Rent a Bus to the Drake Relays: Drake Stadium Group Transportation Guide

Every April, Drake Stadium transforms into the epicenter of track and field in the Midwest — and every April, the streets around Drake University do the same. Forest Avenue shuts down from 25th to 29th Street starting Wednesday morning, 27th Street closes from Forest Avenue to Clark Street by Thursday, and the neighborhood grid around campus becomes a maze of detours, orange cones, and foot traffic that can turn a 10-minute drive into a 45-minute crawl. The single question every group organizer asks is the right one: where exactly does the bus drop us off, and where does it stage while we're inside?

This guide answers that plainly, using Drake University's own published information and the 2026 closure plan, then walks through everything else a group trip needs: which vehicle fits your party, what shapes the price, and how a Des Moines charter bus rental lets your coaches, athletes, boosters, and fans stay focused on the meet instead of circling a closed street. The Drake Relays is one of the most-requested events we coordinate each spring, and what follows is what we tell every group before they book.

What Is the Drake Relays — and Why Does It Matter for Transportation?

The Drake Relays is one of the oldest and most prestigious outdoor track and field meets in the United States. It was first held in 1910 with 82 athletes and barely 100 spectators; more than a century later, it draws over 40,000 fans across four days and is a multi-session, multi-day event that pulls in high school athletes, college programs, and elite competitors from across the country. Fourteen world records have been set on the Blue Oval.

That history is why a Saturday ticket sells out and why the parking situation is genuinely brutal for anyone showing up in a personal vehicle at the last minute.

For a group organizer, the Relays presents a specific set of logistics that are unlike a single-session sporting event. You may be transporting a high school track squad competing Thursday and Saturday, a booster club watching all three days, a college program from Ames or Iowa City making the drive down for the weekend, or a corporate hospitality group catching the nationally broadcast Saturday session on CBS Sports Network. Each of those scenarios calls for a different vehicle, a different staging plan, and a different pickup window.

The sections below walk through all of it.

The Road Closure Map Every Group Needs to Know

Here is exactly what happens to the streets around Drake Stadium during the 2026 Relays, straight from Drake University's published guidance:

• Forest Avenue (25th to 29th Street) — closed to through traffic starting Wednesday, April 22 at 10 a.m. through Saturday, April 25 at 8 p.m. Forest is the main road that runs directly past the stadium entrance. When it's closed, any vehicle trying to approach from the east on Forest hits a barricade.
• 27th Street (Forest Avenue to Clark Street) — closed starting Thursday, April 23 at 6 a.m. through Saturday at 8 p.m. This is the north-south street along the west edge of the stadium complex.
• Drake Road Races (Saturday morning) — for the Saturday road race events, Forest Avenue expands its closure from 24th Street to 30th Street (5:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.), and 27th Street is additionally closed from Forest Avenue to College Avenue. If your group has a Saturday morning bus, plan for that window.
• Drake Relays Multicultural Block Party (Saturday afternoon) — 28th Street from University Avenue to Brattleboro Avenue closes 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 25.

What that means practically: the entire block of streets that rings the stadium is progressively closed from Wednesday through Saturday evening. University Avenue, which runs along the north edge of campus, becomes the primary approach corridor for any vehicle trying to reach the area. Groups arriving by personal car face a genuine scavenger hunt for parking, and the available lots sell out in the afternoon window for Friday and Saturday sessions.

Charter Bus Drop-Off and Staging at Drake Stadium

Drake Stadium sits at 2719 Forest Ave on the Drake University campus, west of downtown Des Moines. The campus is accessed from University Avenue to the north; under normal conditions, Forest Avenue provides direct access from the east. During the Relays, your bus approaches via University Avenue and uses the perimeter streets that remain open — specifically the stretches east of 29th Street and west of 25th Street, which are outside the closure zone.

