Can't miss
- Jack Trice Iowa State's first Black athlete died from injuries in a 1923 game, and the stadium carries his name. His statue stands outside, with the letter he wrote the night before.
- "Sweet Caroline" after the third At the end of the third quarter, the whole stadium sings it, and the Cyclone version adds its own shout-backs.
Quick answers
What time do the Jack Trice Stadium lots open?
6 hours before kickoff, but never before 6 a.m. For late-afternoon and night kickoffs, donor lots open at 10 a.m. Don't line up at the entrances early: cars that enter before opening can be towed.
Can you grill at Jack Trice Stadium?
Yes. Propane and charcoal grills, and propane heaters, are allowed when the weather allows. One 20 lb cylinder per device and no spares, no wood fires or fire pits, and no pull-behind smokers.
Can you drink at Iowa State tailgates?
Beer and wine, yes, in the parking areas, for fans 21 and over. Hard liquor, open or not, is banned on public property, including Iowa State's lots, under state law. No glass and no kegs.
Do you need a ticket to tailgate?
No ticket rule is posted for the lots. To park, you need a pass: a Cyclone Club pass for the donor lots, or a public grass pass bought online.
How do you buy parking?
Public grass lot passes are sold online, game by game, until noon the Friday before or until they sell out, and most games sell out. Any left are sold on site, card only. The paved lots closer in are Cyclone Club donor lots.
The game-day timeline
- Fri 8 AMRV Village opens for entry (until 11:59 p.m.)
- Fri 5 PMFree public RV parking opens at ISU Research Park
- 6 hrs beforeLots open, never before 6 a.m. (later kickoffs: donor lots at 10 a.m.)
- 4 hrs beforeFast Pass wristbands handed out, until 2.5 hours before
- 3 hrs beforeCyclone Trolley golf carts start running through the lots
- 90 min beforeGates open
- Sun morningRVs leave RV Village
Where to park
The paved lots are donor lots. Everyone else parks on the public grass south of the stadium, and those passes go fast. The stadium's full name is MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium.
- Public grass
- Lots G2, G3, G4, G5, G8 and G9 off University Blvd and S 16th St. Pass bought online, then pick your lot on arrival.
- Donor lots
- The A, B, C, D, S and 85 lots and the rest of the paved lots around the stadium need a Cyclone Club pass.
- RV
- RV Village is a donor lot with electric hookups. Free public RV parking is at ISU Research Park, south of Hwy 30 on Airport Rd, with no tailgating.
- Accessible
- Lot S1 on the south side, first come, with a state placard. It opens with the donor lots. No RVs or buses.
- Free, no tailgating
- ISU Research Park and campus lots, both within about a mile of the stadium.
Wet week? Iowa State closes the grass lots after heavy rain, and did for two games in 2026. Then there's no public parking near the stadium. Check cyclones.com before you leave.
Standard stalls take vehicles up to 24 feet long and 8 feet 6 inches wide. No trailers or pull-behind smokers.
No car? CyRide's closest game-day stop is Lincoln Way and Beach Ave. Rideshare picks up in the drive lane along RV Village, east of University Blvd and southeast of the pedestrian bridge.
The rules
Rules last verified Oct 14, 2026 against cyclones.com and cycloneclub.org.
Iowa State's rules fit on a card, and the 1-space rule is the one it enforces.
- Grills
- Propane and charcoal grills, plus propane heaters, when weather allows. One 20 lb cylinder per device, no spares. No wood fires or fire pits.
- Alcohol
- Beer and wine in parking areas, 21 and over. No hard liquor, opened or not, on public property, ISU lots included.
- Your space
- One space per pass, strictly enforced. Tailgate between your stall and the red painted line. No saving spots.
- Tents
- 10 x 10 feet max. Iowa State can restrict tents in bad weather.
- Not allowed
- Glass, kegs, open fires, tailgating from truck beds, roofs or trailers. Standalone speakers and amps; small boom boxes are OK at 70 dB.
- Vehicles
- 24 feet max in standard stalls, no pull-behind trailers or smokers. No overnight parking in car lots.
- Bags at the gate
- Clear, up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, a 1-gallon clear bag, or a clutch up to 6 x 9 inches. Metal detectors, and no re-entry.
- Gates open
- 90 minutes before kickoff.
Before you go
Jack Trice Stadium policies and proceduresIowa State Athletics parking2026 football parking map2026 gameday changesOfficial pages. Rules change; check them the week of the game.
Pack for Ames
What we'd bring.
-
Ultralight Tall-Back Camp Chair
$45
Ships free
-
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.
More for this lot
-
Taiga 55 qt Hard Cooler, 60 Cans$299 · Ships free
-
Monument G22 Tabletop Gas Grill, 2 Burners$199 · Ships free
-
Scorezit Cornhole Scorekeeper Set$140 · +$15 shipping
Late-season games in Ames get cold. Bring layers, and keep something warm on the grill.
Where the party is
Ames packs the tailgate tight: one space per pass, a red line nobody crosses, and lots wrapped around the whole stadium. The RV crowd starts rolling into RV Village the morning before.
The day before
RV Village
The donor RV lot east of University Blvd: 55-foot stalls, electric hookups and grass tailgating space next to every stall. Opens Friday morning.
The public option
The grass lots on S 16th St
Pass bought online, lot picked on arrival, tailgating behind your stall. They close when the ground is soaked, so watch the forecast.
The team arrives
Spirit Rally and Cyclone Walk
The marching band, the spirit squad and Cy fire up the team on the north side of the stadium. At the 2026 opener it started 3 hours before kickoff.
What to eat
Charcoal and propane are both allowed, so cook. Beer and wine are fine, liquor isn't, and glass stays home. Inside, Jack Trice added a pork tenderloin to the concession menu for 2026.
Cook thisWhat to cook at a tailgate (that survives the lot)Getting out
Everybody leaves Ames on the same few roads at once. Your options, best first:
- Rideshare from the right lane. Pick-up is the drive lane along RV Village, east of University Blvd. Drivers can't come into the lots.
- Walk to CyRide. The closest game-day stop is Lincoln Way and Beach Ave.
- Plan the walk back. The Cyclone Trolley golf carts don't run after the game.
Skip this
Race everyone to the exit. Pack up slow in your space. There's no overnight parking, but there's no prize for beating everyone out either.
First time here?
- Lots open 6 hours out, never before 6 a.m. Don't stage at the entrance.
- Iowa State says under 20% of stalls fill in the first two hours. No need to camp the gate.
- One space, strictly enforced. Stay behind the red line.
- Beer and wine only. No liquor, no glass, no kegs.
- Parking, concessions and the ticket office are all card only.
- Clear bag, 12 x 6 x 12 inches max. Metal detectors, no re-entry.
Visiting? How to join a tailgate
Grab a public grass pass online before it sells out, wear your colors, bring something to share and keep the rivalry talk friendly.
Free · one page · works offline
Your Jack Trice Stadium game-day sheet, by email
One page for the lot: where to park, when it opens, what you can bring.
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