Maryland vs Wisconsin 2026: Game Day & Transportation Guide

Maryland hosts Wisconsin on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at SECU Stadium in College Park, MD — the Military Appreciation game and one of the featured theme games on the Terrapins' home schedule. Kickoff time has not yet been announced. The Terps enter the matchup having beaten the Badgers 27-10 in Madison last season. Here is everything you need to plan your game day — parking, Metro, tailgating, and the best way to get a group to College Park from Baltimore, DC, or Annapolis.

Game Details

Maryland beat Wisconsin 27-10 in Madison last season — a convincing road win that showed the Terps can compete physically with a traditional Big Ten power. The Badgers will be looking for payback in College Park, and a mid-November conference game has direct implications for bowl positioning and final Big Ten standings. With the Penn State finale two weeks later on November 28, the Wisconsin game is the last chance to build momentum before the rivalry closer. The Military Appreciation theme adds pregame and halftime ceremonies honoring active-duty service members and veterans. The full 2026 Maryland schedule is on the official athletics site.

How to Get to SECU Stadium

By Metro

The College Park–University of Maryland station on the Green and Yellow lines is directly on campus. The stadium is a 15- to 20-minute walk. On game days, the free Quickbus (Shuttle-UM) runs three loops: North Shuttle (Regents Drive Garage), South Shuttle (Green/Yellow lots and downtown College Park), and College Park Metro Shuttle (directly from the station). Metro parking is free on weekends.

Maryland Football Parking and Driving Directions

Campus access is off US Route 1, with football parking spread across several garages and surface lots around the University of Maryland campus. Common parking locations include Stadium Drive Garage ($3/hr), Terrapin Trail Garage, Regents Drive Garage, and additional surface lots used for athletic events. Parking availability, access rules, and game-day pricing can vary by event, so it is worth checking the university's current football parking information before leaving home.

From Baltimore (~30 mi): Take I-95 S toward Washington, then merge onto I-495 toward Silver Spring. Use Exit 25 for US-1 S toward College Park and follow event-day signs toward the designated football parking areas. The drive can take roughly 35 to 50 minutes in lighter traffic, but game-day congestion can make the trip longer.

From Washington, DC (~9 mi): Drivers can use US-1 N toward College Park, while Metro provides another option for fans who would rather avoid campus parking. Travel time from central DC varies depending on the starting point, traffic, and the game-day schedule.

From Annapolis (~30 mi): Take US-50 W toward Washington and connect with I-495 before using Exit 25 for US-1 S toward College Park. Allow additional time around the Beltway when traveling close to kickoff, particularly for afternoon games and other busy campus events.

Check the UMD football parking page for the current game-day map, parking locations, restrictions, and event-specific instructions before heading to the stadium.

Getting to Maryland Football Games Without the Parking Hassle

Driving yourself is not the only way to get to a Maryland football game. Fans coming from Baltimore, Washington, Annapolis, Northern Virginia, or nearby Maryland communities can choose between driving and parking on campus, using Metro, or arranging private transportation. The best option depends largely on your group size, pickup location, kickoff time, and whether you want to leave the driving and parking to someone else.

For families and smaller groups, a private car service can provide direct transportation to College Park without requiring everyone to coordinate separate vehicles. Larger groups may prefer a van, Sprinter, or other group transportation so everyone can travel together and arrive at the same time. This can be especially useful when the game is part of a larger day out in College Park or when several people are traveling from the same area.

If you are coming from Baltimore, the trip is long enough that arranging transportation in advance can make the game-day schedule easier to manage. Instead of having one person drive, search for parking, and coordinate the return trip, a prearranged ride can handle the pickup and drop-off around the event. The same approach can work for groups traveling from DC, Annapolis, or other parts of the region.

Plan your return before kickoff. Leaving College Park after the game can take longer than the trip into campus because thousands of fans may be leaving parking areas at roughly the same time. If you are driving, know your parking location before the game starts. If you are using private transportation, confirm the pickup location and timing in advance so your group knows exactly where to meet after the final whistle.

Tailgating on Military Appreciation Day

Lots open six hours before kickoff, and the Military Appreciation theme means the tailgate areas carry extra energy. Expect red, white, and blue throughout, with pregame ceremonies honoring veterans and active-duty personnel. Tailgating is limited to the number of spaces you hold a permit for — no open-flame grilling in garages. Mid-November temperatures in College Park typically run in the high 40s to low 50s — dress in layers. The FieldTurf surface means the game plays in any weather.

Why Groups Choose One Vehicle Over Multiple Cars

If your party of 6 or 8 drives separately, you might end up in three different lots across campus — three tailgate setups, three post-game car searches, no unified experience. An Executive Sprinter van or limo bus picks the whole group up together, drops you at the stadium, and waits while you tailgate and watch the game. After the final whistle, you walk out to a warm vehicle instead of hunting for your car in Lot 4b in November cold.

For Baltimore (~30 miles), Annapolis (~30 miles), and DC (~9 miles) groups, the I-495 Beltway route on a November Saturday with game traffic can easily double normal travel times. A professional driver who knows the campus routes takes the driving burden off the group entirely. Alumni groups, birthday celebrations, or any occasion that treats the game as the centerpiece of the day travel better together than scattered across a parking lot.

Frequently Asked Questions