Last updated on November 21st, 2023 at 07:37 am
Gillette Stadium (Patriots Stadium) is the home of the New England Patriots NFL team and the New England Revolution Major League soccer team. There are multiple parking lots that surround the stadium for fans to use for any event. From my experience going to Gillette for a Revs game, there is free general parking lot directly across the stadium, which is the best deal without a doubt. This free parking lot sits directly across the stadium on Route 1.
Here is the complete guide on Gillette Stadium parking along with my experience with parking.
Official Parking at the Stadium
There is prepaid general, free, and free delayed parking at Gillette Stadium. Visit this link to see the entire map of where each of these areas are at Gillette Stadium. From my experience, I had free parking for a New England Revolution game in lot 51 across the stadium on Route 1. New England Revolution games had free parking when I went during the regular season in 2023. For a New England Patriots game, you might have a different experience.
You can visit this link to get the complete breakdown on the official parking at the venue.
My Recommendation on Parking + Experience with SpotHero
I’ve been using SpotHero for years to find cheaper parking than what official stadiums advertise. While I haven’t used SpotHero at Gillette Stadium, I have used it for other venues I’ve been to. From my experience, SpotHero tends to have cheaper parking rates than what the official lots go for at a venue. The only downside to this is that the parking lots tend to be a bit further from the stadium, but, you also won’t be stuck in the massive parking jam that occurs at Gillette Stadium if you park elsewhere.
Handicap Parking
There are handicap spaces available in the North and South entrances for any event at the venue. Please note that all accessible parking spaces come at a first-come and first-served basis. Fans will need to show a valid parking pass and state-issued license plate to leave their vehicle in these parking spaces.
My Recommendation on Parking
I went to the New England Revolution game on September 2023 and parked in the lot directly across from the stadium. For a Revs game this parking lot (General Parking) is free, which is a great deal. As of 2023, that is the same case for a Patriots game.
Just a reminder that after a game, you can expect to be stuck in the parking lot for a while trying to get out of it. There is no logic via how the parking lot operates after a game, which means getting out of the parking lots are going to take a long time. If you are concerned about getting out of the parking lot after the game, consider leaving early.
Should I Take Public Transportation?
You can’t take the local Boston subway to the game, but there is a commuter rail to use from Boston. Fans taking the MBTA to the game should purchase their tickets ahead of time, but this is the way to go if you live in Boston. A round trip ticket to go to and from Boston will be about $20. The train only runs for certain upcoming event, so check in to see if a train would leave for a concert at Gillette Stadium.
From my experience, I’ve never seen the commuter rail leave Boston for a Revolution game, which is disappointing. However, I’ve had friends use the commuter rail to go to the venue for a Patriots game and they said it was better than driving in and out of the stadium.
In addition to taking the commuter rail from Boston, fans can use Uber and Lyft to get to and from the venue.
Is there Tailgating in the Parking Lots?
Tailgating opens up four hours before kick-off in specific Gillette Stadium parking lots. For Revolutions games, you can tailgate up to two hours before kick-off. Concerts and any other type of event held at the venue can have tailgating parties up to three hours in the parking lots. The main rule for tailgating is that you can’t have any open flame grills.
Outside of traditional tailgating parties, fans can also spend time in Patriot Place before the game. At Patriot place, you will find many restaurants and bars to enjoy before kickoff. Patriot Place is safe environment for families, so consider going there before a game if you don’t want to be around drunk fans.
Check out the Gillette Stadium Food guide before your next visit! Also, be sure to visit the Gillette Stadium Bag Policy guide to see what you can and can’t bring into the venue.
Greg Kristan, owner of The Stadium Reviews, LLC and TM Blast, LLC, brings his extensive experience visiting over half of the MLB ballparks, along with numerous MLS, NHL, NBA, and NFL venues, to provide in-depth coverage on the bag policy, food options, and parking. He has also been interviewed about his experiences on several sports podcasts.