Getting from Fort Worth to AT&T Stadium looks simple on a map. Arlington is only about 15 to 20 miles east of downtown Fort Worth, depending on where you start, and Interstate 30 provides an almost direct route.
Then the Cowboys play.
On a major event day, that straightforward drive can become a slow procession of pickups, SUVs and people discovering, rather late in proceedings, that their parking pass is for a completely different lot.
The good news is that Fort Worth is actually one of the easier places from which to reach AT&T Stadium. Driving remains the most practical option for most fans, but rideshare and a combination of the Trinity Railway Express and Arlington’s on-demand transportation can work if you would rather leave the car behind.
Here is how I would approach it.
Fort Worth to AT&T Stadium: Quick Guide
| Option | Typical Journey | Best For | Main Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive via I-30 | Around 20 to 30 minutes without event traffic | Families and groups | Heavy game-day congestion |
| Uber or Lyft | Around 20 to 30 minutes normally | Convenience | Surge pricing and post-game waits |
| TRE plus local transport | Roughly 45 to 75+ minutes | Visitors without a car | Requires a connection |
| Taxi/private car | Around 20 to 30 minutes normally | Groups or premium travel | Cost |
| Hotel plus local transport | Varies | Weekend visitors | Requires planning ahead |
Those driving times are very much the optimistic version. For a Cowboys game or major concert, I would budget considerably longer.
Driving from Fort Worth to AT&T Stadium
For most people, driving is the easiest answer.
The official stadium directions from Fort Worth send motorists east on Interstate 30 toward Arlington. Drivers then exit at Collins Street, also known as FM 157, turn right onto Collins, left onto Randol Mill Road and follow the stadium parking directions.
The basic route is:
Downtown Fort Worth → I-30 East → Collins Street/FM 157 → Randol Mill Road → AT&T Stadium
In normal traffic, the journey can take around 20 to 30 minutes from central Fort Worth. The stadium is at 1 AT&T Way in Arlington, roughly midway between downtown Fort Worth and downtown Dallas.
AT&T Stadium official parking information
The problem is rarely reaching Arlington. It is reaching your exact parking lot once tens of thousands of other people have had precisely the same idea.
How Much Extra Time Should You Allow?
For a regular visit, stadium tour or quiet event, the trip from Fort Worth is fairly painless.
Cowboys games are another matter.
AT&T Stadium holds around 80,000 spectators in its standard football configuration and can accommodate considerably larger crowds for certain events. When that many people arrive in a relatively concentrated period, the final few miles matter far more than the first 15.
My rule would be to treat your planned arrival time at the stadium as the important number, then work backwards.
For a major Cowboys game, arriving in the Arlington entertainment district two to three hours before kickoff is not excessive, particularly if you want to tailgate, eat or walk around before entering.
You might spend 25 minutes getting from Fort Worth to Arlington and another 30 minutes negotiating the last couple of miles.
That second number is the one Google Maps cannot always save you from.
Parking at AT&T Stadium
Parking is spread across numerous lots surrounding the stadium and wider Arlington Entertainment District.
If you have purchased an official parking pass, check the lot before leaving Fort Worth rather than simply putting “AT&T Stadium” into your navigation app.
The stadium specifically warns that designated parking passes are valid only for the lot printed on the pass. Once inside, attendants direct vehicles into spaces.
That matters because approaching the wrong side of the stadium can leave you fighting traffic twice.
Official accessible spaces are available within the stadium parking lots on a first-come, first-served basis for vehicles holding the appropriate parking pass and state-issued accessible placard or license plate.
If you’re going to spend serious money on parking, at least spend 30 seconds checking which direction you’re supposed to approach it from. Consider it preventative maintenance for your blood pressure.
Should You Pre-Book Parking?
Yes, particularly for Cowboys games and major concerts.
AT&T Stadium sells parking passes for upcoming events, while additional private parking operates around the wider entertainment district.
Pre-booking gives you something more valuable than simply knowing you have somewhere to leave the car. It lets you plan your approach.
A cheaper lot slightly farther from the stadium can sometimes be preferable to an expensive lot immediately beside it, especially after the event.
Why?
Because the closest parking spaces are surrounded by everyone else who also paid to be close.
Walking an extra 10 or 15 minutes can occasionally save considerably more time when leaving Arlington.
Getting to AT&T Stadium by Uber or Lyft
Rideshare is probably the easiest option if you’re staying in downtown Fort Worth and don’t want to drive.
Under normal conditions, Fort Worth to AT&T Stadium is a manageable rideshare journey. Event-day traffic and demand are what change the equation.
Arlington has previously designated Lot 15, west of the stadium along Randol Mill Road, as the official rideshare pickup and drop-off location for stadium events. City authorities also warn that demand after events can be extremely high and that temporary road closures can make it difficult for drivers to reach passengers waiting elsewhere.
Check the instructions for your specific event before travelling because transportation arrangements can change.
Getting there is usually the easy part.
Getting home at 11:15 p.m. while 20,000 people stare at their phones waiting for an Uber is where the evening becomes experimental theatre.
Can You Take a Train from Fort Worth to AT&T Stadium?
Not directly.
This is probably the biggest surprise for visitors.
Arlington sits between Fort Worth and Dallas but does not have a conventional rail station beside AT&T Stadium. The regional Trinity Railway Express runs between Fort Worth and Dallas, including a stop at CentrePort.
You can therefore take the TRE east from Fort Worth T&P Station or Fort Worth Central Station to CentrePort, but you still need transportation from CentrePort into Arlington.
TRE normally operates Monday through Saturday and does not provide its regular scheduled service on Sundays, apart from specified exceptions. That makes it considerably less useful for the traditional Sunday Cowboys schedule.
