Bills Tailgating at Highmark Stadium: Lots, Rules & Times

Can't miss

Pinto Ron's red Pinto In Hammer's Lot, Ken "Pinto Ron" Johnson has cooked on the hood of a 1980 Pinto since 1989 and been to more than 500 straight Bills games. Look for the red wagon with the crowd around it.
"Shout" after Bills scores The stadium plays the Isley Brothers' "Shout" after Buffalo touchdowns, and the crowd sings the Bills' version of it.
Folding tables, Buffalo style Somewhere in the private lots around the stadium, someone in a Bills jersey is going through a folding table. You'll see it. You don't have to do it.

Quick answers

What time do the Highmark Stadium lots open?

4 hours before kickoff, and they close 2 hours after the game. Tailgating ends at kickoff. The RV Lot is different: entry is the day before the game only.

Can you grill at Highmark Stadium?

Yes. Propane and natural gas grills are fine. Charcoal or open fire has to be raised at least 6 inches off the ground, with the coals fully out before you go in and never dumped in the lot. No wood stoves, oil fryers or cooking stations.

Can you drink at Bills tailgates?

The lot rules ban glass and bottles, so it's cans and plastic cups. The fan code of conduct says irresponsible conduct won't be tolerated in the lots, and no alcohol comes into the stadium.

Do you need a ticket to tailgate?

Yes. A parking pass only works with a valid ticket or credential for that event, and at kickoff everyone heads in with their game ticket.

How do you buy parking?

In advance. Every Bills lot needs an advance-purchase pass, good only in the lot printed on it. The only on-site sales are the cashless Blue ADA and White ADA lots, for vehicles with a valid placard.

Where to park

Buy your pass before game day. It covers one space in the lot printed on it, and spaces aren't assigned.

West side: Bronze, Platinum, Gold and Gray, around Gates A to D. Platinum and Gray can't be reached from Big Tree Road.
East side: White, Orange and Blue, across Abbott Road. Green is the farthest south, off Fieldhouse Drive.
Approach: Each lot has its own access road (Bronze Drive, Gold Drive, Orange Drive and so on). Check yours on the ingress map.
Accessible: Blue ADA and White ADA: first come, cashless, paid on arrival, valid placard required. No waiting on nearby roads before they open.
RV: RV Lot off Southwestern Blvd. Entry 8 AM to 10 PM the day before the game only, no game-day entry, out by 2 PM the day after.
Bus / limo: Permits in advance through the Bills Ticket Office. Sprinter vans go in the Limo Lot. No box trucks, trailers or wrapped vehicles.

Highmark Stadium parking lots, simplified

See the official Highmark Stadium parking map

Abbott Road closes to cars 6 hours before kickoff, between Bills Drive and the Transportation Hub. Route around it.
Nothing in tow. A grill on a trailer won't get in, even with a pass.
No car? NFTA's Game Day Express runs from 7 pickup points around Western New York to the Transit Center near Abbott and Southwestern. The Bills don't list a rideshare zone, and they point fans to the Game Day Express instead.

The rules

Rules last verified Oct 14, 2026 against buffalobills.com and metro.nfta.com.

Buffalo spells out more than most. The 6-inch charcoal rule and the 9 x 10 patch are the two to plan around.

Grills: Propane and natural gas are fine. Charcoal or open fire at least 6 inches up, coals out before you go in, never dumped.
Alcohol: No glass or bottles in the lots. Cans and plastic cups only. Irresponsible conduct isn't tolerated.
Tents: Allowed if they stay out of the emergency lane and your neighbors' spaces. Nothing staked into the ground.
Your space: A 9 x 18 foot stall plus a 9 x 10 foot tailgate area behind it. Everything fits in there.
Who's allowed: Parking passes work only with a valid ticket or credential for the event.
Not allowed: Wood stoves, oil fryers, PA systems, air horns, megaphones, drones, golf carts and scooters, and cords across aisles.
When it ends: Tailgating ends at kickoff. Lots close 2 hours after the game.
Bags at the gate: Clear, up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a 1-gallon freezer bag, plus a clutch about 4.5 x 6.5 inches. No re-entry.
Gates open: Security gates 3 hours before kickoff, ticket entry 2 hours before.

Compare the rules in all 173 guides →

Before you go

Highmark Stadium parking Gate entry and permitted items NFTA Game Day Express Highmark Stadium parking map

Official pages. Rules change; check them the week of the game.

Pack for Orchard Park

What we'd bring.

Buffalo Bills 3x5 Flag
$23.79

Ships free
Your team's 3x5 flag with metal grommets. Hang it and your crew finds your spot in the lot.
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.

November and December games in Orchard Park can be cold and snowy. Pack layers, gloves and something dry for the ride home.

Shipping and returns

Gear for Bills fans

In stock now.

Fielders Choice Buffalo Bills Tall Team Flag Kit, 8.5 x 2.5 ft with Pole$87.79

All Bills gear →

Where the party is

It's the first season in the new building, and the rulebook still makes room for a real cookout: charcoal, tents and a tailgate patch behind every car. You get 4 hours and a patch of asphalt. Use both.

The night before

The RV Lot

The only lot you can pull into the day before. Entry closes at 10 PM, quiet hours start then, and there's no game-day entry at all.

The short walk

Platinum and Gold

They wrap the west side of the stadium, right off Gates A, B and C.

Across the road

White, Orange and Blue

East of Abbott Road, closest to the Transit Center and the Bills Store.

Know a setup worth showing off? Nominate your tailgate.

What to eat

Wings are the obvious call in the city they're named for, and the grill rules leave room for them: propane, or charcoal up off the ground. Burgers and dogs fill in the rest.

Cook thisGrilled Buffalo wings

Getting out

Big Tree Road closes in sections after the game, and everyone leaves at once. Your options, best first:

Take the Game Day Express. Buses leave the Transit Center near Abbott and Southwestern, the first ones about 30 minutes after the game. Exact cash or Token Transit.
Wait it out. Lots stay open 2 hours after the game. Pack up slowly and let the roads drain.
Drive, and know the closures. After the game, Big Tree westbound is closed from Fieldhouse Drive to Route 219, and eastbound from Erie College Drive to Southwestern Blvd.
Skip this
Rush back to the bus or limo. It isn't going anywhere for an hour. Buses and limos can't leave until 1 hour after the game, so keep the cooler handy.

First time here?

Buy parking before game day. Only the accessible lots sell on site.
Fit everything in the 9 x 10 foot area behind your car, and don't stake anything.
Charcoal goes at least 6 inches up, and the coals are out before you walk in.
Abbott Road closes to cars 6 hours before kickoff. Navigate to your lot's own access road.
At the gate: one clear bag up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches or a 1-gallon freezer bag, plus a hand-size clutch.
No re-entry. Once your ticket scans, the tailgate's over for you.

Visiting? How to join a tailgate

Every lot is pass-only, so ride in with someone who has one or take the Game Day Express. Wear your colors, bring something to share and keep the trash talk friendly.