Tailgating Is Half the Game
For a lot of NFL fans, the game starts hours before kickoff in a parking lot with a grill and a cold drink. Tailgating is where rivalries take a backseat, strangers share food, and regional cooking meets football. But not every stadium makes it easy. Some venues restrict what you can bring, limit lot access, or just don't have the space for it.
We ranked the 10 best based on parking lot access, grill policies, fan culture, and the overall vibe.
The Top 10
1. Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Kansas City isn't just the best tailgate in the NFL. It might be the best tailgate in all of professional sports. Lots open five hours before kickoff. Fans don't bring portable grills. They bring full smoker rigs. The smell of slow-smoked brisket and burnt ends fills the air across acres of asphalt.
- Opens: 5 hours before kickoff
- Signature food: KC BBQ. Brisket, ribs, burnt ends
- Why it's number one: Tailgating isn't a pregame activity here. It's the culture
2. Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
The whole city tailgates. Residents near Lambeau rent out their yards, and the combination of bratwurst smoke, cheese curds, and Wisconsin hospitality creates something totally unique. You'll make friends before you even see the stadium.
- Opens: 4+ hours before kickoff
- Signature food: Brats, cheese curds, beer cheese soup
- Pro tip: Walk the residential streets around the stadium. That's where the real party is
3. AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
The lots around AT&T are massive and well-organized. Texas-sized tailgating means full BBQ rigs, giant tents, and a party atmosphere that honestly gives the game itself some competition.
- Opens: 4 hours before kickoff
- Signature food: Texas BBQ, Tex-Mex
- Pro tip: The Miller Lite House in Lot 4 is a massive pregame party open to all ticketholders
4. Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
Bills Mafia tailgates are legendary and occasionally go viral. The parking lot energy is unmatched. Fans jump through tables, set up elaborate themed areas, and welcome visiting fans with an open cooler. It's chaos in the best possible way.
- Opens: 4 hours before kickoff
- Signature food: Beef on weck, wings, pierogies
- Fair warning: Dress warm. Orchard Park in December is brutal
5. Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Eagles fans bring an intensity to tailgating that matches everything else about being an Eagles fan. The lots around the Linc are raucous, loud, and full of Philadelphia's signature foods. Maybe not for the timid, but it's 100% authentic.
- Opens: 4 hours before kickoff
- Signature food: Cheesesteaks, roast pork, soft pretzels
- Pro tip: FDR Park south of the stadium has the biggest tailgate scene
6. NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Houston's tailgate benefits from generous lot policies and the city's deep BBQ roots. Yellow Lot and Blue Lot are the main gathering spots, with setups ranging from a folding chair and a six-pack to full-blown catering operations.
- Opens: 5 hours before kickoff
- Signature food: Texas BBQ, fajitas, crawfish boils
- Pro tip: Budweiser Plaza between NRG and the Astrodome has live music before the game
7. Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
The lakefront setting along Lake Michigan gives Soldier Field's tailgate a backdrop no other stadium can touch. South Lot is where it all happens. Chicago tailgaters bring the Midwest classics: Italian beef, Polish sausage, and proper Chicago dogs.
- Opens: 4 hours before kickoff
- Signature food: Italian beef, Polish sausage, Chicago-style hot dogs
- Pro tip: South Lot is ticketed and fills fast. Get there early or tailgate in Grant Park
8. Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Nashville's party energy spills right into the riverfront lots around Nissan Stadium. Broadway is right across the pedestrian bridge, so the tailgate bleeds into the city's bar and live music scene naturally.
- Opens: 4 hours before kickoff
- Signature food: Hot chicken, BBQ, biscuits
- Pro tip: Walk across the pedestrian bridge from Broadway. Best pregame route in the NFL
9. Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Year-round grilling weather and spacious lots make Tampa a tailgater's playground. The vibe is laid-back but committed. People here take their pregame food seriously without taking themselves too seriously.
- Opens: 4 hours before kickoff
- Signature food: Cuban sandwiches, smoked fish dip, grouper
- Pro tip: Lot 14 has the most organized and welcoming tailgate groups
10. Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
Denver's thin air and sunshine make for ideal outdoor cooking conditions. Broncos fans fill the south lots with grills, cornhole boards, and Colorado craft beer. The mountain views from the parking lot are a nice bonus.
- Opens: 4 hours before kickoff
- Signature food: Green chile burgers, elk brats, Colorado craft beer
- Pro tip: The south lots between the stadium and the South Platte River have the best atmosphere
Tailgating Tips That Apply Anywhere
- Check the rules first. Every venue has different policies on grills, tents, generators, and alcohol. Visit the team's page on VisitYourTeam for specifics.
- Get there early. Best lots fill fast, especially for rivalry and primetime games.
- Bring extra food. Tailgating is communal. You'll end up sharing with your neighbors, and they'll share back.
- Budget for it. Tailgating actually saves money compared to stadium food. The Cost Calculator can show you the difference.
Check each team's tailgating page for full details on lot policies, what to bring, and local food recs.