Arizona Cardinals Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Planning an Arizona Cardinals trip takes more thought than most people put into it before they book, and that gap between a well-planned visit to Glendale and a scrambled one shows up fast on arrival day. The venue sits about 17 miles west of downtown Phoenix, and what surrounds it makes it one of the more enjoyable destinations in the NFL. The retractable roof, the natural grass field that rolls in and out on steel wheels, and the Westgate Entertainment District sitting directly beside the gates turn a Cardinals trip into a proper Arizona weekend rather than just a few hours at a sporting event.

This Arizona Cardinals travel guide covers every decision worth making before you book. Where to stay, how to get there without losing an hour in traffic, which tickets are worth the money, what to eat, and how to put the whole trip together without overpaying or scrambling at the last minute. Whether driving in from somewhere in the Phoenix metro or flying into Arizona from across the country, the planning you do before you leave home shapes everything that follows.

State Farm Stadium opened in 2006 and has hosted three Super Bowls, multiple College Football Playoff National Championships, and the NCAA Men's Final Four. It holds 63,400 for regular NFL matchups and expands past 73,000 for major events. For a traveling supporter, the Westgate Entertainment District is what separates this Arizona destination from most NFL locations surrounded by highway ramps and parking lots. A proper sit-down meal, a bar packed with Cardinals supporters, and a short walk to the gates without ever touching a car. That combination matters more than it sounds when building a full Arizona travel weekend.

Table of Contents

• Why Every Cardinals Fan Should Travel for Games
• The Best Hotels Near State Farm Stadium for Arizona Cardinals Games
• How to Get to State Farm Stadium
• Top Restaurants Near State Farm Stadium
• Where the Arizona Cardinals Stay on the Road
• Best Seats and Ticket Options at Cardinals Games
• State Farm Stadium Tours and Attractions
• FAQs About Arizona Cardinals Travel for Fans

Why Every Cardinals Fan Should Travel for Games

There's something different about watching the Arizona Cardinals play in person versus following the action on TV. The noise when the defense makes a stop, the energy building around Westgate before kickoff, the crowd reacting to a big play in real time. None of that translates through a screen. If the trip to Glendale has been on the list for a while, this is the section that helps decide which matchup to build the Arizona travel weekend around.

Glendale is genuinely one of the better destinations in the NFL to watch a live Cardinals matchup. The retractable roof means Arizona weather is rarely a factor once inside, and the building holds sound in a way that open-air venues simply don't. When it gets loud in there, it gets loud. Divisional home contests against the Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams consistently deliver the kind of atmosphere that makes the travel worth it. Primetime home matchups take it up another level entirely. If the trip is happening once, pick a Cardinals home date that means something on the schedule.

Westgate Entertainment District is what turns an Arizona Cardinals trip into a full travel weekend rather than just an afternoon at a sporting event. Restaurants, bars, and nightlife are all within walking distance of the gates, so there's no need to settle for concessions or sit in a parking lot before kickoff. Arriving a couple of hours early, grabbing a proper meal, finding a seat at a bar with the pregame coverage on, and letting the afternoon build naturally. That's the version of the Arizona Cardinals travel experience people talk about when they get home.

Arizona also gives plenty of reasons to extend beyond the Cardinals matchup itself. Scottsdale is 30 minutes east and has some of the best resort and golf options in the country. Camelback Mountain is worth a morning hike if arriving the day before. The Desert Botanical Garden, Old Town Scottsdale, and the broader Phoenix dining scene give enough to fill the non-football hours with. An Arizona Cardinals trip works best when the Cardinals are the centerpiece, not the only thing on the itinerary.

The Best Hotels Near State Farm Stadium for Arizona Cardinals Games

Where you stay for an Arizona Cardinals trip shapes the entire weekend. The right hotel puts you close to the action, removes the traffic headache on arrival day, and gives you easy access to everything happening around Westgate before and after kickoff. The wrong choice means adding 40 minutes of driving to an already full Arizona travel day.

Glendale has solid hotel options at every price point. There are properties within a five-minute walk of the gates sitting right inside the Westgate Entertainment District, suite-style hotels that make more sense for groups or multi-night stays, and luxury resort options over in Scottsdale for anyone wanting to treat the Arizona Cardinals trip as a full desert getaway. Each hotel comes with its own tradeoffs depending on what the trip is prioritizing, whether that's proximity, comfort, budget, or amenities.

