Gameday Guide
Auburn Gameday Guide
Where to stay, park, tailgate, and eat on home game Saturdays — straight from the locals.
Home game Saturdays turn Auburn into a different city. If you're coming in for a game, hosting family for one, or thinking about owning a piece of the action yourself, here's our local's guide to doing gameday right.
87,451
Jordan-Hare Stadium Capacity
1971
Rolling Toomer's Corner Began
4 Hrs
Before Kickoff Fan Fest Opens
Where To Stay
Hotels in Auburn book up fast and get expensive on home game weekends, which is exactly why we manage a portfolio of game-day rental homes through Hayley Management — full houses within walking or short-driving distance of campus, often for less than a comparable hotel block. If you're looking to stay (or invest in a property that pays for itself on game weekends), downtown Auburn's Historic District, Donahue Crossing, and Ross Park/Northern Village are the areas we point people to first — all covered in our Investing in Auburn guide.
Parking
Reserved parking passes go on sale before the season through Auburn Athletics' Parking Panda system — worth grabbing early if you know your dates. A few practical notes:
1
RV parking is first-come, first-served starting at 2pm Thursday in the Hayfields (free), Community Gardens, and Intramural Fields.
2
Accessible parking is available at the VCOM Lot (910 South Donahue Drive) at no charge, with pre-purchased options at the Gogue Performing Arts Center and District Energy lots.
3
Most gameday lots require vehicles out by 10pm, and parking is not allowed on roadways, bike paths, or sidewalks — campus police do enforce this.
Tailgating
The Hayfields, Community Garden on Samford Avenue, and Intramural Fields on Biggio Drive are the classic reservable tailgate spots. If you want something more done-for-you, the Campus Green and Graves Amphitheatre offer full-service tailgate packages, and the Agricultural Heritage Park runs its own "Tailgate at the Park." For a free option that's still right in the middle of it, the Coca-Cola Fan Fest sets up on the north side of Jordan-Hare four hours before kickoff with live music, food trucks, and giveaways.
Traditions To Experience
Two things you shouldn't miss on your first Auburn gameday:
Pre-Game
Tiger Walk
A few hours before kickoff, thousands of fans line Donahue Drive as the team walks through the crowd into the stadium. Get there early for a good spot — it's one of the best pieces of gameday energy anywhere in college football.
Post-Win
Rolling Toomer's Corner
After a win, head downtown to Toomer's Corner, where fans have been throwing rolls of toilet paper into the oak trees since 1971. It's chaotic, it's messy, and it's an Auburn rite of passage.
Where To Eat
Downtown fills up fast on gamedays, so plan ahead or expect a wait at: Acre (elevated Southern food, three blocks from Toomer's Corner), The Depot (Gulf seafood in the historic train depot), Hamilton's on Magnolia (casual, one block from Toomer's), and Auburn Draft House for craft beer and pub food between the Tiger Walk and kickoff.
Beyond The Stadium
If you're in town for the whole weekend, two spots are worth the short drive: Kiesel Park, with walking trails, a community garden, and an off-leash dog area, and the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, a free (donation-suggested) museum with over 2,000 pieces and a sculpture garden — a nice, quiet counterpoint to the noise of gameday.
Need a place to stay for an upcoming game weekend? Browse available game-day rentals through Hayley Management, or reach out and we'll help you find the right fit.