Check the current Trinity Railway Express schedule
Always check the last return train before relying on this option for an evening event.
Using Arlington On-Demand from CentrePort
There is an interesting alternative for visitors determined not to rent a car.
Arlington operates an on-demand public transportation system that serves destinations throughout the city and connects with CentrePort TRE Station. Passengers book through the Arlington Transportation app.
This creates a potential route of:
Fort Worth → TRE to CentrePort → Arlington On-Demand → Arlington Entertainment District
The city describes the service as having no fixed routes or schedules, with passengers typically collected close to their requested pickup point.
Arlington On-Demand information
I would consider this more useful for travellers with flexibility than for somebody determined to be sitting in Section 215 precisely 12 minutes before kickoff. Availability, operating hours and event restrictions should always be checked beforehand.
A Special Note for Major International Events
Transportation arrangements can change dramatically for unusually large events.
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, for example, regional authorities created a dedicated system allowing ticket holders to take the TRE from Fort Worth to CentrePort and transfer onto charter buses serving a transit hub near the stadium.
That does not mean the same shuttle system operates for every Cowboys game or concert.
It does show why checking event-specific transportation information is worthwhile. Arlington can introduce temporary traffic plans, shuttle arrangements and designated rideshare areas when crowds demand them.
Is There a Regular Bus from Fort Worth to AT&T Stadium?
There isn’t a simple conventional bus route that I would recommend to a first-time visitor as the obvious Fort Worth-to-stadium solution.
Arlington’s transportation system relies heavily on on-demand services rather than the kind of dense fixed-route network you might expect around stadiums in New York, Chicago or European cities. The city currently promotes Arlington On-Demand as its flexible public transportation option, including connections with CentrePort.
For visitors accustomed to stepping out of a train station directly opposite a stadium, Arlington requires a little recalibration.
Texas built you an enormous freeway instead.
Best Option If You’re Staying in Downtown Fort Worth
If I were staying around Sundance Square or Fort Worth Central Station, my choice would depend on the event.
For a Cowboys game with several people travelling together, I would drive and pre-book parking. Splitting the parking cost between three or four people makes the economics much more reasonable.
For a concert where everyone wants a few drinks, I’d use Uber or Lyft, accept that the outbound journey will cost more than usual and prepare for a wait after the show.
For a weekday or Saturday daytime event, TRE plus Arlington On-Demand becomes more interesting, particularly for solo travellers who don’t want to rent a car.
Sunday events make the rail option much less attractive because regular TRE service normally operates Monday through Saturday.
Getting Back to Fort Worth After the Game
This deserves almost as much planning as getting there.
Traffic management around the stadium changes after major events. Streets can temporarily become one-way, certain roads may close and rideshare drivers can have difficulty reaching passengers outside designated pickup areas.
If driving, don’t assume the route you used on the way in will be available on the way out.
Follow police and parking staff directions first, navigation apps second.
Another strategy is simply not to join the initial stampede.
The Arlington Entertainment District has restaurants, bars and hotels around the stadium area. Spending an hour eating or having a drink while the first wave of traffic clears can turn a miserable crawl back to Fort Worth into a much easier drive.
Sometimes the smartest traffic strategy is tacos.
Fort Worth vs Dallas: Which Is Easier for AT&T Stadium?
AT&T Stadium is in Arlington rather than Dallas, despite the team being called the Dallas Cowboys.
Geographically, Fort Worth is a perfectly sensible base for a stadium trip. Downtown Fort Worth sits west of Arlington, while Dallas sits to the east.
Both cities have relatively straightforward freeway access, but Fort Worth has an underrated advantage: visitors can combine a Cowboys weekend with the Stockyards, Sundance Square and the city’s museums without staying in the much larger Dallas urban core.
If your trip is primarily about attending an event at AT&T Stadium, I would have no hesitation staying in Fort Worth.
In fact, I’d probably prefer it.
My Recommended Fort Worth to AT&T Stadium Plan
For most fans, the simplest plan is still:
Drive east on I-30, pre-book your parking, identify your lot before leaving and aim to reach Arlington at least two hours before a major event.
If you’re drinking, use rideshare.
If you’re travelling without a car, investigate TRE to CentrePort combined with Arlington On-Demand, but verify operating times for both legs before committing.
And whatever you do, don’t schedule your evening on the assumption that because Fort Worth is only 20-something minutes away, you’ll be back at the hotel 25 minutes after the final whistle.
Eighty thousand football fans have other plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is AT&T Stadium from Fort Worth?
AT&T Stadium is roughly 15 to 20 miles from central Fort Worth depending on your starting point and route. In light traffic, the drive can take approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
What is the easiest route from Fort Worth?
The official stadium route uses I-30 East, exiting at Collins Street/FM 157 before continuing toward Randol Mill Road and the stadium parking areas.
Is there a train from Fort Worth to AT&T Stadium?
There is no direct train to the stadium. The Trinity Railway Express connects Fort Worth with CentrePort, from where you need another form of transportation into Arlington.
Does the TRE run on Sundays?
Regular TRE trains operate Monday through Saturday, with no scheduled Sunday service except specified exceptions. Always check the current timetable before travelling.
Is Uber available from Fort Worth to AT&T Stadium?
Yes. Uber, Lyft and other rideshare services operate between Fort Worth and Arlington. For major stadium events, use the designated rideshare area and check event-specific instructions.
How early should I leave Fort Worth for a Cowboys game?
I would aim to reach the Arlington stadium district around two to three hours before kickoff. That gives you protection against I-30 congestion, parking queues and the inevitable person in front of you attempting a four-lane manoeuvre because their navigation app changed its mind.
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