For drop-off, the practical approach is to unload your group on 25th Street north of Forest or along the University Avenue corridor where curb space is available. The walk from 25th and University down to the stadium gates runs about five minutes on foot. For teams with equipment bags, throwing implements, or pole vault poles, letting us know the exact plan in advance is essential — we confirm the current open curb zone for your specific session and day when you book, because the Saturday road-race window changes the available approach.

Parking Lots and What Each Costs

Drake offers paid general public parking at several lots during the Relays. Here is what the 2026 plan shows:

• Lots 1 and 1A (25th Street between Carpenter and Forest Avenue) — available all three days; $10 Thursday, $15 Friday and Saturday. This is the closest general public lot to the main stadium entrance.
• IM Lot (28th and College Avenue) — available Friday and Saturday only. Located to the west of the stadium; slightly longer walk to the Blue Oval.
• Lot 16 (north side of University Avenue, west of 28th Street) — available after 2:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; all day Saturday. Right off the University Avenue approach route.
• Lot 18 North (28th and Clark Street) — ADA/handicap parking; $10 Thursday, $15 Friday and Saturday.
• Lot 13 (south side of Forest Avenue, east of 27th Avenue) — ADA/handicap parking.
• Lot 24 (south side of University Avenue and 29th Street) — reserved exclusively for Drake Relays volunteers and officials. Not available to general public.

No specific designated oversized-vehicle or charter bus lot is published in Drake's general guidance. For a full-size charter bus, the most practical approach is to drop passengers at the edge of the closed area, then wait in one of the larger surface lots along University Avenue that can fit a vehicle of that length. We confirm the exact waiting spot for your group's vehicle size and session date when you book — and for questions about event-day parking directly, Drake Public Safety can be reached at (515) 271-2222.

We also recommend reviewing the official Drake Relays guide before your trip.

The Full Relays Schedule: Three Sessions, Three Logistics Plans

The 116th Drake Relays runs across three competition days — Thursday through Saturday — plus the Grand Blue Mile on Tuesday evening. Each session has its own ticket, its own traffic picture, and its own parking window. Here's what to plan for:

Saturday is the one to plan most carefully. The road race closure runs from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., so morning arrivals hit a different closed area than afternoon arrivals. The CBS Sports Network broadcast from 2 to 4 p.m. draws the largest crowds of the weekend, and the Saturday afternoon exit is the single most congested moment of the entire four-day event.

If your group is staying for the national-level sprint finals, build in at least 30 minutes of post-meet buffer before you expect to be rolling.

The Grand Blue Mile: Different Venue, Different Logistics

The Grand Blue Mile on Tuesday, April 21 is a separate event in a completely different part of the city. The mile-long road race runs through downtown Des Moines, starting near Pappajohn Sculpture Park on Locust Street and finishing in front of the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield building. Road closures for this event are entirely separate from the campus closures: Grand Avenue closes from 10th Street to 14th Street, and 12th and 13th Streets close between Locust Street and Grand Avenue, from 9 a.m. through 11 p.m.

If your group is attending both the Grand Blue Mile Tuesday and stadium sessions Thursday through Saturday, a Des Moines party bus rental is the cleanest way to handle the two completely different venues and parking situations across a four-day run. One vehicle, two venues, no switching cars between sessions.

Bus vs. Driving: The Honest Comparison for a Group

Let's be straight about the alternatives, because there are real ones and groups should make an informed choice.

For one or two people who live nearby and know the campus well, a rideshare or personal car works fine. But the moment your group fills three cars or more, the friction compounds fast: staggered arrival times when half the group's GPS routes them down a closed Forest Avenue, $15 parking per vehicle on Saturday adding up across 10 cars, and the post-meet scramble for rideshares when 14,000 people all try to leave within the same 20-minute window. One bus absorbs all of that into a single flat rate, a coordinated drop, and a staged pickup time your group agrees on before everyone walks in.

What Size Bus Does Your Group Need?

