Morgan Wallen is bringing Death Valley Nights to Clemson, South Carolina, and Memorial Stadium is getting ready for one of the biggest concert weekends the Upstate has ever seen.
Thousands of fans will fill the home of the Clemson Tigers on June 26–27, 2026, and while the show itself will be unforgettable, getting around Clemson on concert weekend will require some planning.
If you are headed to Morgan Wallen at Death Valley, here is everything you need to know about parking, traffic, what you can bring, where to eat, and how locals recommend surviving a summer night in Clemson.
If you’re making a weekend out of it, don’t leave without grabbing a photo at one of Clemson’s popular mural locations on College Avenue.
- Greetings From Clemson
- Roar Clemson
- Tiger Town Memories
- There’s Something In These Hills
- Welcome To The Clemson Family
These murals have become favorite stops for visitors and Clemson alumni alike.
Friday, June 26
- Parking Lots Open: 10:00 AM
- Gates Open: 4:30 PM
- Concert Begins: 5:30 PM
- Featuring: Morgan Wallen, Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, Jason Scott & The High Heat
Saturday, June 27
- Parking Lots Open: 10:00 AM
- Gates Open: 4:30 PM
- Concert Begins: 5:30 PM
- Featuring: Morgan Wallen, Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, Jason Scott & The High Heat
The concerts are part of Wallen’s 2026 stadium tour and represent one of the biggest entertainment events ever hosted at Clemson Memorial Stadium.
Clemson’s Memorial Stadium, better known as Death Valley, is one of the most famous college football stadiums in America.
Home to the Clemson Tigers, the stadium can hold more than 80,000 fans, which means the Morgan Wallen weekend will feel much more like a football Saturday than a typical concert.
Expect:
✔ Heavy traffic
✔ Long walks
✔ Packed restaurants
✔ Large crowds
✔ Summer heat and humidity
Planning ahead will make a huge difference.
Do not wait until you arrive in Clemson to decide where to park.
Clemson recommends fans review the interactive parking map before leaving home:
👉 Interactive Clemson Parking Map:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/28b8b9ef6c984b65a939af0f991222b8/
The map includes:
🟧 Reserved / Pre-Purchased Parking
- Closest options
- Best if you want a shorter walk
- Easier arrival planning
🟨 Free Parking Areas
- Available on a first-come basis
- Pick a primary and backup lot
- Arrive early
♿ Accessible Parking
- Designated accessible parking areas are shown on Clemson’s map
It’s parking without thinking about how you’ll leave.
Most fans choose the closest available parking spot to the stadium. It seems like the best idea… until 70,000+ people all try to leave at the same time.
Here are the biggest parking mistakes fans make at Morgan Wallen’s Clemson concerts.
1. Parking for the walk-in instead of the drive-out ⭐
Everyone wants the closest parking spot.
The problem is that the closest lots often become the hardest to leave. After the concert, Clemson implements a special traffic plan with one-way traffic on Perimeter Road and Highway 93 to move thousands of vehicles out of town as quickly as possible.
A parking spot that saves you a five-minute walk could easily cost you an extra hour sitting in traffic.
2. Not knowing the post-concert traffic pattern
After the show, roads don’t operate the way they normally do.
Several roads become one-way, certain turns are prohibited, and police direct traffic toward specific highways. If you don’t know the traffic pattern before you arrive, you may find yourself driving miles in the opposite direction before you can turn around.
Study the traffic map before leaving home.
3. Waiting until the last minute to find parking
Many of the free public lots fill early.
Reserved parking was sold out well before concert weekend, so thousands of people are competing for first-come, first-served parking. Officials recommend arriving early to avoid being redirected once the lots reach capacity.
4. Ignoring downtown parking rules
Many people assume they can leave their vehicle overnight.
Not so.
Downtown Clemson parking garages require all vehicles to be removed by 4:00 AM, and reserved spaces are actively enforced with towing. Street parking also has time limits.
5. Following Google Maps instead of Waze
Police specifically recommend using Waze because temporary road closures and changing traffic patterns are updated throughout the event.
Google Maps may continue routing drivers onto roads that have become one-way or closed.
6. Forgetting it’s a 20-minute walk
The City of Clemson garages on Keith Street and Fendley Street are about a 20-minute walk from Memorial Stadium.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Cowboy boots may look great during the concert, but you’ll appreciate supportive footwear after walking to and from the stadium in the South Carolina heat.