Staying close to the action means walking to the pregame atmosphere, skipping the parking scramble entirely, and being back at the hotel within minutes of the final whistle. That convenience adds up across a full Arizona trip, especially when arriving the night before and wanting to be near the Westgate restaurants and bars without needing a car. The difference between a hotel at Westgate and one 20 minutes out is felt throughout the entire Cardinals travel weekend, not just on arrival day.

For a full breakdown of the top hotel options near State Farm Stadium, including the closest walking-distance properties, the best choices for groups and families, and the luxury resorts worth considering for a longer Arizona trip, check out the complete guide: Best Hotels Near State Farm Stadium for Arizona Cardinals Games.

How to Get to State Farm Stadium

Getting to State Farm Stadium without a plan is one of the easiest ways to lose an hour of your Arizona trip before finding your seat. Glendale is well-organized as a destination, but 60,000 people converging on the same roads at the same time demands a strategy. Visitors who arrive with a parking or rideshare plan already sorted are the ones spending that extra hour in Westgate rather than sitting on Glendale Avenue watching the clock tick toward kickoff.

The venue sits at 1 Cardinals Drive in Glendale, with Loop 101 being the primary highway approach from both the north and south. Those coming from Phoenix or Scottsdale will take I-10 West to Loop 101 North, exit at Glendale Avenue, and head west to the building. From the northwest, including Peoria and Surprise, Loop 303 South to Glendale Avenue is the cleaner approach with noticeably less congestion than the Loop 101 corridor on a busy Arizona matchday. Using Google Maps or Waze with real-time traffic on departure day will route around the worst bottlenecks, though arriving before the congestion peak beats navigating around it every time.

Driving is the most common way to get there, and parking is well-organized with around 14,000 on-site spaces spread across several designated lots. Pre-purchasing a parking pass through the Arizona Cardinals website before arrival is the right move for any high-demand matchup. For rideshare, Uber and Lyft both operate designated drop-off zones in the Black Lot south of the venue off Cardinals Way. The post-Cardinals-matchup pickup strategy matters just as much as arrival. Walking toward Tanger Outlets or deeper into Westgate before requesting a ride reduces both wait time and surge pricing considerably.

Valley Metro Route 70 along Glendale Avenue serves the area directly and is worth considering for anyone staying along that corridor. The light rail doesn't reach the venue directly, but connecting at the Desert Sky Transit Center at 79th Avenue and McDowell Road links to Arizona Cardinals matchday shuttle service on select dates. For anyone flying into Arizona, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport sits about 20 miles east of Glendale, roughly a 25 to 30 minute drive under normal conditions.

For the full breakdown of every transportation option, parking lot locations, and post-matchup departure strategy, head to the complete guide: How to Get to State Farm Stadium for Arizona Cardinals Games.

Top Restaurants Near State Farm Stadium

One of the best parts about an Arizona Cardinals trip is that settling for the game concessions isn't necessary. The Westgate Entertainment District sits directly beside the venue and has enough dining options to fill a full weekend of meals. Showing up a couple of hours before kickoff, eating well, and walking into the building in a good headspace beats the person who grabbed something from a cart outside the gate every time.

Flanker Kitchen and Sports Bar is the closest thing to a must-visit on this list. It sits right on the Great Lawn at the BetMGM Sportsbook, about a two-minute walk from the venue, and it's unlike anything else in the area. The 17,000 square foot space has over 35 HDTVs, a massive video wall, indoor and outdoor seating, and a second-floor balcony looking out over the Great Lawn. The menu runs scratch burgers, sliders, tacos, and salads paired with craft cocktails and an impressive whiskey selection. On Arizona Cardinals matchdays the doors open at 9 a.m., which makes it a legitimate option for early kickoffs when a proper meal before heading in is the priority. Reservations are recommended on busy matchdays and can be made through the Flanker website directly.