The Drake Relays draws a wide range of groups, and the right vehicle depends on your headcount, the nature of the trip, and how much gear you're moving. Here's how the fleet breaks down for a Relays run:

For a high school track team traveling from Ames, Waterloo, or Iowa City, a 35-passenger minibus is often the right pick — enough room for athletes, coaches, and bags of spikes, water bottles, and warm-up gear, without paying for seats that won't be filled. For a large college delegation or a corporate group hosting clients for the Saturday CBS broadcast session, a full-size charter bus with undercarriage bays handles everything in one vehicle. ADA-accessible vehicles are available — just let us know your needs when you book so we can match the right vehicle.

Coming From Out of Town: Ames, Iowa City, and Beyond

A significant portion of the groups that rent a bus to the Drake Relays aren't based in Des Moines. High school programs from across Iowa make the annual April trip to the Blue Oval — some competing, some watching — and college programs from Iowa State in Ames, the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and programs further out like Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and Council Bluffs organize group travel every spring. Here's the honest drive picture from those origins:

For out-of-town groups on the interstate run, the standard approach to Drake Stadium uses I-235 West to Exit 6 (31st Street), then south on 31st to University Avenue, then east on University to the campus. That routing keeps your bus off Forest Avenue entirely and deposits you on University — the main artery that stays open throughout the event. Groups coming from Ames drop south on I-35 to I-235; Iowa City and Cedar Rapids groups come in on I-80 West to I-235.

One detail worth knowing for school groups: Drake's campus is in a residential neighborhood on the west side of Des Moines, and the streets immediately surrounding the stadium are modest two-lane roads. A full-size 56-passenger charter bus navigates them fine on a normal day, but during Relays week with portions of Forest and 27th closed, the approach matters. We build the route around the closure plan for your specific session date, so your group isn't discovering at the corner of Forest and 29th that the street is barricaded.

Team Travel: High School and College Athletic Groups

The Drake Relays draws competitive groups who have gear requirements that general spectators don't. A high school squad traveling to compete Thursday and Saturday needs bags of spikes, warm-up gear, hurdles, and occasionally implements. A college distance program attending to scout and support athletes needs seating for coaching staff and student support crews.

Here's how a charter bus handles those specifics:

• Undercarriage storage on full-size charter buses handles equipment bags, spike bags, and team coolers without the cabin feeling like a gear locker. For a squad of 40 athletes plus coaches, that storage makes the ride in and out clean and organized.
• Onboard restrooms on select full-size charter buses matter on a 2-hour drive from Iowa City or Cedar Rapids, especially before a Thursday morning heat. No one wants their athletes making a rest stop 20 minutes from the venue.
• WiFi and power outlets on charter buses let coaches review heat sheets and athletes stay connected between sessions, which is exactly the kind of thing that matters on a multi-day trip where you're competing Thursday and back Saturday.
• Climate control for April in Iowa is not optional. Late April temperatures range from the 40s to the low 70s depending on the day, and athletes coming off a heat need a warm, dry cabin to recover in, not a cold parking lot.

For schools and programs doing a multi-day Relays trip — arriving Thursday, staying overnight, competing or watching Friday and Saturday — a charter bus rental keeps the group's logistics centralized. Everyone leaves from the same school parking lot, arrives together, and the bus is there for each session rather than your coaches sorting out who's driving which carpool. Call 515-416-4410 to discuss multi-day Relays arrangements — we handle these every spring and can build the schedule around your competition days.

Booster Clubs and Spectator Groups

Not every group at the Drake Relays is competing. Booster clubs, parent groups, alumni associations, and corporate hospitality guests make up a large share of the 40,000+ who fill the Blue Oval across the four sessions. For these groups, the priorities are different: you want comfortable seating, a coordinated arrival time, and a clean exit plan when the session ends and everyone floods out at once.

The Saturday finals session draws the biggest spectator crowds and has the CBS Sports Network broadcast window from 2 to 4 p.m. CT. That broadcast window is the reason the Saturday lot situation is what it is — people start arriving well before noon for prime spots, and the premium parking in Lots 1 and 1A is spoken for by early afternoon.

