At a glance
- When
- Each event has its own details; see Adelaide Oval’s What’s On page and Adelaide Metro’s event calendar
- Getting there
- Adelaide Railway Station, 600m, across the Riverbank Bridge. Festival Plaza tram stop, 500m, on King William Road
- Free travel
- AFL season: free on buses, trains and trams with a game day ticket. Other events only if stated
- Footy Express
- AO and AOX buses stop outside the Oval on King William Road
- Parking
- Event-day parking is set per event. Two-hour limits apply on nearby streets at events of 20,000 or more
- Drop-off
- Pennington Terrace, at the northern end of the Oval
- Taxis
- Ranks on King William Road, Pennington Terrace and Montefiore Road
Adelaide Oval strongly encourages patrons to use public transport on event days: the Adelaide Railway Station is 600m away across the Riverbank Bridge, and the Festival Plaza tram stop on King William Road is 500m from the stadium. During the AFL season Adelaide Metro runs free Footy Express buses for ticket holders.
Adelaide Oval sits 400 metres from the CBD, framed by the River Torrens. This guide combines what Adelaide Oval’s getting here page and Adelaide Metro’s transport to Adelaide Oval page say, as checked on Sunday 18 October 2026. Routes, timetables and parking vary between events, so confirm the details for your event before you travel.
How do I get to Adelaide Oval by train?
Take any train to Adelaide Railway Station on North Terrace. Adelaide Metro says all trains to the Oval stop there, and regular train services run during events. Leave the station and cross the Riverbank Bridge to reach the stadium: Adelaide Metro and the Oval both give the distance as 600m, and the Oval describes it as about a five-minute walk across the Riverbank footbridge or via King William Street.
Which tram goes to Adelaide Oval?
Adelaide Oval says all three tram routes stop near the stadium, and regular tram services run during events. There are two ways to finish the trip:
| Tram stop | Lines | Walk to the Oval |
|---|---|---|
| Festival Plaza, King William Road | FESTVL, which starts from Glenelg | 500m |
| Adelaide Railway Station tram stop | BTANIC and GLNELG | Walk through the railway station and cross the Riverbank Bridge |
Festival Plaza is the closest tram stop. Adelaide Metro adds that selected tram services have designated free zones, so patrons can ride the tram free to the Oval within those areas.
What is the Footy Express, and is it free?
The Footy Express is a set of dedicated bus, train and tram services, labelled AO and AOX, that run before and after matches during the AFL season. They serve both Adelaide and Port Adelaide fixtures at Adelaide Oval and stop outside the stadium on King William Road. Adelaide Metro says they are free with a game day ticket.
Adelaide Metro’s FAQ gives the free-travel window: the Footy Express is free all day on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. For AFL matches on weekdays, it is free only up to 3 hours before the game. All tickets to Adelaide Oval during the AFL season include free travel on buses, trains and trams.
Outside the AFL season the rules differ. Adelaide Metro says the free travel and AO/AOX services run only for specified events, which are listed in its event calendar, and the Oval says its Express services run for most major events, with travel free on presentation of a valid event ticket. Check the calendar for your event rather than assuming the service runs.
Which AO and AOX buses are there?
Adelaide Metro lists these routes. Search for your route on the Adelaide Metro timetable page.
| Route | Starts from |
|---|---|
| AO1 | Greenwith, via the O-Bahn |
| AO1T | Tea Tree Plaza, via the O-Bahn |
| AO2 | St Agnes Depot Park ‘n’ Ride, via the O-Bahn |
| AO3 | Northgate Shopping Centre, via Sudholz Road |
| AO4 | Hope Valley, via Lower North East Road |
| AO5 | Salisbury East, via Bridge Road and Walkley’s Road |
| AOX6 | Woodcroft Community Centre, via Main South Road |
| AOX7 | South Adelaide Football Club, via Main South Road |
| AO8 | Hallett Cove Shopping Centre, via Marion Centre Interchange |
| AOX9 | Mount Barker, via Hahndorf and Bridgewater |
| AO10 | Aldgate, via Stirling and Crafers |
| AO11 | Newton, via Magill Road |
| AO12 | Newton, via Payneham Road |
| AO13 | Burnside, via Greenhill Road |
| AO14 | Rosslyn Park, via The Parade |
| AO15 | Mawson Lakes Interchange |
| AOX15 | Elizabeth Shopping Centre, via Main North Road |
| AO16 | Rosewater, via Arndale Centre Interchange and Days Road |
| AO17 | Semaphore, via Port Road |
| AO18 | West Lakes Interchange, via Grange Road |
| AO19 | Henley Beach, via Henley Beach Road |
| AO20 | Blair Athol, via Prospect Road |
| AO21 | Aberfoyle Hub, via Black Road and Goodwood Road |
| AO22 | Aberfoyle Hub, via Happy Valley Drive and Goodwood Road (Adelaide Crows games only) |
| AO23 | Morphettville Depot Park ‘n’ Ride |
| AO24 | Mitcham Square, via Unley Road |
| AO25 | Mitcham Square, via Fullarton Road |
| AO26 | Glenelg Interchange, via West Beach |
| AO29 | Ingle Farm, via Hampstead Road and Galway Avenue |
| AO31 | Morphettville Depot Park ‘n’ Ride, via Brighton Road and Anzac Highway |
Regular Adelaide Metro buses that stop near the stadium also run during events. Adelaide Metro says they are free for AFL matches with a game day ticket, and for other events at the Oval if stated. To find one, enter Adelaide Oval as your destination in the journey planner.