Salt Tacos y Tequila is one of the first spots you hit walking into Westgate from the venue, and it earns its reputation as a pregame staple in Arizona. The tequila selection alone is worth the stop, with over 150 options and a michelada program that hits differently in the Arizona heat. Taco trios are the move at the bar, with options running from grilled vegetable at $13 up to carne asada and mahi mahi around $18 to $19. It fills up quickly on Cardinals home matchdays, so getting there early or expecting a wait is the reality.

Yard House is the reliable anchor of the Westgate dining strip for visiting crowds. It's a large format sports bar with a long beer list, a menu broad enough to handle any group dynamic, and enough screens that pregame coverage is never missed. The atmosphere during a busy Arizona Cardinals home matchday is exactly what a visiting traveler wants from an NFL pregame destination, and the kitchen moves quickly enough to get a full table fed without killing too much time before kickoff.

Hot N Juicy Crawfish is the wildcard pick that delivers if you know what you're getting into. Located in the middle of Westgate, it's a Cajun and Creole seafood spot where proteins arrive at the table in a bag with a choice of five sauces including Juicy Cajun, Louisiana Style, Garlic Butter, Lemon Pepper, and Hot N Juicy. Crawfish, crab, lobster, shrimp, and catfish are all on the menu. The Po'Boy is the faster and cleaner option for anyone short on time before the Arizona Cardinals matchup.

Kabuki Japanese Restaurant sits on the second floor of Westgate and is a solid choice for something quieter and more composed before the action begins. Sushi, entrees, and a daily happy hour program make it a good option for the traveler who wants a proper sit-down meal without the full sports bar atmosphere. The sashimi salad and shrimp and vegetable tempura are both worth ordering for a table.

Bar Louie rounds out the core Westgate dining options with craft cocktails, a solid gastropub menu, and indoor-outdoor seating that handles Arizona weather well. Sunday brunch starts at 10 a.m., making it a legitimate early-arrival option for morning Cardinals kickoffs. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday and offers solid value on both food and drinks for anyone in the area before a weeknight Arizona event.

Tailgating at Arizona Cardinals Games

Tailgating before an Arizona Cardinals matchup is one of the better pregame setups in the NFL, and knowing how it works before arriving makes the whole experience smoother. The area surrounding the venue is called Sportsman's Park, and it goes well beyond a standard parking lot scene. The centerpiece is the Great Lawn, an eight-acre grass area specifically designed for pregame gatherings, and it's where the real energy concentrates on Arizona Cardinals matchdays.

When tailgating opens. Parking lots and tailgating at Sportsman's Park open four hours before kickoff. That's the earliest anyone can set up, and for big Arizona Cardinals home matchups it's worth arriving close to that opening window. Getting a good spot on the Great Lawn with enough time to cook, eat, and enjoy the atmosphere before heading inside makes a real difference to the overall Arizona travel experience.

A valid ticket is required to tailgate. Tailgating in Sportsman's Park and all Arizona Cardinals controlled parking areas is reserved for ticket holders only. A parking pass alone doesn't grant tailgating access. Hotel guests staying nearby who aren't attending the matchup cannot use these areas.

What you can bring and set up. Natural gas and propane grills are permitted. Charcoal grills, pellet grills, and oil fryers are not. Small portable electric generators up to 6,500 watts are allowed, though electrical cords cannot cross drive aisles or create hazards. A shade tent up to 10 feet by 10 feet is permitted using above-ground weights only since ground stakes are not allowed on grass or asphalt. The tailgate setup needs to stay within the area directly in front of or behind the vehicle and cannot extend into empty neighboring stalls.

Food and drink rules. Food and beverages can be prepared and brought for the group. Selling food or drinks to other tailgaters is prohibited. Glass containers are not permitted anywhere in Sportsman's Park. Excessive alcohol consumption and drinking activities linked to competitive or binge drinking are not tolerated anywhere on Arizona Cardinals property.

Tailgating stops at kickoff. This catches a lot of first-time visitors off guard. Tailgating is only permitted from lot opening until the moment kickoff begins. Once the action starts inside, tailgating in the parking areas is not permitted. Post-matchup tailgating is also prohibited. The Great Lawn closes one hour after the final whistle and all personal items need to be cleared before that point.

