Every State's Best Tailgating Destination

After a long spring and summer, football is finally back and that means it's also time to fire up the grills, grab the cornhole sets and get tailgating. For some fans, the tailgate is the highlight of gameday and the following 50 places all promise to offer lively parties all season long.

While things have been so-so on the field as of late, the Tiger tailgating scene has remained elite. The navy blue and burnt orange-clad crowds start the party on Friday afternoon and keep it going all the way until the school's beloved "War Eagle" takes flight prior to kickoff.

Alaska might not have a college or pro football team, but that doesn't mean you can't pregame like a champion. At this bar on the outskirts of Anchorage, you will find 70-plus televisions tuned to sports and since they open at six in the morning (mmm, bloody marys and wings for breakfast), you won't miss a minute of the pigskin action back East.

Tuscon has a lot going for it as a town and things get cranked up a notch when the Wildcats play at home on autumn Saturdays. Expect University Boulevard to be even more lively than usual the night before the game, with the Mall being the best place to partake in a football fiesta on game day itself.

From the "Hog Call" to players "running through the A", the Razorbacks and their fans take their traditions seriously. Tailgating is serious business too, and in 2019, a new addition called HogTown- a street festival before games featuring live music and appearances by live mascot Tusk V-will make its debut.

It defintely helps the Trojans' case that after the tailgate is over, the fans get to watch a game in a stadium as historic as the Coliseum. And the "absolutely perfect for doing anything outside" SoCal weather doesn't hurt, either.

Make no mistake that the college fans in Boulder know how to elevate a tailgate, but the pros in the magnificent Mile High City are on another level. Come dressed in your brightest shade of orange and join the crowds from all over the West partying in honor of their beloved Broncos.

Husky fans are renowned for making sure an autumn trip to Rentschler Field results in good times. The fun is centered around the parking lots that surround the stadium and regardless of the result on the field, fans leave feeling like a winner.

No one is ever going to mistake a UD tailgate with one of the big boys from the SEC or Big Ten, but what they may lack in numbers, they make up for in dedication. Join some of the Blue Hen faithful before the game to hear tales of legendary former quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Rich Gannon.

The Swamp is rocking once again and the scene outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is just as stellar. Join Florida fans as they chomp down on tasty bites, enjoy some brews and practice their "Gator Chomp" form for the big game.

The Bulldogs are back in the thick of the national title discussion this year meaning tailgating in Athens is set to be especially awesome. Whether you set up on campus or off, you're guaranteed to be surrounded by friendly faces and endless calls of "Go Dawgs!".

The "westernmost" tailgate in the USA, the party vibes outside of Aloha Stadium are rock solid. Sport your best green Rainbow Warrior gear and expect to be invited to enjoy some local delicacies and drinks with fans.

The Broncos have blossomed into one of college football's elite programs and their hometown Boise is one of the hottest destinations in America. Coincidence? Not likely. Join the crowds around the stadium for pregame festivities before going inside to see football played on BSU's unique blue turf.

There hasn't been a ton to smile about on the field lately, but you're still guaranteed a good time at Grange Grove before any Fighting Illini game. Come sporting any shade of orange to ensure you'll fit in with the crowds.

There's no doubt that Notre Dame can throw a pregame bash and Bloomington is always up for fun, but Purdue is still the tailgate to beat in the Hoosier State. The get-togethers get going shortly after sunrise and go long after the Boilermakers leave the field.

How many schools can brag about the fact that their marching band performs a pub crawl while playing pump-up music the night before a game? Well, that's how they roll in Iowa City and the fun just rolls through to the next day with crowds from all over the state descend for pregame catch-ups and throwdowns.

The title used to belong to KU, but the Wildcats have turned their more successful recent run on the field into fine things off it. Expect parking lots outside of Bill Snyder Family Stadium to be packed with fans painted purple and for the fun in Manhattan to last well after the end of the game.

The Wildcats surprised a lot of people on the field last year, but off the field it was business as usual: great tailgating. Join the fans sipping Kentucky Bourbon and flipping burgers and you're bound to leave town in love with Lexington, which is truly one of America's best college towns.

Baton Rouge is always a fun place to be, but with the Tigers back in the top ten, the fun is bound to bubble over in 2019. On a typical game weekend, gold and purple-clad LSU fans start pitching tents and partying on Thursday-and they keep things going well past the final whistle on Saturday.

Harold Alfond Stadium and its surrounds are the places to be when the Black Bears play at home. The best weekend for tailgating? During the Battle for the Musket-the yearly grudge match against New Hampshire.

You could make a case for the University of Maryland, but Ravens fans take the crown with their combo of winning percentage and partying. Lot H is where lots of the fun goes down before Ravens games and you're bound to be able to sample lots of local beer and bites.

Fresh off yet another Super Bowl win, the juggernaut that is the New England Patriots shows no sign of slowing down. And as long as Tom Brady is still in town, the performances off the field show no signs of letting up either.

Ann Arbor is one of the best college towns in the country, period, and the pregame soiree the fans throw here is second to none. Before you enter the Big House, you are bound to have had a blast meandering through-and partying with-the crowds wearing maize and blue.

It doesn't matter what the weather is like outside, Viking fans have a great time before the game. Put on some purple, practice your "Skol!" chants and your halfway to having an unforgettable Sunday in the Twin Cities.

