Visiting Boone for a Game?

The main gateway for Boone is Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), located approximately 96 miles and about 2 hours south via US-321 North. Renting a car at CLT is the most practical option for most fans, as driving gives you flexibility in the mountains and the route via NC-16 or US-321 is straightforward. If you prefer not to drive, Hickory Hop operates a bus service from CLT directly to the ASU campus in Boone five times daily, with tickets running $90-$110 and a travel time of about 2.5 hours.

A car is strongly recommended in Boone, as the city is spread across mountain terrain and parking near campus and downtown is available, though it fills fast on game days. AppalCART (Appalachian Campus Area Rapid Transit) provides fare-free local bus service throughout Boone and the ASU campus, and Uber and Lyft operate in Boone, but surge pricing during App State home games can make rideshare expensive and wait times longer. Downtown Boone is walkable and the ASU campus is adjacent to it, so once you are parked or dropped off, you can explore the core area on foot.

The University Area along US-321 and NC-105, just minutes from Kidd Brewer Stadium, is the best base for visiting sports fans, with options like Graystone Lodge, Holiday Inn Boone University Area, Comfort Suites Boone University Area, and Quality Inn and Suites Boone University Area all within a mile of campus. Expect to pay roughly $100-$180 per night on standard weekends, with prices spiking well above that during home football games, especially for rivalry matchups, Homecoming, and Family Weekend. Downtown Boone hotels offer walkable access to bars and restaurants and are similarly convenient to the stadium. Book as early as possible for fall football weekends, as the limited hotel inventory in this small mountain town sells out quickly.

Boone is a passionate college football town, and App State Mountaineers games at Kidd Brewer Stadium deliver one of the most distinctive atmospheres in the Sun Belt Conference, set dramatically in the Blue Ridge Mountains with elevations near 3,500 feet that can make for cool fall game nights even in September. App State has a proud football identity built on multiple FCS national championships and a famous 2007 upset of Michigan, and the fan base is loud and loyal. The Mountaineers' Sun Belt rivals include Georgia Southern, Louisiana, and Troy, and those games draw extra energy from the student section. Outside of football season, there is no other major pro or college sports venue in Boone, but the High Country setting means fans can pair a game trip with hiking, skiing at nearby Appalachian Ski Mountain, or a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway.