A college football tailgate is a pre-game tradition with food and fun that can be shared with your student, friends and other families. Whether you are a seasoned tailgater or gearing up for your first event, proper planning and preparation can make for a stress-free, fun and memorable experience. This guide will take you through what you need to know to get ready to create a fun college tailgating and game day experience!

Don’t miss the 5 most common items tailgaters forget to bring below!

Pre-Tailgate Planning: Tickets & Travel

If you have this much time, great! If not, you can get it all done with a short lead time too!

Take a look at the school’s football schedule and determine which games you will attend. I recommend checking when the school has parents’ weekend which is fun to attend as a parent but can also be the busiest weekend and even harder to find hotel reservations if you need them.

Getting your game tickets as soon as they go on sale can mean securing them for face value or sometimes, waiting until closer to game day can get you a great deal. It really depends on the team, the opponent and the demand!

Get Your Game Tickets

Once you know which game(s) you’ll be attending, start to look for tickets. Pricing can vary wildly depending on the school, who they are playing, the time of the game and of course, your seat choice. Start with your school’s athletic website and then check other resources for tickets. Check your school’s parent Facebook group for recommendations of where and when to buy after-market tickets. Some schools have ‘official’ 3rd party ticket brokers like SeatGeek or StubHub.

If you have a student attending the school, check on their ticket situation. If they have a student ticket, they will likely be in the student section, or they may not be guaranteed a student ticket and want to sit with you for this game.

Even if you’re making a last minute plan to attend, you may be able to find good deals on tickets if you are flexible and are ok with making a ‘game day decision’. Honestly, I know plenty of people who go setup for the tailgate, enjoy the day, and then stay at their tailgate spot and watch the game from there rather than pay the ticket prices and deal with the crowds. Just an idea for you – you won’t be the only ones if you decide to do this!

Clear Bags & Other Rules

While you are on the school website looking at tickets, also check the stadium rules about clear bags. Many now require not only clear bags but have a limit on the size. If you’re interested in bringing portable stadium seats, check the rules on those as well. Some schools only allow renting these at the stadium and reservations may need to be made in advance.

This is one of our favorite small bags. We love that it comes in several colors – maybe your school color, and that the long strap is removable so you can replace it with a school colors guitar strap. You can always put a school logo sticker on the outside of the bag too.

Secure Your Parking Spot And Possibly Your Tailgating Spot

Collegiate tailgating experiences vary by school. At some schools, you secure a parking spot and then find a place to tailgate. At other schools, the parking spot is where you do the tailgating.

Get started by checking the school’s website for initial guidance on tailgating locations, rules and restrictions. You will often find maps and links to buy parking passes for lots on campus. You may be quite surprised at the cost of a parking pass near the stadium – another thing to check into well ahead of time.

Parent Facebook groups are also great for learning about the best lots and locations for tailgating at your school.

Know someone with an older student at the school? Check with them for recommendations on tailgating locations as well.

In some towns, you can also secure parking the day-of in private lots that make themselves open to tailgaters on game day. Expect to pay cash (some may take card) and arrive early!

Coming in from out of town and have a budget? Many schools and local businesses provide tailgating services that include complete setup and teardown of your tailgate including coolers, tent, chairs and TVs!

Need A Hotel Room Or Airbnb For College Football Weekend?

No matter when you are going to a college area on a weekend, ALWAYS book your hotel room or Airbnb as far in advance as possible. This is true even on non-game weekends. There is always something happening in college towns, and hotel prices almost never go down over time. Book early and book a refundable rate. Put a reminder in your calendar for the day before the last day to cancel without penalty in case your plans may change.

College Football Tailgate Planning: 2 To 3 Weeks Out

Game Day is quickly approaching! It’s time to start planning for your football tailgate day including the menu, what you’ll wear and what you’ll need to bring for set-up, cooking, serving, lounging, entertainment and clean-up.

If you’ll need to order anything online for your tailgate, you’ll want to do that now instead of hoping for or paying for quick shipping later.

Read on for a full checklist of what to consider as you plan an awesome tailgate party day!

Tailgate Attendees – Get a Headcount!

Determine how many people you will be hosting. If you have a student at the school, will they be bringing their friends by your tailgate? How many? Will they all be there to eat and drink or just stop by to say hello?

