Can't miss
- Pounding the drum A different honoree pounds the big drum on the field before each game, and the stadium answers.
- A world-record crowd Arrowhead set a Guinness record for crowd noise in 2014, 142.2 decibels. Third down on defense is when you hear why.
- Burnt ends Kansas City's barbecue invention. Have some in the lot; it's the food of the trip.
Quick answers
What time do the Arrowhead lots open?
4.5 hours before kickoff, unless the Chiefs announce a different time for that game. Stadium gates open 2 hours before kickoff. You can't tailgate during the game.
Can you grill at Arrowhead?
Yes, charcoal or propane only. No wood fuel and no wood-burning fire pits. An adult has to watch the grill, and coals go in the hot coal bin in each lot.
Can you drink at Chiefs tailgates?
Missouri alcohol laws apply and are strictly enforced by police and staff, and glass is banned in every lot. Inside, alcohol sales stop after the third quarter on the Field and Upper levels, 2 drinks per ID.
Do you need a ticket to tailgate?
Yes. The complex is for ticketed event guests only, and staff can check tickets at any time.
How do you buy parking?
In advance only, through the Chiefs on Ticketmaster. The pass lives in the Chiefs Mobile App, and the tollbooths don't take cash. Your pass color decides your lot.
Where to park
Buy parking before you leave the house. The tollbooths don't take cash, and your pass color decides your lot.
- Red
- The Red sections of Lots A, B, C, D, F, G, J, L, N and O, plus limited grass parking
- Gold
- The front of Lots B, C, D, F and G, and part of Lot H
- Platinum
- Lot M or Lot E, with overflow in Lot H
- Open park
- For the first 30 minutes after the lots open, cars go to open spots in Lots C, D, F or G by pass color. Approved grass spots are first come, first served.
- Oversized
- An Oversized pass covers 2 spaces, for vehicles too long for one. It isn't for grabbing extra tailgate room.
- Bus / RV
- Class A and C RVs 25 feet and up and buses need a Bus/RV pass. North side of Dubiner Circle behind Kauffman Stadium, through Gate 1 or 7, first come, first served. Nothing over 40 feet.
- Accessible
- Accessible plate or hangtag plus a parking pass, first come, first served. The person the placard belongs to has to be in the car.
Traffic inside the complex runs counter-clockwise. The gate you enter plus your pass color decides your lot, and the official parking FAQ has the grid.
Spaces closest to the stadium fill first and the lots load outward. Police can close entry points or reroute traffic at any time.
One season-ticket family told the Kansas City Star in 2022 that they start packing about an hour before the stadium gates open, tents, tables and chairs first and food last, and finish in 10 minutes on a good day.
No car? Rideshare drops off and picks up at the Missouri Welcome Center, between Gates 1 and 2 on Blue Ridge Cutoff. The stadium lists RideKC's route 47 bus. Check ridekc.org for current stops before you count on it.
The rules
Rules last verified Oct 28, 2026 against arrowheadstadiumkc.com, chiefs.com, KCTV5 (Sep. 14, 2026), KSHB and the Kansas City Star (2022).
Arrowhead's parking terms run long. These are the rules that shape your setup.
- Grills
- Charcoal or propane only. No wood fuel, no wood fire pits. An adult (18 or older) watches it, and coals go in the lot's hot coal bin.
- Alcohol
- Missouri law, strictly enforced by police and staff. No glass anywhere in the lots.
- Tents
- One canopy, inside your space or the 8 feet behind it. Nothing in drive aisles or empty spaces.
- Your space
- Your space plus up to 8 feet behind it, guests included. Gear can't hold a space alone, and saving spaces is banned.
- Who's allowed
- Ticketed event guests only. Staff can check tickets at any time, and nobody gets in before the lots open.
- Not allowed
- Fireworks, drones, highly flammable liquids, weapons, commercial setups, and selling anything, even for donations.
- When it ends
- No tailgating during the game. No overnight parking and no re-entry.