A booster club group that books a minibus or charter bus arrives as a coordinated unit at a predetermined time, drops at the perimeter, and doesn't spend 20 minutes circling for an open space in Lot 1 at $15 a car.

The post-meet exit is the other real advantage. After the Saturday finals, 14,557 people leave within a compressed window. Rideshares spike in price and in wait time.

The University Avenue corridor backs up. A bus that's waiting at an agreed pickup point on the perimeter gets your group moving before the worst of the exit surge, while everyone who drove is still waiting for the lot to clear. For a booster club group of 30, a 35-passenger minibus handles the whole crew at one flat rate — roughly $63 a person at current rates, with no parking cost stacked on top.

What a Des Moines Charter Bus Rental Costs for the Drake Relays

Party Buses Des Moines provides all-inclusive pricing online in under 30 seconds — you will know the exact number before you ever commit. There is no single sticker price because the quote is built from real variables:

• Vehicle size — a 14-passenger Sprinter van and a 56-passenger charter bus are different rates.
• Total hours — how long the vehicle is reserved for your group, including drive time, the session itself, and post-meet wait.
• Mileage and origin — a pickup from Ames at 32 miles is different from Iowa City at 115.
• Date and session — Saturday finals prices differently from Thursday morning.

For real ranges to anchor your planning: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–35 passenger minibuses run $150–$300/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. For a typical high school squad doing a same-day round trip from Ames — depart 8 a.m., compete Thursday, return by 4 p.m. — a 35-passenger minibus for 8 hours comes in around $1,200–$2,400 all-inclusive. Split across 30 athletes, that's $40–$80 per person, and it cuts out the parking cost entirely.

For groups attending just the Saturday finals session with a 4-hour window, a minibus in the 2–3 hour range covers drop-off, the CBS broadcast window, and the post-meet return. Call 515-416-4410 any time for a free all-inclusive quote built around your exact headcount, origin, and session — or use the online tool for instant availability.

A Real Relays Example

To put numbers behind the math: last April, a 28-person high school track squad from Cedar Rapids booked a 35-passenger minibus for the Thursday and Saturday sessions. Pickup at the school at 6:45 a.m. Thursday, at Drake Stadium by 8:30 a.m. ahead of the morning heats.

The bus staged on University Avenue while the team competed. Post-session return to Cedar Rapids by 3:00 p.m. The Saturday leg was a spectator run: pickup at 11:00 a.m., stadium arrival by 12:45 p.m. for the afternoon finals session, departure at 5:30 p.m.

Two-day all-inclusive arrangement: $3,200 — about $114 per athlete. Compare that to 7 cars driving both days, $30 in gas each way per car, and $15 Saturday parking per car, and the bus was both simpler and competitive on cost.

Planning Around the Full Relays Week

The Drake Relays anchors a full week of events that extends beyond the stadium. Here's the full picture for groups planning a multi-event trip:

• Grand Blue Mile — Tuesday, April 21 — Elite and citizen mile race through downtown Des Moines near Pappajohn Sculpture Park, with youth events. If your group includes runners competing in the Grand Blue Mile, note the separate downtown road closures: Grand Avenue (10th to 14th Street) and 12th/13th Streets (Locust to Grand Avenue) from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Drake Road Races — Saturday morning, April 25 — 5K and other road race events with their own course closures running 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the expanded Forest Avenue corridor. Competing in the road races and then the stadium finals means an early arrival window and a longer day on campus.
• Thursday session — April 23 — $18 ticket; lighter crowds; good day for school groups who want to compete or watch without the full Saturday chaos.
• Friday sessions — April 24 — $38 day / $28+ night; mid-week energy with the Lot 16 opening at 2:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
• Saturday finals — April 25 — $43 ticket; largest crowds; CBS Sports Network broadcast 2–4 p.m. CT; road race closure in the morning. This is the premium session and the one that requires the most lead time on transportation booking.

