Can't miss
- "2001" and "Sandstorm" A few minutes before kickoff the lights drop, smoke fills the tunnel and the team comes out to "2001: A Space Odyssey," Williams-Brice's pregame since the 1980s. "Sandstorm" hits at kickoff and on big third downs, towels waving.
- The Cockaboose Railroad A row of old cabooses parked on the rail spur next to the stadium, each one a private tailgate. You can't get in without knowing an owner, but the spur is on your way in from the Fairgrounds side.
- Mustard barbecue the night before South Carolina's sauce is gold, not red. Little Pigs on Alpine Road serves mustard, red and vinegar side by side, so the table can argue.
Quick answers
What time do the South Carolina lots open?
Gamecock Park opens 6 hours before kickoff and every other university lot 5 hours before, but never before 8 a.m. Get your car out within 2 hours after the game, or it can be locked in until the next business day.
Can you grill at South Carolina tailgates?
Gas, yes. Charcoal grilling is banned in university-controlled lots for safety reasons, and glass is strongly discouraged.
Can you drink at South Carolina tailgates?
The parking policies don't set a lot-specific alcohol rule. Bringing alcohol into the stadium gets you ejected, and intoxicated fans are turned away at the gate. Inside, beer and wine are sold 2 per purchase, with ID, until the end of the 3rd quarter.
Do you need a ticket to tailgate at South Carolina?
The lots run on parking passes, and you tailgate in your assigned space. Everyone older than 2 needs a ticket for the stadium.
How do you buy parking at South Carolina?
Most spaces go to season pass holders. Single-game passes sell ahead online when available, and whatever is left sells at the gate on game day, credit card only, at the Gamecock Park Gameday Field, Woodstock and the Fairgrounds.
The game-day timeline
- 6 hrs beforeGamecock Park opens (never before 8 a.m.)
- 5 hrs beforeAll other university lots open (never before 8 a.m.)
- 4 hrs beforeCampus game-day shuttles start
- 2.5 hrs beforeAccessible shuttles start in the lots
- 2 hrs beforeEarly gates open
- 90 min beforeAll other gates open
- 2 hrs afterLots close, and shuttles stop
Where to park
University lots run on passes, and you tailgate in your assigned space. Buy ahead; game-day sales only happen if passes are left.
- Gamecock Park
- Season permits, with shaded tent zones and restrooms. Spaces in the North and South sections along Bluff Rd have power and cable hookups.
- Game-day sales
- If any remain: Gamecock Park Gameday Field (back gate off National Guard Rd), Woodstock (end of National Guard Rd), Fairgrounds (Gate 6 off Assembly St). Credit card only.
- Fairgrounds
- Garnet, Black, White, Blue and Green lots across George Rogers Blvd. Spots can change during the State Fair.
- RV and buses
- Game-day RV parking in the Fairgrounds east of Assembly St and at Gate 12 on Rosewood Dr, where buses enter too. No limos in university lots.
- Trailers
- Allowed with a pass for the vehicle and a pass for the trailer.
- Accessible
- About 50 reserved game-day spaces in the Fairgrounds, opening 5 hours before kickoff. Shuttles run from White row 10 and Gamecock Park Quads 1 and 3.
Don't park on the shoulders. Key Rd, Market St, S Stadium Rd, National Guard Rd, Shop Rd and Hemlock Rd are enforced no-parking zones.
Police suggest coming in on I-77.
No pass? USC runs game-day shuttles from Lincoln at Devine and the Russell House into the Fairgrounds, from 4 hours before kickoff to 2 hours after. No food, drinks or coolers on board, except 1 sealed water.
The rules
Rules last verified Oct 14, 2026 against gamecocksonline.com and sc.edu.
USC's lot rules are short and clear, and two of them catch first-timers: gas only, and tents down before you go in.
- Grills
- Gas only. Charcoal grilling is banned in university-controlled lots.
- Tents
- 10 x 10 max, inside your space, and down before you leave for the game. In Gamecock Park, tent zones only.
- Your space
- Tailgate in your assigned space, and keep drive areas clear for emergency vehicles.
- Music
- No live music at tailgating sites.
- Smoking
- Tobacco-free campus, vapes included, on university property.
- Not allowed
- Golf carts, mopeds and scooters near the stadium. Pets in university lots. Selling anything.
- When it ends
- Cars out within 2 hours after the game, or risk being locked in until the next business day.
- Bags at the gate
- Clear, up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a 1-gallon freezer bag, plus a clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches.
- Gates open
- 2 hours before kickoff at the early gates, 90 minutes at the rest. No re-entry.
Before you go
Football parking information and policiesFootball gameday informationFootball parking mapUSC gameday shuttlesClear bag policyOfficial pages. Rules change; check them the week of the game.
Pack for Columbia
What we'd bring.
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South Carolina Gamecocks 3x5 Flag, Bold
$28.79
Ships free
Your team's 3x5 flag with metal grommets. Hang it and your crew finds your spot in the lot.
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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
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Taiga 55 qt Hard Cooler, 60 Cans$299 · Ships free
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Monument G22 Tabletop Gas Grill, 2 Burners$199 · Ships free
-
Daylodge Workspace Camp Kitchen, Fold-Out Table$239
USC runs a heat plan early in the season, with a water bottle allowed in and refill stations inside.
Where the party is
Columbia tailgates on both sides of Bluff Road. Gamecock Park is the planned version, tent zones and a tree-lined promenade, and the State Fairgrounds across George Rogers Blvd is the big open spread.
The centerpiece
Gamecock Park
Built for tailgating, with shaded tent zones, permanent restrooms and some spaces with power and cable hookups. Tents go in the designated zones only.
The parade route
The Garnet Way
A grassy promenade lined with scarlet oaks through the middle of Gamecock Park, and the route the band, cheerleaders and team take to the stadium. No tents between its knee walls.
What to eat
Cook thisGrilled shrimp and gritsGetting out
Police turn the roads outbound after the game. Your options, best first:
- Let it clear at the tailgate. You have 2 hours after the game to get your car out. Use some of them.
- Take the shuttle back. Campus shuttles leave from the drop-off point inside the Fairgrounds until 2 hours after the game.
- Follow the traffic plan. Every lane of Assembly St runs outbound, and S Stadium Rd traffic heads south on Bluff Rd to I-77.
Skip this
Get picked up after the final whistle. USC says the ride has to be there before the game ends. After that, it's a long wait.
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Your Williams-Brice Stadium game-day sheet, by email
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