Auburn Game Day From Birmingham: The LSU Game, Oct. 24, 2026
Birmingham, AL · Auburn Game Day
At 8:30 on the morning of Saturday, October 24, fans will already be lining Donahue Drive in Auburn, orange from head to toe, while most of Birmingham, AL is still looking for its coffee.
That's the new reality of an 11 a.m. kickoff against LSU. Auburn moved Tiger Walk to two and a half hours before kickoff this season, so the day starts earlier than it used to. If you're planning an Auburn game day from Birmingham, the drive is about two hours, and the details below are the ones worth knowing before you leave: where the team walks, how the shuttles run, what changed at Jordan-Hare this year, and where to eat in town. Everything here comes from Auburn Athletics, Auburn-Opelika Tourism or Bham Now, and where a detail isn't posted yet, we say so.
01 — The ScheduleKnow your 11 a.m.
Auburn hosts LSU on Saturday, October 24, with an 11 a.m. kickoff, according to Bham Now's 2026 football schedule roundup. The Tigers also have a wear suggestion for the day: Orange.
Auburn vs. LSU
Tiger Walk now begins 2.5 hours before kickoff, which puts it at roughly 8:30 a.m. for this game. Tiger Transit shuttle service for 11 a.m. games starts at 8 a.m.
02 — Getting ThereThe drive and the shuttle
The main roads into town are Interstate 85, US 280, US 431 and Alabama 51, and a gameday parking pass comes with a QR code that maps a prescribed route in and out to I-85 or Highway 280. No parking is allowed on roadways, bike paths or sidewalks, and cars left in enclosed areas can be towed at the owner's expense.
Shuttles and rideshare
Auburn's free Tiger Transit buses run special gameday routes. For SEC games they begin four hours before kickoff, and for an 11 a.m. start that means 8 a.m. Auburn has also added a rideshare pickup location at Duncan Drive and Samford Drive.
If you'd rather park than ride, Auburn lists grass parking in the CDV and Ham Wilson areas with paid drive-up permits, weather permitting. A wet week could close those fields, so have a backup. For guests who need accessible parking, the VCOM Lot at 910 South Donahue Drive is complimentary on gameday. Pre-purchased accessible spots are at the Gogue Performing Arts Center Lot on Woodfield Drive and the District Energy Lot on Wire Road, and a state-issued hang tag or ADA plate is required with the person it was issued to in the vehicle.
Whichever route you pick, decide before you leave Birmingham who is driving home. A day that starts at dawn and ends after an 11 a.m. game, a long lunch and a stop at Toomer's is easier when nobody is counting how many hours they've been behind the wheel.
03 — New in 2026Tiger Walk Plaza
The biggest change this year is a pregame hub outside Plainsman Park. Auburn Athletics describes Tiger Walk Plaza as a mobile video board, live music from local and regional performers and a new home for the Tiger Tailgate Show. The music starts before Tiger Walk near the Plainsman Park entrance and the Frank Thomas statue.
Food trucks now sit at the Home Plate Tailgate, the Plainsman Park concourse, Nichols Lawn and Thach Concourse. Plainsman Park opens at 7:30 a.m. for morning games, and the right-field Plainsman Patio brings back Ben's Pretzels and Chick-fil-A.
04 — Inside the StadiumWhat changed at Jordan-Hare
Construction on the Jordan-Hare North project began this year, with completion set for spring 2029, and capacity stays above 88,000. It changes how you move around.
Walking the gameday route
Heisman Drive on the north side is closed to pedestrians, so use Thach Concourse to cross between the east and west sides outside. The inside north concourse stays open but gets narrower near the corners. The south concourse is nearly 20 feet wider than last year, and more than 80 percent of concession stands now use the self-checkout Fast Flight model.
05 — The TraditionToomer's Corner
Before or after the game, walk to the corner of College and Magnolia. Toomer's Drugs is the only business to have occupied its historic corner since 1896, and its lemonade, made fresh to order, once topped Esquire's “162 Reasons It's Good To Be An American” list. After a win, Auburn fans roll the trees at the intersection with toilet paper, a ritual Auburn-Opelika Tourism lists among its top reasons to love the area.
“Auburn's whole Saturday happens before most people have finished their second cup of coffee.”
06 — Where to EatEating well in Auburn
Addresses below come from Auburn-Opelika Tourism's Best Bites guide. Hours weren't posted, so call before you go, especially for an early Saturday.
- Breakfast: Byron's Smokehouse, at 436 Opelika Road, has served pit-cooked barbecue since 1989 and is known for big breakfast portions.
- Lunch downtown: Hamilton's on Magnolia, at 174 East Magnolia Avenue, serves appetizers, salads and sandwiches all day. The Irritable Bao, at 127 East Magnolia, is a tiny storefront with a daily-changing bao menu, and the line is long by design.
- Postgame: The Hound, at 124 Tichenor Avenue, pours 28 craft beers and top-shelf bourbon. Amsterdam Cafe, at 410 South Gay Street, has two full bars and terrace dining, and its crab cake and avocado sandwich made Alabama's 100 Dishes to Eat Before You Die.
- Dinner: Acre, at 210 East Glenn Avenue, cooks modern Alabama dishes from Chef David Bancroft's team and recommends reservations. The Depot, at 124 Mitcham Avenue, serves Gulf Coast seafood inside an 1847 train depot.
- Casual: Niffer's Place, at 1151 Opelika Road, does burgers, wings and comfort food.
07 — The PlanGame-day timeline
Here's a morning that gets you to Tiger Walk without a mad dash.
- 6 a.m.Leave Birmingham, heading for I-85. Plan on roughly two hours.
- 8 a.m.Tiger Transit shuttles begin for an 11 a.m. game. Grab breakfast.
- 8:30 a.m.Tiger Walk down Donahue Drive, with live music near Plainsman Park beforehand.
- Before 11 a.m.Cross the north side via Thach Concourse and enter with a clear bag.
- 11 a.m.Kickoff against LSU.
- After the gameLemonade at Toomer's, then dinner downtown while traffic clears.
08 — Make It EffortlessSkip the parking hunt
A 6 a.m. departure and a postgame drive home is a long day for one designated driver. Our 2026 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter seats up to 10, books self-drive or with a chauffeur, and gives your group a quiet ride with no parking search. See our game day packages, check the FAQ, or reserve your date.
Auburn Game Day FAQ
What time is Auburn vs. LSU on October 24, 2026?
Kickoff is 11 a.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. Tiger Walk starts 2.5 hours before kickoff, so plan for about 8:30 a.m.
How far is Auburn from Birmingham?
It's about a two-hour drive, mostly via Interstate 85. US 280 is the other main route into Auburn.
Does Auburn have a gameday shuttle?
Yes. Tiger Transit runs free special routes. Service begins four hours before SEC games, which means 8 a.m. for an 11 a.m. kickoff.
Ready to ride?
Spend the morning at Tiger Walk, not in a parking lot.
Reserve Your Ride or call 404-259-2025