Plan Now for Top RV Tailgating at SEC Football Games

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Ranking the efforts of the college football teams in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) is pretty cut and dried — wins, losses, sacks, completions, penalties.

But ranking the best tailgate parties in the SEC? That’s a subject fraught with danger. Each school’s fans think their school is No. 1 in pre- and post-game parties. But thankfully, with the internet at hand, there are surveys (surprise!) and survey results.

Football stadium with yellow and black on endzones.

Missouri Tigers take to the field. Photo: Spatms

Now, football season might seem far away, but die-hard fans of SEC teams are already making reservations for camping near their favorite football stadiums. So, if you want to experience true football mania — with a hearty dose of school spirit thrown in — then check out the 2025 SEC football schedule and find out when your team is playing, and make travel plans accordingly (see list of nearby RV parks below).

Here are some highlights:

Rebels and Tigers and Tide

With apologies to my alma mater — and all fans of the Mizzou Tigers (University of Missouri) — you’re in the running, but those other Tigers from LSU (Louisiana State University) seem to be coming out on top in most surveys. With recipes involving Jambalaya, crawfish, alligator, and frog, the food from the bayou gets broiled, boiled, fried, and served Cajun style in the vast Tiger Stadium parking lot in Baton Rouge. And while the food is cooking, the beverages are poured, and fans are donning body paint and LSU gear and visiting their live Bengal tiger mascot.

Ole Miss fans gather at the Grove. Photo: Srgragg

But running a close second — and No. 1 in some polls — are the Ole Miss Rebels fans, who gather in The Grove, a 10-acre expanse right in the middle of campus in the aptly named town of University. The dress is a little more upscale but it’s all about the party — really many, many parties rolled into one. The festivities sometimes start on Friday evening and don’t wind down until Sunday morning.

Some polls say the Crimson Tide fans of the University of Alabama roll out the third-best tailgate party at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, and others pick the Volunteers of Tennessee, who party down at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, within walking distance of the University of Tennessee.

Florida Gator fans party before a big game. Photo: Cracklow’s Faux Toes

Bulldogs and Gators Go at It

Is the University Georgia Number 4 or is the University of Florida Again, everyone seems to agree the Bulldogs, playing in Sanford Stadium in Athens, and the Gators, playing in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, know how to have fun before watching their team take to the gridiron.

Other schools seemingly always in the mix of highly-rated tailgating scenes are (in no-particular order): the South Carolina Gamecocks, Texas A&M Aggies, Arkansas Razorbacks, Missouri Tigers, Auburn Tigers, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Vanderbilt Commodores, and the Kentucky Wildcats.

A pot of Jambalaya near a glass of beer.

Jambalaya is served up at many SEC tailgating parties. Photo: Jason Lam

But, surveys aside, it’s likely that the best SEC Tailgate party is the one you’re attending!

Many of the schools have RV-friendly parking lots on gameday. But the following RV parks welcome their fans for game weekends. Again, be sure to reserve early as avid fans book well in advance to secure a spot for both home and away games.

The following RV parks are located close to top SEC football stadiums.