Tailgate Essentials: Everything To Consider Bringing To Your Tailgate

For Your Tailgate Area/Space

• Tent. Depending on your space and how many people you are expecting, a typical 10×10 (100 sq feet) can fit about 6 chairs and an 8×8 (64 sq feet) fits about 2-4 chairs. Our 10×10 tent fit our folding table and about 6 chairs.
  • Pop Up Canopy Tent – available in loads of colors
• Folding chairs. One chair per person is great if you have them, but not necessary as there will be a lot of time mingling and standing.
  • Folding Chairs – there are fancier ones available, but we find simple is best, this one comes with cup holder and available in 3 colors under $10.
  • Amazon Basics Camping Chair – padded with cooler pouch.
• Folding tables. Consider that you will need tables for setting out food and drinks, so at least one 6ft folding table is a must. For a larger tailgate, two tables may be a better setup to accommodate both food and serving items.
  • 8 Foot Portable Tailgate Table (& Beer Pong)  – have a little fun at the game with a table that does double duty. Available in a few fun colors/themes.
  • 4 Foot Folding Utility Table – adjustable height and folding legs make it easy to transport. And a 6 foot foldable table option.
  • Portable Folding Table – folds up like a folding chair, this small round table even has cup holders and creates a little extra space when you don’t have a ton of room to pack gear.
• Table or tent decor. Find a fun game day banner, flag or balloons to make your setup festive!
• Portable Grill. Great for reheating or grilling up your game day favorites. Getting a grill for tailgating can open up a lot of food options. These options are portable and use small propane tanks.
  • Coleman RoadTrip Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill – 3 burners and up to 20,000 BTUs – this is the one our friends brought to our last tailgate and it was great (see the image above)!
  • Coleman Portable Sportster Propane Grill – a bit smaller and less expensive option, 11,000 BTUs and 1 burner
• Generator. If you plan to use a TV or cooking appliances, a generator can really up your tailgating experience. Portability is key as is the wattage and fuel type. If you are using a slow cooker or small appliance, a generator with at least 1,500 wattage is recommended. Looking for the best generator for tailgating? We’ve found the following options with decent prices and good reviews.
  • Genmax 2,000W Gas Generator – another good lightweight option with less noise.
  • ECOFLOW 1800W Solar/Battery Generator –  an alternative to a gas generator.

Tailgate Entertainment Setup

• Lawn Games. Football, Frisbee, Cornhole and Spikeball are all fun games for tailgating if you have room. As a fun alternative, have you tried BucketBall?
• Bluetooth Speaker. A Bluetooth speaker keeps the energy high with a great playlist. If you do use a TV, you may be able to connect it to the TV for better sound. The Anker speaker linked here is a high-quality speaker at an incredibly affordable price.
• TV. If you’re bringing a generator, bring a TV to watch College Game Day and the earlier games that are on while you are tailgating. You can use a simple digital antenna (for broadcast channels) or stream from your phone. Note that due to streaming regulations, you may not be allowed to stream from your phone to a TV or projector. In this case, try using a laptop…

Tailgate Food Setup

• Cooler for drinks & food. Depending on your crowd and how much you’re bringing – you would likely need at least one for drinks and at least one for food.
  • YETI Tundra 45 Cooler – stores 26 cans and comes with a dry goods basket – lots of game day colors to choose from.
  • RTIC Ultra Light 52 Quart Cooler – 76 can capacity and up to 51 lbs of ice.
  • Coleman Portable Rolling 50 Quart Cooler – 84 can capacity – boasts keeping ice up to 5 days, a good more budget friendly option with wheels.
  • Coleman Portable Rolling 100 Quart Cooler – 160 can capacity with wheels.
• Ice. Bags of ice and freezer packs for your coolers.
  • YETI Reusable Cooler Ice Pack – you can’t go wrong with this highly rated ice pack available in three different sizes.
• Napkins
• Paper towels. Grab a paper towel holder as well to place on the table for easy access.
• Cutlery. Plastic is the most convenient. Have any from recent take-out? Always a great time to use!
  • Plate, cutlery and napkin holder  – great storage with room for napkins as well
• Serving utensils. I love to save tongs and spoons from take-out or catering orders – especially Chick Fil-A!
• Ziplock bags – Freezer sized bags make for great storage of leftovers.
• Tablecloths. Of course, festive school colors help to show your school spirit.
  • Fitted Table Covers in game-day colors – these stay put even on windy days. We also use these at home when hosting parties. Very affordable and easy to clean.
• Grilling supplies. Grilling tools, lighter, aluminum pans, aluminum foil or saran wrap.
  • NCAA 3-Piece BBQ Set – multiple schools to choose from and highly rated.
• Crockpot. If you have a generator, this is a great choice for chili, hot dips or shredded meat for sandwiches. There are also options that work great without the need for power as well!
  • 6-Quart Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker – holds enough to serve 7+ people.
  • Stanley Stay-Hot Camp Crock – who knew this was a thing? Keeps 3 quarts of food hot for 12 hours and cold foods cold for 16 hours without the need for power.
  • Sterno Buffet Kit – another great option to keep things warm. Don’t forget to bring a lighter!

