Lucas Oil Stadium Tailgating
Indianapolis Colts · Indianapolis, IN
Tailgating is allowed in the parking lots surrounding Lucas Oil Stadium, with the club's stated constraint being courtesy rather than equipment: do not block spaces, and do not hold one for a friend still on the road. The stadium sits in downtown Indianapolis among a large stock of commercial lots and garages, and Denison Parking alone runs close to 2,000 spaces immediately around it. Colts-controlled parking is a named short list — the South Lot, Lot 2, Gate 10, the Rolls Royce Garage and the Government Garage — and from this season the lots carry colour-coded signage that matches the colour printed on your pass.
Tips & Fan Reports
The Arby's parking lot behind the restaurant is where all the longtime tailgaters set up plus some big buses and RVs. It is the closest thing to a real tailgate scene near Lucas Oil.
Do not save a space for a friend. It is the one tailgating rule the club states outright.
The Rolls Royce and Government garages are the covered Colts-controlled options if the forecast is poor.
Match the colour on your pass to the signage — the wayfinding was rebuilt around that this season, and it is the fastest way in.
Denison runs nearly 2,000 spaces around the stadium and takes bookings on 317.916.1760, which beats circling downtown.
Where to Tailgate
Colts-controlled lots — South Lot, Lot 2 and Gate 10
The club's own surface parking around the stadium, where tailgating happens. New colour-coded signage through the major lots now matches the colour on the parking pass itself.
Known for Club-controlled · Colour-coded signage · Tailgating permitted
Rolls Royce Garage and Government Garage
The two Colts-controlled garages downtown, the covered alternative to the surface lots when the weather is against you.
Known for Covered · Colts-controlled
Denison Parking lots
Denison owns and operates close to 2,000 spaces across multiple lots surrounding the stadium — the largest single operator nearby, bookable in advance or reachable on 317.916.1760.
Known for ~2,000 spaces · Multiple lots · Bookable ahead
Downtown lots and garages
Lucas Oil sits among a deep stock of downtown parking within walking distance, comparable and reservable through ParkWhiz rather than turning up and hunting.
Known for Walking distance · Reserve online · Wide choice
Rules to Know
What Lucas Oil Stadium allows, and what it does not.
- Tailgating is allowed in the parking lots surrounding the stadium.
- Fans should not block spaces or reserve spots for late arrivals.
- Colts-controlled parking is available in the South Lot, Lot 2, Gate 10, the Rolls Royce Garage and the Government Garage.
- Denison Parking owns and operates nearly 2,000 spaces in multiple lots surrounding the stadium, reachable on 317.916.1760 or bookable through ParkWhiz.
- Colour-coded parking signage and wayfinding run through the major stadium lots, with the same colour-coding on parking passes and digital platforms.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
The NFL clear bag policy permits one clear bag no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches or a one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus one non-clear bag no larger than 4.5 x 6.5 inches.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Outside food and beverages are prohibited and must be disposed of before entry.
- A card or a phone wallet
Colts games are cashless; concessions and the Pro Shop accept major cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
Colts game entry requires a mobile ticket; printed PDF tickets are not accepted.
- Layers, gloves and a hat
January lows average 19°F outside Lucas Oil Stadium; the roof decides what the seats get.
- A rain layer
November averages 3.4 inches of rain here, outside the roof.
Indianapolis Colts Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official Indianapolis Colts gear for the ultimate tailgate.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Pregame
Indianapolis Colts official site: Gameday Parking and Transportation, and the Gameday A-Z Guide
- Venue policies
Current Colts A-Z, food, family, cashless, mobile-ticketing, and 2026 stadium guidance reviewed for all structured venue-policy topics.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals