokaw Road gets heavily congested starting 90 minutes before kickoff. Temporary lane restrictions and traffic control checkpoints go into effect around Champions Way and Earthquakes Way before and after matches. For weeknight games that overlap with Silicon Valley rush hour (4:00–7:00 p.m.), build an extra 45 minutes into your departure from East Palo Alto. Once the match wraps up, San Jose traffic officers direct buses straight north onto Coleman Avenue toward I-880 and US-101.
SAP Center (Home of the San Jose Sharks)
Don't stress over downtown San Jose parking garages or splitting your group across multiple Caltrain cars when heading to the "Shark Tank" at SAP Center at San Jose! Whether you're catching a San Jose Sharks hockey game or a sold-out arena concert, booking a concert and event charter bus lets your whole group ride down from East Palo Alto in climate-controlled comfort.
Major Roadways to SAP Center
Drivers heading south from East Palo Alto typically take US-101 South to CA-87 South (Guadalupe Parkway), exiting at Santa Clara Street or Julian Street right into Downtown San Jose. You can also take I-280 South to the Bird Avenue or Meridian Avenue exits to approach the arena from the south and skip highway interchanges.
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at SAP Center
Your bus can drop off and pick up passengers along the north side of West Santa Clara Street between Autumn Street and Cahill Street, or along Montgomery Street near the Diridon Station transit hub. Do not use the passenger rideshare lot at Santa Clara and Autumn Streets, as oversized motorcoaches are restricted from entering that tight turnabout. Have your group meet outside the North Entrance on Autumn Street after the buzzer so everyone walks to the bus together!
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at SAP Center
On-site charter bus and RV parking is available in Lot ABC (entered via West Julian Street and North Montgomery Street), though spaces are limited and must be arranged in advance by contacting SAP Center guest services. Because downtown parking garages around San Pedro Square have low vertical clearances under 7 feet, full-size buses cannot enter covered decks. If Lot ABC is full during a major playoff game, your driver can stage at approved commercial surface lots along Stockton Avenue or north near Coleman Avenue. Check the SAP Center parking map before your trip to confirm oversized lot availability.
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
On event nights, San Jose police close Autumn Street between Santa Clara Street and Julian Street, as well as sections of Montgomery Street, starting 90 minutes before puck drop. Plan to leave East Palo Alto at least two hours before your event to clear evening commuter traffic on US-101 and CA-87 with plenty of time to grab dinner inside the arena!
Chase Center (Home of the Golden State Warriors and the Golden State Valkyries)
Rather than battling Mission Bay gridlock in separate cars, rent a minibus or charter bus to see the Golden State Warriors or Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center! Located 30 miles north of East Palo Alto in San Francisco, Thrive City is effortless to reach when a driver takes the wheel.
Major Roadways to Chase Center
Your charter bus will travel north from East Palo Alto via US-101 North or scenic I-280 North, which feeds directly into the Mariposa Street and 18th Street exits just blocks from the waterfront arena. To avoid heavy game-day congestion on 3rd Street, drivers typically approach and exit Mission Bay using 17th Street and Terry A. Francois Boulevard.
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Chase Center
Charter buses load and unload passengers at the designated white-curb commercial zones along Terry A. Francois Boulevard directly east of the arena along the waterfront. SFMTA strictly enforces a five-minute active loading limit and prohibits idling in white zones. Gather your whole group at Thrive City Plaza after the game before signaling your driver to pull up!
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Chase Center
There is no on-site charter bus parking inside the Chase Center underground garages due to height restrictions. Instead, drivers relocate to nearby off-site oversized vehicle parking at Lot A / Pier 48 near Oracle Park or Port of San Francisco commercial lots along the southern waterfront.
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
Two hours before tipoff and major concerts, the City of San Francisco closes Warriors Way (formerly South Street) and 16th Street between 3rd Street and Terry A. Francois Boulevard to general vehicle traffic. Expect heavy congestion along the I-280 North off-ramps at Mariposa Street and King Street during weekday evening rush hour. Leaving East Palo Alto at least 2.5 hours early gives your group plenty of time to grab food and drinks in Thrive City before the doors open!
Oracle Park (Home of the San Francisco Giants)
If a day at the ballpark watching the San Francisco Giants hit Splash Hits into McCovey Cove is on your calendar, book a private shuttle to Oracle Park! Traveling 30 miles up the Peninsula from East Palo Alto is relaxing and fun when you compare bus types and lock in your ride in seconds.
Major Roadways to Oracle Park
Groups departing East Palo Alto can take I-280 North all the way to its terminus at King Street, which leads straight to the ballpark in South Beach, or take US-101 North to I-80 East and exit at 4th Street or Harrison Street. Local streets framing the stadium include 3rd Street, King Street, Townsend Street, and The Embarcadero. Your driver will monitor live Peninsula traffic to pick the fastest highway corridor on game day!
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Oracle Park
Your driver can drop off and pick up passengers along 3rd Street between the O'Doul Gate and the Giants Dugout Store, or at designated passenger loading zones along Townsend Street between 3rd and 4th Streets. Because King Street and 3rd Street carry heavy Muni light-rail and pedestrian traffic, passengers must exit curbside quickly without blocking transit lanes. After the final out, wait until your entire roster is assembled at the Willie Mays Statue or O'Doul Bridge before calling your driver in.
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Oracle Park
Official oversized vehicle and charter bus parking is located just across the Lefty O'Doul Bridge in Lot A / Pier 48 at 74 Mission Rock Street. Reservations for bus parking in Lot A must be arranged ahead of time through the Oracle Park parking and tailgating office or Giants Group Ticketing, and tailgating is permitted right around your bus in designated spaces! If Lot A is sold out, drivers must stage at approved commercial bus lots further south along Cesar Chavez Street or Illinois Street.
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
During Giants home games and stadium concerts, King Street, 3rd Street, and 2nd Street experience intense pedestrian cross-traffic and lane restrictions starting two hours before first pitch. If an afternoon or evening game overlaps with another event down the road at Chase Center, traffic along the I-280 King Street off-ramp and Terry A. Francois Boulevard can back up for miles. Pad your East Palo Alto departure schedule by at least 45 to 60 minutes so nobody misses the first inning!
Quick Tips for East Palo Alto Game-Day Charter Bus Groups
With California's strict five-minute commercial idling limit and tight stadium curb rules, always gather your entire group at a pre-set meeting spot before calling your driver from the staging lot. Remember to pre-purchase oversized bus parking passes for venues like Levi's Stadium, PayPal Park, and Oracle Park as soon as you book your East Palo Alto group transportation!
