Tailgater Guide: Indiana University

Hoosier Nation is gearing up for football and fans are looking forward to a bounce-back season after posting a disappointing 2-10 record in 2021.

Tailgating is a looser affair than at other schools, but no less energetic, fulfilling, or borderline crazy. Autumn Saturdays in Bloomington are sworn to the crimson and cream as the team takes the field, and IU fans do everything they can to push the Hoosiers to victory.

In this guide, we’ll give you the nuts and bolts about tailgating at Indiana University, including the best places to be, the best things to do, and the best traditions to take part in.

Before Game Day

Hoosiers’ 2022 Home Schedule

• Sept. 2 – Illinois
• Sept. 10 – Idaho
• Sept. 17 – Western Kentucky
• Oct. 8 – Michigan
• Oct. 15 – Maryland
• Nov. 5 – Penn State
• Nov. 26 – Purdue

Getting Tickets

Get your tickets in advance if you can. The Hoosiers’ football ticket page sells single-game tickets and mini-season packages, as well as parking passes.

Travel, Accommodations, and Transportation

Bloomington, Indiana — the archetypical U.S. “Small Town,” thanks to local resident John Mellencamp — is about 53 miles south of Indianapolis. Being a college town, it’s well served by transportation and hotels. Here’s how to get there and where to stay.

Traveling to Bloomington

Driving: Indiana Routes 45 and 46 both pass by the University. Interstate 69 runs on the west side of Bloomington as well. Depending on where you’re coming from, you may take I-64 or I-70 to get to the general area.

Air Travel: Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is 43 miles from Bloomington and takes in nonstop flights from a lot of U.S. cities. You can get to Indiana University from there via rental car, bus, or shuttle.

Nearby Hotels and Accommodations

You’ll find plenty of hotel options just west of the university: Wyndham, Home2 Suites, Hilton, Hyatt, Courtyard by Marriott, and more. Locally owned hotels that cater to the University include  Grant Street Inn, Walnut Street Inn, and Graduate Bloomington.

Here are TripAdvisor’s suggestions for hotels in Bloomington.

If you’re planning to host your own tailgate, you may want to look into an Airbnb or VRBO so you have access to a kitchen to prep your food and beverages!

Getting to Memorial Stadium

Bloomington Transit Route 1 is the most direct bus route to Indiana University. Your hotel may also provide a shuttle service to the stadium.

How to Tailgate at Indiana University

Tailgating at Indiana University is a bit less structured than at other colleges, but you won’t have any problem finding Hoosier parties when you get near the stadium. Here are some of the best spots, regulations, and traditions for game day.

Where to Tailgate at Indiana University

The university allows tailgating in all parking lots, starting at least 5 hours before game time. All festivities must be shut down no later than 10 minutes after kickoff. The Red Lot, a large patch of grass south of 17^th Street, is a popular favorite among tailgaters with cars and trucks.

RV tailgaters can try the Purple Lot, at the intersection of N. Dunn St. and N. Jordan Ave. You’ll need a pass in advance. RVs can park beginning at 6 pm on Friday, and don’t have to leave until Sunday at noon.

Here’s the parking map for Memorial Stadium.

Tailgating at Indiana University: Rules

Indiana University campus officers have a few tailgating regulations, including:

• One space per car only
• Canopies are permitted, but no tents or tarps
• Couches and large furniture not permitted
• Kegs must be approved by an official IU caterer
• No glass containers
• All beverages must be in cans or plastic containers
• Tailgating is expected to end within 10 minutes after kickoff

Check out the other rules for tailgating at Indiana University here.

Tailgating at Indiana University: Traditions

The Walk is IU’s version of the traditional march to the stadium, where the players and coaches pass by throngs of cheering fans on the way to the locker room. It starts about two hours before game time and features the IU spirit squad and the Marching Hundred band.

Indiana University’s Alumni Association hosts its own tailgate party at Hoosier Village. If you have kids, want some structured entertainment, or just didn’t feel like hauling your own tailgate party around, this might be the place for you.

Off-Campus Food and Drinks

If you get the urge to wander away from campus for your tailgating — or need supplies to bring back to the base — Bloomington has a few diverse hotspots for drink and food about a mile away from the stadium. Here are some of our recommendations.

Bars Near Memorial Stadium

The bar and restaurant scene in Bloomington is a little far from the stadium if you’re traveling on foot, but there are also quite a few options near the intersection of W. Kirkwood Ave. and S. Walnut St. south of the University.

Brothers Bar & Grill is a sports bar that caters to Hoosier fans on game day. Village Pub has a big menu of specialty cocktails and good food. Yogi’s is a crimson-bedecked student favorite with an impressive selection of microbrews. Nick’s English Hut is one of Bloomington’s oldest bars — closing in on 100 years — and a fine sports bar for game-day viewing.

Check out Google Maps for more bars near IU.

Restaurants Near Indiana University

The Crazy Horse is a restaurant and bar with a lot of history, and kids are welcome before 9 p.m. It also has a bar for IU alumni, so it’s a common game-day visit for many Hoosiers past and present. Their menu has great comfort food and classic American fare.

Trojan Horse is a laid-back joint for colossal gyros and other Greek food — you’ll see them cooking shawarma meat on a spit through their window on Kirkwood. Turkuaz Café is a relaxed place to enjoy traditional Turkish food. Bub’s Burgers makes gigantic sandwiches from both ground chuck and elk meat. It’s the home of the Big Ugly, a colossal burger weighing in at 22 ounces pre-cooked.

See some of TripAdvisor’s recommendations for restaurants near IU.

Indiana University Gameday Gear

With the new season fast approaching, it’s time to get some new Indiana Hoosiers game day gear to rep at your tailgate.

If you want to rep Indiana with your pop-up tent, this is a great option from Logo Brands that you can find on Amazon. Linked here. Or if you want to opt for a plain colored tent, and spruce up your tailgate with other Indiana items, check out our Best Tailgate Tents: 2022 guide.

 

These Rawlings tailgate chairs are great. There are quite a few ‘fancier’ chairs out there, but these are all you need for a tailgate party. For the most part, you’re hardly even sitting. You can find them here.

 

For the grill master in your group – these are a great way to rep your team all summer! They’d make for a great Father’s Day gift, too. Linked here.

 

For all things attire, Fanatics: Indiana University is a great place to start. They have something for every member of the family. Be sure to only buy when they have promotions running, which is quite often!

Fanatics also has a fun Indiana: Tailgate & Party section that has cute decorations, car decals, and tailgate games. Outside of cornhole (bags) games, I’d stick to Amazon for your bigger tailgate items like tents, tables, chairs, etc. Or your actual team’s ticket office.

Wrap-Up!

As part of the Big 10, Indiana University has a reserved spot in one of the most highly competitive, closely watched conferences in the NCAA. Its football program is on the rise, and Hoosier Nation is expecting big things to come its’ way.

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Tailgate On!
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