Take armchair quarterbacking to the next level by taking your armchair on the road to your favorite sporting events. RVs and sports were made for each other – whether it’s a top-notch tailgate or a prime spot on the infield. Load up your RV and hit the road to the best sporting events for RVing around the country.

College Football

Nothing says fall like a sizzling grill outside your favorite college football team’s stadium. Whether you’re following your alma mater for the season, or planning the ultimate homecoming tailgate, gear up for some time in football heaven – all with the comfort and convenience of your RV.

Many college campuses have RV lots for game day, and savvy tailgaters have come to embrace the RV lifestyle. Instead of wrestling with folding tables, chopping, dicing and prepping for your award-winning chili out in the elements, trying to keep ice from melting or food from freezing, and making the long hike to the nearest Porta Potty, RV tailgaters can prep and potty in the comfort of their own home on wheels.

For some RVers, the tailgate is the destination and the game is secondary. Seasoned RVers know that the best seat in the house may be the seat in your home on wheels. While others battle the long hike to the stadium, rowdy crowds, and nose-bleed seating, you can head into your RV, settle down in your theater-style seating, and turn on your satellite TV to enjoy the game in peace.

Where to tailgate in your RV

At most major colleges, and many smaller schools, areas near the stadium will be designated for tailgating. Universities have embraced the extended RV tailgate, with the party beginning as early as Thursdays on some campuses. Which school has the best tailgating scene varies depending on who you talk to, but you’ll consistently see schools like Ole Miss, LSU and Penn State atop “best of” tailgating lists. These fans know how to party before the game, and the schools make the tailgating setup easy so you can enjoy the pregame alongside other fans.

For example, the on-campus RV lot at Ole Miss allows for easy access to the legendary Grove, 10 acres of tailgate heaven, one of the most iconic tailgating destinations in college football. Some universities don’t allow tailgating during the game itself, and limit festivities to before the kick off and after the final quarter, but do provide transportation from the RV lot to the stadium. Others have RV lots with water and sewage hookups. Still other universities have nearby private campgrounds that put on just as big of a party as the tailgaters on campus. Check your college athletic department website for tailgating information specific to your game-day destination.

If you had to ask us though, these are some of the best college football sporting events for RVing and tailgating:

• Florida vs. Georgia in Jacksonville, FL, known as the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”
• Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry at The Big House or The Horseshoe
• Army vs. Navy
• Any in-conference game at the Grove at Ole Miss
• Any in-conference game at LSU
• Alabama vs. Auburn
• Clemson vs. South Carolina

In case you haven’t picked up on a theme yet, some of the best tailgating is in the South! Check out our guide to RV tailgating and our RV tailgating recipes for more.

NASCAR

NASCAR and RVs are a match made in heaven. Score a spot in the infield in settle in for the weekend from qualifying through the checkered flag for one of the top tier sporting events for RVing. Several NASCAR tracks offer a variety of infield camping experiences that put you in the heart of the action. Reserve early: prime spots, the ones closest to the action with the most amenities, go fast and have the highest price tags. Infields become lively temporary cities, so consider which “neighborhood” suits your needs – some tracks offer everything from humble tent sites, to high-octane party areas, to “family friendly” sections.

Be prepared to be immersed in the sights – and sounds – of the racing life, from the roar of engines at race time to the all-night hum of hundreds of generators. The noise and energy is part of the experience! There’s nothing quite like the fellowship of kindred spirits and the scent of a thousand grills fired up for the ultimate outdoor party. If you’re lucky enough to score a prime infield spot, haul your chairs up to the roof and enjoy the best seats in the house – right on top of your house on wheels.

From February to November, the racing season roars across country at tracks from California to Florida. Each offers unique experiences from infield camping at the legendary Daytona International Speedway to Zoomtown, adjacent to the Phoenix Motor Speedway. Raceway websites provide maps and pricing for RV camping experiences.

Spring Training Baseball

With great weather, affordable ticket prices, and sunny destinations, spring training baseball is one of the best sporting events for RVing. As February turns into March, head for the Cactus League in Arizona or the Grapefruit League in Florida.

