Tailgating season starts with college football's opening weekend in late August and runs through the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl in February. The busiest stretch is September through November, when college and NFL games overlap every weekend. Here's the season month by month, with our stadium guides for the games that matter most.
August: college opening weekend
College football kicks off in late August. Many lots open the morning of the game, but every school sets its own hours, and some open the night before. Check your stadium's guide before you load the truck.
- Start here: tailgating rules at 166 stadiums, with lot hours side by side.
September: the NFL joins in
The NFL season opens the Thursday after Labor Day. From here to Thanksgiving, there's a tailgate somewhere every Saturday and Sunday. Early-season heat is the planning problem: pack more water than you think you need, and keep the cooler in the shade.
- Our setups for every crew and the checklist.
October: peak season
Conference play and full NFL slates mean the biggest crowds of the year. Lots fill early, so arrive at opening time.
- Browse every stadium guide.
November: cold weather, Thanksgiving and rivalry week
The weather turns, and the rivalries arrive.
- Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026): our Thanksgiving football menu for the games and the leftovers.
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Rivalry week, Fri. Nov. 27 and Sat. Nov. 28, 2026 (dates from both schools' schedules):
- Fri. Nov. 27: Florida at Florida State, Doak Campbell Stadium. Texas at Texas A&M, Kyle Field. Mississippi State at Ole Miss, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
- Sat. Nov. 28: Michigan at Ohio State, Ohio Stadium. Auburn at Alabama, Bryant-Denny Stadium. Georgia Tech at Georgia, Sanford Stadium. South Carolina at Clemson, Memorial Stadium. USC at UCLA, Rose Bowl Stadium.
- Late-season games get cold: read cold-weather tailgating before you go.
December: conference championships and bowl season
Conference title games open the month, then bowl season runs into January. Bowl lots often follow the host stadium's rules, not the school's, so check the host venue.
- NFL weekends continue, and winter home games are the coldest tailgates of the year.
January: the playoffs
The College Football Playoff and the NFL playoffs both run through January. Playoff tickets and parking sell fast, so buy parking with your ticket.
- Can't go? Homegating covers it: start with our Thanksgiving menu recipes and big-batch chili.
February: the Super Bowl
The season ends with the Super Bowl in February. For most fans it's a homegate, not a lot.
Spring and summer: the offseason (still tailgating)
- Spring games: many colleges hold a spring game in April. Lots are quieter, rules are the same.
- NASCAR: race weekends are 2- and 3-day tailgates. See our NASCAR tailgate food menu.
A cooler for the long haul: the Taiga 55 qt Hard Cooler holds about 60 cans with ice, and Taiga says ice lasts 5 or more days in hot, real-world use.
When does tailgating season start?
Tailgating season starts with college football's opening weekend in late August and runs through the Super Bowl in February. The heart of it is September through November.
What is the busiest weekend for tailgating?
Rivalry week, Thanksgiving weekend, is one of the biggest. In 2026 it's Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28, with Ohio State–Michigan, the Iron Bowl and the Egg Bowl among the games.
Is there tailgating at bowl games?
Often, but the host stadium's rules apply, not the school's. Check the host venue's lot rules before you go.
How early should you get to a tailgate?
As early as the lots open. Opening times range from a few hours before kickoff to the night before, depending on the stadium. Our rules at 166 stadiums lists every one.