Your Guide to Red Rocks Amphitheater – Morrison, Colorado

This is the absolute best venue to see a concert. The views and surroundings are stunning. Here are some things to keep in mind when attending a concert here.

Plan ahead. Red Rocks concerts can sell out quickly, so make sure to purchase your tickets well in advance. Once you have your tickets you can plan the rest of your visit.

The location is in Morrison, Colorado, about an hour drive from Denver.

Arrive early. Being such a popular venue means that parking can fill up quickly. The parking lots open 2 hour before the event. Many people tailgate to fill the time until the show starts.

There are several different parking lots, so plan ahead for which one you want to shoot for. Have a couple back-up options in mind if your first choice parking lot is full.

• Upper North – The easiest access to the venue, since it is located at the highest point. This means fewer stairs to climb. It also offers the most beautiful view as you enter the venue. In addition to port-a-potties there are also some actual bathrooms. It is the smallest lot, so it fills up quickly. But due to its size it is also more difficult to meet up with friends if that’s what you’re trying to do.
• Lower North – 2nd easiest access to the venue. It is much larger than Upper North, but has fewer port-a-potties.
• Lower South Lots 1 & 2 – You will have a long uphill walk to get to the venue, and lots of stairs. There are often lines for the port-a-potties. These lots are close to each other, and there is a party atmosphere at both of these lots. Lot 2 is where the party buses park.

Bring a raincoat/rain poncho. We didn’t need one but I’m told that even if rain is not predicted it can easily pop up, and more often than not there is some amount of rain. Also, even in the summer the temps can drop significantly in the evening.

Stay hydrated (with water!). Red Rocks is located at a higher elevation, so if you’re not acclimated to the altitude it is especially important to stay hydrated. You can bring a reusable water bottle and fill it at water stations around the venue.

Consider bringing a blanket or cushion. The seating is made of mainly stone benches, so if you get uncomfortable after a few hours sitting on a hard surface, you may want to bring something soft to sit on.

You may leave your car at the venue until 10am the next morning. So if you’ve had too much to drink you should get a ride and leave your car until the next morning.

But you can also visit it for free when there is no event. You could exercise on the steps or visit the museum to learn about the history of the amphitheater, and which artists have played there each year.