Houston Travel Tips for Super Bowl 51 and Beyond

More than 140,000 football fans are expected to visit Houston to take in 10 days of festivities surrounding Super Bowl 51, experience what the nation’s fourth largest city has to offer and, of course, watch the spectacle of the big game in person.

Texas likes to do things big, and Houston is a huge city! With more than 600 square miles within the city limits, there are a ton of things to do and see on any regular week in the city. These tips should be useful for anyone traveling to visit Houston, but with a huge number of events happening around Super Bowl 51 there are some specific things to know if you’re going there for the game.

This time of year is normally rodeo season around Houston, but that’s being overshadowed by the largest sports event of the year and the slew of concerts, tailgates, watch parties, sports events and other entertainment related to the Super Bowl. To see what’s going on around Houston anytime of the year, check out Visit Houston’s calendar of events. Here are some of the more prominent events happening around Super Bowl 51:

Before you travel to a big event it’s a good idea to learn a bit about the transportation situation, especially when more than one million people are expected to take part in Super Bowl 51 events in Houston.

If you plan to drive, more than 62,000 parking spots are available around Downtown Houston during Super Bowl 51 events. You can guarantee your spot in and around downtown Houston by pre-paying for parking. Visit www.superbowl.parkmobile.com for information about parking at NRG Stadium on game day.

Ride sharing services and taxis will be in full force during Super Bowl 51 events and a designated drop off area will be set up at the game.

23 miles of light rail connect all of Houston to NRG Stadium—the recommended method of getting into Downtown Houston during Super Bowl 51 events. METRO schedules will be extended and frequency boosted. The Greelink is a free circulator, a bus on a short loop, which operates downtown and will connect parking lots, restaurants and other events to Super Bowl LIVE.

You might not be able to visit all 600 square miles of the city on a bicycle, but it’s a great way to see the sights and beat the traffic, or at least not sit in it. A bikeshare program is in place with free rides during the Super Bowl festivities and a bicycle valet will be available during Super Bowl LIVE between Clay and Dallas Streets.

Houston is experiencing a culinary renaissance with a number of top chefs choosing the city to showcase all the deliciousness that Texas and the Gulf of Mexico have to offer. Food & Wine recently named the city the “newest capital of great food.” There are more than 10,000 restaurants in Houston, but you can find more than the usual Tex-Mex at these hot spots ordered by region:

Check out the Visit Houston’s lists of award-winning Houston restaurants and 20 awesome BBQ spots to find more great places to eat.