Tampa Tailgating is one of the best ways to enjoy a game. Bring all the food, drinks, chairs, and tvs that you want and celebrate right outside the stadium. And if the Florida heat is too much for you or your little ones, take a break in the AC. Now that COVID restrictions are being eased or lifted in many regions and in social environments all across the country, people are more excited than ever to get out and socialize again. And one faction of our society that really looks to take advantage of this freedom again is RVers who love tailgating.
RVers who really enjoy tailgating in and around Tampa, FL would do best to follow a few RV tips to further enhance this experience in general. One solid tip to follow would be to book RV sites as soon as possible. What with so many RVers anxious to get out and stay in sites again, locations will fill up quickly this summer.
Tampa Tailgating Spots
One major factor you may be looking at when beginning to make plans to tailgate this year is where to go to enjoy this popular activity. Locations popular in Tampa and within a few hours of drive time include:
Raymond James Stadium. Home stadium of the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL), tailgate activities are permitted in stadium-controlled parking lots. Many public parking lots near the stadium also permit tailgate activities. Bear in mind that no overnight stays are permitted in Raymond James Stadium parking lots, so it would be best to secure RV accommodations nearby prior to your experience at the stadium. Two popular RV parks in the area are the Lazydays RV Resort and Bay Bayou RV Resort.
Tropicana Field. Home field of the TB Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB), tailgate activity is allowed here in select lots- predominantly lots 2 and 9. Know that commercial and/or charcoal grills are not allowed in the parking lots here. Tailgaters are only allowed one space; any other spaces occupied will be charged.
Amalie Arena. Home to the TB Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL), and the temporary home of the National Basketball Association (NBA) team Toronto Raptors, little information is available on tailgate activities permitted here. It may be best to contact someone at the Arena for more information and accessibility options here.
George M. Steinbrenner Field. Home to the New York Yankees (MLB) in spring training, this stadium is just blocks away from Raymond James Stadium and is a terrific place to tailgate in the spring prior to seeing the major leaguers getting out into action for the first time in the new season.
TIAA Bank Field. This multi-purpose stadium is in Jacksonville, FL, home to the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. You can tailgate here in the North parking lot only, and only on specific dates (most likely game or event dates).
Manatee Hammock Campground. Located in Titusville, FL, this is a terrific campground to stay at on the east coast of the state. Getting to be this close when a space launch from the Kennedy Space Center at NASA blasts off is a thrill (especially when night launches take place, which for moments light up the sky like it’s daytime). Ranked #1 in Specialty Lodging in Titusville by a leading travel website, the camping and tailgate experiences here are extraordinary.
Hard Rock Stadium. In Miami, FL, home field for the University of Miami Hurricanes football team (NCAA Division I) and the Miami Dolphins (NFL). For the time being, no tailgate activity is permitted here, but that is certainly subject to change dramatically as COVID protocols change or restrictions, in general, get lifted.
BB&T Center. Home of the Florida Panthers (NHL) in Miami, fans are permitted to set up chairs, coolers, strollers, backpacks, and more here, but make sure you leave them in your RV before heading into the game as none of it is permitted inside the arena.
LoanDepot Park. Formerly known as Marlins Park in Miami, FL, they host the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team. No tailgate information is available; check with representatives at the park for more information here.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The home stadium of the Florida Gators (NCAA Division I) in Gainesville, FL. Take unique advantage here and book your group into a Reitz Union Lawn Tailgate Package. Specialty services are provided at different levels: Varsity, Letterman, All American, Club. Regular tailgating in Ben Hill Griffin’s parking lot is permitted and enjoyed by many before, even during, and after Gators games.
American Airlines Arena. Home to the Miami Heat of the NBA, they currently don’t allow tailgate activity in their parking areas.
If you don’t have an RV of your own to take Tampa Tailgating, consider renting an RV from Suncoast RV Rental. We have a fleet of new model RVs in a variety of sizes that are perfect for you and your crew to tailgate in style! View our fleet or give us a call at 813.984.0107.
