The drive from Savannah to Statesboro is 55 miles — I-16 West most of the way, then US-301 north into town — and under normal conditions it takes just over an hour. On a Saturday when the Georgia Southern Eagles are hosting a Sun Belt rival or the first Power Four opponent to ever play in Statesboro, though, Lanier Drive shuts down four hours before kickoff, the color-coded parking lots fill from the outside in, and the grid around Veterans Memorial Parkway seizes up well before the gates even open. Groups that drove themselves spend the first hour of tailgate time stuck on the approach instead of in it.
A Savannah charter bus or party bus rental to Paulson Stadium solves the whole picture: one vehicle out of Savannah, one arrival in Statesboro, and a pre-arranged spot instead of 10 separate cars hunting the same first-come, first-served lots.
This guide covers every logistics detail your group needs — exactly how buses approach Allen E. Paulson Stadium, which lots fill first, the specific street closure that surprises every first-timer, the free on-campus shuttle and where it falls short for a Savannah group, and the right vehicle for 20 people versus 50. Partybussavannah.com makes it easy to compare party buses, charter buses, and minibuses from a large network of bus companies serving Savannah — get a quote in about a minute at 912-752-1890 or through the online form on this site.
Why Rent a Charter Bus or Party Bus to Paulson Stadium from Savannah?
Georgia Southern's campus is not designed for 25,000 visitors arriving by car. Paulson Stadium sits at the southern edge of campus on Lanier Drive — a road that closes to southbound traffic between Chandler Road and Robin Hood Trail four hours before kickoff and doesn't reopen until one hour after the final whistle. During that window, every car heading into the Gold Lot, Peach Lot, Morris Bank Blue Lot, Green Lot, and Teal Lot is funneling in from a single direction: Lanier Drive off Veterans Memorial Parkway.
The later your group arrives, the longer that approach crawls.
A Savannah party bus or charter bus rental changes how the whole day works. Your group loads up in Savannah, rolls together for the 55-mile run up I-16 and US-301, and arrives on campus ahead of peak congestion — instead of 10 different cars, all hunting spots in lots that fill on a first-come, first-served basis. When the Eagles win and the lot turns into a post-game crawl — every vehicle directed to turn right toward Veterans Memorial Parkway, no left-turn egress — your group is already moving instead of still looking for the car.
That is the practical case for one bus. The case for the right bus starts with your headcount and how you want to spend the hour-plus ride each way.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at Paulson Stadium
Paulson Stadium's address is 207 Lanier Dr, Statesboro, GA 30458. All vehicles approaching the main parking lots — Gold, Peach, Morris Bank Blue, Green, and Teal — enter from Lanier Drive off Veterans Memorial Parkway, per published Georgia Southern game-day guidance. The exit flow is a single direction: after the game, all vehicles turn right on Lanier Drive toward Veterans Memorial Parkway.
There is no left-turn egress out of the stadium lots. That one-way exit constraint applies to buses and cars alike, so a pre-arranged pickup window before your group walks out of the gates is worth planning out before kickoff.
For charter and private bus groups, the approach corridor is the same — Lanier Drive from Veterans Memorial Parkway — with the bus staging near the parking area while your group tailgates and then enters the stadium. Because oversized vehicle staging and any designated bus areas can shift by event and season, contact the Georgia Southern University Parking & Transportation office at 912-478-7275 or parking@georgiasouthern.edu before your game to confirm current protocols for your specific date. The official game-day parking and transportation page on GSEagles.com publishes current maps each season and is the right source to confirm any routing updates.
The Lanier Drive Closure: What It Actually Means for Your Bus Group
Southbound Lanier Drive closes between Chandler Road and Robin Hood Trail starting four hours before kickoff, per Georgia Southern's published game-day guidance, and reopens one hour after the game ends. No access to Robin Hood Trail from southbound Lanier Drive during that window — any traffic arriving from Robin Hood Trail is required to turn right onto Lanier Drive toward Veterans Memorial Parkway.
Here is what that means in practice. For a 7:00 PM kickoff, Lanier Drive closes at 3:00 PM. A bus departing Savannah at 2:00 PM arrives in Statesboro around 3:15 PM — right at the closure window.
