What you need to know to attend the U.S. Open in Oakmont

About 200,000 people will flock to Oakmont Country Club for the U.S. Open golf championship.

Danny Sink, USGA’s senior director of U.S. Open Championships, is advising local residents to use alternate routes to reach their destinations and avoid the crowded roads.

With shuttle buses running to and from off-site parking lots, in addition to regular event traffic, delays can be expected during the peak hours of 7 to 11 a.m. and 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. along primary routes to Oakmont, including Allegheny Avenue and Hulton Road.

“If you live here and you’re not into golf, we’re probably a headache,” Sink said. “But we want to eliminate that headache as much as possible.”

Through a partnership with 511pa.com, fans can see up-to-date traffic conditions for the area.

Here are some of the important things fans should know before preparing to attend the U.S. Open:

Parking

There is no general fan parking available at the Oakmont Country Club site. Instead, fans must park in either of the two large fan parking lots — the red lot at Hartwood Acres or the blue lot at Monroeville Mall — and take a coach bus shuttle to the championship.

There will be other VIP lots, group lots and a media lot, but the red and blue lots are the only ones open to general fans, Sink said. Spaces near the country club have been limited to VIP parking since 1994, he said.

No overnight parking in any of the USGA parking lots is permitted, and vehicles will be subject to towing at the owner’s expense.

All local street parking will be enforceable in alignment with Borough of Oakmont ordinances and regulations, as well as at Monroeville Mall, where overnight parking is prohibited. The gates at Hartwood Acres will be locked overnight.

The two lots are expected to accommodate a combined 10,000 cars, Sink said.

“You’d rather have 52 people on a coach bus than 49 cars,” he said of the traffic.

Fans can start arriving at both lots at 5:30 a.m., which is when the first shuttle buses will begin running. That puts the arrival of the first buses at Oakmont Country Club just ahead of the 6 a.m. opening of the admissions gates, according to Sink. The last buses will depart the club around 9 p.m., about an hour after play concludes for the day.

Sink said there will be a total of 130 coach buses running “continuously” that will head back and forth as soon as they’re filled.

“It’s not on a schedule,” he said. “Our goal is to not make anyone wait in line.”

Shuttles will run earlier and later for vendors needing to set up and tear down, Sink said.

This year is the first time Monroe­ville Mall will be utilized as a fan parking area — in lieu of the Pittsburgh Mills Mall, he said. Hartwood Acres has been used since 1994.

“We’re excited about Monroe­ville,” Sink said. “We talked to the new owners of Pittsburgh Mills; they decided they didn’t want to lease it again.”

That might be for the best, as the Pittsburgh Mills roadways are riddled with potholes.

Accessible parking spaces for vehicles displaying appropriate HD/DP license plates or placards will be reserved at all parking locations, according to U.S. Open policy.

Any fans who need lift-equipped transportation should contact the USGA Championship Office at 2025usopen@usga.org ahead of the championship to receive specific parking instructions. This complimentary shuttle transportation will be available to and from all remote championship parking lots.

The U.S. Open’s Disability Services Committee will be on-site to assist fans with disabilities with multiperson golf cart transportation to and from designated stops and accessible grandstand and facility locations. Accessible restrooms will be available at all portable restroom locations throughout the grounds.

For fans using ride share services, including Uber, Lyft, taxis or limousines, drop-offs will only be allowed at the designated area at 10th Street Elementary School. It’s about a half-mile walk to championship Gate 5.

Because of traffic restrictions, access is limited to vehicles no larger than a 15-passenger van or limousine. There will be no parking or staging for ride share vehicles, according to U.S. Open officials.

Bike racks will be provided at the general fan lots and the ride share location at 10th Street Elementary for fans who choose to ride a bicycle to the championship.

More on the U.S. Open

• Open for business: Area restaurants, bars, shops ready for U.S. Open spectators, golfers
• 'The hardest I played': Oakmont Country Club likely to raise scores, blood pressures at U.S. Open
• U.S. Open hole by hole: Players will club up for No. 8 at Oakmont, 1 of the longest par 3s in world

Security

When arriving at the club, attendees will go through security screening.

A limited number of motorized scooters for fans with disabilities will be available at the Mobility Scooter Tents next to Gates 1 and 5 on a first-come, first-served basis.

There’s a hefty list of prohibited items, which the USGA says should be stowed away prior to entering the championship grounds.

Items not permitted include:

• Food and drink, except for medical or infant needs (water bottles 32 ounces or less that aren’t glass are permitted if they are empty upon arrival)

• Backpacks, briefcases, purses and bags larger than 6 inches by 6 inches by 6 inches in their natural state

• Weapons, explosives and fireworks

• Computers, tablets and phones larger than 7 inches

• Drones, selfie sticks, handheld camera stabilizers, cameras and video cameras (cameras and video cameras are allowed Monday through Wednesday for personal use only)

• Noise-producing devices such as radios, TVs and portable speakers

• Signs, posters, banners or other sports paraphernalia or memorabilia

• Glass and coolers, except for medical or infant needs (aerosol cans, spray bottles and personal care items 3.4 ounces or less are permitted)

• Pets or emotional support animals (trained service dogs allowed)

• Lounge chairs, oversized chairs, ladders, step stools and similar items

• Personal transportation devices such as bicycles, Segways and scooters (other than individuals with mobility disabilities)

• Any other items or actions deemed unlawful, dangerous or disruptive by the USGA and security

To carry items, attendees can bring transparent/clear plastic hand and shoulder bags no larger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches. Or, as noted above, bags that aren’t clear can be brought in if they’re smaller than 6 inches by 6 inches by 6 inches.

Mothers who are nursing are permitted to bring necessary equipment to the championship, but storing any product is the responsibility of the mother, per U.S. Open policy. Any nursing mothers who prefer a more private location may use a room within a first aid station, which will be located throughout the course.

To fill any empty water bottles fans bring into the championship, hydration stations will be available at the following locations:

• Fan Central near Merchandise and Gate 1

• Driving range near Satellite Merchandise and Gate 5

• Right of No. 1 fairway

• Right of No. 7 fairway

• Between Nos. 11 and 12 fairways

• Right of No. 16 fairway

• All first aid stations (equipped with water coolers)

• Volunteer Village (proper access required)

Leaving

Per ticketing policy, fans are unable to reenter the championship grounds after leaving, except in limited instances such as for medical purposes or emergencies.

Select tickets have reentry for those who opt in to the facial authentication program Express Reentry by Wicket. Attendees should email tickets@usga.org to apply for a reentry exception in advance.