Where to Stay for App State Football: A Game Day Weekend at Crestwood

There are college football towns.

And then there is Boone on an App State football Saturday.

Black and gold fill the streets. Alumni pour back into town. Tailgates start early. King Street gets busy. And by kickoff, tens of thousands of Mountaineer fans are packed into Kidd Brewer Stadium — better known simply as The Rock.

It's one of the best atmospheres in college football.

It's also exactly the kind of weekend when where you stay matters.

If you want to experience the energy of an Appalachian State football game without spending your entire weekend fighting downtown crowds, Crestwood offers a different way to do game day in Boone.

Head into town when you're ready for the action.

Cheer on the Mountaineers.

Then come back to mountain views, a cocktail at the bar, dinner on property and a quieter place to actually enjoy the rest of your High Country weekend.

Why Is App State Football Such a Big Deal in Boone?

Appalachian State football is deeply connected to Boone.

The Mountaineers play their home games at Kidd Brewer Stadium, a mountain stadium in the middle of Appalachian State University's campus. App State has sold out its football season-ticket allotment for five consecutive seasons, and the program's five highest single-season average home attendance marks have all come since 2021.

On game weekends, you feel that popularity throughout town.

Downtown restaurants fill up.

King Street turns black and gold.

Traffic increases.

Hotels book quickly.

And alumni who haven't been back to Boone in years suddenly remember exactly how much they miss the place.

It's part football game, part college reunion and part mountain getaway.

That combination is what makes an App State weekend special.

Where Should You Stay for an App State Football Game?

There are essentially two ways to approach a football weekend in Boone.

You can stay directly in the middle of everything.

Or you can visit the middle of everything and then retreat somewhere quieter when you're done.

Crestwood is built for the second option.

The inn sits among the mountains of the High Country, removed from the busiest blocks of downtown while still being just minutes from both Boone and Blowing Rock. Crestwood describes the experience as being “close to everything, away from it all” — and football weekends may be one of the best examples of why that matters.

You can head into Boone for the tailgates and game without having to spend every other hour of the weekend surrounded by game-day traffic.

And when the final whistle blows?

You get to leave the crowds behind.

What Does an App State Game Day From Crestwood Look Like?

The beauty of staying at Crestwood is that the football game can be the centerpiece of the weekend without becoming the entire weekend.

Before the Game

Wake up to the mountains instead of a packed downtown street.

Take your time getting ready, check the kickoff time and head toward Boone when you're ready to join the game-day atmosphere.

Once you're in town, experience the things that make an App State Saturday what it is — campus, tailgates, King Street and thousands of Mountaineer fans heading toward The Rock.

App State Athletics recommends arriving early on game day, and Kidd Brewer Stadium is located at 270 Stadium Drive in Boone.

Plan ahead for parking and traffic, particularly for larger matchups and Homecoming weekends.

Then it's time for football.

During the Game

Once you're inside Kidd Brewer Stadium, you're in one of college football's most distinctive settings.

The mountains rise beyond campus, the stadium sits directly in Boone and the crowd has developed a reputation for turning The Rock into one of the loudest environments in the Sun Belt.

Whether you're an App State alum who's been making the trip for decades or attending your first Mountaineer game, there is something about football in Boone that feels different.

And then, eventually, everyone has to leave the stadium at the same time.

That's where staying at Crestwood starts looking pretty appealing.

What Can You Do After an App State Football Game?

Instead of trying to find another table in a packed downtown restaurant, head back toward Crestwood.

The Table at Crestwood is open Thursday through Sunday, making it especially convenient for football weekends. Guests can have a cocktail at the bar, settle into the library, dine in the main dining room or enjoy the mountain setting from the terrace.

That gives game day a pretty ideal ending:

Mountaineer football in Boone.

Then cocktails, dinner and mountain views back at the inn.

No need to figure out where the group wants to go next.

No second restaurant waitlist.

No need to make the night more complicated than it needs to be.

Just come back.

Can You Eat at Crestwood Before an App State Game?

Depending on kickoff time and the day of the game, The Table can also become part of the pregame experience.

The restaurant is open Thursday through Sunday and serves a seasonal menu of Southern-inspired food alongside cocktails and other drinks.

That is especially appealing during evening games.

Have a drink or an early bite at Crestwood, then head toward Boone for kickoff.

And for family or alumni groups staying together, gathering at the property before everyone heads into town can be a lot easier than trying to coordinate a meeting spot in the middle of game-day Boone.