Leave at 1:30 PM instead, and your group is parked and tailgating before the road closes. For a 3:30 PM kickoff, the closure starts at 11:30 AM, meaning a 9:30 AM departure from Savannah is the target for a comfortable arrival with tailgate time. The earlier you leave Savannah, the easier the approach and the better your lot position — all parking is first-come, first-served except for reserved donor sections.
The post-game exit is the other constraint. When roughly 25,000 fans leave at once and every vehicle is directed right toward Veterans Memorial Parkway, the lot crawl takes 30–45 minutes or longer on a big game. A charter bus with a pre-arranged pickup point means your group has a meeting spot already set and a clear path out instead of splitting up to find individual cars across multiple lots.
Lanier Drive closes four hours before kickoff. The post-game exit is right-turn only toward Veterans Memorial Parkway. Knowing both of these before you arrive — and building them into your group's departure time from Savannah — is the single biggest logistics win a first-timer can get.
Paulson Stadium Parking: The Lot-by-Lot Breakdown
Georgia Southern uses a color-coded lot system spread across campus. Here is how each lot works for a visiting group arriving by charter bus or party bus from Savannah.
The Gold Lot sits closest to the stadium and is primarily reserved for Erk Russell Fund donors. General paid single-game parking runs $20 in advance or $25 on game day in the available lots — all passes are delivered digitally and scanned via smartphone at the lot entrance. Spots are first-come, first-served except in reserved donor areas, and lots open at 8:00 AM on Saturday game days.
The Peach Lot, Morris Bank Blue Lot, Green Lot, and Teal Lot all approach from Lanier Drive off Veterans Memorial Parkway.
For groups with RVs or large tailgate setups, RV and oversized tailgate spots are available in the Purple and Teal lots only. The RAC lot (Recreation Activities Center) is a car-only lot — RVs and oversized vehicles are not permitted there. The PAC lot (Performing Arts Center) offers RV/tailgate spaces at rates that have been published at $75 in advance or $100 on game day; check the official university parking and transportation page for current pricing before your visit, as rates may have changed.
The most popular tailgating zones are the green, grassy areas around the RAC, PAC, and Lot 29. Tailgating is permitted in those perimeter areas and directly behind your vehicle as long as it is not blocking traffic lanes or parking stalls.
Free parking is available at the Russell Union, with complimentary shuttle service to the stadium. The catch for a Savannah group is in the section below.
The On-Campus Shuttle vs. a Private Charter Bus: An Honest Look
Georgia Southern runs two complimentary game-day shuttle routes — the Gold Express and the Blue route — with ADA-accessible buses starting 2.5 hours before kickoff and stopping 1 hour after the game ends. Shuttle stops are at Paulson Stadium off Malecki Drive, the Performing Arts Center (corner of Forest Drive and Plant Drive), and the Recreation Activities Center on Akins Boulevard. For someone already on campus or parking at the Russell Union, it is a solid free option.
For a group coming from Savannah, the shuttle solves only the campus leg — you still need 10 cars to get everyone to Statesboro, multiple separate parking spots, and a way back after the shuttle stops running. A charter bus from Savannah replaces that entire chain: one pickup in Savannah, 55 miles together on I-16 and US-301, drop-off on campus for tailgating, and a pre-arranged return. The shuttle is a campus connector.
The bus is a Savannah-to-Paulson-Stadium solution.
| Option | Cost shape | Covers Savannah-to-Statesboro? | Arrive together? | Post-game exit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter bus or party bus | One flat rate, split by the group | Yes — pickup in Savannah, door to campus | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival | Pre-arranged pickup spot, no lot crawl wait |
| Georgia Southern campus shuttle | Free (with lot parking cost) | No — campus only | Only if everyone parks at the same stop | Stops 1 hour post-game; last run can be packed |
| Rideshare (Uber / Lyft) | Per car each way + surge post-game | Yes, but multiple cars | No — split across vehicles and ETAs | Surge pricing near campus after the final whistle |
| Everyone drives & parks | $20–$25 per car + gas per car | Yes, but split group | No — caravans always split up | Right-turn-only crawl on Lanier Drive, 30–45 min+ |
For one or two people making the trip alone, rideshare or driving is often fine. The moment your party grows past a handful of cars' worth of people, the coordination cost of separate vehicles — different arrival times, scattered parking, multiple fares, and the post-game regrouping — tips clearly toward one bus. That is the group the rest of this guide is written for.
