Reserving oversized vehicle parking for an IU football tailgate means locking a spot rated for your rig's actual length before game week, not showing up and hoping a lot has room for a 32-foot Class A. Crimson Lots books these spots by size, so a bus, RV, or box truck gets a stall built for it near IU Memorial Stadium.
- Crimson Lots' oversized vehicle parking for IU football tailgates reserves specific spots for RVs and buses in 2026. Buy: yes.
- Book online at least 5 days before kickoff — rivalry weekends sell out oversized spots first.
- A 32-foot rig needs a stall rated for length, not a standard car space; confirm dimensions before paying.
- EV charging spots for oversized vehicles exist at select lots and must be requested at booking, not at the gate.
Why this matters
Most IU football lots near Memorial Stadium are striped for sedans and SUVs, not 30-foot motorhomes or 15-passenger vans. If you show up unbooked in an oversized vehicle on a Saturday in 2026, you're competing for a handful of pull-through spots that fill hours before kickoff.
Crimson Lots runs an oversized vehicle parking block within a 15-minute walk of the stadium, built specifically for RVs, buses, and trailers. Booking ahead means your spot is held with your name on the pass — you're not gambling on lot capacity when you pull off I-69 or SR-46.
What you'll need
- Exact length, width, and height of your vehicle (including any towed trailer)
- Your game date and estimated arrival time
- A payment method for online booking
- Your license plate number for the reservation
- A printed or mobile pass to show the attendant on arrival
The steps
1. Measure your vehicle before you book
Get the real number, not the brochure spec. Add mirrors, awnings, and any hitch-mounted rack to your length total, since a spot booked for 28 feet won't fit a 30-foot rig with a bike rack hanging off the back.
Most Class A and Class C motorhomes run 26 to 40 feet. Buses and box trucks can run longer. Underselling your length is the single most common mistake that causes a squeeze at check-in.
2. Pick the lot rated for oversized rigs
Not every Crimson Lots spot handles a 35-foot RV. The oversized vehicle parking for IU football tailgates page lists which spots are built for length and width beyond a standard car stall.
Booking a regular spot for an oversized vehicle risks getting turned away at the gate on game day in 2026, which means scrambling for parking with your engine running and kickoff an hour out.
3. Reserve online at least 5 days ahead
Oversized spots are limited compared to standard car parking, and rivalry games and homecoming weekend sell out the RV and bus stalls first. The how to book RV parking for IU football tailgating page walks through the online reservation flow step by step.
Book a full week out for marquee games. For a normal home game in the 2026 season, 5 days ahead is usually enough, but rivalry weekends fill oversized inventory faster than that.
4. Confirm your arrival window
Tailgating crews with RVs typically arrive 4 to 6 hours before kickoff to set up grills, tents, and generators. Confirm your booking notes your expected arrival time so the attendant knows to hold the spot and isn't surprised by an early roll-in at 7 a.m. for a noon game.
Late arrivals for night games matter too — a spot held for a 6 p.m. arrival won't sit open indefinitely if you show up at 9.
5. Save your pass and bring backup
Save your confirmation to your phone and print a paper copy. Cell service near the stadium gets crowded on game day, and a paper pass with your name and the attendant's contact number on it solves that instantly.
6. Park where the attendant directs, not where the app pin sits
GPS pins for oversized lots sometimes point to the nearest street address rather than the actual pull-through entrance. Follow the attendant's hand signals over the map app once you're within a block of the lot — oversized spots often have a specific entry lane for turning radius reasons.
7. Plan your exit before the fourth quarter ends
Oversized vehicles take longer to maneuver out of a packed lot than a sedan does. Start breaking down tailgate gear with 15 to 20 minutes left in the game if you're driving a rig longer than 30 feet, since post-game traffic around Memorial Stadium backs up fast.
Lock your oversized spot now
Reserve a rated RV or bus stall before rivalry weekend sells out.
Troubleshooting
Your vehicle is longer than the spot you booked. Contact Crimson Lots before game day with the corrected measurement — swapping to a longer-rated spot ahead of time beats getting denied entry at the gate.
Oversized spots are sold out for your date. This happens most on homecoming and rivalry weekends. Check the best RV parking spots for IU football tailgating page for remaining inventory, and book earlier next time — a week out instead of days out.
You need EV charging for your RV. Not every oversized spot has a hookup. Confirm charging availability when you book rather than assuming it's included.
GPS sends you to the wrong entrance. Oversized lots often have a dedicated pull-through gate separate from the standard car entrance. Call the number on your pass if you're circling the block.
You're bringing a trailer plus a tow vehicle. That's effectively two vehicles needing space. Book a spot sized for the combined length, or ask about splitting into two adjacent stalls.
Night game means a late arrival. Confirm your late arrival time on the reservation so the spot isn't assumed abandoned. Attendants are on site for night games too, not just noon kickoffs.
Tools and resources
- Oversized vehicle parking for IU football tailgates — spot inventory and sizing
- How to book RV parking for IU football tailgating — reservation walkthrough
- IU football parking map — lot locations relative to Memorial Stadium
- Your vehicle's actual measured length, width, and height (not the manufacturer's rounded spec)
What to do next
Once your vehicle's parked, the next question is what happens between arrival and kickoff. A tailgate plan for grills, generators, and setup timing saves you from scrambling once you're in the lot — see the guide on how to plan a tailgate at IU football home games for the full breakdown.
FAQ
How do I reserve oversized vehicle parking for IU football?
Book online through Crimson Lots at least 5 days before kickoff, entering your vehicle's exact length and width so you're matched to a spot rated for it. Rivalry and homecoming weekends in 2026 sell out oversized inventory faster than regular home games.
What counts as an oversized vehicle for IU football parking?
Motorhomes, buses, box trucks, and any vehicle over roughly 20 feet with a trailer attached count as oversized. Standard car stalls near Memorial Stadium aren't built for that length or turning radius.
How much does RV parking cost for IU football games in 2026?
Pricing varies by game and lot; check current rates on the Crimson Lots booking page before you reserve. Rivalry and homecoming dates typically carry higher demand pricing than a regular home game.
How far is oversized vehicle parking from IU Memorial Stadium?
Crimson Lots' oversized spots sit within a 15-minute walk of the stadium, the same walking radius as its standard reserved spots. That's close enough to walk gear over without a shuttle.
Can I get EV charging with an oversized vehicle spot?
Select lots offer EV charging for oversized vehicles, but it's not guaranteed at every stall. Request it specifically when you book rather than assuming it's included.
What happens if my RV doesn't fit the spot I booked?
Contact Crimson Lots before game day with your corrected measurements to switch to a longer-rated spot. Showing up oversized for a standard-length reservation risks being turned away at the gate.
Is oversized parking guaranteed for IU football games?
Yes, a booked oversized spot is held under your name with an attendant on site every game in 2026. That's the difference between a reservation and hoping a lot has room.
How early should I arrive with an RV for an IU football game?
Most tailgating crews with RVs arrive 4 to 6 hours before kickoff. Note your expected arrival time on the booking so the spot's held for you, not assumed a no-show.
One last thing
The detail most oversized-rig owners miss isn't the spot size — it's the exit. A 35-foot motorhome takes noticeably longer to back out and merge than a sedan, and waiting until the final whistle to start breaking down means sitting in a lot for 45 minutes while smaller vehicles clear out first. Start packing up with 15 minutes left on the clock and you're usually rolling before the worst of it.
