TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Thousands of college football fans are expected to pour into Tallahassee during the 2026 season, and local and campus police agencies are warning drivers to prepare for heavier traffic, temporary road closures and shifting traffic patterns around Florida State University and Florida A&M University.

The Tallahassee Police Department is working with the Florida State University Police Department and Florida A&M University Police Department to manage game-day traffic throughout the fall.

FSU and FAMU will host home games on the same day three times this season: Saturday, Aug. 29; Saturday, Sept. 26; and Saturday, Oct. 31. On those days, motorists should anticipate heavier traffic around both campuses and the downtown area, particularly along Tennessee Street, Pensacola Street, South Monroe Street, Gaines Street, Lake Bradford Road and Orange Avenue. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and allow additional travel time.

FAMU game-day traffic

Traffic patterns will shift around Bragg Memorial Stadium during FAMU home games, with Tallahassee police coordinating traffic control before and after the game. Road closures are set to begin two hours before kickoff.

Traffic will be blocked at:

Althea Gibson Way and Robert & Trudie Perkins Way

Perry Street and Robert & Trudie Perkins Way

Perry Street and Dr. Carolyn Ryals Way, with no northbound traffic permitted

Althea Gibson Way and Dr. Carolyn Ryals Way

Boosters will be allowed south of the closures at Althea Gibson Way and Robert & Trudie Perkins Way and Perry Street and Robert & Trudie Perkins Way.

FSU game-day traffic

Before FSU home games, fans are encouraged to use specific routes to access parking on and around campus.

Recommended routes include:

From the north: Stadium Drive for parking west of Doak Campbell Stadium, or Macomb and Bronough streets to Pensacola Street for parking east of the stadium.

From the east: Pensacola Street for parking east of the stadium and Gaines Street for parking west of the stadium.

From the west: Pensacola or Tennessee streets to Stadium Drive for parking west of the stadium, or Tennessee Street to Macomb Street for parking east of the stadium.

From the south: Lake Bradford Road.

Traffic signals along Pensacola Street between Duval Street and Chieftan Way will be set to flash before the game to give priority to westbound traffic heading toward Doak Campbell Stadium. Police officers will be posted along that route three hours before kickoff, and traffic signals at intersections near the stadium may be controlled as many as six hours before the game.

Drivers traveling through the area who are not headed to the game should expect delays, particularly along Macomb and Copeland streets. When possible, motorists are encouraged to use Ocala Road and Monroe Street for north-south travel to avoid pregame traffic.

After the game, Pensacola Street east of the stadium will be modified to flow one-way for eastbound traffic only, away from the stadium. St. Augustine Street/W. Madison Street between Varsity Drive and South Monroe Street will also flow one-way eastbound toward Apalachee Parkway.

To give fans priority leaving the area, northbound traffic will not be allowed on Springhill Road/Lake Bradford Road from Levy Avenue to Gaines Street. Southbound traffic will not be allowed on Stadium Drive from Tennessee Street.

Motorists should expect delays due to the traffic control pattern from some time in the fourth quarter until about one hour after the end of the game, not including weather delays, especially along Macomb, Copeland, Duval, Bronough and Monroe streets. Drivers hoping to avoid postgame traffic, especially for north-south travel, are advised to use Ocala Road and Monroe Street.

Plan ahead

Fans attending either university’s home games are encouraged to arrive early, allow extra travel time and follow directions from law enforcement officers managing traffic. Motorists not attending a game are also urged to plan ahead and consider alternate routes, particularly on Aug. 29, Sept. 26 and Oct. 31, when both universities will host home games.