The Savannah-to-Statesboro Run: I-16 West to US-301
The most direct route from Savannah to Paulson Stadium is I-16 West to Exit 116 (US-25/US-301 in Bulloch County), then US-25/US-301 north into Statesboro. The drive runs approximately 55 miles and just over an hour under normal conditions — plan 1 hour 15 minutes with a loaded bus and any campus congestion near the Lanier Drive approach. I-16 covers most of the distance with very few turns, and the campus is reachable from the US-301 exit in just a few miles.
The return leg after a night game is usually the easiest part of the day. I-16 East toward Savannah clears quickly once the post-game lot crawl on Lanier Drive releases, and the highway is largely empty by the time your bus is rolling. The congestion is a Statesboro problem — specifically a Lanier Drive and Veterans Memorial Parkway problem — and it clears faster on the outbound side than it built on the way in.
A few departure benchmarks for the most common kickoff times:
- 7:00 PM kickoff — leave Savannah by 1:30–2:00 PM. That puts your group on campus between 2:45 and 3:15 PM, before the 3:00 PM Lanier Drive closure, with nearly four hours to park and tailgate.
- 3:30 PM kickoff — leave Savannah by 9:30 AM. Lanier Drive closes at 11:30 AM. A 9:30 AM departure gets you to campus around 10:45 AM with solid tailgate time before the lots fill.
- Night kickoffs (8:00 PM and later) — leave Savannah by 3:30–4:00 PM. More flexibility on departure, but the tailgate spots still fill up. Earlier is always better at a first-come, first-served lot system.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Rentals for the Savannah-to-Paulson Stadium Trip
The right vehicle for a 55-mile group run from Savannah depends on your headcount and what your group needs for the ride each way. Partybussavannah.com connects you to a full lineup of vehicle types through a large network of bus companies serving Savannah — here is how the options stack up for this specific trip.
| Vehicle | Capacity | Best for | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-passenger Sprinter limo / Sprinter van | Up to 14 | Small group, VIP seating, quick Savannah-to-Statesboro run | Premium leather, USB charging, tinted privacy windows, individual climate control |
| Party bus (25–50 passengers) | ~15–50 | Mid-size fan group, rolling pregame energy | Color-changing LED lighting, Bluetooth sound, flat-panel TVs, wraparound perimeter seating |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | ~15–35 | Mid-size group, easy campus navigation | Reclining seats, powerful A/C, overhead storage |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Large fan groups, tailgate gear, long-haul comfort | Reclining seats, climate control, overhead bins, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restroom, undercarriage bays |
For groups between 15 and 35, a minibus is often the sharpest fit for this trip — easier to stage on campus and more economical per seat than a full coach for a smaller group. For groups over 40, a charter bus gives you the undercarriage bays for coolers and tailgate gear, plus an onboard restroom so the hour-plus ride from Savannah doesn't require a rest stop. ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network — just flag it when you request your quote.
Rent a Bus to Paulson Stadium: What to Expect on Pricing
Paulson Stadium bus rental pricing shifts with vehicle size, total rental hours, and the date. Partybussavannah.com shows quotes in about a minute — no account needed. Call 912-752-1890 or use the online form to compare options for your game date. To give you an idea of where rates typically land:
A 25-passenger party bus runs about $275–$375 per hour on weekends. For a 7-hour rental covering pickup in Savannah, the I-16 run out, tailgate time, the game, and the return, that works out to roughly $1,925–$2,625 for the whole bus — about $77–$105 per person for 25 people. A 40–56 passenger charter bus runs about $200–$350 per hour on weekends, so a comparable 7-hour rental runs $1,400–$2,450 total — often under $50 per person when spread across a full coach.
A 15–35 passenger minibus comes in at $200–$275 per hour on weekends.
Those are planning ranges — your real quote depends on pickup location, trip length, and the specific vehicle. One comparison worth running: parking at Paulson runs $25 per car on game day. For a group that would otherwise need eight cars, that's $200 in parking alone before gas and the post-game wait in the lot crawl.
A bus at $50–$80 per person covers the whole round trip with none of those variables. See the Savannah party bus prices page for more planning context, or call 912-752-1890 to get a quote for your specific date and group size.
