If you've never experienced an SEC football Saturday from inside an RV, Auburn is a good place to start. Jordan-Hare Stadium holds 87,451 people, which means that on six or seven Saturdays a year, the population of this small east Alabama college town effectively triples. RVers line up days in advance. The smell of barbecue drifts across entire neighborhoods. Strangers offer you food. It's chaos, and it's wonderful.
But Auburn isn't only a football town. Chewacla State Park has a waterfall three miles from the interstate. The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site is a 20-minute drive west. And the 12 dump stations in the area mean you can camp comfortably whether you're here for the game or just passing through on I-85.
Dump Stations
The Auburn-Opelika area has 12 dump stations. Most are at the full-hookup RV parks along I-85 and US-29. If you're staying at a campground with full hookups, you'll have a sewer connection at your site. For drive-through dumps, the RV parks along I-85 Exit 51 are the most accessible.
Browse all 12 Auburn area dump stations
Where to Camp
Eagle's Landing RV Park — Closest to Campus
One mile from Auburn University, under two miles from Jordan-Hare Stadium. This is THE game day park. Full hookups. If you're visiting for football, this is where you want to be — but you need to book months in advance for home game weekends. Months. Not weeks.
Auburn RV Park at Leisuretime — Interstate Convenient
Right at I-85 Exit 51, this is the only RV park inside Auburn city limits. Full hookups with 50/30 amp, WiFi. The best option if you're traveling I-85 between Montgomery and Atlanta and want a convenient overnight with full services.
Bar-W RV Park — Farm Setting
A quieter option with a farm-setting feel, about 2 miles from both I-85 and Chewacla State Park. Full and partial hookups. Good if you want to combine a game weekend with some nature time.
Chewacla State Park — The Nature Pick
Less than 3 miles off I-85 and 7 miles from campus. A 236-acre state park with a lake, a waterfall, mountain bike trails, and hiking — all surprisingly close to town. Electric and water hookups (no sewer at sites). This is the choice if you want trees and trails over tailgates. The waterfall alone is worth the stop.
Football Saturdays: What RVers Need to Know
This cannot be overstated: Auburn football game days are an event that reshapes the entire city. Here's what matters for RVers:
- Book 2-6 months ahead for home game weekends. Every RV park within 30 miles fills up. This is SEC country — people plan their entire fall around the schedule.
- Traffic is extreme. I-85 and US-29 slow to a crawl on game mornings. Arrive the day before if possible.
- Tailgating culture is real. Expect generosity — neighbors will share food, drinks, and stories. Reciprocate.
- Toomer's Corner is the epicenter of celebration after a win. The corner gets rolled with toilet paper. It's a tradition.
- The phrase is "War Eagle." Not "Roll Tide." Wrong school. People here will correct you, firmly.
When to Visit
| Season | Highs | Lows | What to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar-May) | 74°F | 50°F | Dogwood and azalea season. Beautiful campus. A-Day spring football game draws crowds. |
| Summer (Jun-Aug) | 92°F | 70°F | Hot and humid. Classic Alabama summer. Campus is quiet with students gone. |
| Fall (Sep-Nov) | 74°F | 50°F | Football season. Best weather. This is peak time — plan accordingly. |
| Winter (Dec-Feb) | 54°F | 32°F | Mild by northern standards. Occasional freeze. Quiet town. Good for a peaceful visit. |
Beyond the Game
- Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (20 miles west) — The training ground of America's first Black military aviators. The museum and Moton Field are powerful and moving. Free admission.
- Auburn University Campus — Walk the grounds even if there's no game. The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art is worth a visit.
- Opelika (5 miles east) — Auburn's twin city has a historic downtown along Railroad Avenue with breweries, local shops, and restaurants that don't cater exclusively to college students.
- Chewacla State Park — The waterfall, lake, and mountain bike trails make this a full day. One of the more underrated Alabama state parks.
RV Services
- Fuel: Gas and diesel at I-85 exits and along US-29 through town.
- Propane: Hardware stores and RV parks in the Auburn-Opelika area.
- RV Repair: Service shops in both Auburn and Opelika. For major repairs, Montgomery (55 miles west) and Atlanta (110 miles northeast) have more options.
- Groceries: Publix, Kroger, and Walmart all in the Auburn-Opelika area.
Plan Your Auburn Stop
Auburn works as a quick overnight on I-85 between Atlanta and Montgomery, a weekend football pilgrimage, or a few days exploring Chewacla and Tuskegee. Just remember: if you're here on a Saturday in the fall, everything revolves around the game. Embrace it.
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