What's happening on the Great Lawn beyond your own setup. The Great Lawn has a dedicated stage hosting live music before home Arizona Cardinals matchups. The Flight Deck on the southeast plaza has an oversized LED video wall for watching early NFL action and a stage for additional entertainment. Flanker Kitchen and Sports Bar at the BetMGM Sportsbook sits on the north side of the Great Lawn and opens at 9 a.m. on Arizona Cardinals matchdays, giving a full-service restaurant and bar option right inside the tailgate footprint for those who'd rather eat out than cook.

Prohibited items in the tailgate area. Fireworks, drones, weapons of any kind, and the sale of goods or services are all prohibited. Signage or displays deemed offensive or political by security will be removed. Saving parking spaces is not permitted, meaning the group needs to arrive together to park in the same area. The Arizona Cardinals Code of Conduct applies throughout Sportsman's Park, not just inside the building.

Where the Arizona Cardinals Stay on the Road

Part of what makes following the Arizona Cardinals on the road interesting is understanding how the team operates away from Glendale. NFL teams travel in a specific rhythm, and the hotels they use on the road tend to be upscale properties chosen for privacy, space, and the ability to accommodate a full traveling roster, coaching staff, and support personnel. For anyone planning to follow the Arizona Cardinals into an away city and wanting to stay close to where the action is, knowing roughly what part of town the team settles into helps shape the hotel search considerably.

When the Arizona Cardinals travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams at SoFi Stadium, the team typically stays in the downtown Los Angeles area, which gives traveling supporters a natural base for exploring one of the better sports cities in the country alongside the Cardinals matchup. A trip to Dallas to face the Cowboys puts the team near the Frisco corridor in North Dallas close to AT&T Stadium, a market with solid hotel options at every price point for visiting Arizona supporters. Road matchups against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium place the Cardinals in the broader Santa Clara and San Jose area of the Bay, which works well for anyone combining an Arizona Cardinals travel with a few days in Northern California.

The full breakdown of where the Arizona Cardinals stay in each road city, including specific hotel recommendations and why each property works well for visiting supporters wanting to stay in the same area as the team, lives in its own dedicated guide. It covers road stops across the NFC West and beyond, with travel tips and hotel advice for each Arizona Cardinals away market.

For the complete city-by-city breakdown, head to the full guide: Where the Arizona Cardinals Stay on the Road.

Best Seats and Ticket Options at Cardinals Games

Getting the right tickets for an Arizona Cardinals matchup at State Farm Stadium makes a bigger difference than most people expect before their first visit. The venue holds 63,400 for a regular NFL contest, and the experience at field level along the sideline is a completely different afternoon than sitting in the upper deck, even watching the same action. Knowing what each section actually delivers before buying tickets helps match the seat to what the trip is actually about.

The lower level sideline sections are where the Arizona Cardinals matchup feels most immediate. Close enough to read the field, hear the players, and feel the crowd energy in a way that nothing above it replicates. These tickets command the highest prices in the building and are the first to move for divisional home matchups against the Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams. For any visiting traveler planning a special Arizona trip specifically around the seat quality, lower sideline tickets are worth the investment.

End zone seats in the lower bowl are the best value tickets in the building for anyone not wanting to pay sideline prices. The angle on scoring plays and goal-line action happening directly in front of you compensates for the different field perspective, and the price gap between lower end zone and lower sideline tickets is meaningful enough to redirect that saving toward a better hotel or an extra night in Arizona. Club level tickets sit above the lower bowl and deliver padded seating, access to climate-controlled lounges, and upgraded food and beverage options, which matters considerably on a long Arizona travel day when comfort alongside the action is the priority.

The upper deck Ring of Honor sections are the budget-friendly call and work better than their reputation suggests. When the roof is closed and the noise builds inside the building, the upper deck is part of that atmosphere rather than removed from it. For anyone managing the Arizona trip budget across hotel, travel, and tickets simultaneously, these sections let the overall experience stay strong without the seat becoming the most expensive line item.

Bundling Arizona Cardinals tickets with a hotel through Elite Sports Tours locks in both at the same time and removes the frustration of watching hotel prices spike after tickets are already purchased separately. Any combination works through the platform, whether that's tickets only, tickets and hotel, flights and tickets, or all three together. Pricing across bundled components consistently delivers savings that separate platform purchases don't match.

