For many people, tailgating might feel like a part of their culture, which is why having the best camping grill for tailgating is a must. This is a great way to enjoy the company of family members and friends, along with the outdoors, before the big game. While there are many options when choosing the best tailgate grill, there are a few separating themselves from the rest. Read our reviews and ratings to find the best tailgate grill for your needs today.
The 5 Top Tailgate Grills
In order to find the best tailgate grill, it is a good idea to check out the reviews of the various options. Most of these choices have a handful of great reviews; however, it can take a while to read through all of them and truly choose the best one, which is why we have done the hard work for you. Take a look at our top 5 best tailgate grills below.
What We'll Cover
- The 5 Top Tailgate Grills
- Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill
- Weber Liquid Propane Grill with Porcelain-enameled, Cast Iron Cooking Grates
- Weber 18-Inch Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill with Porcelain-enameled Lid
- Cuisinart GrateLifter Portable Charcoal Grill with 240-square-inch Cooking Surface
- Blackstone Grills Tailgater – Portable Gas Grill and Griddle Combo
- Features to Consider for the Best Tailgate Grill
- How Easy is the Temperature to Control?
- How Much Grill Space is There?
- What Does the Grill Use for Fuel?
- How Easy is the Grill to Clean?
- Benefits of Using Tailgate Grills
- Precautions When Using Tailgate Grills
- Safety First
- How Quickly is the Grill Going to Burn Through Fuel?
- How Easy is the Grill to Set Up and Take Down?
- Conclusion
* Ratings are determined using our specialized rating system.
Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill

Up to 20,000 BTUs of grilling power and 285 sq. in. of cooking area
Now with 3 independently adjustable burners for enhanced temperature control
Assembled Dimensions: 45.6” D x 19.5” W x 35” H | We...
The Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill will deliver everything asked of it. It is a powerful and portable grill with close to 300 square inches of cooking area, along with up to 20,000 BTUs of grilling power. This power and space allow people to feed a crowd in the blink of an eye. Furthermore, there are three separate burners to provide the grillmaster with added control and stability. This grill also comes with a water pan to catch the grease and is easily removed and cleaned. These are only a few of the reasons why so many people have come to rely on the Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill for their tailgating grill needs.
- Has a tremendous amount of grilling space for everyone to enjoy
- One of the most powerful grills on the market
- Temperature control and stability of this grill is unmatched
- With the added power comes increased gas consumption, leading to more propane use
- With the added power comes increased gas consumption, leading to more propane use
Weber Liquid Propane Grill with Porcelain-enameled, Cast Iron Cooking Grates

Total cooking area = 280 Square Inches
Stainless steel burner puts out 12,000 BTU-per-hour
Porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates
Electronic ignition with built in thermometer
Two folding wor...
The Weber Liquid Propane Grill with Porcelain-enameled, Cast Iron Cooking Grates is great for anyone looking for a grill to do it all. This grill is made with porcelain on the outside and sturdy cast iron on the inside, which provides a sleek look. It also has an electric ignition along with a thermometer built on the inside for easy access. This is one of the largest grilling areas at 280 square inches and also possesses powerful burners on the inside. There are two working, easily folding tables. These added features have made the Weber Liquid Propane Grill with Porcelain-enameled, Cast Iron Cooking Grates a popular choice for tailgaters everywhere.
Interested in a Weber grill? Read our Weber Grills review to see what other products they have available.
- Beautiful, sleek design
- Includes a thermometer on the inside for added temperature control
- Temperature range is easy to monitor and tweak
- Some might find this grill challenging to clean
- Some might find this grill challenging to clean
Weber 18-Inch Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill with Porcelain-enameled Lid

Travel with taste, or grill up a quick meal on your patio with the Jumbo Joe portable charcoal grill. The compact size with larger grilling area and convenient carry handle is perfect for any weeke...
The best tailgate grill won’t have to be expensive and the Weber 18-Inch Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill with Porcelain-enameled Lid is the perfect example. This grill has the necessary features to get the job done. It can cook up to eight standard-sized burgers at once. This grill is small, lightweight, and easy to move from place to place. The bowl will not rust even with heavy use.
The lid double-locks to avoid having to place it on the ground. Finally, there are dampers inside the grill, which allow the user to control the temperature range. Those who are looking to save money on their tailgating grill should check out the Weber 18-Inch Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill with Porcelain-enameled Lid.
- One of the least expensive options on the market
- Small, lightweight, and easy to move from place to place
- Easy to clean
- The grill does not have as much grilling space as some of the other choices
- The grill does not have as much grilling space as some of the other choices
Cuisinart GrateLifter Portable Charcoal Grill with 240-square-inch Cooking Surface

