The college football playoffs will ring in 2023 with two semi-final games happening this New Year’s Eve. The winners of those two games will square off on January 9, 2023 for the NCAA title game at SoFi Stadium in LA — all of which promises to be an exciting series of events.
RVing to the college football playoffs is the best way to experience the games because it’ll bring you into an even deeper tailgating and celebrating dimension that other fans won’t experience. The NCAA playoff games will feature oceans of RVers camping out and tailgating before, during, and long after the games have concluded. That means you and the family will be able to spend the maximum amount of time soaking in the experience if you jump in an RV. And to make it even more enticing we want to help you get out there by offering 10% off your rental. Use code CFP 22 at checkout!
We put this post together to get you all you need to know for an RVing trip to the college football playoffs. We’ll discover how to find the best campsites near the football games, ways to get an RV delivered to you, dry camping options near the stadiums, and much more. Let’s kick this off.
RVing To The College Football Playoffs
The college football playoffs are composed of two semi-final games: The Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, and The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia.
The College Football Playoff National Championship game will be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.
RV camping at any of these championship events brings you into a world that goes far beyond what the average spectator experiences. You’ll be able to keep the celebration going with cookouts, tailgating, outdoor watch parties, and more.
Even if you don’t have tickets to the games, bringing an RV will be your pass to epic action that you can’t find anywhere else. That’s because the cities and areas around the stadiums will transform themselves into full-on celebrations of everything that college football is about.
And if you experience these playoff towns by RV, you’ll be center stage to the action and still able to come back to your home on wheels each night.
How To Find The Best College Football Playoff Campsites
Your first step to finding the best campsites for the college football playoffs is to start planning as early as possible. The best spots fill up fast, so the early bird gets the hot dog.
RVing to The Fiesta Bowl?
If you’re headed to the Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, AZ is right outside Phoenix — an RVing mecca with an abundance of campsites.
For example, the Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort is a relatively short jaunt from the stadium and features an on-site 18-hole championship golf course, 26 pickleball courts, weekly events, a beautiful pool, and much more. Before we get your hopes too high though — Pueblo El Mirage is technically for folks 55+ years old. But don’t be afraid to give them a call to see if they can get you in!
If you prefer wild west digs (without the 55+ age restriction), check out Destiny RV Resort for a sun-soaked RVers paradise with a comfy pool, cool adobe buildings, a hot tub, tennis courts, and more.
RVing to The Peach Bowl?
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2022 will be in Atlanta, GA — another town with a plethora of RV campsites. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium downtown will be hosting the event.
The Stone Mountain Park Campground is nestled in a 3,200-acre natural area just outside Atlanta. You’d be able to enjoy a variety of natural activities with the family before and after the downtown game. As a bonus, this campground features an array of glamping options like yurts and safari tents.
The Jones RV Park is a well-reviewed RV campground that’s easily accessible from downtown. What it might lack in wooded sites, it makes up for with the friendliness of its staff, location near Stone Mountain Park, and affordable rates.
No matter where you hang your hat for the college playoffs, consider taking your RV to the stadium parking lot for game day. That’s because nothing beats the tailgating prowess of a stocked RV — especially one with an outdoor kitchen.
RVing To The NCAA Football Championship Game?
The Los Angeles area doesn’t disappoint when it comes to RV spots. And the city is car-centric enough that there’ll undoubtedly be some tailgating happening at the stadium. If you have a rig under 25 feet, the chances are good you can hit the stadium grounds for some tailgating. When it comes to hanging your hat, Los Angeles has gobs of RV parks ready to host you.
Check out the Dockweiler RV Park for oceanside camping. It may be more of an asphalt campground, but it’s a stone’s throw from the beach and it gets solid reviews.
The Malibu Beach RV Park is a bit further away but offers terraced sites with ocean views that can’t be beat.
Boondocking Near The College Football Playoffs
When RV parks near the college football playoffs are full, boondocking — aka dry camping — will open a wide landscape for camping in your RV. As long as your camper is equipped with the right equipment for boondocking, you should have a variety of options for making camp near the playoff games.
Boondocking Near The Fiesta Bowl
The Southwest features more boondockable land per capita than just about any other region of the U.S., so you shouldn’t have trouble finding dry campsites for your trip to The Fiesta Bowl.
For example, the Willow Campground at White Tank Mountain Park is set in a beautiful natural area where you can hike to see Saguaro Cacti and red mountains before heading into the game.
If you head north toward Black Canyon City, you’ll find a series of boondocking sites off the highway as you get 45 minutes north of Phoenix. While this might make for a bit of a drive, the peace, tranquility, and affordability (free) of these sites make them worth the trip. A site like www.campendium.com will help you locate your camp if you choose this journey.
Boondocking Near The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Atlanta is a slightly more difficult area to find boondocking sites, but it’s certainly not impossible — especially if you’re willing to drive a bit.
Places like the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest offer beautiful wilderness camping within range of the stadium. This forest features over 800,000 acres of protected land, 850 miles of hiking trails, and hundreds of lakes, streams, and rivers. Head to the Oconee Ranger District within the preserve for the closest campsites to The Bowl.
