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The N.C. State football team is gearing up for another season of home games, so brace for traffic jams in Raleigh.
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The Wolfpack’s home opener is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11 at Carter-Finley Stadium. That means fans may be flocking to the game right around rush hour.
Traffic delays have caused headaches before past events at Carter-Finley, including the sold-out Noah Kahan concert in July. Though drivers could face less congestion compared to last year’s football season, they still may want to pack their patience.
“Motorists traveling in the area of Carter-Finley Stadium should anticipate increased traffic associated with the game and allow additional travel time,” the Raleigh Police Department told The News & Observer in a Wednesday, Sept. 9 email.
As players prepare to take the field, here are roads you may want to avoid and when traffic could be the worst.
N.C. State’s football team is looking to improve its 0-1 record when it faces the Richmond Spiders on Friday, Sept. 11, The N&O previously reported.
On game day, on-site parking lots open at 2 p.m. and gates for Carter-Finley’s general seating open at 5:30 p.m. The stadium is located at 4600 Trinity Road in Raleigh, near where the N.C. State Fair is held each fall.
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Here are roads where the N.C. Department of Transportation said traffic may be the heaviest:
All lanes are open on I-440, which could help traffic flow in the area.
“Drivers will not have to navigate the I-440 construction work that affected traffic around the stadium last year,” Kim Deaner, a spokesperson for the transportation department, told The N&O in a Wednesday, Sept. 9 email. “That should make getting to and from the game much easier.”
Deaner also said the government agency “recently shifted traffic on the connector from Hillsborough Street to Blue Ridge Road. Another traffic shift isn’t expected for a few more weeks. We halt all construction during football games.”
To check for other game day information — including details about tickets, parking and weather alerts — visit gopack.com/feature/cfs-fanguide.
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This story was originally published September 9, 2026 at 2:43 PM.