Charter Bus Parking & Dropoff at Sports Venues in Ankeny

Jack Trice Stadium (Home of the Iowa State Cyclones)

In Ames—just 25 minutes north of Ankeny up I-35—Jack Trice Stadium packs in over 61,000 screaming Iowa State football fans on autumn Saturdays. Whether you're organizing alumni tailgates, student travel, or athletic team transfers, booking a 56-passenger charter bus or a party bus lets everyone ride together with coolers and tailgating tents stored safely underneath. Your driver handles the game-day gridlock so nobody has to volunteer as the designated driver. Plus, our confirmation department calls you after you book to verify every pickup and drop-off stop on your schedule!

Major Roadways to Jack Trice Stadium

Traveling north from Ankeny, your charter bus will take I-35 North to Exit 111B (US-30 West), which leads directly toward the Iowa State Center complex. From US-30 West, drivers take Exit 146 for University Boulevard and head north straight toward the stadium lots. Local connectors like South 4th Street, South 16th Street, and Lincoln Way frame the stadium perimeter, though heavy police traffic control directs buses into specific lanes on football Saturdays. Build in at least 60 to 90 minutes of extra travel time when departing Ankeny on game day!

Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Jack Trice Stadium

Active charter bus drop-off and pickup at Jack Trice Stadium typically takes place along the University Boulevard corridor or inside the designated bus lanes near the Iowa State Center surface lots east of the stadium. Curbside stopping is strictly prohibited along University Boulevard and South 4th Street during peak ingress, so have your group gathered and ready to step off quickly in the unloading zone. After the final whistle, coordinate a meetup spot near the Stephens Auditorium plaza so everyone boards together before post-game contraflow traffic begins.

Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Jack Trice Stadium

Single-game public charter bus and RV parking is located in Lot G7 and designated sections of the Iowa State Center paved lots (Lots C1–C6) between University Boulevard and Beach Avenue. Oversized vehicle passes must be coordinated in advance through the Iowa State Athletics Ticket Office or purchased upon arrival in designated day-of lots, and your bus can remain parked on site so your group can tailgate right beside the vehicle. If your bus is only dropping off and staging off-site, drivers can wait near the commercial travel plazas off the I-35 and US-30 interchange until you text for pickup. Remember that parking permit fees are not included in your bus quote and are paid separately.

Event-Day Closures & Traffic

Parking lots at Jack Trice Stadium open six hours prior to kickoff (or 7:00 a.m. for सुबह/morning games), and traffic backs up onto the US-30 ramps early. Portions of South 4th Street between University Boulevard and Beach Avenue, as well as inner stadium drives, close to general through-traffic hours before kickoff. Following the game, Ames Police and the Iowa State Patrol convert University Boulevard into one-way outbound lanes flowing south toward US-30. Arriving at least three hours before kickoff is the best way to beat the bottleneck!

Hilton Coliseum (Home of the Iowa State Cyclones)

Ankenycharterbuscompany.com is the easiest way to compare minibuses, party buses, and motorcoaches for experiencing "Hilton Magic" at Hilton Coliseum! Home to Iowa State men's and women's basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, and volleyball, this iconic arena sits just north of Jack Trice Stadium inside the Iowa State Center complex. Fill out one quick form to see live availability and pricing in under 30 seconds, with no account needed!

Major Roadways to Hilton Coliseum

Groups departing from Ankeny take I-35 North for 20 miles to US-30 West (Exit 111B), then exit onto University Boulevard North. From University Boulevard, your driver turns west onto Center Drive or enters from the north via Lincoln Way and Beach Avenue. Because weeknight basketball games often overlap with Ames and Ankeny rush hour between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., padding your schedule by 30 minutes keeps your group right on time.

Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Hilton Coliseum

Charter buses can drop passengers off along the Center Drive loop on the north and west sides of Hilton Coliseum or near the lower-level entrances adjacent to Scheman Building. Because winter weather in Iowa can be freezing, dropping your group right near the doors lets everyone head straight inside without a long walk across icy lots! Keep in mind that buses cannot idle or remain unattended along the inner Center Drive curb. Once the buzzer sounds, gather your entire group at the West Concourse doors before calling your driver up to the curb.

Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Hilton Coliseum

Oversized charter buses and 25-passenger minibuses can park on site in the expansive paved Iowa State Center lots (Lots C1, C2, C3, and D) surrounding Hilton Coliseum and Fisher Theater. General event parking for basketball and wrestling is typically free in the outer Iowa State Center lots, making it easy for your driver to stage right on the complex until the game wraps up.

