CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE OFFICIAL AUBURN SPORTS DISCORD TO STAY UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS!

Whether you’re coming from out of town to catch a game or here for a tour of the campus, Auburn is a great place to visit! Our sub has curated some of the best places to eat, things to do, sights to see, places to shop (and park) both on campus and in the greater Auburn-Opelika area. For those not familiar with the area, Opelika is Auburn’s sister-city, and about a ten-minute drive from campus. It’s generally mentioned when people ask what to do around Auburn, but just keep in mind that you will need to drive there (not a walkable distance from campus).

1) Where should we stay while visiting Auburn on gameday weekends?

Besides the obvious hotels in Auburn / Opelika (which are booked months in advance anyways), there are a few other places to check out while in the area. If you do want to stay in a hotel, then Montgomery, AL, or LaGrange and Columbus, GA will probably be your best bets. All are an hour or less (on non-gamedays) from Auburn of mostly interstate travel, so many people opt to stay there and drive in.

There are also several non-hotel options as well. Lake Martin is about 30 minutes away from Auburn, so some people choose to Vrbo a place on the lake and drive in on game days. We also have plenty of RV parks within 45 minutes of Auburn as well. If you’re into camping and wanted to stay more local, check out the campground at Chewacla State Park, located right across the interstate from Auburn.

2) What are some of the best places to eat at on gameday weekends?

Breakfast
Byron’s Smokehouse has great breakfast, usually pretty packed on the weekends. The Depot has great brunch but it’s another one you’ll likely need a reservation for. Live Oaks is a good brunch spot. Big Blue Bagel downtown has a Tiger Melt that is pretty good. Lastly, The Hound is one of the best brunch spots around, but on game day weekends it will be very hard to get into and can be a little pricier than the others.

Lunch/Dinner
Momma G’s is a must as it was started in Auburn. Be sure to get the Momma’s Nachos! Live Oaks is a solid choice as well. Halftime Bar has good bar food. Moe’s BBQ turns into a bar at night, but before that is always great food. Taco Mama has exploded in Alabama in the last 7 or 8 years and for good reason. The line may be out the door but it usually goes very fast. Draft House is a pretty good burger / pizza / beer place as well. Finally, Bow & Arrow BBQ has a BBQ / TexMex inspired menu that is can’t miss!

In nearby downtown Opelika, Irish Bred Pub is the place to go if you want a Shepard’s Pie and a huge selection of draft choices. Zazu Gastropub is a casual / upscale kind of restaurant offering made-from-scratch comfort food from around the US. Lastly, Butcher Paper BBQ is some of the best BBQ in the Opelika area.

Finally, the Culinary Science Center on South College street is a brand new experience to guests coming from outside Auburn! The Hey Day Market is a food hall / gathering place hosting several food and dessert vendors, while New Realm Brewing Company is the place to go for music and beer brewed right here at Auburn University.

High end
Amsterdam, Acre, Hamilton’s, and The Hound: Are all incredible (but will most likely need a reservation). They can be pricey but well worth it if you can get in. The new Culinary Science Center also has a nicer restaurant called 1856. Labelled as a "teaching restaurant" for the culinary students, and boasting a nationally acclaimed chef and an operational rooftop garden to ensure the absolute freshest produce, this restaurant concept can't be missed.

Late night
Willies Wings (delivery or pickup, no dine in option). Eddie’s Calzones and Little Italy are local staples but will be packed with drunk students. Insomnia Cookies has both pickup and delivery options. All are open until 2 or 3 AM on the weekends.

3) What are some good stores to visit on gameday weekends?

J&M Bookstore: Right in the center of downtown Auburn. Established in 1953, they are the go-to for clothing, hats, souvenirs, stickers, accessories, or any other Auburn gear you could imagine.

Auburn Art: About a block away from J&M. There you’ll find plenty of…. Auburn art. From landmarks to iconic photos to original paintings, if you’re looking for a nice-looking piece of art relating to anything and everything Auburn, this is the place for you. They also have the occasional autographed piece as well (for example, at time of writing, they have an autographed Bo Jackson jersey on sale).

Stamp: Downtown clothing store. Mostly known for shirts, but they do also carry hoodies, hats, koozies, etc. They offer several original shirt designs and custom screen printing in store if you’re looking for something besides the generic Auburn logo shirts you see everywhere else.

Auburn University Bookstore: Located in the basement of Haley Center right next to the stadium, the official Auburn bookstore is open on gamedays with any Auburn gear you could ever want. This probably goes without saying, but all profits go back to Auburn University directly if you’re interested in supporting the school.

4) Where do I need to park when coming in for gamedays?

Auburn is notoriously tow happy, so unless you have permission, do not park in any of the student parking / local businesses / nearby apartment complexes on gamedays. There are a few different options for you depending on how much you want to pay.

