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Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is an iconic music venue that attracts thousands of people every year for the very best in live music. In fact, it is at the top of my favorite outdoor music venues in Colorado and I make sure to attend at least one concert there every summer. If you are lucky enough to score tickets to a show, here is everything you need to know to have the best Red Rocks experience.
Haven’t picked a show yet? View the Red Rocks schedule.
Finding Tickets to a Show
You can’t see a show at Red Rocks without tickets. With the popularity of the venue, it is becoming increasingly harder to get tickets, however, there are ways to increase your chances. The best way to get tickets is through the presale, before they are on sale to the general public:
- Sign up for artist, and promoter presales (like AEG and AXS) to get early access codes to tickets.
- Sign up for the Red Rocks concert alerts to get notified about upcoming shows and presale codes.
- Subscribe to the KBCO newsletter to receive notifications about upcoming concerts and presale codes.
Where to Sit at Red Rocks
Deciding where to sit at any concert venue can be a challenge. Luckily, there isn’t a bad seat in the house at Red Rocks, but you might have a preference or budget that dictates where you sit. The seating chart changes for every show, but typically reserved seating will take up about 2/3 of the amphitheatre, with the very back rows reserved for General Admission. If you buy General Admission tickets to a sold out show, people will start to line up at the gate entrances when the parking lots open so if seat selection is important to you, plan to join the line early.
HOT TIP: Buy a GA ticket and line up early to get first access inside. There are little sections on either side of the ticketed seating with prime viewing if you get there first!
Where to Stay
There is no lodging located directly around Red Rocks. The amphitheatre is in the Town of Morrison, which does not allow short term rentals. You can find rentals in the nearby towns of Golden or Lakewood, or many options in Denver.
Origin Red Rocks Hotel: Origin Hotel is a preferred lodging partner of Red Rocks. Conveniently located off I-70, only a 10 minute drive from Red Rocks. You can book a shuttle from the hotel to Red Rocks (additional cost).
Crawford Hotel: Located in Union Station in the heart of downtown, the Crawford Hotel is the perfect location to explore Denver. You can book a shuttle from the hotel to Red Rocks (additional cost). The hotel even offers a discount to Red Rocks concert goers!
Monaco Denver: Monaco Hotel is in the heart of downtown Denver, conveniently located near many attractions, but only 20 minutes from Red Rocks. The hotel has a special shuttle package to Red Rocks, so you don’t need to worry about a ride.
Where to Eat
The Town of Morrison is located at the base of Red Rocks, and there are multiple restaurant options to enjoy before a show. Plan to eat early, as it does get very busy and it can be hard to find parking on concert days. The Morrison Inn is a pre-show favorite with a great margarita! Tony Rigatoni’s is a personal favorite if you are looking for Italian.
I love tailgating before a concert, which takes away the stress of needing to hurry up and eat in time to get to the parking lot. Pick up some sandwiches or pack a charcuterie board – I have seen some pretty elaborate set ups! Note that you can’t grill in the park and glass is prohibited.
If you want to eat once inside the venue, concession stands are located throughout the venue with many food and drink options available.
How to Get to Red Rocks
Driving a car is the easiest way to get to Red Rocks (and then you are set up for tailgating), but there are other options as well.
Shuttle: There are shuttles in the area that can take you to Red Rocks. You can grab a shuttle or bus from Denver, Ft. Collins, Boulder, and other nearby areas. Some concerts allow you to book a shuttle when you purchase tickets. For $65 roundtrip, Red Rocks Shuttle will pick you up from several locations in metro Denver and drop you at the venue. On Location’s Shuttles to Red Rocks are another option that will pick you up from two Denver locations for $60 roundtrip.
Rideshare: Drop off points are Top Circle Lot through Entrance 1 or Red Rocks Park Rd/Trading Post Rd intersection through Entrance 2.
