Guide to the Texas vs. OU, State Fair of Texas game: parking, maps and more

Are you an early? Maybe you're a die-hard Longhorns fan and can't wait to open a can of “You Know What” on Saturday at Oklahoma.

The Red River Rivalry game takes place Saturday when No. 1 Texas faces No. 18 Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

If you're traveling to Dallas for the Red River Rivalry, you'll need to know how to get around, where to park, and more. Not there for football?

If you didn't get tickets to the game, that's okay. The State Fair of Texas is also there.

More: Dallas travel guide for Texas football fans going to the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma

Here's a guide to organizing your time at the Cotton Bowl and the Texas State Fair:

Where is the Texas vs. OU game taking place?

The Red River Rivalry game is played annually at the Dallas Cotton Bowl at Fair Park, 3750 The Midway, Dallas, TX 75215. This will be these teams' 120th game in their long rivalry.

Here is a map of where the stadium is located.

When does the Texas vs. OU game start?

The game between Texas and OU has a kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CT. According to WFAA, since 2008 the game has typically been played at 11 a.m.

From 1950 to 1972, play started from 2:00 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. and later changed to 11:50 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. in the '80s and '90s

Where can I park at the Cotton Bowl Stadium?

The State Fair of Texas will be open well before the football game, so it's wise to get there early.

The State Fair of Texas opens at 7 a.m. so fans can arrive before the game and enjoy the fair.

Your game ticket serves as your ticket for admission to the State Fair and Cotton Bowl Stadium. To avoid connection issues due to large crowds at the fairgrounds, download your playing cards before you arrive and save them to your phone.

Here is a map of where you can park at the Cotton Bowl Stadium.

What is the 2024 Cotton Bowl Bag Policy?

The Cotton Bowl has a clear bag policy, which can be viewed here.

Clear and approved bags include:

Clear plastic bags or totes no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches
Clear, resealable plastic storage bags with a 1 gallon capacity
Small clutch bags or purses do not have to be clear, but must not exceed 4.5 x 6.5 inches.

Prohibited bags include:

Belt bags
Mesh pockets
Straw bags
Travel bags
Backpacks (transparent backpacks are prohibited)
cases
Large tote bags
Diaper bags
Large Wallets (4.5″ x 6.5″)

How many participants does the Cotton Bowl hold?

According to FairParkDallas.com, the Cotton Bowl seats 91,000.

Before the renovated stadium, when the old Cotton Bowl opened in 1930, it seated 46,000.

The Cotton Bowl, originally called Fair Park Stadium, was the centerpiece of Fair Park, an educational and entertainment center built in 1936 for the Texas Centennial Exposition. Fair Park is now listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. From the NFL Championship on January 1, 1967 to the presentation of 23 Heisman Trophy winners, Cotton Bowl Stadium has seen many highlights in its 90-plus years.

View the interactive map of the Cotton Bowl Stadium

There is an interactive Cotton Bowl seating map for the Red River Showdown on the Fair Park Dallas website. Click here to view the map.

When does the State Fair of Texas end?

The State Fair of Texas is in full swing with its 2024 celebrations, despite near-record temperatures forecast for North Texas this weekend.

As the longest-running trade fair in the country, the annual event spans 24 consecutive days. This year it started on Friday September 27th and runs until Sunday October 20th.

Where is the Texas State Fair?

The State Fair of Texas takes place in the historic building Fair Park, located at 3809 Grand Ave. in South Dallas. The 277-acre complex hosts over 1,200 activities annually and features the world's largest collection of Art Deco exhibition buildings, according to its website.

When does the state fair open? See hours

The State Fair of Texas opens early Saturday so football fans can experience the pregame festivities. Gates open at 7am. Due to the kick-off time at 2:30 p.m., the organizers are expecting a larger crowd and encourage visitors to plan their journey to the exhibition center accordingly.

State Fair Will Call opens at 7 a.m. The Will Call booth is located just outside the fairgrounds at 816 S. Second Ave., across from the Music Hall at Fair Park. Coupon stands, online coupon pickup centers, food stands and information stands will also open at 7 a.m

Guests can avoid the long lines by purchasing vouchers in advance at BigTex.com. Coupon orders should be picked up at a hospitality center and not at a coupon stand. Make sure the original purchaser is present and has the driver's license and credit card used to place the order. Guests who cannot meet all requirements will not be able to redeem their vouchers.

How much are Texas State Fair tickets?

There are several options when purchasing tickets to the State Fair of Texas:

ticket	What is included	Price	Where to buy
Digital season pass 2024	24-day entry, once a day, via digital QR code	$50	Online only
Season pass 2024	24-day entry, once daily, via hardcard pass	$60	Only at the gate
Premium entry for 1 day	1-day entry, every day of the fair	$24	Online only
Premium entry 2-pack combo package	2 one-day premium tickets and $50 in dining and transportation vouchers	$98	Online only
Premium entry in a 4-pack combination	4 one-day premium tickets and $50 in dining and transportation vouchers	$146	Online only
Daily entry ticket	Valid only on the day of purchase. Prices correspond to children's tickets after 5:00 p.m	$10-$20*	online or at the gate

*indicates price varies depending on age and day of the weekTable by Alexis Simmerman/American-Statesman | State Fair of Texas ticket information

Ticket prices also vary by age and are half price ($5) for seniors every Thursday:

General Admission: $15-$25
Child (3 to 12 years): $10-18
Child (2 years and under): FREE
Seniors (60 and older): $10-$18

The State Fair of Texas also offers daily discounts available online or at the door:

Military discount: $10-$15 (with ID)
First Responder Discount: $10-$15 (with ID)
McDonald's coupon discount: $10-$15

What options are available for parking at the Texas State Fair?

Official State Fair parking lots open at 7 a.m. Saturday and are located at gates 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15. Organizers encourage fans to take Exit 48A toward Haskell Avenue Take I-30 to get to the parking lot quicker.

Pickup and drop-off for rideshare services such as Taxis, Uber, Lyft, Alto, etc. is at Gate 1 at Gurley Ave & S. Haskell Ave in the 4200 block of Gurley Avenue.

What are the 2024 Texas State Fair bag guidelines?

A new policy introduced this year limits the size of bags guests can bring onto the fairgrounds. All permitted bags will be searched.

Approved bags include:

Bags and softshell coolers must be no larger than 9″ x 10″ x 12″. Coolers must use ice packs or clear ice in bags; loose ice is no longer permitted.
Medical bags and parent/child care bags may be larger but will be searched at all entry gates. Medical bags can contain medically necessary items including, but not limited to, insulin, medications, portable oxygen, small soft pack coolers, and breast pumps.

Prohibited items include:

Bags and softshell coolers larger than 9″ x 10″ x 12″
Loose ice
Any firearms, clubs, explosive devices, ammunition, chemical delivery devices, replicas or hoaxes, or other weapons of any kind
Knives that are prohibited by law

There are no lockers or bag checks at the State Fair. Prohibited items or bags must be returned to the vehicles or disposed of properly. Security, staff and volunteers will do it not Hold objects firmly.

Can you bring a gun to the State Fair of Texas?

The Fair's firearms policy applies to all guests, regardless of license, to carry, constitutional carry, concealed carry and openly carry firearms anywhere on the Fairgrounds, including Cotton Bowl Stadium. This does not apply to current peace officers or qualified retired peace officers whose qualifications will be reviewed by Dallas Police Department officials during the vetting process.

More: The Texas Supreme Court delivers the final blow to Paxton's crusade against State Fair's gun ban policy