Event-Day Closures & Traffic

During sold-out Big 12 basketball games, graduation ceremonies, and state wrestling events, University Boulevard and Lincoln Way experience heavy slowdowns starting 90 minutes before tip-off. Event staff and campus police actively direct traffic at the intersections of University Boulevard, Center Drive, and South 4th Street, occasionally restricting left turns into inner donor lots. After the game, traffic funnels out toward US-30 and Lincoln Way, so having your group on one bus keeps everyone warm while your driver navigates the exit lanes. You can always check Iowa State Athletics for day-of traffic advisories.

Casey's Center (Home of the Iowa Wild, Iowa Wolves, and Iowa Barnstormers)

Use our 30-second online quote tool to book a game-day shuttle from Ankeny down to Casey's Center inside the Iowa Events Center! Whether you're catching an Iowa Wild hockey game, cheering on the Iowa Wolves and Iowa Barnstormers, or traveling with a high school team for the IHSAA/IGHSAU State Wrestling and Basketball Tournaments, we'll connect you with the right bus at the right price.

Major Roadways to Casey's Center

Located in Downtown Des Moines just 15 minutes south of Ankeny, Casey's Center sits directly along the I-235 Freeway corridor. Your charter bus will head south on I-35 / I-235 West and take Exit 8A (Downtown Des Moines / 3rd Street / 2nd Avenue) or Exit 8B (5th Avenue / 7th Street), which feed directly onto the one-way downtown grid surrounding the arena. 2nd Avenue, 3rd Street, 5th Avenue, and Crocker Street serve as the primary surface arteries around the Iowa Events Center complex. During weekday rush hour or major state tournaments, Second Avenue from Ankeny (IA-415) can also serve as an alternate surface route.

Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Casey's Center

The primary charter bus and team drop-off zone for Casey's Center is located along the west side of 3rd Street between Crocker Street and Center Street, or along the designated cut-out on 5th Avenue near Hy-Vee Hall and Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center. Drivers must keep loading and unloading active—under 5 minutes—to avoid blocking downtown traffic lanes or DART transit buses. Set a clear post-game meeting spot at the South Lobby entrance near 3rd Street and Watson Powell Jr. Way so your whole group is accounted for before your bus pulls up.

Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Casey's Center

Oversized charter buses can park in the main Iowa Events Center Surface Lot located just north of the arena between 2nd Avenue, 5th Avenue, and School Street (enter via 3rd Street or Crocker Street). During the massive February and March Iowa High School State Tournaments, dedicated team and spectator bus staging is managed across the northern surface lots and overflow areas along River Drive. Parking rates for oversized vehicles vary by event, so check the Iowa Events Center parking guide or call the 365-day support team at (515) 416-9533 to coordinate your itinerary!

Event-Day Closures & Traffic

Downtown Des Moines sees heavy congestion along 3rd Street, 5th Avenue, and the I-235 exit ramps starting 60 to 90 minutes before major arena events and concerts. During state tournament weeks and overlapping conventions at Hy-Vee Hall, Des Moines Police often close portions of Crocker Street or restrict turns around the arena perimeter to protect heavy pedestrian crossings. Arriving at least an hour early ensures a smooth curbside drop-off right near the gates.

Principal Park (Home of the Iowa Cubs)

It just got easier to bring your company outing, youth baseball league, or birthday group to an Iowa Cubs game at Principal Park where the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers meet! Share your trip details once to compare 18-passenger minibuses, party buses, and full-size coaches from a large network of local providers competing for your business.

Major Roadways to Principal Park

From Ankeny, your driver will take I-35 South to I-235 West into Downtown Des Moines, exiting at 2nd Avenue / 3rd Street (Exit 8A) and heading south through the Court Avenue District toward the confluence of the rivers. SW 2nd Street, SW 3rd Street, and West Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway provide the most direct motorcoach access to Line Drive and the ballpark lots. Because Principal Park sits right below the historic Court Avenue entertainment district, your bus can easily shuttle your group between pre-game dinner spots and the stadium gates. Plan for extra time on Friday night fireworks games when downtown commuter traffic meets ballpark crowds!

Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Principal Park

Charter buses can drop passengers off along Line Drive near the main rotunda entrance at the intersection of SW 2nd Street, putting your group just steps from the box office and gates. Because Line Drive gets packed with pedestrians before first pitch, keep your group ready to unload swiftly so your driver can pull into the parking lot. After the final out, meet outside the First Base Gate or Main Rotunda on Line Drive to board together and skip the rideshare surge pricing!

Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Principal Park

Principal Park offers convenient on-site surface parking for charter buses and oversized vehicles in the main paved lots located south and west of the stadium off SW 3rd Street and W Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Because your bus can park right on site for a standard oversized vehicle fee, groups can even book a pre-game tailgate package or leave extra bags locked safely on the bus during the nine innings!

Event-Day Closures & Traffic

On Saturday mornings and early afternoons from May through October, the nearby Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market closes streets around Court Avenue between 2nd Avenue and 5th Avenue, requiring buses to approach Principal Park via W Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway from the south or west. Traffic along SW 2nd Street and SW 3rd Street also slows down significantly after Friday night fireworks shows. Building a 30-minute buffer into your schedule keeps your ballpark trip completely stress-free.

Drake Stadium (Home of the Drake Bulldogs)

Finding reliable group transportation services for the world-famous Drake Relays, IHSAA/IGHSAU State Track & Field Championships, or Drake Bulldogs football at Drake Stadium takes under 30 seconds on Ankenycharterbuscompany.com! Because we connect you with a massive Iowa network of bus companies rather than a single local fleet, you can book one minibus for your track athletes or a fleet of motorcoaches for your whole school district. You'll even get your free quotes sent straight to your text and email so they're easy to share with your athletic director!

Major Roadways to Drake Stadium

Located in the Drake neighborhood just northwest of downtown, Drake Stadium is a quick 15- to 20-minute ride from Ankeny via I-35 South to I-235 West, taking Exit 5B for 31st Street or Exit 6 for Cottage Grove Avenue / MLK Jr. Parkway. From there, your driver will use Forest Avenue, University Avenue, or 27th Street to reach the north and south stadium entrances.

Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Drake Stadium

During standard Bulldog games and track meets, charter buses load and unload passengers along Forest Avenue on the north side of the stadium (near the Knapp Center at 25th and Forest) or along Clark Street and 27th Street. During the massive Drake Relays in late April and the Iowa High School State Track Meet in May, official team and fan bus drop-off zones are strictly regulated along Forest Avenue between 25th and 28th Streets. Residential streets surrounding the campus are narrow and heavily patrolled, so drivers must use only the marked commercial loading zones. Coordinate a clear meeting spot outside the Bell Center or Knapp Center plaza before calling your driver in for pickup.

Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Drake Stadium

Because Drake University sits inside a dense residential neighborhood, on-campus parking for full-size 56-passenger charter buses is extremely limited and reserved primarily for team buses with permits near the Fine Arts Lot (Lot 16) or designated stretches of Clark Street. For major events like the Drake Relays and State Track, spectator and school charter buses drop off on Forest Avenue and stage at designated off-site oversized lots—such as the Iowa Events Center lots downtown or commercial staging areas near I-235—until your group calls for pickup. Your reservation specialist and the confirmation team will help verify your exact staging plan ahead of race day!

Event-Day Closures & Traffic

During the Drake Relays and State Track & Field weekend, Des Moines Police close sections of 27th Street, Forest Avenue, and 25th Street around the Blue Oval to vehicle traffic to accommodate large numbers of athletes and fans. Street parking restrictions and tow zones are strictly enforced across the surrounding Dogtown neighborhood, making a coordinated charter bus drop-off on Forest Avenue the easiest way to get your team to the track on time!

Quick Tips for Ankeny Game-Day Charter Bus Groups

Let Ankenycharterbuscompany.com make your next sporting event the easiest trip on your calendar with a few game-day pro tips! First, always exchange cell numbers with your driver and wait until your entire group is gathered at the meetup spot before calling the bus to the loading curb, since stadium police enforce strict 5-minute active loading rules. Second, if you're bringing bulky tailgating tents, coolers, or team equipment to Jack Trice Stadium or Principal Park, ask for a full-size 56-passenger motorcoach with under-floor luggage bays rather than a compact 15-passenger minibus. Finally, lock in your bus early for peak dates like the Cy-Hawk rivalry game, Drake Relays, and February state tournaments—or call (515) 416-9533 any day of the year to ask about custom packages, same-day rentals, and exclusive phone deals!