For the full breakdown of every seating zone, what each section delivers, who each option suits best, and how to buy Arizona Cardinals tickets smart, check out the complete guide: Best Seats and Ticket Options at Arizona Cardinals Games.

State Farm Stadium Tours

If building a full Arizona Cardinals travel weekend around a home matchup, adding a tour the day before kickoff is one of the better decisions to make. State Farm Stadium offers several tour options that take visitors through areas of the building completely off limits on arrival day, and the venue itself is interesting enough that the access genuinely justifies the time.

The Behind the Scenes Tour is the standard option for most visitors. It runs 75 to 90 minutes and takes visitors through the Cardinals Hall of Famers area, the Cardinals Press Conference Room, the NFL Visiting Team Locker Room, the Press Box, and an exclusive Private Loft. Entry is at Gate 2 next to the Arizona Cardinals Team Shop, complimentary parking is available in the North Preferred Parking Lot at the intersection of 95th and Maryland Avenues, and all tours are fully wheelchair accessible. Booking in advance is strongly recommended since availability is limited on popular Arizona Cardinals home weekends.

The Field Roll-In Tour is the one worth knowing about for anyone wanting to see what genuinely separates this Arizona venue from every other building in the NFL. State Farm has the only retractable natural grass field of its kind in North America. This tour runs two days before a Cardinals home matchup at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM specifically so visitors can watch the field roll into place in real time. The grass tray spans 234 feet wide and 403 feet long and moves on 546 steel wheels along 13 tracks. Seeing it move is something photos don't do justice to, and if the Arizona Cardinals travel schedule puts you in Glendale two days before kickoff it's worth building the trip around.

The Gameday Prep Tour runs on matchdays before the crowd arrives and gives a look at the building actively transitioning into action-ready mode. The field is already in position, final setup is underway, and the building is building toward kickoff around you. It's a different energy than the Behind the Scenes Tour and works well for anyone arriving in Arizona early on matchday who wants to do something beyond waiting at Westgate.

Private tours are available for groups and require at least 14 days advance booking through the State Farm Stadium website. Spanish-language private tours are also available with a confirmed guide, starting at $100 for up to 5 guests with the same 14-day lead time. All Behind the Scenes Tour ticket holders receive a 10% discount at the Cardinals Team Shop on days the shop is open, a practical bonus for picking up Arizona Cardinals gear during the visit.

For the full breakdown of every tour type, what each one covers, how to book, and how to work a tour into an Arizona Cardinals travel itinerary, head to the complete guide: State Farm Stadium Tours and Attractions.

Game Day Checklist for Cardinals Fans

Getting to the venue without thinking through the basics is how an hour disappears before the first drive even starts. None of this is complicated, but the details below come directly from the Arizona Cardinals official policies and will save real time on arrival day.

Your tickets are digital and must be on your phone. The Arizona Cardinals operate on fully digital tickets and parking passes. Traditional paper tickets are not accepted at the venue. The easiest way to manage tickets is through the Cardinals mobile app, which handles both entry and parking in one place. Download it before leaving the hotel, confirm the tickets are loaded, and make sure the phone is charged. A dead battery at the gate is a rough way to start an Arizona afternoon.

Know the bag policy before packing. The venue follows the NFL clear bag policy. One clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches is permitted, or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag. One small clutch bag or wallet no larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches is also allowed. Backpacks, standard purses, fanny packs, and cinch bags are all prohibited. If a non-compliant bag comes through, Mobile Bag Check storage is available outside the perimeter for $20 per bag, cashless. The Arizona Cardinals also run a Handbag Handoff program where non-compliant bags can be donated to local women's shelters rather than paying to store them.

The entire venue is cashless. Every purchase inside, including concessions, the Cardinals Team Shop, and parking, requires a card or mobile payment. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay are all accepted. Cash-to-Card kiosks on the Main Level near Sections 104 and 123 and on the Terrace Level at Section 416 convert cash to a prepaid debit card. A standard ATM is also available at Section 124 specifically for Arizona Cardinals matchdays.

Parking passes and tickets are both digital and pre-purchased. All Arizona Cardinals matchday parking in Sportsman's Park requires a valid mobile parking pass purchased in advance through the Cardinals website or app. The Black Lot south of the venue is the designated drop-off and pickup zone for rideshare. Hotel guests using Uber or Lyft need to direct their driver to the Black Lot off Cardinals Way.