Pick up after the event has recently changed – it is now located in the Jurassic Lot, just inside Entrance 2 off of Highway 93. You will need to walk down the hill on the Will Call Trail to the Jurassic Lot to meet your ride. This is not a short walk!
Where to Park
Cost of parking is included with your concert ticket at Red Rocks. There are five parking lots: Upper North Lot, Upper South Lot, Lower North Lot, Lower South Lot 1, and Lower South Lot 2. My personal favorite is the Upper South Lot because there seems to be slightly less congestion than other lots, and it is easy to take a walk over to the Trading Post to shop for souvenirs and apparel. The bottom of the ramp in the Upper South Lot is also a popular spot to line up for the earliest access to the venue.
The parking lots open two hours prior to door times and typically there is a fun vibe, with people showing up early to tailgate. Bring your drinks and your snacks and plan to spend time hanging out before the show. There are port o potties available in the parking lots.
What to Bring to the Show (and What Not to Bring)
Before you head inside, check out my list of concert essentials for everything to bring with you!
HOT TIP: Bring unopened bottles of water. You will save a lot of money and there are filling stations inside.
Make sure to review the list of permitted and prohibited items before you head into the show. I find that Red Rocks allows you to bring more items inside than many other venues. A few highlights:
Permitted: Single pocket bags, small purses and fanny packs, non-alcoholic beverages (32 oz. or less), empty, reusable water bottles, food in clear plastic bag, blankets, stadium seats
Prohibited: Alcohol, marijuana, and illegal drugs, glass bottles, umbrellas, remote controlled flying devices, weapons, tarps, Go Pros, selfie sticks, strollers, gum
How to Get Inside Red Rocks
There are two main entrances to the venue.
From the Upper South Lot, you will walk up a big ramp to enter from the South Entrance. Before the doors open, there can be a long line of people that extends all the way down the ramp. From this entrance you will be on the right side of the amphitheatre, where the lower seat numbers are. This entrance can get very backed up, so if you don’t want to wait in the line, keep walking down the drive to the entrance on the north side.
If you enter from the Upper and Lower North Lots, you will funnel to one entrance. This entrance has quite a few stairs you will need to walk up, but tends to have a shorter line and is faster to get inside. From this entrance you will be on the left side of the amphitheatre, where the higher seat numbers are.
Looking for merch? There will be merch tents inside of each entrance. There is also a large merch tent at the top plaza, but to get there you will need to climb all 145 steps from the stage to the top!
Everything Else You Should Know
Arrive early. No matter what mode of transportation you use, 10,000 of your closest friends are also trying to get to the concert. Parking lots open two hours before the show, and there is plenty to keep you entertained – tailgate, stop by the Trading Post, or even just take a walk around the park.
HOT TIP: Looking for Red Rocks merch? You will find it at the Trading Post. Stop by before it closes at 6 p.m. (summer hours)
Be prepared for a hike. No matter how you get to Red Rocks, plan to do a significant amount of walking, as well as navigating hills and steep steps. Wear appropriate shoes and allow plenty of time to get into the amphitheatre from the parking lot.
Red Rocks is accessible. For those with mobility issues, Red Rocks does have accessible parking and seating areas to ensure that anyone can enjoy a show. There are also shuttles from the lot to the entrance.
Take altitude into account. Red Rocks is at an elevation of 6,450 feet. Make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and minimize the effects of the higher altitude. Also be sure to pack your sunscreen!
Plan to stop by the visitor center (currently closed for renovation). Accessible from the upper level of Red Rocks, the Visitor Center is home to the Red Rocks Hall of Fame and the Ship Rock Grille, restrooms and retail space for merchandise and other food and beverage including Starbucks Coffee. The Visitor Center also hosts periodic art exhibits throughout the year.
Be prepared for the weather. In Colorado, weather is known to change quickly and without warning. Unless there is lightning, shows will go on in the rain so plan accordingly. In addition, in the case of severe weather, you might be asked to leave the venue and return to your car until the show can continue.
What shows do you plan to see at Red Rocks this year?
