RV Tailgating Guide

Tips, tricks, and recipes to rev up your RV game at a sports venue or in the campground.

By Scott & Van Russell, F505257
September/October 2024

Tailgating and RVing are a perfect match. Your RV provides all the comforts of home while you bring the party to enjoy a sporting event. If you are looking for ideas to take your tailgating experience to the next level in your RV, we’ve got your playbook. So, load up your gear, grab your favorite beverage, and dive into creating the perfect RV tailgating atmosphere for the next big game.

 

RVS ARE IDEAL FOR TAILGATING

The versatility, comfort, and convenience features built into RVs make them a winning choice for tailgating. We’ve always said RVs are like mobile fun wagons, which sounds cheesy, but it’s so true! These multipurpose vehicles can transform into anything you desire. One week, they can be your cozy beach house; the next, they can house you during an exciting city getaway. The best part? An RV can take you anywhere your heart desires, including tailgating.

Why settle for waiting in long, crowded lines when you can roll up to a pregame or sporting event with your very own mobile kitchen and bathroom? Say goodbye to relying on packed stadium facilities or making do with expensive food and beverage options. No more gross portable potties and $20 adult beverages. With your RV, you’ve got all the amenities you need to make your tailgating experience truly unforgettable, whether in the sporting event parking lot or right at your campsite with the game on TV.

 

PARKING LOT TAILGATING TIPS

While RV tailgating in an event parking lot is a convenient way to bring everything you need to have a good time, it’s just like boondocking. Here are a few important things to consider when taking your party to the parking lot.

Pick the right place to park. The biggest way to ruin the fun before it even begins is to show up and not be able to maneuver your RV through the entrance gate or into the parking lot — or, even worse, accidentally damaging your RV or something else around you in the process. A little preparation will provide the best game plan for your RV crew to arrive safely for the festivities.

Before you decide to tailgate in an event parking lot, research the facility. Find out whether there are any narrow or low-clearance entrance gates to avoid. Check to see whether oversized vehicles and RVs have a designated parking area.

Once you’ve made it to the parking area, it helps to scout out a place that provides a little protection. Often, you can face your RV in a certain direction to block the wind and to maximize the shade from your awning. The earlier you arrive, the better your chances are of being able to pick a prime spot in the parking lot.

Fill up with water. You will want to fill your RV’s fresh-water tank before you head to the game. This way, you’ll have running water and a bathroom to use during your tailgating party. With your own private, clean bathroom facilities onboard, you can avoid the unpleasantness and long lines at public restrooms.

Power your RV. Of course, you’ll want to bring along all your fun tailgating accessories, and some of them may require power to keep the party going. How you go about this depends on your setup. While many RVs today incorporate a generator or one or more solar panels, not all vehicles are so equipped. If yours is not, you may want to consider purchasing a portable rechargeable power source to operate lights, a fan, a slow cooker, or an electric skillet and to charge portable speakers and other devices.

You may even want to consider upgrading your RV’s battery and inverter systems to be able to power your RV longer off-grid. Supercharging your RV with such upgrades could come in handy — not just for tailgating but for camping without hookups.

 

CAMPSITE TAILGATING IDEAS

Tailgating isn’t limited to parking lots. You can transform your campsite into the ultimate tailgating party as well! Campsite tailgating offers the best of both worlds, because you can combine the fun of camping and being out in nature with a comfortable place in which to enjoy the game. Now, let’s jump into tips and must-haves for campsite tailgating.

Pick a great campsite. Start by selecting a site that’s suitable for both camping and tailgating. It helps to find one that is shaded or faces the right direction for the RV awning to shield the afternoon sun. Also look for a large, flat site that has enough room for tailgaters to play yard games and ample space to set up your game-watching hangout area.

Getting comfy. Before you can cheer on your favorite team while RV tailgating, you will need to invest in comfortable seats and supplies to set up your party. An incredible assortment of camping chairs is available, with numerous features. We love the newer hammock-style swinging chairs. Not only are they fun to sit in, but we find them to be really comfortable.