Ultra-portable grill featuring unique lift system to access charcoal bed without touching cooking grate
Precision air flow system allows accurate temperature management; Convenient lid-mounted temp...
The Cuisinart GrateLifter Portable Charcoal Grill with 240-square-inch Cooking Surface grill is a charcoal grill instead of propane. This provides a unique twist in the world of grilling. This grill also has a lift system, which allows someone to access the charcoal without having to make contact with the cooking grate itself. There is a powerful airflow system, allowing the user to control the inside temperature relatively easily. This grill has 240 square inches of cooking space. It also comes with a 3-year warranty. The ash collection bin at the bottom of the grill is very easy to clean and also adds to the grill’s stability.
- Easy to unfold, pack up, and move from place to place
- Includes a relatively large cooking area, allowing someone to feed a crowd quickly
- Includes a 3-year warranty
- Because the grill runs on charcoal, it might be a little bit harder to start
- Because the grill runs on charcoal, it might be a little bit harder to start
Blackstone Grills Tailgater – Portable Gas Grill and Griddle Combo

PORTABLE - The perfect tailgater grill and griddle for any event. Easy portable setup, almost no assembly required, ready to use in seconds. Take it to the park for an afternoon cookout or take it ...
The Blackstone Grills Tailgater – Portable Gas Grill and Griddle Combo has a number of features that make it versatile as a combo grill. First, this grill is easy to pack up, set up, and take apart. There is almost no assembly needed. This grill is also versatile and can be set up in multiple ways, allowing the user to tailor the grill to meet their needs. This grill is also durable. It has been built with a heavy-duty grill box and is built to last. It is a two burner grill, which allows for more temperature control and precision.
- Includes two burners that can be used independently when required
- Durable grill built to stand up to constant use
- The versatility is almost unmatched
- While the grill says no assembly required, it does take some practice to get used to
- While the grill says no assembly required, it does take some practice to get used to
Features to Consider for the Best Tailgate Grill
When someone is looking for the best tailgate grill, they need to make sure they get the right one to meet their needs. While all of the grills have their benefits and drawbacks, people might be looking for something specific to meet their unique expectations. With this goal in mind, there are a few features to consider. Some of these include the following.
How Easy is the Temperature to Control?
Sometimes, it can be hard to keep the temperature within a close range. If the temperature is hard to control, it might be difficult for someone to cook their meat to the desired level. Try to find a grill that has a consistent temperature.
How Much Grill Space is There?
One of the problems people might encounter with a tailgate grill is it is smaller than a typical grill. This might make it hard to cook large quantities of food quickly; however, there are larger tailgating grills available as well.
What Does the Grill Use for Fuel?
Some tailgating grills use propane while other grills might run on charcoal. People should think about what fuel source they prefer. The fuel source might also impact the way the food tastes. Keep this in mind when looking for a tailgating grill.
How Easy is the Grill to Clean?
While most people think about cooking meals, there is also a cleanup process on the back end. If the cleaning is left until after the game, the grime might cake to the surface of the grill. Think about what the cleanup process is like.
These are only a few of the many features people need to think about when they are looking for the best tailgate grill. It is important to think about how the grill is going to meet someone’s specific needs. In addition, there are several benefits people need to think about as well.
Benefits of Using Tailgate Grills
Much like boat grills and flat-top grills, tailgate grills are somewhat niche. However, there are many reasons why people have come to rely on a tailgating grill. Some of the benefits of using a grill specifically designed for tailgating include:
- These grills are typically significantly smaller than the standard grill, making them easy to transport from place to place.
- Because these grills are often smaller than the standard grill, they also heat up more quickly. This means people are able to cook their meals much faster.
- Having a grill at a tailgating party allows someone to expand the food options offered at the pre-game tailgate.
- When someone relies on the best tailgate grill, they are going to get a sturdy appliance easy to set up, easy to take down, cooks food quickly, and has a temperature range easy to control.
- Sometimes, tailgating grills also come with side tables that are convenient for storing utensils and sauces.
These are only a few of the many reasons why people have come to rely on a tailgating grill to take their pre-game gatherings to new heights. While these benefits are great, there are also a few precautions people need to keep in mind.
Precautions When Using Tailgate Grills
While there are a lot of reasons why people have come to rely on grills made specifically for tailgating, there are also a few precautions people need to keep in mind. Some of these include:
Safety First
How safe is the grill to use? Is the temperature easy to control? What about grease fires? Nobody wants to have the damper placed on their party by an injury concern. Think about safety first.
How Quickly is the Grill Going to Burn Through Fuel?
If the grill is super powerful, it might not be that efficient, and people might end up replacing the propane tanks quickly. This can get expensive, even using a natural gas grill or another form of fuel.
How Easy is the Grill to Set Up and Take Down?
Sometimes, it can be a real hassle to unfold and set up a tailgating grill. Make sure to consider how easy it is to deploy the grill. Particularly if you employ an electric grill, being able to put it away quickly is essential if the weather turns sour.
Thinking about these precautions will help someone make the right decision when it comes to the best tailgate grill. Nobody wants to be surprised by an unexpected problem when it comes to their tailgating grill.
Conclusion
In the end, our top pick for the best tailgate grill is the Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill. This grill checks all the boxes, as it is one of the most powerful grills on the market, delivering more strength than most of the other options. This grill is also large, allowing the grillmaster to cook large quantities of food in a short amount of time. This grill is easy to clean with its removable tray and does not have any trouble starting thanks to the push-button system. For these reasons, the Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill is at the top of our list for the best tailgate grill available today.
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