Can't miss
- Streamers after the first touchdown When the Dukes score their first touchdown, the student section throws purple and gold streamers onto the field.
- Driving in through the Shenandoah Harrisonburg sits between the Blue Ridge and the Alleghenies. Drive in on I-81 in October and the leaves are the trip.
Quick answers
What time do the JMU lots open?
Reserved lots open for parking and tailgating at 8 a.m. when kickoff is 6 p.m. or earlier, and at noon for later kickoffs. General lots open at 8 a.m., but tailgating there starts 4 hours before kickoff. These are Saturday rules; weekday games get their own notice.
Can you grill at JMU tailgates?
Yes, gas grills only. Charcoal grills, fire pits and other open flames aren't allowed, and there's no grilling in JMU parking decks.
Can you drink at JMU tailgates?
JMU says state law and university alcohol policy are enforced in the tailgating lots, and games or devices that push heavy drinking aren't allowed. Alcohol can't go into Bridgeforth Stadium, and open alcohol isn't allowed on the shuttle buses.
Do you need a ticket to tailgate at JMU?
Not in the general or reserved lots, but reserved lots need a printed game day pass on the dashboard. The student lot, R1, needs a game ticket for everyone who enters.
How do you buy parking at JMU?
Reserved passes go to season ticket holders through the Duke Club, and 2026 reserved parking is sold out. General lots and the campus parking decks are free, first come, and can't be reserved. RV spots in R10 are bought ahead at JMUTickets.com.
The game-day timeline
- Fri after 5 PMRVs may arrive in R10
- 8 a.m.Reserved and general lots open (reserved lots at noon after a 6 p.m. kickoff threshold)
- 4 hrs beforeTailgating starts in general lots, and the Godwin breezeway closes
- 2 hrs beforeGame day shuttles start
- 90 min beforeGates open
- KickoffTailgating ends in general lots
- 1 hr afterShuttles stop, and postgame traffic runs one way off campus for about an hour
- 2 hrs afterReserved-lot tailgating ends and canopies come down
Where to park
JMU splits game day into purple reserved lots and gray general lots. The general lots are free, and nobody can save you a spot.
- Reserved lots
- C5, G, P, D, Convo, Hillside, C4, K and more, by Duke Club level. Print the pass; digital copies don't count. 2026 is sold out.
- General lots
- Free, first come: Festival lots C12, D3 and R4, the Ballard, Warsaw, Mason and Grace Street decks, R2 and others.
- Students
- R1, next to Long Field at Mauck Stadium. Driver needs a JACard and a ticket, everyone else a ticket. Cleared 30 minutes before kickoff.
- RV
- R10 off Hunters Road, bought and registered ahead. Arrive Friday after 5 p.m., in the lot 4 hours before the game, out by Sunday at 5 p.m.
- Accessible
- C3, from 8 a.m., with a placard or plate. A shuttle runs to the Godwin Transit Center (Gates C and D) and Gate A.
Reserved lots can't be used to drop off and unload. Cars left in reserved lots after 10 p.m. the night before can be towed.
The Cantrell Deck is closed on the 2026 map. Use the Mason, Grace Street or Warsaw decks instead.
No car? JMU and the Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation run color-coded game day shuttles from 2 hours before kickoff until 1 hour after the game, with campus stops at Festival, the Convocation Center and C3, plus routes from area hotels and student housing.
The rules
Rules last verified Oct 15, 2026 against jmusports.com and jmu.edu.
JMU's rules are specific about fire, canopies and sound. These are the ones that change your setup.
- Grills
- Gas grills only. No charcoal grills, fire pits or open flames, and no grilling in parking decks.
- Tents
- Pop-up canopies up to 10 x 10 feet, held down with weights, never staked. They stay inside your space.
- Your space
- Directly behind your car. No second space, no blocking lot traffic.
- Sound
- No external speakers, DJs, bands or sound systems. Loud music gets turned down.
- Alcohol
- State law and JMU alcohol policy apply in the lots. No drinking games or devices.
- When it ends
- At kickoff in general lots. 2 hours after the game in reserved lots, canopies down by then.
- Bags at the gate
- Clear, up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, a 1-gallon clear bag, or a clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches.
- Gates open
- 90 minutes before kickoff at Gates A, B, D and E. Bridgeforth is cashless.
Before you go
JMU football parking informationJMU football tailgating policyJMU football A-to-Z fan guide and policiesJMU football game day shuttles2026 JMU game day parking mapOfficial pages. Rules change; check them the week of the game.
Pack for Harrisonburg
What we'd bring.
-
Opener & Shotgun Tool
$7.99
Free over $50 (our gear)
-
27 qt Hard Cooler, 24 Cans
$199
Ships free
A hard cooler that fits the trunk and the tight space behind the car.
More for this lot
-
Monument G22 Tabletop Gas Grill, 2 Burners$199 · Ships free
Shenandoah Valley Novembers turn cold. Bring layers, and canopy weights since stakes aren't allowed.
Gear for JMU fans
In stock now.
Where the party is
Bridgeforth sits by Newman Lake with I-81 cutting through campus, and the purple reserved lots hug the stadium from C5 to the P Lot. The free general lots sit farther out, so the shuttle and an early start make the day.
The front door
C5 and G lots
Reserved lots right next to Bridgeforth, across Carrier Drive. Tailgating from 8 a.m. for most kickoffs and 2 hours after the game. Pass only.
The free option
Festival lots
General lots C12, D3 and R4 by the Ballard Deck on East Campus, with a shuttle stop. Tailgating from 4 hours before kickoff until kickoff.
The student lot
R1
The student parking and tailgating lot by Long Field at Mauck Stadium, open 4 hours before kickoff and cleared 30 minutes before.
What to eat
Gas grills are the only flame JMU allows, so plan a menu that cooks on propane. Catering can be arranged through JMU's campus catering office.
Getting out
For about an hour after the game, all traffic runs one way off campus. Your options, best first:
- Stay in your reserved lot. Reserved-lot tailgating runs until 2 hours after the game. Let the one-way hour pass.
- Ride the shuttle out. Game day shuttles run until 1 hour after the game.
- Check JMU's postgame traffic pattern. JMU posts the routes on its parking page. Know yours before you park.
Skip this
Leave at the final whistle. You'll do it in a one-way convoy with everyone else.
First time here?
- Reserved lots open at 8 a.m. for most kickoffs. Print your pass.
- General lots are free, and tailgating there ends at kickoff.
- Gas grill only. No charcoal, no fire pits.
- Canopy up to 10 x 10, weighted, never staked.
- No outside speakers or DJs.
- Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. Clear bag only.
Visiting? How to join a tailgate
The free general lots are open to everyone, and the shuttles connect them to the stadium. Walk the lots in your colors, bring something to share and say hello before you step into a setup.
Free · one page · works offline
Your Bridgeforth Stadium game-day sheet, by email
One page for the lot: where to park, when it opens, what you can bring.
We don't sell your email.