College Football Tailgate Apparel And Decor

Do you have your spirit wear ready to go? Plan your game-day outfits and buy anything you might be missing with plenty of time for shipping. I do not recommend waiting until game day to shop the school bookstore – it will be too chaotic!

Here are some major retailers options for shopping NCAA apparel, decor and gear:

Fans Edge – A Fanatics company but typically with better prices. Scroll down on both of these websites on this page to see a full list of hundreds of teams alphabetically.

Target’s NCAA Shop – Click on filters to shop by Team.

Walmart’s NCAA Shop – Click on filters to shop by Sports Team.

Kohl’s Fan Shop – Click on filters to shop by Sports Team.

Amazon has a ton of NCAA products. Just be sure you choose officially licensed items from a reputable seller. Check the estimated delivery time too.

Tailgate Clean Up Essentials

• Clorox wipes. Great for spills and clean-up after the tailgate.
• Kitchen-Sized trash bags. Bring 2 or 3 for easy clean-up. Hang from the side of the tent for easy access.
• Hand sanitizer or wipes. You may have to rely on port-a-potties in some cases, be prepared!
  • Hand Sanitizer Wipes – portable and easy to stash in your pocket.

Car Travel And Packing For A Tailgate

• Utility wagon. If you can’t park right by your tailgate, a foldable wagon can save you multiple trips!
  • Utility Wagon – this is a tried and true version we also recommend at college move-in and move-out time. You won’t find a better price on a quality folding wagon.
  • Double Decker Utility Wagon –  a good option for when you need extra space. Use the lower compartment to carry longer items like chairs and maybe even your tent.
• Extra car storage. If you are carpooling or need to drive your student around, having extra car storage can be a life saver.
  • Hitch Mount Foldable Cargo Carrier – foldable, holds up to 500lbs and includes a waterproof cargo bag. Great for when you are bringing a lot of gear or have a 3rd row seat you need to use to transport your student and friends to or from the game!
• Blue (VENO) bags – these are so great for college move-in/move-out, and they are great for packing your tailgating essentials too! Bonus – they are so easy to clean and fold away when not in use.

Rainy Day Tailgate Items

• Towels. For wiping down chairs and tables if damp or rainy.
• Ponchos. Check the weather but you just never know when you’ll need them. Pick these up at home if you can as they may be hard to find near campus on a rainy game weekend.
• Umbrellas.
• Baseball or rain hats. Keep your hair in check (covered) if you’re going to get rained on!

Plan your College Football Tailgate Menu

Game time tends to drive your menu along with the favorites and requests of your attendees! The best tailgate food is a spread that has something for everyone and is easy to prepare and clean up.

Having a grill for tailgating will allow for more menu variety, but it does take a bit more coordination and travel space. Alternatively, you can use an inexpensive Sterno folding stove (about $12) or Sterno Buffet Kit to heat up pre-prepared food at serving time.

You can also order food locally for pickup, but you’ll want to do this at least a week or two in advance. I can tell you about time in Auburn when we tried to find chicken tenders the day before a big game, and there were none to be found! The grocery store told us you need to order at least a week in advance. Now we know!

