Where's the best free tailgating spot?

[burky247]

In the past I have always tailgated at Finkbine. Over the years though, my tailgating crew has been shrinking more and more because most of my friends can't afford the increasing costs. So I have been thinking about tailgating at one of the free spots this year rather than paying the $15 parking fee.

So does anyone know which free lot has the best atmosphere(not counting that stupid train)? I see that there is Hancher Commuter, Hawkeye Commuter, and then the U. Hall of Fame. Or, do they all suck and it's better just to pay for parking even if you are going by yourself?

 

[pin2win]

if you get 4 guys to tailgate with is paying 15-20 for parking that expensive??

 

[goods10]

if you get 4 guys to tailgate with is paying 15-20 for parking that expensive??

I was thinking the same thing. It is a small amount compared to what you pay to get through the gates of Kinnick.

 

[burky247]

if you get 4 guys to tailgate with is paying 15-20 for parking that expensive??

Sorry. I must have worded it poorly. It's not that the parking was too expensive for my friends. It's everything else included(gas prices, tickets, ect.). They have decided not to go to games anymore. So if I'm by myself tailgating I figured I might as well avoid the parking fee and go to a free lot. So I was wondering which one was best.

 

[pin2win]

i didn't know they had free parking lol

 

[NIUHawkeye]

I haven't seen the one man tailgate before. I just picture a tent, ten chairs set up, music loud, steaks cooking on the grill, the football out ready to be thrown around, bags set all ready to go....and just one man sitting there quietly drinking his beer.

 

[goods10]

I haven't seen the one man tailgate before. I just picture a tent, ten chairs set up, music loud, steaks cooking on the grill, the football out ready to be thrown around, bags set all ready to go....and just one man sitting there quietly drinking his beer.

Haha...I laughed out loud picturing that.

 

[IowaFanSince82]

Hey don't laugh at that, I Saw that one time in Iowa City. Driving to a game a guy had a tent put up all these chairs around his yard and the grill going. It was only him there and that was it. We thought about stopping and seeing if we could partake in his pre-game tailgate, but we didn't want to over-crowd the place! Now mind you this was at 6am for a 2:30 kick, but still it was funny!

 

[burky247]

I haven't seen the one man tailgate before. I just picture a tent, ten chairs set up, music loud, steaks cooking on the grill, the football out ready to be thrown around, bags set all ready to go....and just one man sitting there quietly drinking his beer.

What the hell man. I just don't know many people who go to the games. In the past, I had a crew like you described. They no longer go to the games. That won't stop me from enjoying the atmosphere. I'm sure I will have no problems meeting people in whatever lot I decide to go to. All I was asking was opinion's on what free lots were the best in terms of atmosphere.

 

[busabus114]

I haven't seen the one man tailgate before. I just picture a tent, ten chairs set up, music loud, steaks cooking on the grill, the football out ready to be thrown around, bags set all ready to go....and just one man sitting there quietly drinking his beer.

Ive been this guy before waiting for friends to arrive. You feel so awkward. My go to move is to get out my phone and pretend like I'm texting so people dont think I have everything set up just for myself

 

[busabus114]

What the hell man. I just don't know many people who go to the games. In the past, I had a crew like you described. They no longer go to the games. That won't stop me from enjoying the atmosphere. I'm sure I will have no problems meeting people in whatever lot I decide to go to. All I was asking was opinion's on what free lots were the best in terms of atmosphere.

I have never been to a free lot but my guess is they arent that great...I would say shelling out the $15 or so is probably money well spent to be in a fun lot with a better location

 

[burky247]

I have never been to a free lot but my guess is they arent that great...I would say shelling out the $15 or so is probably money well spent to be in a fun lot with a better location

Thanks bus. That's probably what I will end up doing. Doesn't sound too promising at the free lots.

 

[TecmoSuperHawk]

Not many great options. I tailgated at Hancher many moons ago and that was ok. Not really atmosphere, but enough people there to feel like you were tailgating.

Do not, under any circumstances, go to the Hall of Fame lot. I went there last year because my parents and aunt and uncle wanted to go to a game and we had to find a tame atmoshpere for them. So we chose the HOF lot, we were the only one's there for 2 hours (about 9am for an 11am game). From that point on, about 3 other groups showed up. Super boring. You would probably find the same thing at Hawkeye Commuter.

 

[VintageHawkeye]

Just drag all your prole buddies over to Woodside Drive, by Melrose Lake. Look for OK4P, he loves to have poor freeloaders at his tailgates.
According to legend, he often sports a bright red sweater, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding him.

 

[SPGroth]

You could park down by the Hawkeye Express train, that parking there is free. But, you would have to shell out $10/person to ride the train to Kinnick.

 

[goods10]

Here....this might help you.

University of Iowa Football Parking - Map

 

[doughudd]

Go to the Hawkeye lot. It has picked up there over the past couple years. 20-30 campers and a lot of cars. Free round trip bus to Carver. Easy to get to off of 380 on the Melrose exit. When Melrose exit is jammed packed go to the next exit and double back using Mormon Trek. Make sure to wave to all the cars heading toward Kinnick going nowhere fast in bumper to bumper traffic. Bus goes down the strip and up the back way to Carver by the new addition.

 

[burky247]

Go to the Hawkeye lot. It has picked up there over the past couple years. 20-30 campers and a lot of cars. Free round trip bus to Carver. Easy to get to off of 380 on the Melrose exit. When Melrose exit is jammed packed go to the next exit and double back using Mormon Trek. Make sure to wave to all the cars heading toward Kinnick going nowhere fast in bumper to bumper traffic. Bus goes down the strip and up the back way to Carver by the new addition.

Thanks. This was the kind of info I was hoping to see from this thread. My girlfriend lives right off of Melrose(Tipperary) so that would be a pretty easy drive to that lot. I think I might try that one out. Thanks everyone for the info.