The 2025 Rutgers Football season is right around the corner and for the first four weeks of the season, the Scarlet Knights will be playing at home inside of SHI Stadium. After that, Rutgers will hit the road for four of their next five games and make one last road trip in late November.
Those away games will offer Rutgers Football fans a chance to explore some new Big Ten towns and cities. But where are the best places to eat? What about a good place to grab a drink? Or even just some places to sight see?
Don’t worry, we have you covered! We here at The Knight Report, we reached out to several beat writers to get the inside scoop on where to go and what to see on each of the Scarlet Knights road trips this Fall.
September 27th at Minnesota
BringMeTheNews.com’s Tony Liebert
Places to eat…
- If you’re looking for breakfast while you’re in town for a Gophers game you have plenty of options. Al’s Breakfast is a quaint old school diner with only one row of seats.
- If you don’t wanna wait in line, Tony’s Diner is a worthy replacement.
- If you want a sit down burger joint near the stadium, Blue Door Pub is your best choice.
- If you’re in the mood for Chinese food, Shaung Cheng is a Dinkytown staple.
- If you’re looking for variety The Market at Malcolm Yards is an efficient and unique way to find something for everyone.
Drinks…
- Stub & Herbs is a University of Minnesota staple that is older than the stadium and a perfect place for a drink before the game.
- If you’re looking to get away from campus Surly Brewing Co. is a great local brewery with tremendous pizza.
- Sally’s Saloon is more of a traditional college bar with a younger crowd, but still a great pregame spot.
- The Corner Bar and Town Hall Brewery are on the other side of the river, but two great spots for food and drinks if you want to get away from the campus craziness.
Places To Visit…
- If you have time to kill before the game, a walk to Stone Arch Bridge is a must when in Minneapolis.
- The Walker Art Center is more off campus, but a fun activity if you’re into art.
- A walk around the Minneapolis chain of lakes is a personal favorite, but the location more near south Minneapolis makes it more of a Friday activity or maybe Sunday morning if you’re in town for the weekend.
- The Mall of America has something for just about everyone and a great activity on a Friday or Sunday as well
October 10th at Washington
Places to eat…
- Seattle’s got a lot of options for food. Vietnamese and seafood are kind of big here, but I think the best thing is Seattle-style teriyaki. There’s a million mom and pop teriyaki shops in the city that all more or less make it the same way, but it’s unique to the city and they just make it different in California. If you want some specific ones near campus, I’d say Toshi’s Teriyaki or Teriyaki Madness.
- There’s also a burger chain up here called Dick’s Drive-In that’s pretty famous and a fried chicken chain called Ezell’s in the U-district that’s good.
Drinks…
- The best bars to watch a game or the football game near campus: Duchess, Big Time Brewery, Earl’s on the Ave, and Varlamos/BARlamos
Places To Visit…
- For things to do, just the typical seattle stuff. Pike Place is a total tourist trap, but everyone usually wants to go once. The waterfront is walkable from there, too. The Space Needle is in the Seattle Center. Stay out of downtown, worst part of the city. There’s also Capitol Hill, Fremont and Belltown are all kind of the main nightlife areas in the city.
October 25th at Purdue
GoldAndBlack.com’s Jordan Jones
Places to eat…
- Triple XXX Family Restaurant –Since 1929, this diner has served the West Lafayette area. With meals named after Purdue legends like Drew Brees and Ryan Kerrigan, you step into Purdue history when sitting down at the counter.
- Boilerhouse Prime – A brand-new steakhouse located at the highly-regarded Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex. Steaks, seafood, fine wines and more.
Drinks…
- Harry’s Chocolate Shop – Once a prohibition-era speakeasy, Harry’s has been a Purdue staple since 1919. It is by far the most beloved watering hole amongst Boilermakers.
- Harry’s is the most famous (and really the only particularly popular) bar on campus.
- The Boiler Up Bar at the Union Club Hotel is a very nice place for a craft cocktail.
Places To Visit…
- Downtown Lafayette – Over the past quarter century, the growth of downtown Lafayette has been a huge positive for the area. Find plenty of dining and drinking options here, a short drive (or long walk) away from campus
November 1st at Illinois
OrangeAndBlueNews.com’s Doug Bucshon
Places to eat…
- Hamilton Walker’s (Steakhouse & Fine Dining) is consistently ranked one of Champaign’s best spots for premium steaks, seafood, and having impeccable service. It’s good spot for visitors looking for a more fine dining experience and it can be rather pricey.
- Papa Del’s Pizza Factory is a Champaign institution, especially for visitors craving authentic Chicago-style deep dish. The pies are thick, cheesy, and loaded with toppings, served in a lively, family-friendly setting. On University of Illinois game weekends, the place fills up fast with fans and the wait for a pizza can easily stretch to 45 minutes or more, so plan ahead.
Drinks…
- Green Street in Champaign is the lively hub of campus life at the University of Illinois, packed with restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and boutiques that cater to both students and visitors. Stretching through the heart of Campustown, it’s the go-to spot for grabbing a slice of pizza, enjoying international cuisine, or relaxing with a drink after a game. The strip offers a mix of casual eateries, late-night food options, and local favorites, alongside convenience stores and small shops. Expect Illini themed bars KAMS and Legends to be packed with students and fans on game day.
Places To Visit…
- Downtown Champaign serves as the vibrant cultural and culinary heart of the city—just about 1 to 1.2 miles from the University of Illinois campus, making it readily walkable (roughly a 20-minute stroll) or a quick five minute drive. Dining and nightlife thrive here too, with over 35 locally owned restaurants and pubs. Local favorites include the Esquire Lounge for bar food, Black Dog Smoke & Ale House (BBQ), and Seven Saints (gourmet sliders).
November 22nd: at Ohio State
LettermenRow.com’s Spencer Holbrook
Places to eat…
- Chapman’s Eat Market, Arch City Tavern for the Arch City burger
- Club 185 for a greasy spoon spot I love
- Old Mohawk is a good spot for lunch
If you want some finer dining options, Tucci’s in Dublin north of the city, Lindy’s in German Village, and then Butcher and Rose downtown are my three favorites.
Drinks…
- Land Grant Brewing for beer
Places To Visit…
I think the Columbus Zoo is still one of the best in the country, but COSI is a really cool science museum if you’re bringing kids along. The Franklin County Conservatory is also a great afternoon spot for Friday when you get into town. There’s a really cool local book store called the Book Loft that is awesome for adults and kids.
Wondering what other Rutgers fans are saying?