7. Trying to leave immediately
This may be the biggest mistake of all.
When 70,000 to 75,000 people all head to their cars at the exact same time, traffic comes to a crawl. Officials expect significant delays and remind fans that getting everyone out of the parking lots simply takes time.
Instead of sprinting to your car:
- Take a few photos.
- Let the crowd thin out.
- Grab a bottle of water.
- Wait 20-30 minutes if you’re not in a hurry.
Often, you’ll spend less total time waiting than someone sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Pro Tips
- Save your mobile tickets to your phone before arriving.
- Bring only a clear bag.
- Drink plenty of water because the stadium feels hotter than the outside temperature.
- Use the official parking map before leaving home.
- Have a backup parking location in mind in case your first choice is full.
Bottom Line
The smartest Morgan Wallen fans don’t just plan where to park.
They plan how they’re going to get home.
Choosing a spot with an easier exit, understanding Clemson’s post-concert traffic pattern, and being patient after the encore can easily save you an hour or more compared to parking as close to the stadium as possible.
After Morgan Wallen finishes performing, Clemson will use post-event traffic control to move thousands of cars away from campus.
Expect contraflow traffic.
What does that mean?
➡ Roads that normally have traffic going both directions may temporarily become one-way leaving campus.
Clemson says:
- Perimeter Road traffic will flow away from campus
- Highway 93 traffic will move outbound
- Traffic patterns may stay active for up to two hours after the concert or until conditions return to normal
Be prepared:
✔ Follow police directions
✔ Expect delays
✔ Be patient
Clemson recommends using Waze for event navigation.
Before leaving:
- Pick your parking area
- Put that exact location into Waze
- Follow event routing
Do not just type “Clemson Stadium.”
You may get routed into closed roads.
Before walking from your parking spot, check your bag.
Nobody wants to make the long walk back to the car.
Approved Bags:
✔ Clear Bags
Allowed:
- Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags
- Maximum size: 12” x 6” x 12”
✔ One-Gallon Clear Storage Bags
Examples:
- Ziploc-style freezer bags
✔ Small Clutch or Purse
Good news:
Small purses do NOT have to be clear.
Approved size:
4.5” x 6.5” maximum
They may include a strap or handle.
🚫 Not Allowed:
- Large purses
- Backpacks
- Oversized totes
- Camera bags
Medical exceptions may be allowed after inspection.
Full Clemson Clear Bag Policy:
https://clemsontigers.com/news/2016/0
This sounds simple…but Clemson is built on hills.
You may walk:
- Across campus
- Up hills
- Across grass lots
- Long distances after dark
Those brand-new cowboy boots may look great for pictures, but your feet may disagree after several hours.
Downtown Clemson will be packed hours before gates open. If you’re looking for a meal before heading into the stadium, arrive early.
Popular Clemson options include:
- The Esso Club
- TD’s of Clemson
- Tiger Town Tavern
- Charleston Sports Pub
- Nick’s Tavern & Deli
- Study Hall
- Evolve Kitchen + Table
- Todaro Pizza
Expect waits throughout the afternoon.
Local’s Tip: Leave Clemson
One of the smartest moves is to eat outside Clemson before heading to campus.
Central (11 Minutes Away)
Perfect for coffee, pizza, and casual dining.
Pendleton (11 Minutes Away)
Historic village atmosphere with local restaurants and bakeries surrounding the town square.
Seneca (15 Minutes Away)
Offers the largest selection of restaurants and bars outside Clemson, especially around Ram Cat Alley.
Anderson (35 Minutes Away)
Ideal for visitors traveling up I-85 who want to eat before dealing with Clemson traffic.
Sweet Treat Stops
Need dessert or a caffeine boost before the show?
Popular options include:
Insomnia Cookies
All In Coffee Shop
Summer Moon Coffee
Andee’s Custom Blended Ice Cream
Andee’s SIPS & Such
Handel’s Ice Cream
Arrive early and enjoy Clemson:
🐅 Take photos around Death Valley
🐅 Visit Bowman Field
🐅 Walk Clemson’s campus
🐅 Explore downtown Clemson
Make it an experience, not just a concert.