While this national forest might seem like a bit of a jaunt, it could make for a splendid family vacation if you plan to enjoy The Bowl festivities for a couple of days and then spend the rest of your vacay with the family enjoying activities like hiking, mountain biking, and nature watching.
Boondocking Near The National Championship
Though Los Angeles is the second largest metro in the U.S., SoCal still offers tons of boondocking options within a reasonable drive from the game.
The Angeles National Forest is a pristine reserve that’s just miles outside the city. It has over 500 miles of multi-use trails and an abundance of campsites to choose from. There’s also a range of water activities in this national forest — ranging from fishing to kayaking at any of the dozens of streams, lakes, and creeks meandering through this preserve.
Photo Credit: Tony Webster via Flickr
What Are The Best Types of RVs For College Football Playoffs?
The best type of RV for the college playoffs depends on the experience you want to have. Here are some great options to consider:
Fifth-wheel campers delivered to you — Fifth-wheel campers are those campers on the road where a part of the camper (usually the bedroom area) goes up and over a pickup truck bed. These are perfect chariots for The College Playoffs because they offer some epic tailgating features — like outdoor kitchens and back porches.
Fifth-wheel campers usually need to be towed by larger trucks, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We have many of these trailers that can be affordably delivered wherever you need them — all you have to do is show up.
Here are a few fifth-wheel campers offering delivery to the games:
This Grand Design Luxury RV for rent near Phoenix can be delivered right to you for The Fiesta Bowl, features ample interior space for its class, and can sleep the whole family.
This massive Montana brand fifth wheel for rent near Atlanta sleeps up to 10 people and can serve as a spacious base camp for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
This fifth wheel with a private bunkhouse will keep the whole family happy in LA.
Deliverable Class A motorhomes — Class A motorhomes are large motorhomes that are often built on large bus-like frames. While these rigs offer luxury amenities and plenty of space, they can be intimidating if you’ve never driven one before.
That’s why many Class A owners on our platform offer delivery. Here are some examples near The College Playoffs:
The Desert Rose RV rental near Phoenix features a bunkhouse floor plan for the kiddos and can be delivered right to your campground near The Fiesta Bowl. You can also enjoy luxury home-like amenities such as an ice maker, outdoor TV, residential-size refrigerator, and much more.
This 2022 Thor Outlaw is an RV for rent near Atlanta featuring a rear toy hauler garage that’s easily converted into a screened-in porch for you and the family to enjoy tailgating in style at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Tiffin is a mark of RVing prestige and this Class A near LA is a Tiffin rig that’ll have you rolling in the lap of luxury as you soak in the championship.
Family-friendly Class Cs — Class C rigs are larger than Class Bs (campervans) but still nimble enough to get around if you choose a smaller length. Class C rigs also tend to have more amenities than Class B’s and can often sleep up to 6.
Class Cs can also feature a bunk area that goes over the cab, offering great sleeping space for the kiddos. Here are some examples near The College Playoffs:
Given that this nimble Class C for rent near Phoenix was featured in a super bowl commercial, we think it’s a worthy choice for The Fiesta Bowl. It’s uber easy to drive, features a drop-down sleeping area above the drive area, and leaves enough room for a full bed at the back.
This Jayco Redhawk near Atlanta sleeps up to six with its built-in bunk beds and a drop-down bed over the drive area. It’s a true family rig that’s ready to treat you and yours to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
This boss Class C in North Hollywood comes with everything you and the fam will need for a nimble adventure into the city for the NCAA Championship game.
Easy to tow trailers — Trailers like pop-ups can be towed by everyday vehicles and provide ample accommodations for The College Football playoffs.
Check out these examples near the games:
This A-Frame pop-up camper for rent near Phoenix can be towed by most small SUVs or delivered right to your camp near The Fiesta Bowl. It even features a built-in toilet and an outdoor kitchenette!
The Little Yeller Feller is a pop-up camper for rent near Atlanta that can be towed by just about any mid-size vehicle (that’s properly equipped) or it can be delivered to you for The Peach Bowl. It features a fold-down cargo area at the front of the rig that doubles as a patio when the camper is folded up.
If you’re the adventurous type, park this expedition rig in the Angeles National Forest so you can glamp out by day and enjoy the championship game by night.
What To Pack For College Football Playoffs
No matter which college football playoff game you RV to, there’s a certain set of items you’ll want to be sure to pack to maximize the camping/tailgating experience. Here’s our (non-exhaustive) list:
- S’more fixins
- A way to cook outside (e.g. grill, outdoor RV kitchen, etc.)
- Camping chairs
- Team jerseys for the team you’re rooting for
- Lighters
- Firewood
- A canopy tent (in case you need extra sleeping accommodations)
- Folding tables
- Bicycles
- Recyclable cutlery and plates
- Kayaks and SUPs if you plan to be near water (many of our owners offer these as add-ons for your rental)
RVing to the college football playoffs puts you center stage of the action that’s built up over the past few months. As these four teams square off, hopes will be fulfilled and dreams may be dashed — but you’ll be guaranteed a fun time with the family if you choose to bring a home on wheels with you. That’s because RVs open the door to fun that goes beyond the game as you explore the host city, nearby campgrounds, and nature near The Fiesta Bowl, The Peach Bowl, and the championship game itself.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s kick this thing off by checking out RVs for rent right now.
