Tailgating Essentials Checklist: What to Pack for Game Day

Quick answer A tailgating essentials checklist covers six areas: shelter and seating (canopy, chairs, folding table), cooking gear (grill, fuel, tools), food and drink storage (coolers, ice, water), team gear (flag, apparel, drinkware), weather layers and cleanup supplies (trash bags, wipes, paper towels). Check your lot's rules before you go, and pack the things you need first on top.

The best tailgates look effortless, but they're won the night before. A good tailgating essentials checklist means you're not borrowing tongs from the next car over, digging through the trunk for the bottle opener or eating with your hands because the plates stayed on the kitchen counter.

This checklist is organized the way you'll actually use it in the lot: set up the space, fire up the grill, keep food cold and safe, show your colors, handle the weather and leave the spot clean. Screenshot it, print it or keep it on your phone, and pack from the top down.

Before you leave: check the lot rules

Every stadium and lot sets its own rules, and they can change from season to season. Before game day, check your team's or stadium's official website for:

• When lots open and how long you can tailgate before and after the game
• Whether open-flame grills, charcoal or generators are allowed
• Canopy size limits and whether you can use extra parking spaces
• Rules about what can come into the stadium (bag policies often apply at the gate, not in the lot)

It takes five minutes and saves you from hauling a grill you can't use.

Tailgating setup: shelter, seating and space

Pop-up canopy and weights

A canopy is your home base. It keeps the sun off the food in September and the rain off everyone in November. Bring canopy weights or sandbags too — lots are open and windy, and an unsecured canopy can become a hazard for the cars around you.

Folding chairs for everyone

Count your crew and add one. Somebody always brings a friend. Camp-style chairs with cup holders keep drinks off the ground.

A folding table (or two)

One table for food prep and one for serving keeps raw meat away from the chips. If you only have room for one, set up a cutting board station at one end.

Lighting for night games

For evening kickoffs, a lantern or string lights clipped to the canopy frame make cleanup after dark much easier. Battery-powered options keep it simple.

Cooking gear for the grill

The grill and its fuel

Portable gas grills are quick to start and easy to shut down; charcoal gives flavor but takes longer to heat and cool. Whichever you bring, pack more fuel than you think you need — and a lighter plus a backup.

Grill tools

• Long tongs and a spatula
• Meat thermometer
• Grill brush
• Heat-resistant gloves
• Aluminum foil and a couple of foil pans

A plan for hot coals

Never dump hot coals in the lot or toss them in a trash can. Bring a metal container with a lid for used charcoal, or check whether your lot has designated hot-coal bins.

Food and drink: keep it cold, keep it safe

Two coolers, not one

A rule of thumb many tailgaters swear by: one cooler for drinks, one for food. The drink cooler gets opened constantly; the food cooler stays closed and cold. Pack it with plenty of ice or ice packs, raw meat on the bottom in sealed containers.

Food safety basics

Keep cold food cold and hot food hot, and don't let perishable food sit out for long — especially on warm early-season days. The U.S. government's FoodSafety.gov site is a good refresher on safe cooking temperatures and how long food can sit out. A meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of the grill.

Serving supplies

• Plates, napkins and utensils
• Serving spoons and a bottle opener
• Condiments in squeeze bottles (easier than jars in a lot)
• Plenty of water — for drinking and for rinsing hands

If you're planning the menu itself, our game day party ideas guide has crowd-pleasing food that holds up for hours.

Team gear: show your colors

A team flag you can see from the lot entrance

A flag on a pole or clipped to the canopy is how friends find you in a sea of cars. It also tells everyone around you exactly whose side you're on.

Game-day apparel

Jerseys, hats and team hoodies are the uniform of every good tailgate. If you're wearing a jersey you care about, keep a cheap layer over it while you grill — smoke and sauce are hard on fabric. Our guide on how to wash a jersey covers cleanup if it does get a little barbecue on it.

SHOPOfficial NFL Shop →

Team drinkware and tableware

Team tumblers, koozies, and a team tablecloth make the whole setup feel like it belongs in the lot. Insulated tumblers keep drinks cold through a long pregame.

A game to play

Cornhole is the classic tailgate game, and a team-themed set doubles as décor. A football to toss around is the lightweight alternative. Keep games away from grills and car windows.

Find your team's gear

Weather gear for every kind of game day

Sun and heat

Sunscreen, sunglasses and hats for early-season games. A spray bottle of water and a small fan help on hot afternoons.

Rain

Ponchos are lighter than umbrellas and don't poke your neighbor. Pack a tarp to cover gear and a few spare towels.

Cold

Late-season tailgates need layers: a base layer, a team hoodie, a warm jacket, gloves and a beanie. Hand warmers and a team blanket for the chairs make a big difference once the sun goes down.

Cleanup and odds and ends

Cleanup kit

• Heavy-duty trash bags (one for trash, one for recycling)
• Paper towels and wet wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• A small bin or bag for dirty grill tools

Small things you'll be glad you packed

• Phone charger or battery pack
• Basic first aid kit
• Zip ties and duct tape
• A pocket knife or multi-tool
• Tickets, parking pass and ID — checked twice before you leave the house

Leave your spot cleaner than you found it. It's good for the lot, and it keeps tailgating welcome for everyone next season.

Frequently asked questions

What should I bring to a tailgate for the first time?

Start with the basics: chairs, a folding table, a cooler with ice, food and drinks, plates and utensils, trash bags and your team gear. A canopy and a portable grill are the next upgrades once you know you'll tailgate regularly.

How early should you get to a tailgate?

Many fans arrive when the lot opens to get a good spot and have time to set up and cook. Check your stadium's official website for lot opening times, since they vary by venue and game.

How do you keep food safe at a tailgate?

Use separate coolers for drinks and food, keep raw meat sealed and on the bottom, cook meat to a safe internal temperature with a thermometer, and don't leave perishable food sitting out for long.

What do you need for a tailgate in cold weather?

Pack layers, gloves, a hat, hand warmers and blankets for the chairs. Hot drinks in insulated tumblers and a windbreak from the canopy sides help everyone stay comfortable before kickoff.

Can you bring a grill to every stadium tailgate?

No. Grill, charcoal and open-flame rules differ by stadium and lot. Always check the official stadium or team website before you pack the grill.

Pack it once, tailgate all season

The easiest way to use this tailgating essentials checklist is to build a permanent tailgate bin: chairs, canopy, tools, cleanup kit and team gear that stay packed between games. Then all you add on game day is food, ice and the crew.

When the season's tailgates are over, bring the same energy home with our football fan cave essentials. And if your setup is still missing its colors, start at the SHOPOfficial NFL Shop →.