Don’t be the person who:
❌ Shows up 30 minutes before the concert
❌ Brings the wrong bag
❌ Wears uncomfortable shoes
❌ Doesn’t screenshot tickets
❌ Lets their phone die
❌ Forgets where they parked
❌ Leaves no time for traffic
Before leaving:
☑ Tickets downloaded
☑ Phone charged
☑ Parking picked
☑ Backup parking picked
☑ Clear bag ready
☑ Comfortable clothes
☑ Weather checked
☑ Arrival route planned
After thousands of fans attended the first Morgan Wallen concert at Memorial Stadium, several tips kept coming up over and over again.
1. Parking farther away was actually the better option ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The overwhelming consensus from fans was simple:
Don’t park in the closest lot.
Many people who parked about a mile away or at locations like Brooks Center or NewSpring Church reported getting out much faster than people parked next to the stadium.
Several fans even said they’d happily make the extra walk again because they avoided sitting in traffic for hours.
Tip: A 15 to 20 minute walk can easily save you an hour after the concert.
2. It was MUCH hotter than expected
If there’s one thing everyone agreed on…
It was HOT.
Even after sunset the stadium held the heat, especially in the upper sections where there wasn’t much airflow.
Fans recommended bringing:
- ✅ Cooling neck fan
- ✅ Portable rechargeable fan
- ✅ Cooling towel
- ✅ Electrolytes
- ✅ Sunscreen
- ✅ Portable battery pack
One attendee summed it up perfectly:
“Don’t worry about looking cute. You’re going to sweat it off anyway.”
3. Bring your own unopened bottle of water
One of the best tips from Night 1.
Several attendees reported security allowed them to bring one unopened bottle of water per person, and they simply refilled it throughout the night at water fountains.
Considering bottled water inside the stadium cost around $6–9, this could save both money and keep you hydrated.
4. Be careful which concession line you choose ⚠️
One unexpected issue caught many fans off guard.
Several concession stands that sold alcohol checked IDs before allowing people to continue through the line.
Multiple attendees reported:
- Anyone under 21 wasn’t allowed to remain in those lines.
- Families with children had to leave the line.
- One attendee reported even a 25-year-old with a vertical driver’s license was turned away.
If you’re attending with kids or anyone under 21, look for concession stands that don’t also serve alcohol.
5. Don’t park in Lot C4
One recurring warning from fans:
“Don’t park in C4 unless you want to be trapped until everyone else leaves.”
While experiences vary depending on where you’re parked, C4 received repeated complaints about slow exits.
6. Comfortable shoes beat cowboy boots
This wasn’t a fashion show.
Between:
- walking from parking
- standing for hours
- dancing
- walking back afterward
many fans said their feet were sore long before the concert ended.
Comfortable sneakers won over fashionable boots for most attendees.
7. Merchandise isn’t cheap
If you’re planning to buy official merch, bring extra money.
Fans reported prices around:
- T-shirts: starting around $50
- Hats: around $40–50
- Sweatshirts: $80+
8. Beer and drinks are expensive
Fans reported prices roughly around:
- Beer: about $18
- Bottled water: $6–9
- Sports drinks: similar pricing
Hydrating before arriving can save money and help you handle the heat.
9. Stay for the encore… or leave during the last song
Fans were split.
Stay
Many said the three-song encore was absolutely worth staying for.
Leave early
Others recommended leaving during “Wasted on You” if your top priority was beating traffic.
There isn’t a wrong answer—just decide whether you’d rather hear every song or get on the road sooner.
10. Traffic wasn’t as bad as many expected
One pleasant surprise.
Compared with George Strait’s concert, many fans felt Clemson handled traffic much better.
People who:
- parked farther away,
- waited a little before leaving,
- or walked an extra few blocks,
generally reported getting home much faster than expected.
Quick Tips From Night 1
✔ Bring one unopened bottle of water.
✔ Bring a portable fan.
✔ Electrolytes are your friend.
✔ Wear comfortable shoes.
✔ Expect lots of walking.
✔ Charge your phone before arriving.
✔ Bring a battery pack.
✔ Park farther away if possible.
✔ If you’re with kids, avoid concession lines that also sell alcohol.
✔ Be patient after the show.
Morgan Wallen at Clemson will be one of the biggest events in the Upstate in 2026.
The people who enjoy it the most will be the ones who prepare like it is a Clemson football game day:
Get there early. Have a plan. Expect traffic. Enjoy Death Valley Nights.
