the light rail is a very nice way to avoid some traffic and parking issues...
the West Bank or St. Paul and a bus is another very good way...
if you can walk a little, parking by University Lutheran Church away from Dinkytown toward Marcy also can be done smoothly if you know how to enter and go from the North and West avoiding 15th, 10th, 4th and Uni as much as possible...when I did that, I always enjoyed soaking up house party scene, Dinkytown scene, frat row scene, tailgate lots
also, if you can walk a little, coming off 280 and using backroads (not University) to park by Surly is a way to get in and out quick
I've tried it all over the years...come early and stay late with friends and food and drinks in SkiUMah lot is final solution