North Carolina Tar Heels · College · ACC

Tailgating at Kenan Stadium

Lots open
8 a.m., weekend games
Grills
Yes, with a metal lid
Alcohol
21+ · glass discouraged

Checked Oct 14, 2026

Aerial view of Kenan Stadium and the UNC campus in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Photo: CramBetter.com, CC BY 4.0, cropped

Start on Franklin Street at Sutton's Drug Store, a lunch counter since 1923, with a burger and a milkshake under walls papered with photos of Tar Heels. From there it's a walk across campus, past tents in the public lots and on the lawns by the Bell Tower and the Kenan Amphitheater. The Marching Tar Heels lead the team past the Old Well and around the Bell Tower on the way in, and the free Chapel Thrill concerts, held in front of Wilson Library in 2025, are back for 2026.

The lot answer

UNC's tailgate spreads across lots, decks and quads. The public lots are 700 Hibbard, Branson St, Cardinal Deck, Jackson Deck, Manning and South Chiller, prepaid on ParkMobile, and Rams Club lots and decks go by season tickets and Priority Points. No pass? The Friday Center is free, with the Tar Heel Express running from 3 hours out.

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per car or tailgate
1 space
tents anchored, never staked
Sandbags
propane tank max, plus 1 spare
20 lb
Get the Pregame for the Tar HeelsEmail me Or get the one-page game-day sheet
Rules checked Oct 14, 2026
Sources

Rules last verified Oct 14, 2026 against policies.unc.edu, goheels.com and move.unc.edu.

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Can't miss

  1. Sutton's on Franklin Street A pharmacy lunch counter since 1923, a few hundred feet from campus. Order a burger at the counter under walls papered with photos of Tar Heels.
  2. A stadium in the pines Kenan sits in a bowl ringed by tall pines. Look out from the upper deck late in an afternoon kick, when the light comes through them.

Quick answers

What time do the lots open at Kenan Stadium?

8 a.m. on weekend game days, and UNC encourages fans to start tailgating then. Rams Club RVs can roll into the Williamson Lot at 5 p.m. the Friday before.

Can you grill at UNC tailgates?

Yes. Grills need a metal cover or lid, can't touch a vehicle, and sit at least 25 feet from combustible structures. Coals and ash go only in the "Hot Coals" barrels, and no grills or smokers in parking decks.

Can you drink at UNC tailgates?

UNC's tailgating policy asks fans to follow state law, town ordinance and the UNC Alcohol Policy, and to avoid public intoxication and underage drinking. Glass is strongly discouraged in university lots. Inside Kenan, it's 2 drinks per ID, and sales end at the start of the fourth quarter.

Do you need a ticket to tailgate?

UNC's tailgating policy doesn't require one. You do need parking: a pre-paid or game-day permit for the public lots, or a Rams Club pass for the reserved ones.

How do you buy parking?

Pre-paid general public permits are sold on ParkMobile until 3 p.m. the day before, one per transaction, tied to your plate. Unsold spaces go on sale on game day. Rams Club lots go to members by season tickets and Priority Points.

The game-day timeline

  1. Fri 5 PMThe Williamson Lot opens for Rams Club RVs. Public RVs can park at the Friday Center after 6 p.m.
  2. 8 AMCampus lots open on weekend game days, and tailgating starts
  3. 3 hrs outChapel Thrill opens: the Modelo Kick Off Club and Coca-Cola Fan Zone. Tar Heel Express starts from the Friday Center, and accessible shuttles from the ACC lot.
  4. 2.5 hrs outThe Old Well Walk begins
  5. 2 hrs outTar Heel Express starts from Southern Village
  6. 90 min outGates open
  7. 30 min outThe Kick Off Club and Fan Zone close
  8. After the gameTar Heel Express runs for about 45 minutes. RVs clear the Williamson Lot by 5 p.m. the next day.

Where to park

There's no sea of asphalt around Kenan. Parking is a mix of public lots, Rams Club lots and decks, and park and rides.

