Why Tailgating and Camping Are the Perfect Combination

There’s something special about a tailgate. It’s the food, music, games, friendly competition, and excitement that builds before kickoff. Now imagine taking all of that fun and extending it into an entire weekend outdoors. That’s where tailgating and camping become the perfect combination.

Trade a few hours of pregame fun for a full outdoor adventure. With the right planning, your group can enjoy great food, comfortable accommodations, and plenty of time to relax, play, and make memories together.

Recruit Your Tailgate Crew

The best tailgates are rarely a one-person operation. Bringing a group of friends makes the experience more fun—and makes preparation much easier. Instead of asking everyone to simply “bring something,” give each person or pair a specific responsibility.

Consider dividing the preparation into different roles:

• Food Captain: Plans the menu, organizes groceries, and manages cooking supplies.
• Drinks Captain: Handles beverages, coolers, ice, and water.
• Camping Coordinator: Makes sure tents, sleeping gear, chairs, and campsite supplies are covered.
• Entertainment Captain: Brings cornhole, footballs, cards, TV or projector, speakers, and other games.
• Cleanup Captain: Organizes trash bags, recycling, paper products, and cleanup supplies.

Dividing responsibilities keeps one person from doing all the work and gives everyone a role in creating the weekend. It also makes it much easier to figure out what still needs to be packed before you hit the road.

Tailgate and Camping Food

Food is at the heart of both camping and tailgating, so combining the two gives you plenty of opportunities to get creative. The key is choosing meals that are easy to prepare, transport, and serve to a crowd.

For the tailgate portion, camping gives you the chance to have all your favorites from every style of tailgate – brunch, lunch, or dinner plus all the snacks and dessert.

For the camping portion, plan meals that require minimal preparation and cleanup. Preparing ingredients at home can save time and make cooking at the campsite much easier.

Some great options include:

• Breakfast: Muffins, egg muffins (bacon, sausage, tomato mozzarella), small bagels with cream cheese. Campfire Bonus: Skillet hashbrown casserole or cinnamon rolls.
• Lunch: Slider sandwiches, turkey or Italian pinwheels, pimento cheese sliders, pigs in a blanket. Campfire Bonus: Brown your meat for walking tacos or make skillet quesadillas.
• Dinner: Chili, BBQ, burgers and brats. Campfire Bonus: Baked potatoes in the campfire coals.
• Snacks: Chips and dip, boiled peanuts, fruit, trail mix, and veggies. Campfire Bonus: Skillet nachos.
• Dessert: Brownie bites, all the cookies, puppy chow, Buckeyes (but you don’t have to call them that if you’re not an Ohio State fan). Campfire Bonus: Skillet apple cobbler or the all-time camping MVP, s’mores.

Don’t forget plenty of water and ice. Staying hydrated is especially important when everyone is spending the day outside.

Entertainment Essentials

The games (or races if you’re into that) will be the highlight of the weekend so you’ll want to be prepared to watch. Have your entertainment captain check in with the campground on the wifi situation if you need to stream.

Consider bringing your own satellite internet if you really want a dedicated signal. Screen choice is important too. Who in the group has the biggest TV? For night games, a portable screen and projector can really up the fun factor. Whatever your set-up, double-check your cords and speaker set-up before you leave home.

The game isn’t the only feature though. All your usual tailgate entertainment will be a hit at the campground. Pack your cornhole boards, ladder ball, and consider adding some cards and board games for in-between game fun. Bring a ball for your own halftime game.

Packing List Must-Haves

A successful tailgate-camping trip requires a little more preparation than a traditional tailgate, but thankfully there are also some crossover items that will cover both.

• Grill, fuel, cooking utensils, and food-storage containers
• Coolers, ice, and plenty of water
• Flashlights or lanterns and extra batteries
• Sunscreen, bug spray, and weather-appropriate clothing
• First-aid supplies and basic toiletries

Weather should also factor into your packing list. Sunscreen, hats, rain gear, warm layers, and extra blankets can make a major difference depending on the forecast. It’s always better to bring a few extra supplies than discover you’re missing something once you arrive.

Stay Comfortable

Camping and tailgating don’t have to mean sacrificing comfort. If sleeping on the ground and setting up a traditional tent isn’t your idea of a perfect weekend, Emberglow Outdoor Resort offers a more comfortable way to enjoy the great outdoors with glamping accommodations. After a full day of food, football, and fun, you can retreat to a cozy space with the comforts you want while still enjoying the outdoor atmosphere. Glamping lets your crew experience the best of both worlds—a memorable tailgate camping weekend without having to truly “rough it.”

Turn the Game Into a Weekend

The real advantage of combining tailgating and camping is that there’s no need to rush. Once the game ends, your group can start a campfire, enjoy another meal, and relive the best moments of the day.

You can make the weekend as relaxed or adventurous as you want. Add hiking, fishing, swimming, morning coffee around the fire, or simply spend the afternoon hanging out with friends.

Ultimately, tailgating and camping work so well together because they share the same ingredients: good food, great company, outdoor fun, and memorable experiences. With a little planning and a crew willing to pitch in, your next game-day tailgate can become much more than a few hours in a parking lot—it can become an entire weekend everyone looks forward to repeating.