If there was an award for top tailgating experience in all of America, Ole Miss would be on the shortlist. The atmosphere in The Grove is second to none and even opposing fans are welcomed with a smile-as long as they come dressed sharply for the game, which is the tradition here.

Fresh off hosting their first-ever AFC title game, Chiefs fans are ready to take the next step. Their tailgating is always championship-caliber though, with fans often starting the party a day or two before the game.

A big Montana sky, barbecue grills and friendly Bobcat fans are what makes MSU a must-visit during football season. Combine your tailgate with an adventure in the surrounding countryside for an authentic Bozeman experience.

Cornhusker fans can tailgate with the best of them. The parties range from organized affairs at bars to "come one, come all" keggers in the student neighborhood and traditional parking lot parties with barbecues and cornhole games.

The pregame revelry is centered around the parking lots near Sam Boyd Stadium, where you will typically find food trucks, entertainment and a boisterous "Rebel block party" atmosphere.

Boulder Field is the place to be for the biggest pregame bashes at UNH, but be aware that you will have to have a ticket to the game to enter the tailgating areas here. While that may cut down on crowd size, it doesn't quell their level of enthusiasm.

The "birthplace of college football" is also a terrific place to tailgate. Scarlet Knights fans are known for sporting every conceivable shade of red to the games and for welcoming fans of the opposing team to the party.

Overlook the Lobos fans at your own peril as these Mountain West fans definitely know how to pregame with the best of them. Last year, the school teamed up with a hospitality group that helped bring the experience to a whole new level.

In an attempt to tamp down some of the, how shall we say, overly enthusiastic nature of some of their tailgaters, the Bills will be introducing a new Tailgate Village in 2019. Don't worry, as long as your previous idea of a good time wasn't jumping off a bus, you should still be in for one of the best experiences in the NFL.

The Panthers tailgating festivities takes place at several smaller parking lots spread across downtown. Get there early to grab the best spot and don't forget the local legend Bojangles fried chicken.

Fargo is always a good time, but the fun goes up a few levels when the reigning NCAA Division 1 FCS champion Bison play at home. Yes, the goings-on outside of the Fargodome can sometimes be just as exciting as the action on the field.

There's no doubt that OU in Athens excels at pregame partying, but the Buckeyes are still the best in the state. Yes, with a combination of its championship-caliber squad and exciting home city Columbus, Ohio State offers a tailgate experience like no other team in the country.

Prepare to bust out your best burnt orange-colored clothes to fit in with the fans in the always-fun college town of Stillwater. The Cowboy faithful start the celebrations early and the party keeps going in town after the game.

The Ducks are seemingly set to return to the upper echelon of college football in 2019, but their fans never missed a beat during the recent downturn. Head to Eugene for sensational tailgates before heading into the stadium to admire the most striking uniforms in the sport.

There are numerous theories about how State College acquired the nickname "Happy Valley" and while they usually don't involve the football team, the perennial winning ways of the Nittany Lions surely hasn't hurt the mood around town. Expect things to be especially cheery at the pregame tailgate.

URI tailgates used to be dry zones, but after a reversal of the alcohol policy by the university, a quality scene has developed in the designated tailgating spaces. Come root on the Rams, but practice your "Go Rhody!" chant first.

After years of coming close to a championship, the Tigers finally broke through and won the title in January of 2019. The tailgating scene was already one of South's best, so you can now expect a little more swagger mixed in with the smiles from the welcoming Clemson fans.

The Jackrabbits might not jump straight to your mind when you think of pigskin powerhouses, but they are trending up and so is the tailgating scene.

While the Tennessee football team has seen its share of rough waters in recent years, it's been nothing but smooth sailing for the "Vol Navy". On any given Saturday, you can expect to see upwards of 200 boats on the Tennesee River, forming one of the country's best -and most unique-tailgate scenes.

Both the Longhorns and Aggies are expected to have solid seasons in 2019, but always-happening Austin has the slight edge over College Station when it comes to pre- and post-tailgate good times. The crowds are warm and welcoming, assuming you master your "Hook 'em Horns" hand motion, that is.

If you come to Utah expecting to see a subdued tailgating affair, the Utes fans are sure to surprise you. You'll find all the fun of bigger football programs, all set in stimulating Salt Lake City.

No active college football programs are going in the Green Mountain State at the moment, but that doesn't mean you can't pregame with the best of them. This sports bar in Burlington rolls out the red carpet for sports fans during the day and at night turns into a lively nightlife spot.

The Hokies and their fans own one of the country's most underrated tailgating scenes. The festivities in Blacksburg feature mouthwatering food and drink and make every gameday feel like a holiday. Plus, where else can you wear maroon and burnt orange clothes together?

The Huskies are hanging near the top the polls once again and the tailgating scene is as strong as ever. The school is also home to the finest water-based tailgate scene this side of the Vol Army, nicknamed "sailgating".

The tailgating scene is always magnificent in Morgantown. Things get going early in the morning and stay lively late into the evenings as both alumni and current students come together to root on the Mountaineers.

The Badgers are known how to have a ball before a game, but the Cheeseheads in Green Bay are the undisputed champs in Wisconson. Whether it's a warm September day or the team is playing on the "frozen tundra", fans turn every game into an occasion for a brat and beer-fueled fiesta.

Cowboys fans have the chance to either tailgate outside or take the fun and games inside to the team's practice facility. The party doesn't stop when you enter the stadium, either, as the school has recently allowed alcohol sales at games.