Making your own tailgate food can be pretty simple if you choose the right menu. Be sure to keep in mind travel and serving. Deviled eggs may sound fabulous, but they are difficult to pack for travel!

In the end, the best tailgate food is the food that is easy for you to prepare and that your crowd will eat and leave minimal leftovers. Here are just a few menu ideas – let us know your favorites in the comments!

Midday Game – Think Brunch Menu

• My maple sausage pancake muffins are always a hit and easy to make ahead and freeze.
• Breads – Biscuits, croissants or my favorite mini pumpkin muffins (add the chocolate chips!).
• Sliders (use Hawaiian rolls, slice them in half and add ham and cheese, or even egg).
• Make-ahead egg bites (just reheat if you have a grill for tailgating).
• Sausage (links or patties are easiest for grilling or keeping warm).
• Fruit (easy to eat chunks, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe).
• Cold dips for tailgating such as Cowboy Caviar or Cowboy Ranch Dip (just blend one bar of softened cream cheese, 1 1/2 cups of sour cream and 2 tablespoons of ranch dressing mix until smooth, then stir in 1/2 small red onion diced, 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese and 3-4 slices of crispy bacon. Chill until ready to serve.) Serve these with pretzel or pita chips.
• Non-alcoholic beverages.
  • Bottled water. Good to have on hand but you can always fill up some reusable water bottles as well.
  • Selter waters.
  • Sodas.
• Adult beverage choices. Mimosas, bloody mary’s, fun flavored seltzers, espresso martinis (canned are great) and of course, beer. Don’t forget to slice up some lemons and limes, and you can always float some of the berries you bought for brunch!

Afternoon/Evening Game – Think Lunch/Dinner Menu

• Appetizers – Start with some appetizers to feed those who show up hungry from the start. Easy options are chips and salsa, cheese and crackers and/or pita chips and dips.
• If you are bringing a grill: burgers, hot dogs, chicken and sausage are obvious choices. You could also get creative with kabobs, bacon-wrapped chicken tenderloins or stuffed jalapenos, wings, packets of grilled veggies, etc.
• Chicken tenders from the grocery store or favorite chicken restaurant always get devoured (even when cold out of the cooler!). Don’t forget some favorite dipping sauces like ranch, BBQ and honey mustard.
• Shredded chicken/pork – great for bbq sandwiches. Grab some buns, some barbecue sauce and you are set. You can heat up the shredded meat on the Sterno folding stove if you don’t have a grill.
• Subs/sandwiches – order a sandwich platter (small cut subs) ahead of time – ask for the condiments to be served on the side as packets.
• Cocktail meatballs – these great in a crockpot if you have a power source. Our go-to recipe combines 16oz of grape jelly and 16oz of barbecue sauce with 32oz frozen cooked meatballs for some sweet and savory bites! Don’t forget toothpicks for serving.
• Chili – for those cold tailgates, chili is a great option. Bring the toppings and a bag of Fritos and/or cornbread as accompaniments. You’ll need disposable bowls and spoons too.
• Pasta/potato/other salads.
• Chips – individual bags are great for grab and go.
• Adult beverage choices. Fun flavored seltzers, spiked ice teas, sangria, espresso martinis (canned are great) and of course, beer. Don’t forget to slice up some lemons and limes and bring cups and straws if bringing a cocktail.

Desserts are a must for tailgating! Homemade cookies, brownies or muffins are always a hit as are old school Rice Krispy treats. A fun sweet & salty snack mix can do double duty. Individually wrapped candy or bite-sized Peppermint Patties can be tucked into a bag to take along to the game. Keep it simple and easy to grab!

Bring The Groceries To You

Have a busy schedule leading up to your football tailgate? Consider having the groceries you need delivered from your local grocery store or using Walmart+. Get your game-day grocery list started and when you are ready, schedule pick-up or delivery. We’ve been using Walmart+ with free delivery and it’s been pretty great. Target Circle 360 also offers free delivery as well.

Did you know that you can shop recipes on Walmart.com? Just type in ‘recipe’ in the search bar and start browsing! When you click ‘View Recipe’, Walmart serves up all of the ingredients needed to make the recipe and you can just click to order and add to your cart. You an even change the number of servings to adjust the quantity needed. This Chopped Italian Hero Sandwich is one that would be perfect for tailgating!