Can I park at Adelaide Oval on an event day?
It depends on the event. The Oval says parking options on event days vary and points to the What’s On page for each event’s parking information. These terms apply to the car parks:
- Follow the instructions of AOSMA and Wilsons car parking staff.
- Car parks remain open two hours after the event.
- Every vehicle must fit into a standard park. Trucks, buses, trailers and limousines are not permitted.
- AOSMA is not responsible for your vehicle or any property in or on it.
For Adelaide Oval events with 20,000 or more attendees, the City of Adelaide puts temporary 2P Event Parking and Event Parking Restrictions in place on nearby streets. The Oval says the measures aim to support North Adelaide residents and businesses by preserving parking for non-event visitors, so check the signs before you leave a car on the street.
What about parking on non-event days?
Adelaide Oval operates two car parks on days without an event, open to all visitors, with Wilson Parking fees. The Oval’s own pages are not fully consistent on the hours, so the table shows both versions.
| Car park | Access | Hours | Book-A-Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Car Park | Pennington Terrace | Open 24/7, excluding event days | $10 |
| East Car Park | King William Road, north-bound lanes only | Open 24/7 on the getting here page; 6am to midnight in the FAQ. Both exclude or may change on event days | $15.50 |
Wilson Parking offers the Book-A-Bay service on non-event days; see wilsonparking.com.au for details. Because the two Oval pages differ on East Car Park hours, treat the signs at the car park as the final word.
Where do taxis and drop-offs go?
- Taxi ranks: the western side of King William Road, the southern side of Pennington Terrace and the eastern side of Montefiore Road.
- Guest drop-off: Pennington Terrace, at the northern end of the Oval, and only there. Drop-off is not permitted at the top of the east car park ramp on King William Road.
- Disability drop-off and pick-up: War Memorial Drive, out the front of Next Gen Health Clubs and Tennis SA, adjacent to Pinky Flat, reached from the western side via Montefiore Road or Morphett Street Bridge and for disability permit holders only; King William Road, adjacent to the East Gate for north-bound traffic; and Pennington Terrace. Permits are available through Services SA.
Will roads be closed after the game?
The Oval says road closures are put in place before and after events with an expected attendance of 35,000 or more. A 25km/h speed restriction also applies on North Terrace, from Morphett Street Bridge to King William Street, in the post-event period, so that pedestrians and vehicles can move safely.
Can I cycle?
Yes. Bike racks are outside the North, South and East gates.
Quick plan
- Check your event on Adelaide Oval’s What’s On page and Adelaide Metro’s event calendar for transport and parking details.
- From the city, take a train or tram to Adelaide Railway Station and walk across the Riverbank Bridge, or a tram to Festival Plaza.
- From the suburbs, look for an AO or AOX Footy Express bus on AFL days, or use the journey planner with Adelaide Oval as the destination.
- If you drive, check the parking details for your event first and look for 2P Event Parking signs in nearby streets.
- After the event, expect the 25km/h limit on North Terrace and, at the biggest events, road closures.
Sources
- Adelaide Oval — Getting here (checked 18 October 2026)
- Adelaide Metro — Transport to Adelaide Oval (checked 18 October 2026)
Featured image: Adelaide Oval in 2022 (photo: DaHuzyBru / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Metro, AOSMA or Wilson Parking. Routes, free-travel rules and parking can change between events; check the official pages above before you travel.