This post about tailgating essentials contains affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through a link on this page, I get a small kickback at no extra cost to you.

Tailgating is one of the most fun parts of being a sports fan!

Today’s post is all about tailgating essentials you don’t want to forget and need to have in your tailgating starter pack.

These are supplies that based on my own experience, will help you be more prepared when tailgating and are things you’ll find incredibly convenient to have around.

This post is a great read for anyone looking to hold an easy, low key, no cook tailgate.

I’m sharing gear perfect for small tailgates you can host out of your car outside the stadium before the game.

I hope you find this post helpful, and let’s get right into it.

Here are 14 tailgating essentials for a super chill, easy tailgate experience perfect for beginners.

#1: Collapsible Tailgate Table

If you’re looking to host a super chill tailgate next to your car, you don’t need much.

But one thing I would recommend is having a simple way to hold snacks and drinks and make them accessible to you and your fellow tailgaters.

For me, this collapsible table from Amazon does the trick.

It’s super portable and comes with four cup holders and two nets (one on top and one on the bottom).

Use it to store beverages, throw some chips in a bowl, and you’re set.

You can even leave this in your car so you always have it on hand if you’re a frequent tailgater.

#2: Pop Up Trash & Recycling Cans

This is probably one of the most forgotten tailgating essentials ever.

Don’t forget to bring some sort of mechanism to help dispose of your trash.

You can just bring some plastic trash bags, but for an even better (and more eco-friendly) option, I’d go with these reusable car trash bins.

They’re collapsible, so you can save space when you don’t need them and you can just leave them in your car so they’re always on hand.

Use one for trash and one for recycling!

#3: Wheeled Cooler

If you’re planning on bringing some cold beverages to your tailgate, a small cooler like this one will definitely come in handy.

It’s not super big, which makes it perfect to bring enough drinks and snacks for a small gathering, and you can easily organize the components with the various baskets and netting inside.

Plus, it has wheels for easy moving.

#4: Disposable Plates & Utensils

Speaking of snacks, a pretty obvious tailgating essential you don’t want to forget are some disposable plates, utensils, and napkins.

I like this set from Amazon because it’s eco-friendly and comes in a huge set so it’ll last awhile.

#5: Portable Caddy

You’ll probably need somewhere to neatly store those plates, utensils, and napkins during your tailgate.

One of the best ways to do that is with a convenient little caddy like this one!

This is definitely an underrated tailgating essential for gatherings of any size, especially small ones where you don’t have the table space to set up all of your utensils.

Instead, this helps you keep everything compact and easily accessible.

#6: NFL Tailgate Chair & Table Kit

Heading to a football game?

This is an awesome find that encapsulates almost everything you’ll need for a small, easy tailgate while supporting your favorite team, too.

Just bring along some snacks and drinks, and you’re pretty much set.

This three piece set comes with easy seating and even a table with two cup holders that’s big enough to hold some snacks.

If you only get one thing on this list, it should be this.

#7: Blanket

This recommendation is more for cold weather tailgates, but trust me you’ll be glad you have a warm, thick, fleece blanket like this one when the time comes.

You can also bring this with you inside the stadium so you don’t freeze during the game.

There’s some cool color options to check out too. Pick one that matches your team’s colors!

#8: Compact Folding Table

Continuing on in my list of tailgating essentials!

If you think you’ll need a little bit of extra table space for snacks, drinks, or other essentials, bringing a small, foldable table like this one should be a perfect solution.

#9: Food Cover Tents

Flies are super gross and annoying.

They’re even more gross and annoying when they’re in your food.

Food covers are definitely another tailgating essential that’s often forgotten about, but something I absolutely recommend bringing, even if you only need one or two!

#10: Tailgating Car Tent

This next tailgating essential is a car tent, and it’s something you might want to bring if you’re planning on being outside for a couple of hours and you know it’ll be hot and sunny.

You’ll be so glad for the extra shade and protection from the sun, and your guests will be too.

Not taking precautions in the heat is an easy way to turn a fun tailgate into a disaster.

As someone who gets heat exhaustion very easily, I would know!

On a similar note, don’t forget to bring other protective gear like sunscreen, and these next two tailgating essentials.

#11: Cooling Bucket Hat

Always check the weather before you go tailgating.

Is is going to be sunny? If so, I’d take a hat for some extra shade.

Whether it’s a bucket hat, baseball cap, or something else, a hat is just one of those little things that’s easy to forget but can absolutely make for a more comfortable tailgate experience.

#12: Sunglasses

It’s a similar story when it comes to sunglasses.

Again, easy to forget but essential to have. For tailgating, but also for the game!

A strong glare from the sun can easily ruin your view of the game, so having a pair of sunglasses handy is an easy fix.

Sports tickets aren’t exactly cheap, so making sure you can actually see and enjoy the game is one great way to get your money’s worth.

#13: Disposable Cups

If you’re taking to kids to the game, you’ll probably want to bring some classic disposable cups for tailgating since most kids’ drinks don’t come in a bottle or can like adults’ drinks.

Even if you’re not bringing kids, like plates and utensils, disposable cups are just one of those essentials that can be super frustrating to forget.

#14: Portable Phone Charger

My final suggestion for making your tailgate experience a smooth and easy one is to bring your portable phone charger.

Nothing is worse than running out the door thinking your phone is fully charged and realizing you only have 20% left.

Whether you need your phone to play music while tailgating, for directions to get to the stadium, to call an Uber, or for general safety, get one of these and never take it out of your car other than to charge it.

I personally use the mini Halo charger for my phone, but they also make a larger one powerful enough to charge a car (another useful piece of tailgating gear for sure).

Either way, my charger has definitely gotten out of some tricky situations when tailgating.

First things first though - make sure your phone is charged before leaving!

Outro & Closing Thoughts

So, that wraps up my list of top tailgating essentials to help you have a safe, fun, and convenient tailgate.

These are my favorite picks ideal for a super easy, chill tailgate that doesn’t require any planning yet will still help you have a great time before the game.

I hope you found this helpful!

If you did, feel free to share this with a fellow tailgater you think could make use of some of the suggestions in this post.

Wishing you a happy tailgate and fun game day experience!

Thanks for reading my post “14 Essentials You Need In Your Tailgating Starter Pack.”

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out: 12 Essentials To Bring To A Baseball Game!

For handmade digital art prints, icon packs, wallpapers, & more designed by me, be sure to stop by my digital boutique: Designed By Nikki Lo.

Connect with me!

14 Tailgating Essentials You DON’T Want To Forget On Game Day