Most teams play in fan-friendly jewel box stadiums in warm weather meccas that offer the opportunity to enjoy the national pastime while also touring local points of interest. The 15 West Coast teams play in 11 stadiums in the Phoenix, Tempe, Tucson, and Scottsdale area. In Florida’s Grapefruit League, each team has its own home stadium in places that include Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, down the Space Coast, Walt Disney World, as well as Gulf Coast towns.

Cactus League

One of the great things about RVing for spring training is the slower pace of the season and the ability to use it as an excuse to explore nearby destinations. You’ll want to tour some desert hot-spots – while it’s not so hot – when you travel to soak up the sun and baseball in Arizona. Some favorite RV sites include Cholla Campground in Tonto National Forest and McDowell Mountain Regional Park. Include visits to Tonto Natural Bridge Waterfall, and Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, as well as Desert Botanical Garden. Take a ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad before heading to the ballpark.

Must-see Cactus League stadiums include the Peoria Sports Complex, which is the home stadium for the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres. Don’t eat before you come! Peoria is known for its stellar stadium cuisine, including fried Twinkies and dishes offered up by a parade of food trucks post-game. Historic Hohokam Park in Mesa is a vintage park dating from the 1930s that has been home to the Oakland Athletics since 2015. 

Grapefruit League

With stadiums in scenic locations, the best weather of the year in Florida, and plentiful RV parks, Grapefruit League baseball is one of the best sporting events to visit in your RV. Top notch RV parks abound in Florida, many in proximity to spring training stadiums.
Make it a family trip with a stop at Champions Stadium in Kissimmee. On Disney property, enjoy the theme park, RV at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, and take advantage of Disney transportation and campground entertainment while soaking up some Atlanta Braves spring training action.

Score a waterfront RV site at Fort DeSoto park in Pinellas County and you’ll be close enough to watch the Baltimore Orioles tune up at their Sarasota park and the Toronto Blue Jays take the field at TD Ballpark. Come home to gulf views, where pink dolphins can be viewed from the shore. Fort DeSoto’s beach has been a fixture on the list of top 10 beaches in the U.S.

Head further south to Fort Myers to watch the Red Sox at their spring training home, JetBlue Park at Fenway South, and the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium. Catch more spring training baseball and beach time on the Atlantic Coast, where five teams are clustered around the I-95 corridor. After a day of baseball, come home to Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Tequesta, where the Loxahatchee River, one of two federally designated National Wild and Scenic Rivers in Florida, offers kayak and canoeing.

Rodeo

Indulge your wild side without breaking the bank. Seasoned rodeo fans know that following the circuit is best done by RV. The Professional Rodeo and Cowboy Association sanctions professional events showcasing the national talent around the country.
The National Western Stock Show & Rodeo in Denver, is a two-week indoor rodeo competition featuring bull riding, team roping and barrel racing as well as national livestock show. Shows and exhibitions are featured throughout the two weeks, making it one of the best sporting events for RVing. RV parks are nearby as are many Denver attractions and restaurants.

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am

This event makes the list of the best sporting events for RVing not just because of the sport itself, but because of the location. Every February, the legendary Pebble Beach on California’s Monterey Peninsula is home to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am Golf Tournament. Perhaps one of the most beautiful courses in America, it overlooks the rocky coastline of the Pacific Ocean. The event takes place over three courses on the Peninsula, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Monterey Peninsula Country Club Shore and features an all-star lineup of pros and celebrities, making the event fun for serious duffers as well as autograph seekers and star gazers.

The Monterey Peninsula is home to breath-taking scenery and beautiful RV parks, making it a bucket list RV sports event destination. Watch some of the best golf of the year and visit Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey wineries, and drive the Pacific Coast Highway and the famous 17 Mile Drive along the peninsula. Come early and enjoy access to the practice rounds on the course, join the 200,000 people who watch the event, then stay over a few extra days to play a round of golf on the famous links.

Choosing your next sporting event for RVing

You don’t have to be a huge sports fan to enjoy RVing at a sporting event. These events are bucket list RV experiences in and of themselves! Challenge yourself to get out and try RVing at a sporting event you wouldn’t usually think to visit. We’d wager you’ll have a blast!