For most stadiums, the best tailgating grill is a two-burner propane tabletop grill: it sets up on a tailgate or table, cooks for a crowd, and shuts off at the knob when it's time to go in. Check your stadium first, though. Our stadium guides show Nissan Stadium in Nashville and Alabama ban propane grills outright, Georgia allows only small disposable canisters, and Ole Miss bans grills on campus entirely.
The short answer
| Pick | Best for | Cooking area | Fuel | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monument G22 | Watching the food without lifting the lid | 200 sq in, about 10 burgers | Propane (20 lb tank; 1 lb with adapter) | $199 |
| Monument 13742 | The same grill for less, with a solid lid | 200 sq in, about 10 burgers | Propane (20 lb tank; 1 lb with adapter) | $169 |
First: what your stadium allows
Fuel rules are set stadium by stadium, and they disagree. These come from each stadium's own pages, checked for each guide.
Charcoal is banned (propane or gas works)
- State Farm Stadium (Cardinals) and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Falcons): propane or natural gas only.
- SoFi Stadium (Rams and Chargers): natural gas or propane only.
- Bank of America Stadium (Panthers): no charcoal in stadium-operated lots.
- U.S. Bank Stadium (Vikings): the stadium policy says gas grills only, though the Vikings' lot rules also allow charcoal. Check your pass.
- College: Ohio State and Notre Dame (propane only), South Carolina (gas only), Michigan (no charcoal in U-M lots), Penn State, BYU, and Washington State while its game-day burn ban is on.
Propane is banned or limited (charcoal works)
- Nissan Stadium (Titans): charcoal only. Propane grills aren't allowed.
- Alabama: charcoal only, 50 feet from tents and buildings, with an extinguisher within 15 feet.
- Georgia: charcoal is fine. Propane is allowed only on disposable canisters of 17 oz or less, so a 20 lb tank is out. The standard 1 lb disposable cylinder holds 16.4 oz.
No grills
- The Grove at Ole Miss: electric, gas, charcoal and wood grills are all banned on campus. Bring the food cooked.
Both are fine
Most of the rest allow charcoal or propane, usually with conditions: Arrowhead, Lambeau, AT&T Stadium, Highmark Stadium, Ford Field (self-starting charcoal, no lighter fluid), Iowa, Iowa State, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech. Baltimore allows propane tanks up to 20 lbs, mounted on the grill. Every guide lists the exact rule.
Our picks
Monument G22: the pick if you want to see the food
- Who it's for: anyone cooking for 6 to 10 at a stadium that allows propane.
- The numbers: two burners, 15,000 BTU, 200 square inches of 304 stainless grates. Monument rates it at about 10 burgers at a time. 32 lbs.
- Why it made our list: the lid has a window and a built-in thermometer, so you can watch the food without opening it, and it locks shut for the drive. It fits in a car trunk, according to Monument.
- Fuel: comes with a hose for a 20 lb tank. Add Monument's 1 lb tank adapter to run it on small cylinders.
- Ships from: Monument, at the same price as buying direct. Monument covers the burners for 8 years and most other parts for 2.
Monument 13742: the same grill, $30 less
- Who it's for: anyone who wants the G22's cooking without paying for the window.
- The numbers: the same 15,000 BTU and 200 square inches. The lid is solid stainless with a built-in thermometer. 30.9 lbs, latches shut, removable drip tray.
- Why it made our list: it's the G22's cooking specs at a lower price. The lid is the only difference.
- Ships from: Monument, with the same warranty as the G22.
How we chose
We started with the rules, not the grills. We read the fuel rules for every stadium in our guides, then looked for grills that fit the most lots, set up in minutes, and pack into a car. Specs come from each maker's own pages. We haven't run these grills through a season yet, and we'll say so here when we have.
Questions
Can you bring a propane grill to a tailgate?
At most stadiums, yes. A few ban it: Nissan Stadium and Alabama are charcoal only, Georgia limits propane to disposable canisters of 17 oz or less, and Ole Miss bans grills on campus. Check your stadium's guide.
Can you use charcoal at a tailgate?
At many stadiums, but not all. State Farm Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, SoFi Stadium, Ohio State and Notre Dame are propane or gas only. Where charcoal is allowed, the coals usually go in the stadium's hot-coal bins, never on the ground.
What size propane tank can you bring?
It varies. Baltimore allows tanks up to 20 lbs, mounted on the grill. Chicago tops out at 19 lbs. Notre Dame requires tanks under 20 lbs. Georgia allows only disposable canisters of 17 oz or less. Iowa and Iowa State allow one 20 lb cylinder per grill, with no spares.
How big a grill do you need for a tailgate?
For 6 to 10 people, about 200 square inches does it: that's roughly 10 burgers at a time on a two-burner tabletop grill. Bigger crowds usually cook in rounds.
Can I grill under a canopy?
Usually not. Several stadiums ban it outright, including Arizona and Alabama, and many require distance from tents. Set the grill outside the canopy, downwind of the crowd.
Find your stadium's rules
Every rule above comes from a stadium guide, checked against each stadium's own pages and dated. Find your stadium, then plan the menu with what to cook at a tailgate.