Tickets must be purchased in advance for any attendee over 2 years old and can be bought through Drake's official ticketing page. Transportation and tickets are booked separately; we handle the bus while you sort the admission. For the Saturday session in particular, both tend to go quickly — the Relays had a streak of 48 consecutive sellout Saturdays that ran from 1966 onward, and the finals remain the hardest ticket of the meet.

Booking, Timing, and How to Get the Process Right

The Drake Relays falls in the same April window as prom season, spring graduation weekends, and end-of-year school trips across Iowa. That combination means the right-size vehicles in the Des Moines fleet go faster in late April than at almost any other point in the year. Here's the practical booking timeline:

• School and athletic groups: book by February. A 35-passenger minibus for a Saturday finals trip is typically committed by March for Iowa schools that plan ahead. Waiting until April means higher rates or no availability in the right size.
• Booster clubs and spectator groups: book 6–8 weeks out at minimum. Friday and Saturday sessions in particular see demand from multiple groups booking simultaneously.
• Corporate and hospitality groups: book alongside your ticket purchase — if you're buying Saturday finals tickets in January, start the bus conversation then.
• Same-week bookings: we handle them when availability exists, but the price is higher and the vehicle selection is limited. Don't make this decision in April for an April event.

To book, have these details ready: your group size, your origin city or address, which session(s) you're attending, and whether you're competing (which affects staging needs). If your school or group is doing multiple sessions across multiple days, say that upfront — it changes the vehicle recommendation and may change the rate structure. Call 515-416-4410 any time or use the online quote tool for instant availability.

Tips for Visiting Drake Stadium During the Relays

A few things every group should know before they arrive at the Blue Oval, drawn from the stadium's published policies and the experience of running these trips every spring:

• Forest Avenue is closed. Full stop. Your GPS does not know this. Any approach route that routes you down Forest Avenue between 25th and 29th is wrong during Relays week. University Avenue is the functional approach corridor.
• Parking requires cash or card on site. The $10 Thursday / $15 Friday–Saturday rates apply at the manned lots. Have the right method of payment ready if any member of your group needs on-site parking separately from the bus.
• Saturday morning road race closures expand the closed area. If your group arrives before 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Forest Avenue is closed from 24th to 30th Street and the approach requires additional adjustment. Build the extra buffer into your departure time from origin.
• Drake Public Safety is the on-site resource. Officers from both Drake Public Safety and Des Moines Police Department are present throughout the event. If a staging question comes up on arrival day, the direct line is (515) 271-2222.
• Post-meet exit takes longer than you expect. Plan your bus pickup window 20–30 minutes after the last event your group intends to watch. The 14,000+ capacity Blue Oval empties slowly when multiple sessions end near the same time.
• Multi-day trips mean a multi-day staging plan. If your group is there Thursday and Saturday, the street closure situation is identical both days. Confirm the staging spot once and it applies both sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does a charter bus drop off at Drake Stadium during the Relays?

Forest Avenue — the road that runs directly past the stadium entrance — is closed from 25th to 29th Street starting Wednesday at 10 a.m. Charter buses approach via University Avenue and drop groups at the edge of the closed area, typically at or near 25th Street north of Forest. From there it's a short walk to the stadium gates.

We confirm the specific curb point for your session and vehicle size when you book, because the Saturday road race window changes the open approach.

Is there designated charter bus or oversized vehicle parking at Drake Stadium?

Drake does not publish a designated charter bus lot in its general Relays parking guidance. The largest available surface lots during the event are Lot 1/1A (25th Street between Carpenter and Forest), the IM Lot (28th and College, Friday–Saturday only), and Lot 16 (University Avenue west of 28th, after 2:30 p.m. Thursday/Friday or all day Saturday).

For a full-size charter bus, waiting on University Avenue in an available stretch is the practical approach. For specific parking questions, Drake Public Safety at (515) 271-2222 can advise for your specific vehicle. We handle this coordination as part of the booking.

How much does it cost to rent a bus to the Drake Relays?

It depends on your vehicle size, how long you need it, your origin, and the session date. As a rough guide: 15–35 passenger minibuses run $150–$300/hour and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. A same-day round trip from Ames with a 35-passenger minibus for a 6–8 hour block runs in the $900–$2,400 range depending on timing.