- Bags at the gate
- Clear, up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a 1-gallon freezer bag, plus a clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches.
- Gates open
- 2 hours before kickoff. The CommunityAmerica Club Level opens 2.5 hours before.
Before you go
Arrowhead parking game planArrowhead tailgating informationPremise entry and parking termsClear bag policyOfficial interactive parking mapOfficial pages. Rules change; check them the week of the game.
Pack for Kansas City
What we'd bring.
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Kansas City Chiefs Elite Chair, Style 12E
$49.99
Ships free
A team chair for the hours before kickoff: steel frame, cup holders, a 275 lb rating and its own carry bag.
-
Sampler, 8 Rubs
$47.99
Ships free
Eight rubs in one box, so the grill gets a new one every Saturday. It's the seasoning we use.
-
Kansas City Chiefs 3x5 Flag, Helmet
$25.79
Ships free
Your team's 3x5 flag with metal grommets. Hang it and your crew finds your spot in the lot.
More for this lot
-
Taiga 55 qt Hard Cooler, 60 Cans$299 · Ships free
-
Monument G22 Tabletop Gas Grill, 2 Burners$199 · Ships free
-
Daylodge Workspace Camp Kitchen, Fold-Out Table$239
September games can run hot. By December, bring real layers for the wait and the walk in.
Gear for Chiefs fans
In stock now.
Where the party is
Tailgating is allowed in every lot at the Truman Sports Complex, so the whole place around both ballparks is fair game. The catch is room: your space and 8 feet behind it, and one canopy. Fit the party to the footprint. Kansas City Magazine's 2022 lot map gave each lot a personality: Lot D the working-folks lot, Lot F the fleece-vest and boat-shoe crowd, Lot G home to a loud Des Moines crew, 515 Tailgate, and Lot M the club-level entrance, where the nicer trucks park. Lots change hands over the years, so treat that as flavor, not a promise.
The official one
Ford Tailgate District
Free and open 4 hours before kickoff, outside the Hy-Vee Gate at the west end of Lot M. Drinks, food trucks, games and live entertainment until kickoff.
The early bird
Open park
Get there in the first 30 minutes and you can pick an open spot in Lots C, D, F or G by pass color, or an approved grass spot. After that, staff park you in order.
The Red lots
Lots A to O
Red passes cover 10 lettered lots, more than any other pass.
What to eat
VisitKC says Kansas City invented the burnt end, so barbecue is the obvious move. Cold game? A season-ticket family told the Kansas City Star in 2022 they make baked potato soup, jambalaya or gumbo, and another crew preps menudo or tamales the day before big games. Whatever you cook, it's charcoal or propane, and drinks come in cans.
Cook thisKansas City burnt endsGetting out
Arrowhead sits between I-70 and I-435, and the Chiefs' own game notes warn of heavy delays on both. Ways out, best first:
- Know your exit gate before you park. Traffic inside runs counter-clockwise, and the official interactive map shows exit routes from every gate.
- Rideshare from the Welcome Center. Pickup is at the Missouri Welcome Center, between Gates 1 and 2 on Blue Ridge Cutoff.
- Take the bus. The stadium lists RideKC's route 47. Check ridekc.org for stops and game-day service first.
Skip this
Race everybody to I-70. You'll lose. Pack up slow and let the first wave go.
First time here?
- Buy parking ahead of time. The tollbooths don't take cash.
- Your pass color and the gate you enter decide your lot. Check the gate grid before you leave.
- Want to pick your spot? Arrive in the first 30 minutes for open park in Lots C, D, F and G.
- Pack cans. Glass is banned in every lot.
- Bring a clear bag and, if you want, one factory-sealed water, 20 oz or less.
- Been at it since the lots opened? Rideshare or a sober driver.
Visiting? How to join a tailgate
Start at the Ford Tailgate District by the Hy-Vee Gate. It's free and opens 4 hours before kickoff. Then walk the lots, bring something to share and keep the trash talk friendly.
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