Tailgating Campground?

[Balls]

Are there any campgrounds that are friendly to tailgaters? Meaning a place to stay overnight during football weekends that do not have quiet hours starting at 10 PM which allow for a little more lively group, within reason of course.

Planning to take my camper to Ames for either the 1 Oct or 29 Oct football games and would like to be able to sit by the fire late and night an enjoy some drinks and not be concerned about some annoying camp host telling us to quiet down as we sit by the camp fire and listen to some soft music. Would be ok even if it's a private place that we could pay for 2 overnights and some electricity.

Anyone know of a good place in or near Ames? Thanks...

 

[CyCrazy]

Pretty sure the lot next to G7 (the Haunted Forrest) will let you park over night,

 

[cypher]

vet med is where we park our camper...no problems there

 

[keepngoal]

vet med is where we park our camper...no problems there

Curious, are you able to arrive the day before and stay till Sunday? What time Sunday do they kick you out, and what time on Friday can you arrive?

 

[josh4cy]

We camp in vet med too. Show up on Friday around 5pm and stay until Sunday morning. Bring a generator and your own water. Costs $40.

 

[cyfan4St8]

When you guys stay in the vet med parking lot to camp is it something you need to be there as soon the open it up to get a spot or does it not fill up that fast?

 

[josh4cy]

There is usually plenty of room. Only game you need to get there right away is the Iowa game every other year.
You could pull in Saturday morning and still get a spot. After the public lots fill up with cars they park cars in between the campers where ever there is space. Most games we camp in the grass so the kids can run around. But lots of campers park on the pavement. Up to your preference.

 

[dmdom]

There is usually plenty of room. Only game you need to get there right away is the Iowa game every other year.
You could pull in Saturday morning and still get a spot. After the public lots fill up with cars they park cars in between the campers where ever there is space. Most games we camp in the grass so the kids can run around. But lots of campers park on the pavement. Up to your preference.

Is their a shuttle from Vet Med to stadium? Tractor and hayrack?

 

[keepngoal]

Is their a shuttle from Vet Med to stadium? Tractor and hayrack?

http://www.cyclones.com/images/2016/5/19/2016 Football Parking Map.jpg

Stars are stops for the trolly

 

[titleist]

You can park your camper all season at the Haunted Forest lot. There are buses that stay there all season as well.

 

[cyfan4St8]

Thanks guys for your help on this , I've wanted to do that for years now .

 

[bringmagicback]

You can park your camper all season at the Haunted Forest lot. There are buses that stay there all season as well.

so you can park it and leave it between games? Whats that cost?

 

[cypher]

I have'nt stayed at the haunted forest, looks like fun, but any rain that week and I would think it would be a mess. What do they charge?

 

[titleist]

I believe my friend is charged $100 a game for his camper but I think the price is going up this year. The guy who owns it basically charges him for how many parking spots he is taking up.
He figured 5 cars worth.

 

[yler4cy]

I tailgating with Josh4Cy and we have a pretty big setup. Every game, besides the Iowa game we park in a "U" shape and then put a tent up down the middle with our awnings covering the outside. It is nice up there, and they do have the tractor/hay racks that come through to pick people up from time to time. Also, the walk isn't bad. The best part is it cost, in the past, $40 for campers and then $20 per vehicle. Each camper gets to include the tow vehicle in that $40 price.

As far as the Haunted Forest goes, I think it is overpriced. I tried pulling in there a few years ago and they told me they charge $800+ for a spot for the full year. Yes you get to leave your camper setup there, however for 7 games you pay $280 in Vet Med and you get to take up as much room as you want.

 

[NickTheGreat]

After spending 6 years in G7, I've grown to hate the Haunted Forest and all those who park in it! Never understood why their private lot's exiting took precedence over donors and permit parking.

Really is half of the reason I bumped my donation and moved out of there

 

[josh4cy]

Here is a pic of our U setup. There is a group that parks just to the east of us that parks 4-5 campers in a huge circle.

 

[josh4cy]

Big reason why we like to camp. When everyone is waiting in a line to get out. We are watching more football, making dinner, and having a beer.