San Francisco 49ers · NFL · NFC West

Tailgating at Levi's Stadium

This week Raiders at 49ers · Sun, Nov 8 · 4:25 PM ET

Lots open
3.5 hrs before kickoff
Grills
Yes · in your space
Alcohol
Not banned · no glass

Checked Oct 14, 2026

Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, with a parking lot in front and dry hills behind
Photo: Runner1928, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

A man in a gold cape has played banjo in the Levi's lots before 49ers games for more than 40 years. Crews cook for 150 and feed 400, menus get themed to the visiting team, and strangers hand you a plate and a shot. One longtime regular puts the lot at about three-quarters of what Candlestick was, and 3,100 fans signed a petition against the 2024 rule that has staff assign every space. Go on a rainy playoff day if you can; regulars say that's when the real fan base shows up.

The lot answer

At Levi's Stadium, tailgating happens only in the lots marked for it: Green 1, Red 1, Blue 1 and the rest of the tailgating lots on the stadium map, never Red 2 or any Yellow lot. Because staff place every car, a crew that wants to tailgate together meets nearby and caravans in.

Get the Pregame for the 49ers. Your lot, your game and what to cook, every week. Free.Get the Pregame for the 49ers

biggest canopy allowed
8x8 ft
tailgating ends
Kickoff
Get the Pregame for the 49ersEmail me Or get the one-page game-day sheet
Rules checked Oct 14, 2026
Sources

Rules last verified Oct 14, 2026 against levisstadium.com and vta.org.

Add a tip
Something changed?

Quick answers

What time do the Levi's Stadium lots open?

3.5 hours before kickoff. They close 2 hours after the game, and tailgating ends at kickoff.

Can you grill at Levi's Stadium?

Yes, in the lots that allow tailgating. Keep the grill inside your space, and dump hot coals in the hot-coal containers, not the trash.

Can you drink at 49ers tailgates?

Yes, but excessive drinking is prohibited, and glass isn't allowed in any lot. Stick to cans and plastic.

Do you need a ticket to tailgate?

Yes. Everyone parking in a stadium lot needs a game ticket or credential on top of the parking pass.

How do you buy parking?

Ahead of time, through the Ticketmaster link on the Levi's Stadium parking page. Day-of parking is limited, card only and costs more. Red 1, Red VIP, Blue 1, Green 1 and the Yellow 1 lots are pre-paid only.

Where to park

Not every lot allows tailgating. Pick the lot first, then buy the pass.

Tailgating lots
Green 1, Red 1, Red VIP, Blue 1, 2T, 5 and 6, Pink 4T, and the Blue and Pink oversized lots.
No tailgating
Red 2 and 7, Blue 2NT, 3 and 4, Pink 4NT, Green 6 and 8, Green Bus and every Yellow lot.
Pre-paid only
Red 1, Red VIP, Blue 1, Green 1, Yellow 1 and Yellow VIP. Day-of spots elsewhere are limited and card only.
Bus / RV
Oversized lots only. Buy ahead through the Visa Box Office, 408-579-4449.
Accessible
Red Lot 1, through the Red 1 entrance, with a parking pass and a DMV placard or plate. First come, first served.
Rideshare
Pickup is Red Lot 7, north on Great America Pkwy.
Levi's Stadium parking lots, simplified
Levi's Stadium parking lots, simplified
 See the official Levi's Stadium parking map

Parking is directed: staff put you in the next open space, and the far end of the lot usually fills first.
Rolling in as a group? Meet nearby and caravan in. Cars that arrive separately won't be parked together.
No car? VTA light rail stops at Great America station, on the north side of the stadium. From San Francisco, take Caltrain to Mountain View and transfer to the VTA Orange Line.

The rules

Rules last verified Oct 14, 2026 against levisstadium.com and vta.org.

The Levi's rules are short, and the canopy and speaker lines are the ones people miss.

Grills
Allowed in tailgating lots, inside your space. Hot coals go in the hot-coal containers.
Alcohol
Excessive drinking is prohibited. No glass in any lot.
Tents
Canopies up to an 8 x 8 foot footprint.
Your space
One car, one space. Set up directly in front of or behind your car, and don't take over empty spaces.
Who's allowed
A game ticket or credential, plus a parking pass, to park in a stadium lot.
Not allowed
Amplified sound, outside caterers, selling food or drinks, and blocking drive lanes or ADA paths.
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 zip bag, plus a clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. No coolers inside.
Gates open
2 hours before kickoff on this season's game pages. No re-entry.
Compare the rules in all 173 guides →

Before you go

Levi's Stadium parking and tailgating policies2026 parking lot mapLevi's Stadium parking FAQsPublic transportationBag policy

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

Pack for Santa Clara

What we'd bring.

  • San Francisco 49ers 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.

More for this lot

  • Revo Dubler Party Cooler$169.89 · Ships free

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

  • The Game Day Starter, $556.99American Flag cornhole boards, a Taiga 27 qt hard cooler and a Whirl Pong set of 2, in one cart. Shop the kit

Shipping and returns

Get the Pregame for the 49ers. Your lot, your game and what to cook, every week. Free.Get the Pregame for the 49ers

Gear for 49ers fans

In stock now.

All 49ers gear →

Where the party is

Levi's runs its lots by the map: one car, one space, an 8 x 8 canopy and no speakers. Some lots welcome tailgating and some ban it outright, so the pass you buy decides your afternoon.

Closest to the gates

Green 1

A tailgating lot between Great America Pkwy and the creek, straight across from the stadium. Pre-paid only.

The west side

Blue 1

A tailgating lot west of Great America Pkwy, with Blue Oversized next door for RVs and buses. Pre-paid only.

The far end

Pink 4T

Off Mission College Blvd at the south end of the lots, and tailgating is allowed.

Know a setup worth showing off? Nominate your tailgate.

What to eat

Cook thisGrilled tri-tip

Getting out

Everybody leaves at once, onto the same few roads. Your options, best first:

  1. Take VTA light rail. Queue on the Gate A side, facing Tasman Dr. Extra return trains and buses run for up to an hour after the game.
  2. Use your lot's exit gate. Each game page lists which stadium gate to leave by for your lot or your ride. Follow it and you skip the crowd going the other way.
  3. Rideshare from Red Lot 7. It's the official pickup, north on Great America Pkwy. Pick a meeting spot before kickoff.

  4. Skip this

    Pull out at the final whistle. Lots stay open 2 hours after the game. Let the first wave fight over Tasman.

First time here?

Visiting? How to join a tailgate

The tailgating lots closest to the stadium are Green 1 and Red 1; start your walk there.

Free · one page · works offline

Your Levi's Stadium game-day sheet, by email

One page for the lot: where to park, when it opens, what you can bring.

Or download it now

We don't sell your email.

Read next from The Lot

All stories