Eagle Walk, Freedom the Eagle, and What Makes Paulson Game Day Different
"The Prettiest Little Stadium in America" is what legendary coach Erk Russell called it — and the name has stuck for four decades. Allen E. Paulson Stadium was dedicated in 1984, named after the founder of Gulfstream Aerospace who contributed over $1 million toward its construction. The playing surface is now Evans Family Field, renamed in 2024 following a $3 million donation, with modern FieldTurf installed in 2023.
Capacity is 25,000, with a record attendance of 26,483 set on September 30, 2023, when the Eagles defeated Coastal Carolina 38–28. The home record through the 2024 season stands at 218–51 — a .810 winning percentage that is the strongest argument for making the Savannah trip at least once.
Two traditions every first-timer should know. Before each home game, the team boards yellow school buses — the same style the program famously purchased from the Bulloch County school district for $1 apiece in the early 1980s when money was tight — and rolls through the tailgating lots for the Eagle Walk, greeted by fans lining the route. Then, just before kickoff, Freedom, the program's live bald eagle mascot, launches from the top of the press box and swoops to midfield.
Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. Be on campus before that if you want a tailgate spot and a clear sight line for the Eagle Walk.
2026 Georgia Southern Home Football Schedule at Paulson Stadium
The Eagles' 2026 home slate features six Saturday games at Paulson Stadium, headlined by the first Power Four program to ever play in Statesboro. If you're planning a group trip from Savannah this season, these are the dates to plan around:
- September 5 — vs. Charleston Southern (7:00 PM): The season opener. A night kickoff lines up well for an early-afternoon departure from Savannah.
- September 26 — vs. Houston: The marquee non-conference game of 2026 — the first Power Four opponent to play at Paulson Stadium. Group transportation demand for this one will be significant. Book early.
- October 10 — vs. James Madison: A Sun Belt matchup with solid visitor turnout. October weather in Statesboro is ideal for tailgating.
- October 31 — vs. Appalachian State: A Halloween-weekend game. One of the best tailgate atmospheres of any date on the schedule, and one of the most popular for Savannah groups making the trip.
- November 7 — vs. Marshall: A deep-November home game with Senior Day energy building toward the finale.
- November 28 — vs. Louisiana Tech (Senior Day): The regular-season home finale. Senior Day games at Paulson draw some of the biggest atmospheres and most loyal alumni groups of the year.
For the Houston game on September 26 and the Halloween weekend App State game on October 31, Savannah bus availability tightens several weeks out. Senior Day on November 28 is the same story. The earlier you request a quote, the more vehicle options you'll have and the better the rates.
Call 912-752-1890 to lock in your date as soon as your group is confirmed.
Tips for First-Time Visitors to Paulson Stadium
- Plan your Savannah departure around the Lanier Drive closure. Southbound Lanier Drive between Chandler Road and Robin Hood Trail closes four hours before kickoff. Build your bus departure from Savannah to arrive before that window — use the benchmarks in the route section above as your guide.
- All parking passes are digital. Georgia Southern delivers parking passes electronically; fans scan at the lot entrance via smartphone. Have the pass pulled up before you reach the gate.
- RV and oversized spots are Purple and Teal lots only. The RAC lot does not permit RVs or oversized vehicles. If your group is hauling a large tailgate setup or needs an oversized staging spot for a charter bus, flag that detail when you request your quote and confirm directly with Georgia Southern Parking & Transportation before your game.
- Clear bag policy is in effect. Tinted and printed-pattern bags are not permitted inside the stadium. Per the official Georgia Southern clear bag policy, seat cushions cannot exceed 17 inches in width and may not have backs, pockets, arms, or legs — and seats with backs are not permitted for football games at Paulson.
- Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. For pre-game traditions like the Eagle Walk and Freedom's flight from the press box, arrive early.
- Post-game egress is right-turn only. All vehicles exit onto Lanier Drive toward Veterans Memorial Parkway — there is no left-turn option out of the lots. Know your bus's post-game staging spot before the final whistle so your group has a clear meetup point.
- Check the official parking page before your game. Lot assignments, pricing, and routing details update each season. The game-day parking and transportation page on GSEagles.com and the university parking and transportation page are the two best sources to confirm current information before you leave Savannah.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does a charter bus drop off at Paulson Stadium?