Make A Divide And Conquer Plan

Are you coordinating this college football tailgate with another or multiple families? After going through the lists and menu ideas above, now is a good time to start talking about logistics.

• How much space will you have to setup?
• Do they have friends or students who will want to join?
• Assign tasks like bringing a tent, tables, chairs, decor, ordering food and setting up electronics and entertainment (corn hole, speakers, TV, etc).
• Who will bring which food items? (see our menu ideas below)
• Share this article with them!

College Football Tailgate: Week Of Prep & Packing

Find out the schedule of events for game day. There is usually a time when the band marches into the stadium, the team makes their way to the field and fans come out to cheer on the mascot! Check your school’s website or social media for the schedule for the day so you can plan when you might want to head to the game from your tailgate.

Gather your gear

Find a central place to start to gather your gear, serving items, decor and electronics (is it move-in all over again?!). The dining room table is always a good choice. 🙂

Grab some of the blue VENO bags you used for move-in for an easy way to pack and carry tailgating essentials!

Wrangle your folding chairs (I can never seem to find all of ours!) and dust them off.

Clean-out your coolers with Clorox wipes and let dry.

The Night Before

Get enough ice for your coolers or make sure your freezer packs are ready to go.

Prep your cooler items: chill drinks in the fridge so they’re not starting warm, freeze freezer packs.

Pack non-perishable food items: Chips, canned beverages, condiments, etc.

Pack your paper products. Plates, cutlery, cups, napkins and paper towel (bringing it on a dispenser makes for easy access on the table!)

Car prep. Clean out your car so you have room for all of your tailgate gear. Put the storage rack on your car (if you are using one).

Confirm game tickets and parking pass. Check your ticket app or print tickets if necessary. You don’t want to scramble to find these as you’re walking out the door!

Check the weather. Pack accordingly – rain gear, sunscreen, extra layers, gloves, hats, blankets.

Spirit wear. Make sure everyone’s game day shirts, hats, jerseys are ready to go!

Group check-in. Confirm plans and parking location with those attending your tailgate. Consider starting a group text for the key attendees. Assign someone to be the photographer for the day!

College Football Game Day!

The big day has arrived! Double check that you have your parking pass to tailgate printed or available on your phone (take a screenshot in the event service isn’t great). Add your destination to your maps app on your phone to ensure you get where you are going without a hassle – maps are often able to find specific parking decks and lot names.

Plan to arrive early. Allow at least 3-4 hours before kickoff to get setup and enjoy the day.

Prioritize setting up tents, tables and grills first to allow for plenty of cooking time.

Set out non-perishables along with plates, napkins, etc.

Get the drinks ready and get the music and entertainment going!

Grilling? Leverage aluminum pans to move food from the grill to the table. Cover with foil to keep warm or add to a crockpot or heating pad if using a generator.

Take into account that any visitors you’re expecting may visit multiple tailgates or events on game day. If you have a student at the school, be prepared that they probably won’t spend the entire day with you, and that’s ok! Take advantage of the time they are there and be sure to take plenty of pictures!

5 Commonly Forgotten College Football Tailgate Items

Just double check before you leave the house….

1) A lighter or matches to light the grill + spatula or tongs.

2) Wet wipes to clean hands and faces – you likely won’t have a restroom with a sink close by!

3) A large trash bag or 2. I will say that the last 2 big SEC tailgates I’ve attended have had volunteers handing out kitchen trash bags to each tailgate group. Impressive!

4) Large Ziploc baggies to pack up food that can be saved for later but the box or container it came in has already been disposed of or is too big to fit in the cooler.

5) Portable phone charger and charging cords. Someone’s phone is going to need it!

Packing up Before Heading To The Game

Before leaving your tailgate for the game, put all of the food and drink into coolers or VENO bags and any place items you want to keep secure in your vehicle (but out of sight). Most tailgaters will leave the tent, chairs and tables setup as they may post tailgate a bit to let traffic thin out. Traffic can be a bear right after a game, so if you aren’t in a hurry to get home, sit and relax for a bit before doing the full tear down of your tailgate site.

I hope you enjoy your College Football Tailgate experience! Please let us know if you have any suggestions or feedback in the comments!