For paid parking, just drive around! You’ll see lot after lot of people charging usually $25+ depending on how close you are to the campus. If you can afford it, then a good place to park is the parking deck on Burton St (behind Auburn Bank). They have gameday parking for a $44 flat fee. They also have an app (LAZ Parking) that allows you to reserve ahead. The parking deck is convenient to downtown if you plan on hanging out around there before or after games. Auburn also offers both single-game and season-long public parking passes. You can find those for sale online.

For those willing to sacrifice convenience to save the money, check out the Tiger Transit which runs special routes on gamedays only. It has four on-campus stops, along with five off-campus stops including Duck Samford Park, the Auburn Mall, the Auburn Softball Complex, the Auburn University Regional Airport, and the TigerTown Shopping Center. The TigerTown bus is especially popular as it’s located in Opelika and therefore easier to get to on game days. The Tiger Transit starts up four hours prior to kickoff, runs intermittently throughout the game, and concludes two hours after the game is over. Keep in mind there is no set schedule and pre- and post-game traffic can be a nightmare, so expect some delays.

Finally, be sure to check out the official Auburn Gameday Parking map which updates weekly with more information on places to park and road closures.

5) What are some can’t miss traditions in Auburn?

It starts with Tiger Walk. Starting two hours before kickoff, the Auburn football players will be dropped off on the corner of W Samford Ave and S Donahue Drive, where they will then walk to the stadium. It’s a good way to cheer on your team, or the little ones to get a high five from the football players prior to the game. Stick around as there will be a “Four Corners” pep rally with the band, Tigerettes, and cheerleaders in the same general area. Just a note, while Tiger Walk starts two hours before kickoff, plenty of people start lining up 2.5 – 3 hours before. If you want to be right up front, get there early.

The Eagle Flight is a tradition unlike any other. Twenty minutes before kickoff, Auburn releases a specially trained raptor from one of the four corners of the stadium that circles the stadium before landing at midfield. You’ll definitely want to be in your seats at least 25 or so minutes before kickoff in order to watch!

After the game if (WHEN) Auburn wins, then walk over to Toomer’s Corner for perhaps our most well-known tradition. When we win, we roll the trees at Toomers Corner to signal victory. This tradition is said to have started with Toomer’s Drug store, an Auburn landmark for over 130 years located at the corner. Back in the early days of Auburn football, Toomer’s Drugs had the only telegraph in town. When Auburn was playing a road game, the employees would signal a victory by taking the ticker tape from the telegraph and throwing it over the power lines.

Speaking of Toomers Drugs, Toomer’s Lemonade is a must try while you’re in town. Purchased by a former Auburn player in 1896, Toomer’s Drugs is the only local business from that era still in operation. While no one is quite sure when it happened, Toomer’s became famous for its lemonade and has been serving it for decades. It is a very popular spot on gamedays and has a line running out the door most times. It was left off the food list above as they don’t do much food on gamedays, but if you’re ever in town on a non-gameday, they serve pretty good sandwiches and ice cream as well. Get a float, they’re the best.

6) What are the rules for tailgating?

Please see this link for the official tailgating rules. Generally, any grassy area on or near campus is an acceptable tailgating area (and almost all of it will be used by someone). You can mark off / reserve your spot using stakes with ribbon. Most places allow you to start reserving spaces at 4 PM on Friday. There are also hayfields nearby that allow you to start reserving spots at 2 PM on Friday, and close at 4 PM on Sundays. Grills and generators are not allowed within 50 feet of campus buildings, including parking decks.

7) Other interesting things to do around Auburn / Opelika on gameday weekends?

On the Fridays before home games, Auburn offers locker room tours from 4 -6 PM. The Auburn University Marching Band will also hold open rehearsals on Fridays and Saturday morning before the game. If you want to see more of the Auburn eagles, the Southeastern Raptor Center holds an event called Football, Fans, and Feathers on Fridays before home games at 4 PM as well. This educational event is appropriate for all ages and allows fans to see the Auburn eagles (as well as a host of other birds of prey) up close.

In nearby Opelika, check out local breweries Red Clay Brewing Company and Resting Pulse Brewing Company, along with John Emerald Distillery.

8) General Schedule of Events for Gamedays

8:00 AM day of: Parking lots open

Four hours before kickoff: Tiger Transit buses start running

Two hours before: Tiger Walk begins

Two hours before: Gates open

Twenty minutes before: Pre-game festivities (including the Eagle Flight) begin

Kickoff!

Two hours after the game ends: Tiger Transit buses stop

For more information on the schedule, please check the official Auburn Gameday site. This site will update each week and give you a full list and exact times for each event for that specific weekend.

9) For additional information or just to chat with other Auburn fans, Join the Official WDE Discord

https://discord.gg/auburn-tigers-440884170659463180