Of course, you also will need to set up some tables for food, serving, etc. We love to utilize the picnic table if the campsite has one. Create a clean surface by topping it with a sturdy picnic table cover, such as the Table Gloves brand (tablegloves.com). This fitted cover is made from marine-grade heavy vinyl that prevents it from blowing off, and it is easy to wipe clean. Matching bench seat covers provide a clean, splinter-free place to sit. We have had our set since 2015, and even after years of full-time RVing, the covers are still going strong. We highly recommend this brand.

It helps to also set up a couple of small, plastic folding tables or compact camping tables. One table can hold the grill and cooking station, while another can be used for setting out food and drinks. The picnic table makes a great place to sit down and eat.

A tent is another nice accessory. Ours is a large, pop-up, hexagonal model. It can be set up quickly when shade is needed, and it is screened in to prevent bugs from ruining the party. Additional panels attach with hook-and-loop fasteners to provide more wind protection or block the sun. Many sizes and models of tents are available to accommodate your family’s needs. Even a compact craft-fair-style tent can come in handy while tailgating. Other options include clamp-on picnic table shades.

 

GAME TIME FOOD AND MUNCHIES

Is a party even a party without food? Make sure to pick up your favorite finger foods, snacks, and cool drinks to enjoy during the game. If your RV doesn’t have an outdoor kitchen with a fridge, you may find it handy to stock a cooler. This makes it easy to grab a drink without going inside to the RV fridge each time.

Make the menu easy as well. Set out a variety of dips, veggies, and chips. Or prepare chili in a slow cooker and serve it with a toppings bar. Party sub sandwiches are a convenient premade option. If you want to grill without the fuss, opt for hot dogs and hamburgers. Looking for a grilled appetizer? Our favorite consists of hollowed-out mini multicolored sweet peppers stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon.

If they’re not already packed in the RV, don’t forget to bring along your grill supplies, including propane canisters and cooking tools. Also, be sure to pack paper goods, serving/eating utensils, and trash bags. Do you have a portable propane firepit? Bring it along to add party ambience; plus, it can be used to make s’mores for dessert.

 

WATCHING THE GAME

Of course, no tailgating experience is complete without the game itself. If your RV comes equipped with an outdoor TV or a cable jack, you can set up your own outdoor viewing station. You also can fire up the outdoor speakers — those installed in your RV, if equipped, or portable battery-powered speakers — for a more stadium-like feeling. If you have a projector, turn your nighttime game-watching into a supersized event on the side of your RV. What a memorable experience for you and your family or friends!

Of course, how to watch the game in your RV depends on what network or streaming service it is being shown on, and whether you have reliable internet service. The game may be available through a local TV channel via the RV antenna. However, picking up local channels/major TV networks isn’t always easy. RVers with strong internet service can watch via a smart TV or streaming service where local channels are available. For RVers who prefer not to rely on the internet, a great option is satellite television on the go via the Dish Tailgater or Dish Playmaker, with local channels added to the package.

 

OUTDOOR GAMES

Who says tailgating is just a spectator sport? Yard games are a fun and exciting way to have your own competition while RV tailgating. The many options range from classic catch and flying discs such as Frisbees to popular camping games like cornhole, ladder ball, and Kan Jam (kanjam.com). Our favorite is the OgoSport OgoDisk, a handheld “trampoline” ball game (ogosport.com). It’s fun for kids and adults of all ages, and the ball is soft and squishy, so you don’t have to worry about damaging nearby vehicles if the competition gets intense.

RV tailgating offers a fun experience that combines the comforts of home with the excitement of watching a sporting event. Whether you’re setting up in a bustling stadium parking lot or at a serene campsite, an RV makes the ultimate tailgating companion. With the right preparation and a bit of creativity, your RV tailgating experience will not only be comfortable but also unforgettable. So, gear up, gather friends and family, and get ready to enjoy game time from your RV!

 Scott, Van, and their 14-year-old daughter have traveled full-time in their RV for 9 years. They have worked and homeschooled on the road through 42 states so far. They blog about RVing tips, travel destinations, and the full-time RV lifestyle at TheAdventureDetour.com. Also visit them on Instagram @theadventuredetour, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. They love connecting with fellow RVers, so be sure to reach out and say hi!