Public lots
700 Hibbard, Branson St, Cardinal Deck, Jackson Deck, Manning and South Chiller. Pre-paid on ParkMobile, or on game day while spaces last.
Rams Club
Reserved lots and decks, assigned by season tickets and Priority Points.
Park and ride
Friday Center: free parking, with Tar Heel Express from 3 hours out. Southern Village: from 2 hours out. Bus passes are sold ahead on GoFan, card only.
RVs
Rams Club members: the Williamson Lot, 5 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. the day after the game. Public: the Friday Center, after 6 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Sunday, with no hookups or generators.
Accessible
The Ambulatory Care Center lot, card only, with a state disability permit or plate. Shuttles run to Gates 2 and 6 from 3 hours out.
Rideshare
The South Columbia St bus lane, between Manning Dr and South Rd.
Kenan Stadium game-day parking at UNC, simplified
Kenan Stadium game-day parking at UNC, simplified
 See the official Kenan Stadium parking map

Expect the worst traffic about 90 minutes before kickoff. Some campus roads close to everyone except buses, emergency vehicles and season permit holders.
Parking decks are for parking. Grills, smokers and generators aren't allowed inside them, so tailgate in the open lots.
No car? Ride the Tar Heel Express from the Friday Center or Southern Village. It drops off on South Rd in front of Carmichael Arena and Woollen Gym, and runs back for about 45 minutes after the game.

The rules

Rules last verified Oct 14, 2026 against policies.unc.edu, goheels.com and move.unc.edu.

UNC's tailgating policy is long and specific. These are the lines that matter.

Your space
One parking space per car or tailgate. Keep sidewalks, drive lanes and accessible routes clear.
Grills
Allowed with a metal lid, 25 feet from combustible structures and never touching a car. Coals go in the "Hot Coals" barrels.
Propane
20-pound tanks max, and 1 spare kept 10 feet from the grill.
Tents
400 sq ft max without approval. Tents near a grill must be fire-rated and open on all sides. Sandbags or water barrels, no stakes.
Generators
Allowed with a noise-reducing cover or muffler. Not in parking decks, and no refueling while it runs.
Alcohol
Follow state law, town ordinance and UNC policy. Glass is strongly discouraged in university lots.
Not allowed
Selling food or anything else without approval, personal portable toilets, golf carts without approval, and smoking.
Bags at the gate
Clear, up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, plus a clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches and 2 unopened water bottles, 20 oz or less.
Gates open
90 minutes before kickoff. No re-entry.
Compare the rules in all 173 guides →

Before you go

UNC tailgating policy2026 football gameday guideUNC football parking and transitFootball game-day parking mapPre-paid parking (ParkMobile)

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

Pack for Chapel Hill

What we'd bring.

  • North Carolina Tar Heels 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.

More for this lot

Shipping and returns

Get the Pregame for the Tar Heels. Your lot, your game and what to cook, every week. Free.Get the Pregame for the Tar Heels

Gear for UNC fans

In stock now.

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Where the party is

Kenan sits in the middle of campus, so the tailgate spreads across lots, decks and quads instead of one big field. The pregame party itself happens on Polk Place.

The pregame party

Polk Place

Chapel Thrill Game Day sets up here with the Modelo Kick Off Club, the Coca-Cola Fan Zone and a free concert series. It opens 3 hours before kickoff.

The walk

The Old Well Walk

The team's walk to Kenan starts 2.5 hours before kickoff.

Skip the parking

Friday Center Park and Ride

Free parking, Tar Heel Express from 3 hours out, and the public RV lot.

Know a setup worth showing off? Nominate your tailgate.

What to eat

Cook thisSkillet mac and cheese

Getting out

Getting out of Chapel Hill takes patience, and the bus usually wins. Your options:

  1. Ride the Tar Heel Express. Buses run back to the Friday Center and Southern Village for about 45 minutes after the game.
  2. Rideshare from S Columbia St. Pickup is in the bus lane between Manning Dr and South Rd.
  3. Take the accessible shuttle. Return service to the Ambulatory Care Center lot starts after the game.

  4. Skip this

    Pick your own way out. Follow the traffic officers and the closures. Bring patience, and maybe the leftovers.

First time here?

Visiting? How to join a tailgate

Skip the campus parking puzzle: park at the Friday Center, ride the Tar Heel Express in, then head to Polk Place for Chapel Thrill.

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