Arrive early and account for security screening. All guests entering the venue go through security screening including magnetometers before entry. Clear bags speed this process significantly. Arriving 90 minutes before kickoff gives enough time to park or get dropped off, clear security, and find seats without rushing. On high-demand Arizona Cardinals matchdays the lines move but they move faster for people who arrived prepared with compliant bags and digital tickets ready to scan.

Alcohol policy. Outside alcohol is not permitted inside the venue and anyone found with it will be ejected without a refund. General concourse alcohol sales stop at the end of the third quarter. Club Level, Loft Level, and Luxury Seating ticket holders can purchase alcohol for one hour after the final whistle. The legal drinking age in Arizona is 21 and anyone appearing intoxicated will not be served.

Weather and the roof. The venue keeps the interior around 78 degrees when the roof is closed. For early-season Arizona Cardinals home matchups in September the tailgate in the parking areas is where the heat matters most. Drinking water before arriving, wearing light layers, and planning to be inside before the Arizona sun peaks on an afternoon kickoff day makes the outdoor portion of the trip considerably more comfortable.

Plan Your Arizona Cardinals Trip with Elite Sports Tours

Planning an Arizona Cardinals travel weekend means juggling several moving parts simultaneously. Tickets need to be bought. A hotel near the venue needs to be found before prices climb on game week. Flights need to be coordinated if coming in from outside Arizona. Most people book each piece separately across different platforms, watching hotel rates increase after tickets are already locked in, and realizing too late that the flight lands two hours before a noon kickoff with no margin for error.

Elite Sports Tours was built specifically to solve that problem. The platform lets you search Arizona Cardinals home matchups and build the full trip as a complete package, combining any combination of tickets, hotel, and flights into a single booking. Tickets only. Tickets and hotel. Flights and tickets. All three together. Every combination is available, and the pricing across all components reflects the bundle rather than separate transactions across multiple platforms. That difference in how the booking is structured consistently delivers savings that piecing together an Arizona trip individually doesn't match.

The hotel options available through Elite Sports Tours include properties near State Farm Stadium across every category covered in this Arizona Cardinals travel guide, from the walking-distance Westgate properties to the broader Glendale corridor and beyond. Hotels are already mapped to the specific Arizona Cardinals home matchup date, which means availability and pricing are visible together rather than being checked separately while rates shift in real time. Everything is confirmed in a single booking, which is a fundamentally simpler way to organize an Arizona travel weekend.

For group travel the platform is especially valuable. Coordinating an Arizona Cardinals trip for six, eight, or ten people across separate ticket purchases, hotel bookings, and flights is genuinely complicated. Running that same trip through Elite Sports Tours puts everything in one place, makes the group logistics manageable, and gives everyone the same confirmed itinerary from a single booking. Whether the trip is two people or twelve, the platform handles the coordination so the focus stays on the Arizona Cardinals experience rather than the planning behind it.

Search Arizona Cardinals Travel Packages at Elite Sports Tours

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Arizona Cardinals tickets cost?

Arizona Cardinals ticket prices vary based on the opponent, seat location, and how far in advance the purchase is made. Lower level sideline tickets for divisional matchups against the Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams typically run $150 to $400 or more. Upper deck seats can be found in the $60 to $120 range for most regular season home contests. Club level tickets and luxury lofts sit well above those ranges. Buying tickets earlier in the season before demand builds on specific matchups consistently yields better pricing than waiting until the week of kickoff.

What is the bag policy at State Farm Stadium?

One clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches is permitted, or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag. One small clutch bag or wallet no larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches is also allowed. Backpacks, standard purses, fanny packs, and cinch bags are all prohibited. Mobile Bag Check storage is available outside the perimeter for $20 per bag if a non-compliant bag is brought to the venue.

Where is the best area to stay for an Arizona Cardinals game?

The Westgate Entertainment District directly beside State Farm Stadium is the top choice for anyone wanting to walk to the venue and stay in the middle of the pregame atmosphere. Several hotel options are within a five-minute walk of the gates including the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel and Spa, Home2 Suites by Hilton Glendale Westgate, and the Hampton Inn and Suites Phoenix Glendale-Westgate. For a resort experience, Scottsdale hotel options are worth considering when building a longer Arizona trip.

