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Concert season is underway at Carter-Finley Stadium, so brace yourself for traffic jams this week.
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Thousands of fans are expected to pour into the Raleigh venue for two major shows. Guns N’ Roses will take the stage Thursday, July 23, and a sold-out Noah Kahan concert is scheduled for Saturday, July 25.
Both shows start at 6:30 p.m., and organizers are strongly advising concert-goers and nearby motorists to plan ahead.
Traffic backups have marred previous concerts at Carter-Finley Stadium, including a Chris Brown show that some fans completely missed, The News & Observer reported in October.
“If you’re attending either concert — or simply traveling through west Raleigh on Thursday or Saturday evening — plan ahead, allow extra time, and expect heavier-than-normal traffic around Carter-Finley Stadium,” an N.C. State University spokesperson told The N&O in a Tuesday, July 21 email. “A little extra planning will go a long way toward making your evening smoother.”
Here’s what to know about the shows, including the best roads for Raleigh drivers to avoid and how to get tickets. For concertgoers, we’ve also created a guide to parking and venue rules.
Guns N’ Roses and Kahan are set to take the stage at Carter-Finley Stadium, where the N.C. State Wolfpack plays home football games. The venue is located at 4600 Trinity Road, close to where the N.C. State Fair is held each fall.
The biggest traffic impacts are expected before and after the shows. Potentially making matters worse, crowds will be flocking to the show on Thursday around rush hour. Here are key times for both of the concerts:
Earlier this week, digital signs in the area started displaying “expect delays” messages. On show days, the signs will have concert-specific traffic information, N.C. State organizers said.
Drivers are encouraged to follow road signs and parking instructions, which will be different from the traffic pattern for football games.
On concert days, N.C. State expects drivers to run into traffic on these roads:
“Patrons are encouraged to arrive well before the start of the show to avoid peak traffic congestion and help ensure a smooth entry experience,” the university wrote.
If you want to see Guns N’ Roses, seats are still available at ticketmaster.com. Meanwhile, the venue said the concert featuring Noah Kahan is sold out.
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“Noah Kahan is using Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange to help fans get tickets at the original price,” N.C. State Athletics wrote on its website. “Tickets will be non-transferable and can only be resold on Ticketmaster at face value.”
Both shows have mobile tickets, so concertgoers are encouraged to add them to their phones’ Apple or Google wallets in advance. If you need help, on-site box offices will start opening at 1:30 p.m. on concert days.
The artists are expected to draw tens of thousands of fans from across the Southeastern United States. N.C. State encourages congert-goers to reserve parking ahead of time.
At Carter-Finley Stadium, pre-paid parking costs $40 and on-site parking costs $60.
To pay for your parking spot in advance, visit carterfinleystadium.com. A map on the website shows nearby parking lots and the drop-off area for Uber and Lyft rides.
A GoRaleigh bus runs near the venue, though taking the route could require advanced planning, The N&O previously reported.
After a stretch of highs in the 90s, temperatures are forecast to cool off to the 70s or 80s on the concert days. The National Weather Service also said rain showers and thunderstorms are expected those two days, so be prepared.
“We will be continuously monitoring the weather conditions and will alert concert attendees via the PA system, in-venue videoboards, and @packathletics social media posts about any day-of or active concert changes,” the university wrote.
Here are other ways to get concert updates:
Carter-Finley Stadium has a clear bag policy. Read more about the items you can bring at carterfinleystadium.com.
The N&O reached out to Live Nation and is awaiting a response.
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This story was originally published July 22, 2026 at 11:06 AM.