Call 515-416-4410 or use the online quote tool for a precise all-inclusive number based on your exact group and date.

When should I book for the Saturday finals?

As early as possible — February at the latest for school groups, and alongside your ticket purchase for everyone else. The April window competes with prom season, graduation, and spring school trips across Iowa. The right-size vehicles commit early, and Saturday in particular has multiple groups booking simultaneously.

Waiting until April usually means either a price increase or no availability in the vehicle your group needs.

Which streets are closed during the Drake Relays?

Forest Avenue from 25th to 29th Street closes Wednesday, April 22 at 10 a.m. and stays closed through Saturday at 8 p.m. 27th Street from Forest to Clark Street closes Thursday, April 23 at 6 a.m. through Saturday at 8 p.m. Saturday morning adds a road race closure that expands Forest from 24th to 30th Street (5:30–11:30 a.m.) and closes 27th from Forest to College Avenue. 28th Street from University to Brattleboro closes 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday for the Multicultural Block Party.

Can the bus wait at the stadium while my group watches the meet?

Yes. The bus is reserved as a block of hours, so it waits nearby during the session and is there at an agreed pickup time when your group exits. For multi-session days, the bus can hold gear in undercarriage storage between events.

Set the pickup window with our team before your group heads into the stadium so there's no confusion at the exit rush.

Do you handle multi-day Relays trips for school teams?

Absolutely. Multi-day arrangements — competing Thursday, watching Saturday, or any combination of sessions — are among the most common Relays bookings we coordinate. The key is booking early and giving us your full session schedule so we can set up the right vehicle and plan across both days.

Call 515-416-4410 to discuss.

What's the best way to get a group from Iowa City or Cedar Rapids to the Relays?

A charter bus is the cleanest option once your group is past 10 or 15 people. The drive from Iowa City runs about 1 hour 45 minutes via I-80 West to I-235; Cedar Rapids is roughly 2 hours via I-380 South to I-80 West to I-235. For a school delegation making the trip for competition or spectating, the undercarriage storage, onboard restroom, and climate-controlled cabin make the interstate run far more comfortable than a caravan of cars.

The cost-per-person at those group sizes is competitive with gas and parking across multiple cars.

Are ADA-accessible buses available?

Yes — ADA-accessible vehicles with wheelchair ramps and securement areas are available. Let us know your needs when you book and we will arrange the right vehicle. ADA parking during the Relays is available at Lot 18 North (28th and Clark Street) and Lot 13 (south side of Forest, east of 27th Avenue) at $10 Thursday and $15 Friday–Saturday.

Book Your Drake Relays Bus Today

The Blue Oval is one of the great track and field venues in the country, and the Drake Relays is the best way to see it at full energy. Whether you're coordinating a high school squad traveling from Waterloo, a booster club group from Ames catching the Saturday finals, a college delegation watching from Iowa City, or a corporate hospitality group hosting clients for the CBS broadcast window, Party Buses Des Moines has the right vehicle and the local logistics knowledge to get your group to Drake Stadium and back without the Forest Avenue scramble. Give us a call any time at 515-416-4410 for an all-inclusive price quote — or use the online tool for instant availability.

Book early. The April calendar fills fast.

Sources & Last Verified

Parking, road closure, ticket, and scheduling details verified against Drake University and event-specific sources in June 2026. Road closures, parking costs, and session schedules can change year to year — confirm against the official sources below before your trip.

• Drake University Newsroom — Your Essential Guide to the 116th Drake Relays (parking lots, road closures, ADA details)
• Drake University Athletics — Drake Relays (official event page, ticket information)
• Drake University — Directions and Map (campus address, approach routes)
• Drake University — Public Safety Parking (general parking policies; Public Safety contact: 515-271-2222)
• Drake Relays Official Ticketing (session tickets, prices)
• Grand Blue Mile — Drake Relays (Tuesday event, downtown route)