All vehicles approaching the main stadium lots enter from Lanier Drive off Veterans Memorial Parkway. For charter buses and oversized vehicles, specific staging and drop-off logistics should be confirmed directly with the Georgia Southern University Parking & Transportation office (912-478-7275 / parking@georgiasouthern.edu) before your game date, as oversized vehicle protocols can shift by event and season. The official game-day parking page has current maps and routing for each season.
How far is Savannah from Paulson Stadium?
About 55 miles, via I-16 West to Exit 116 (US-25/US-301), then north on US-301 into Statesboro. Under normal conditions the drive runs just over an hour — plan 1 hour 15 minutes with a full bus and campus congestion near the stadium.
When does Lanier Drive close for Georgia Southern games?
Four hours before kickoff. Southbound Lanier Drive between Chandler Road and Robin Hood Trail closes at that point and reopens one hour after the game ends. During the closure, all vehicles — including charter buses — access the parking lots from Lanier Drive off Veterans Memorial Parkway, and post-game egress is right-turn only in that same direction.
Is there bus parking at Paulson Stadium?
The university does not publish a dedicated public charter bus parking lot. RV and oversized tailgate spaces are available in the Purple and Teal lots only (the RAC lot explicitly prohibits oversized vehicles). Contact the Parking & Transportation office at parking@georgiasouthern.edu to confirm current protocols and any designated staging areas for your vehicle size before game day.
How much does parking cost at Paulson Stadium?
General single-game parking runs $20 in advance or $25 on game day. RV/tailgate spaces in the PAC lot have been published at $75 in advance and $100 on game day — confirm current rates on the official university parking page before your visit, as rates can change each season. Free parking is available at the Russell Union, with complimentary campus shuttle service to the stadium.
Does the Georgia Southern game-day shuttle run from Savannah?
No. The Georgia Southern shuttle runs on campus only — from the Russell Union, the PAC (Forest Drive/Plant Drive), and the RAC (Akins Blvd) to the stadium at Malecki Drive. It doesn't cover the Savannah-to-Statesboro leg. For a group making that run from Savannah, a charter bus or party bus rental handles the full itinerary; the campus shuttle is the tool for people already in Statesboro.
What is the clear bag policy at Paulson Stadium?
Tinted and printed-pattern bags are not permitted. Seat cushions are allowed but cannot exceed 17 inches in width and cannot have backs, pockets, arms, or legs; seats with backs are not permitted at football games. See the official clear bag policy on GSEagles.com for the full rules.
What time should we leave Savannah for a Georgia Southern game?
For a 7:00 PM kickoff, leave Savannah by 1:30–2:00 PM — that puts your group on campus before the 3:00 PM Lanier Drive closure with time to park and tailgate. For a 3:30 PM kickoff, aim to leave by 9:30 AM — Lanier Drive closes at 11:30 AM. Night kickoffs allow more flexibility on departure time, but the lots fill first-come, first-served, so earlier is always the better call.
What bus size is right for a Savannah group heading to a Georgia Southern game?
For groups of 15–35, a minibus is usually the most economical and most maneuverable option for the campus approach. For groups of 40 and up, a full charter bus handles the headcount, holds tailgate gear in the undercarriage bays, and provides an onboard restroom for the hour-plus ride. Groups of 14 and under can often do the trip comfortably in a Sprinter limo or Sprinter van.
How far in advance should I book a bus for a Georgia Southern game?
For most regular-season home games, 3–6 weeks of lead time covers availability from Savannah. For the Houston game on September 26, the Halloween weekend App State game on October 31, and Senior Day on November 28, book earlier — those dates draw bigger groups and the right-size vehicles go fast. Call 912-752-1890 as soon as your game date is confirmed.
Book Your Paulson Stadium Bus from Savannah Today
The Eagles' home record at Paulson Stadium is 218–51 through 2024. That is the kind of home-field advantage that makes the 55-mile trip from Savannah worth making in a group. Partybussavannah.com makes it easy to compare party buses, charter buses, minibuses, and Sprinter options from a large network of bus companies serving Savannah — one quick form or one call covers your pickup location, your group size, and your game date.
Call 912-752-1890 any time or use the online quote form — a quote takes about a minute, no account required. For more on Savannah group sports transportation, see the Savannah sporting event bus rental page. If your trip includes stops around Bulloch County, the Statesboro party bus page covers bus options in that area as well.
