Traffic impact for this weekend’s The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival

THE WOODLANDS, TX – This year, Fidelity Investments The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival will add to its normally weekend-only calendar by opening on Friday, April 11. While nowhere near the traffic impact that the annual IRONMAN Texas triathlon will have on the following weekend, there are still some parking and driving notes you should take for maximum enjoyment of the festival.

There are five entrance gates that will be open for the entirety of the festivities. Gate #1 is on the west end along the Waterway by Grogans Mill bridge; Gate #2 is located at the front of Town Green Park; Gate #3 is at the turn-around off of Riva Row; Gate #4 is situated at the South Pavilion just behind the Town Center Garage; and Gate #5 is behind the Marriott on the Waterway.

There are easily accessible ways to get to the festival, no matter where you’re coming from. From Houston, take I-45 North, exit Woodlands Parkway, turn right on Six Pines Drive, and turn left at Town Center Parking Garage adjacent to the Pavilion. From Conroe, take I-45 South, take exit 76 toward Robinson Rd/Woodlands Pkwy, turn slightly right onto Lake Robbins Dr., turn left onto Waterway Ave, and turn right at Waterway Square Place.

Parking is available for free on Friday at the Howard Hughes parking garage at Waterway Square at 1450 Lake Robbins Dr; free parking on Friday is also available at Town Centre Garage.

On Saturday and Sunday, there are various parking options. You can park for free in the Green Lot or Orange Lot situated off of 2002 Timberloch Place, or the Howard Hughes parking garage at Waterway Square at 1450 Lake Robbins Dr. Paid Parking ($10 per day) is also available at the Town Centre Garage.

Handicap parking is available in all parking lots; for ADA purposes, the easiest drop off is at the front of Town Green Park at Gate 2. For the easiest parking experience, it is suggested you use the Town Centre Garage and enter through Gate 4.

Additionally, you can take the Woodlands Trolley to and from your parking spot for free. Enjoy all The Woodlands has to offer and park at The Woodlands Mall or Hughes Landing, then ride The Woodlands Township Town Center Trolley right to the front gate of the Arts Festival. Additionally, there are plenty of bike racks available if you want to bicycle. The Ride Systems app (available for iOs and Android systems) gives you realtime updates on trolley locations.

For weekend drivers, the only delays you may find yourself in – and they would be mild delays at most – is if you travel anywhere between Grogan’s Mill and I-45 between Woodlands Pkwy and Lake Woodlands Drive. Otherwise, motor away without a care!