As San Antonio gears up to become the center of the college basketball universe, here’s everything you need to know about traveling through the Alamo City.
SAN ANTONIO — Final Four weekend in San Antonio is just around the corner, and as the Alamo City prepares for an influx of basketball and music fans, locals might bristle at the thought of getting anywhere near downtown, where the evens will be held.
Don’t fret. The city, VIA, and TxDOT are taking steps to alleviate traffic headaches and make sure you have the flexibility to get to where you need to.
Here’s what you need to know about navigating downtown when the fun starts the first weekend of April.
How can I get to and around downtown?
The City of San Antonio is offering several ways to travel between hotels, the Alamodome and popular tourist attractions like the River Walk.
From April 4-6, San Antonio’s VIA Metropolitan Transit is offering Park & Ride and VIA Link Downtown services to Final Four festivities.
VIA Park & Ride
Fare is $2.60 round-trip, or $2.30 each way per rider. Children ages 5 to 13, riders 62 years of age and older, and other riders who quality receive a discount fare of $1.30 round-trip.
- Friday, April 4 (Fan Fest, Music Fest, Final Four Friday, Tip-Off Tailgate)
- Service from Crossroads Park & Ride and Blossom Athletic Center to East Nueva and Jack White Way, runs from 2:30 p.m. to midnight
- Saturday, April 5 (Fan Fest, Music Fest, Tip-Off Tailgate, River Rally)
- Service from Crossroads Park & Ride and Blossom Athletic Center to East Nueva and Jack White Way, runs from 1 p.m. to midnight
- Sunday, April 6 (Fan Fest, Tip-Off Tailgate, Music Fest)
- Service from Crossroads Park & Ride and Blossom Athletic Center, runs from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
VIA Link on-demand ride share service
Snag your ride through the app or call (210) 655-LINK to book it up to seven days ahead of time. Riders can get to anywhere downtown, including dropoff locations at each Final Four event.
- Friday, April 4: Service runs from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Saturday, April 5: Service runs from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunday, April 6: Service runs from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Below are VIA’s bus stops downtown.
There are also Veo and Bird bikes and scooters you can hop on to navigate the city at your own pace as you get from place to place.
Electric trolleys, along with Uber and Lyft, will also be readily available for pick-up and drop-off.
Where will streets be closed?
Good news for those desperate for relief from the orange barrels: You’ll get it ahead of Final Four.
As of Tuesday, March 25, TxDOT crews working on the Interstate 35 and Interstate 10 downtown repair project have removed lane closures on southbound I-35 between I-10 and Cesar Chavez Boulevard to accommodate higher traffic volumes expected for Final Four and Fiesta.
All southbound lanes along I-35 will remain open through April, with closures set to resume after Fiesta in early May.
Along with the opening of I-35 and I-10, there will also be the following closures to make traveling as smooth as possible in the downtown area.
24-hour Closures
- Wednesday, April 2 – Monday, April 7: Montana Street
- Friday, April 4 – Monday, April 7: Nueva Street (South Alamo to Hemisfair Boulevard)
- Friday, April 4 – Saturday, April 5 & Monday, April 7: I-37 Access Rd Chavez to Montana, Gonzales, Hoefgen
- Monday, March 31 – Tuesday, April 8 (6:00 a.m. to midnight): South Alamo from Commerce to Cesar Chavez Boulevard.
Daily Closures
- Friday, April 4
- 2 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. | Nueva Street from St. Mary’s to Dwyer
- 8 p.m. to midnight | Dwyer Northbound at Old Guilbeau
- Saturday, April 5:
- 12:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. | Nueva Street from St. Mary’s to Dwyer
- 8:00 p.m. to midnight | Dwyer Northbound at Old Guilbeau
- Sunday, April 6
- Noon to midnight | Nueva Street from St. Mary’s to Dwyer
- 8:00 p.m. to midnight | Dwyer Northbound at Old Guilbeau
Where can I park for the games?
From the Reese’s Men’s Final Four Friday to the National Championship on April 7, here’s what you need to know regarding Alamodome parking:
- Friday, April 4: Reese’s Men’s Final Four Friday will offer free but limited public parking in Lot B and free ADA parking in Lot A (first come, first serve). Both lots open at 9 a.m.
- Saturday, April 5: The semifinal games will only allow ADA parking, which can be purchased here; lots open at 1 p.m. Public parking will not be available.
- Monday, April 7: The National Championship Game will also only allow ADA parking with lots opening at 3:30 p.m. Public parking will not be available.
Where are the events being held anyway?
Overwhelmed by the amount of events happening around town and worried about the best routes to get to each one? The city has released an official event map which can be found below, including locations of the River Rally, Dribble and Tip-Off Tailgate.