Is State Farm Stadium cashless?

Yes. Every purchase inside the building including concessions, the Cardinals Team Shop, and parking requires a credit card, debit card, or mobile payment. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay are all accepted. Cash-to-Card kiosks are available throughout the building for anyone who only has cash on arrival day.

How early should I arrive for an Arizona Cardinals matchup?

Arriving 90 minutes before kickoff is the standard recommendation. It gives enough time to park or get dropped off, clear security, and find seats without rushing. For high-demand divisional Arizona Cardinals home matchups, arriving two hours early is worth considering, particularly when planning time at one of the Westgate restaurants before heading inside.

How do I book an Arizona Cardinals travel package?

Elite Sports Tours lets you book Arizona Cardinals tickets, hotel, and flights as a complete package or in any combination that works for the trip. Tickets only, tickets and hotel, flights and tickets, or all three bundled together are all available through the platform. Bundling through Elite Sports Tours generates savings across the combined booking that separate individual purchases typically don't match. Search available Arizona Cardinals home matchups and build the full trip at Elite Sports Tours.

What is the best way to get to State Farm Stadium?

Driving via Loop 101 to the Glendale Avenue exit is the most common approach. Pre-purchasing a parking pass through the Arizona Cardinals website before arrival day is strongly recommended for reserved lots. Rideshare via Uber or Lyft is a clean alternative with designated drop-off in the Black Lot south of the venue. Valley Metro Route 70 along Glendale Avenue also serves the area directly. Hotel guests staying at Westgate properties can walk to the venue in under ten minutes.

Is State Farm Stadium good for first-time visitors?

It consistently ranks among the better NFL venues for a first Arizona trip. The retractable roof keeps the interior comfortable regardless of Arizona weather outside. The Westgate Entertainment District gives a genuine pregame destination within walking distance. The building is well-organized and easy to navigate, and the retractable natural grass field and Super Bowl history give it a character that makes the visit memorable beyond just the Arizona Cardinals matchup itself.

Explore More Arizona Cardinals Travel Guides

Want to get the most out of your Arizona Cardinals trip? Check out these related guides to ensure the journey is seamless and enjoyable:

• Best Hotels Near State Farm Stadium for Arizona Cardinals Games: Find the best hotel options for Arizona Cardinals matchups when planning the trip.
• Arizona Cardinals Travel Guide for Fans: Plan the perfect Arizona trip to catch a Cardinals home matchup live at State Farm Stadium.
• How to Get to State Farm Stadium: Find the best transportation options to avoid traffic and arrive at the venue with ease.
• Where the Arizona Cardinals Stay on the Road: Curious where the pros stay? Learn about the hotel options NFL teams use when traveling on the road.
• Best Seats and Ticket Options at Arizona Cardinals Games: From budget-friendly tickets to luxury suites, find the best seats for the Arizona Cardinals experience.
• State Farm Stadium Tours and Attractions: Take a behind-the-scenes look at the venue with exclusive tours and insider access.
• Arizona Cardinals Travel Packages: Explore complete travel packages that include tickets and hotel options for the next Arizona Cardinals matchup.

Editorial Note

I'm Tim Macdonell, founder and CEO of Elite Sports Tours. I've spent more than a decade helping people plan NFL travel trips across North America and have attended Arizona Cardinals matchups at State Farm Stadium personally. The recommendations in this Arizona Cardinals travel guide reflect real experience in this market. Which hotel options in Glendale actually deliver on their proximity claims, where the arrival day traffic backs up, and what separates a well-planned Arizona trip from one pieced together on the fly. Everything here is designed to give the kind of information that makes the travel worth it.

Travel Disclaimer

Arizona Cardinals stadium policies, hotel pricing, tour availability, transportation schedules, and event details are subject to change. This Arizona Cardinals travel guide reflects the most accurate information available at time of writing. Always verify current bag policies, parking procedures, ticket requirements, and venue entry rules directly through the Arizona Cardinals team pages before arrival. Hotel rates vary based on matchup date and demand. Tour availability and pricing should be confirmed through the State Farm Stadium website before booking.

Updated April 2026