App State Tailgating at Kidd Brewer Stadium: Lots & Rules

Can't miss

Football in the Blue Ridge App State's stadium sits in the Blue Ridge, and in October the leaves on the ridges behind the stands are part of the show.

Quick answers

What time do the App State lots open?

Yosef Club lots open to passholders for tailgating at 8 a.m. for afternoon games, and at 4 p.m. for the Thursday night game against James Madison. App State says times can change once kickoffs are set.

Can you grill at App State tailgates?

Yes. App State's tailgating policy allows propane and charcoal grills. Keep them attended, never grill under a canopy, tent or in a parking deck, and put hot coals out with water before you leave.

Can you drink at App State tailgates?

Fans 21 and over can drink beer and unfortified wine in designated tailgating areas and must show ID if asked. Liquor, kegs, common containers and glass aren't allowed in any tailgating location, and no outside alcohol goes into Kidd Brewer.

Do you need a ticket to tailgate at App State?

App State doesn't post a ticket rule for the lots, but the lots near the stadium need a Yosef Club pass. Everyone needs a ticket to get into Kidd Brewer, and there's no re-entry.

How do you buy parking at App State?

Lot passes near the stadium go to Yosef Club members with season tickets, by giving level. Without one, park free at the Levine College of Health Sciences lot (75 first-come spaces) and ride AppalCART to campus. Cars in restricted lots without a game day permit get towed.

The game-day timeline

8 a.m.Yosef Club lots open for afternoon games (4 p.m. for the Thursday game)
5 hrs beforeAppalCART game day routes start
3 hrs beforeYosef's Yard Party opens (Saturday games)
2 hrs 40 min beforeMountaineer Walk to the Echota West Gate
2 hrs beforeGates open
15 min beforeYosef's Yard Party ends
2 hrs afterAppalCART game day routes stop

Where to park

The lots around Kidd Brewer are Yosef Club lots. Everyone else parks free outside the core and rides the bus.

Yosef Club lots: Passes go to Yosef Club members with season tickets, by giving level. All lots near the stadium are at capacity.
Free lot: Levine College of Health Sciences, 75 first-come spaces, with AppalCART service to campus.
Towing: Lots near the stadium, every parking deck and most surface lots are game day permit only. Others get towed.
Accessible: Call the ticket office at 828-262-7733 or visit the North End Zone booths. AppalCART shuttles run from the Hill Street ADA lot.

Kidd Brewer Stadium game-day parking, simplified

See the official Kidd Brewer Stadium parking map

Pregame, pass holders are routed up Stadium Drive and Jack Branch Drive and out past the Stadium Deck.
Stadium Drive and Jack Branch Drive close to cars around the Mountaineer Walk. Get parked before it.
No pass? AppalCART runs its Purple, Express, Orange and Gray game day routes from 5 hours before kickoff until 2 hours after the game on Saturdays. On a weekday game, the normal schedule runs until 10 p.m.

The rules

Rules last verified Oct 15, 2026 against appstatesports.com, appstate.edu and appalcart.com.

App State's rules are mostly about what's in the cup. Here's what changes your packing list.

Grills: Propane and charcoal only, always attended. Not under canopies or tents, not in decks. Douse hot coals with water before you go.
Alcohol: Beer and unfortified wine only, 21 and over, ID on request, in designated tailgating areas.
Not allowed: Liquor, kegs, common containers and glass in any tailgating location.
Tents: Canopies up to 10 x 10 feet unless the university approves larger in writing.
Your space: Don't block roadways or lot traffic with tailgate gear.
Clubs: Sanford Mall tailgates are for registered clubs and end 30 minutes before kickoff.
Bags at the gate: Clear, up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. Metal detectors at every gate.
Gates open: 2 hours before kickoff. No re-entry, and no outside food, drink or alcohol except 1 unopened water bottle.

Compare the rules in all 173 guides →

Before you go

2026 App State Football A-to-Z Fan Guide App State home football game day parking (Fall 2026)App State tailgating policy AppalCART game day routes Yosef Club football parking map

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

Pack for Boone

What we'd bring.

Ultralight Tall-Back Camp Chair
$45

Ships free
Dubler HEAT Chafer and Cooler
$198.89

Ships free
Late-season cold keeps the drinks cold on its own. Heat packs keep covered food hot up to 5 hours (per the maker).
Dubler Heat Packs, 2 Pack
$43.88

Ships free

More for this lot

Monument G22 Tabletop Gas Grill, 2 Burners$199 · Ships free

Boone sits high in the mountains, and late-season games get cold fast. Bring layers and a rain shell.

Shipping and returns

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

Where the party is

Kidd Brewer sits in a bowl on the side of the Blue Ridge, and the Yosef Club lots wrap it from the Greenwood hillside to the Stadium Drive corner. Beer and wine only, no glass, and the bus does the heavy lifting for everyone without a pass.

The free party

Yosef's Yard Party

A free pregame fan zone on the residence hall lawn across Jack Branch Drive, from 3 hours before kickoff to 15 minutes before, with yard games, music, Yosef, the cheer team and the Marching Mountaineers. Saturdays only.

The moment

The Mountaineer Walk

The team walks from the Harrill Practice Facility down Stadium Drive and Jack Branch Drive to the Echota West Gate, about 2 hours 40 minutes before kickoff.

The student side

Sanford Mall

Recognized clubs reserve tent space here, set up 4 hours out, start 3 hours out and pack up 30 minutes before kickoff.

Know a setup worth showing off? Nominate your tailgate.

What to eat

Propane and charcoal are both allowed, so cook what you like, just not under the canopy. Beer and wine are the only drinks allowed in the lots.

Getting out

Postgame traffic gets pushed away from the stadium and out to Rivers Street. Your options, best first:

Ride AppalCART back. Game day routes run until 2 hours after the game, back toward the Levine lot.
Follow the officers. App State police and traffic staff pick which way Rivers Street flows, based on the backup.
Take the accessible shuttle. Paratransit buses run from the Stadium East Gate to the Hill Street lot for about 2 hours from the 4th quarter.
Skip this
Gun it at the final whistle. Every other car on campus has the same idea, and there's one road out.

First time here?

Yosef Club lots open at 8 a.m. for afternoon games.
Beer and wine only, 21 and over. No liquor, kegs or glass.
No grills under the canopy. Ever.
No pass? Park free at Levine and ride AppalCART.
Catch the Mountaineer Walk about 2 hours 40 minutes out.
Clear bag only. Gates open 2 hours before kickoff, no re-entry.

Visiting? How to join a tailgate

Yosef's Yard Party is free and open to everyone, so it's the easy first stop on a Saturday. Then walk the lots in your colors with something to share and say hello before you step into a setup.

Free · one page · works offline