The 2026 App State Football Home Schedule

While we designed this guide to be useful every football season, 2026 gives Mountaineer fans six home games in Boone.

App State's 2026 home schedule includes:

• September 5 — Maine: Gold Out
• September 19 — Charlotte: Black Saturday Under the Lights
• October 10 — Old Dominion: Homecoming
• October 22 — James Madison: Family Weekend
• November 7 — Georgia State: Heroes Day
• November 21 — ULM: Senior Day

The season opens at home against Maine on September 5 at 3:30 p.m., followed by a September 19 night game against Charlotte at 6 p.m.

October brings two particularly big weekends: Homecoming against Old Dominion and a nationally televised Thursday-night Family Weekend matchup against James Madison.

Those marquee weekends are also a good reminder to make your High Country lodging plans early.

Why Stay Outside Downtown Boone on Football Weekend?

There's a lot to love about downtown Boone.

We absolutely think you should experience it while you're here.

But on a football weekend, Boone is busy.

That's part of the fun — until you decide you're ready for some quiet.

At Crestwood, you aren't choosing between experiencing Boone and escaping Boone.

You can do both.

Spend the afternoon surrounded by thousands of fans at The Rock.

Walk King Street.

Visit campus.

Then return to the trees and mountain views of Crestwood instead of staying in the middle of the postgame rush.

It's enough separation to feel like you've gone somewhere entirely different, without making Boone inconvenient to reach. Crestwood's location is intentionally positioned within easy reach of both Boone and Blowing Rock while maintaining the feeling of a mountain retreat.

Turn the Football Game Into a High Country Weekend

If you're already coming up the mountain for football, don't rush home Sunday morning.

This is Boone.

You're in the middle of the North Carolina High Country.

Sleep in.

Book some time at The Spa at Crestwood.

Head into Blowing Rock for breakfast or shopping.

Explore the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Or simply enjoy a slow morning at the inn before heading home.

Crestwood's newly renovated spa includes relaxation areas, updated locker rooms, facials and massage treatments, giving guests another option for the morning after a long game day.

Football may be the reason you booked the trip.

It doesn't have to be the only thing you remember about it.

Boone or Blowing Rock? Stay Between Both.

One of Crestwood's biggest advantages extends beyond game day.

You don't really have to choose between a Boone weekend and a Blowing Rock weekend.

You're positioned to enjoy both.

Boone gives you Appalachian State, King Street, college football and the energy of a university town.

Blowing Rock gives you a smaller downtown filled with restaurants, shops and its own mountain-town character.

Crestwood gives you a quiet home base between the two.

For an App State football weekend, that means you can spend Saturday in Boone and Sunday exploring Blowing Rock before heading home.

The best of both worlds, without needing to sleep in the middle of either one.

Make Crestwood Your App State Football Home Base

Game day should feel exciting.

Your entire weekend doesn't have to feel hectic.

At Crestwood, you can be close enough to Boone to experience everything that makes Appalachian State football special while still having somewhere peaceful to come back to afterward.

Check in.

Have a drink.

Go cheer on the Mountaineers.

Come back for dinner.

Wake up to mountain views.

Then decide whether Sunday belongs to Boone, Blowing Rock, the spa — or absolutely nothing at all.

That's our kind of football weekend.

Frequently Asked Questions About App State Football Weekends

Where does App State football play?

Appalachian State football plays at Kidd Brewer Stadium, commonly called The Rock, at 270 Stadium Drive on App State's campus in Boone, North Carolina.

Where should I stay for an App State football game?

Visitors can stay in downtown Boone or choose a quieter High Country property outside the busiest parts of town. Crestwood offers mountain lodging within easy reach of Boone and Blowing Rock, with an on-site restaurant, bar and spa.

Does Crestwood have a restaurant?

Yes. The Table at Crestwood serves Southern-inspired seasonal dishes and is currently open Thursday through Sunday.

Does Crestwood have a bar?

Yes. Guests can enjoy cocktails at the bar at The Table at Crestwood as part of the property's dining experience.

Can I stay near App State without staying downtown Boone?

Yes. Crestwood provides a mountain setting outside the busiest downtown area while remaining just minutes from Boone and Blowing Rock.

When are App State football home games in 2026?

App State has six 2026 home games: Maine on September 5, Charlotte on September 19, Old Dominion on October 10, James Madison on October 22, Georgia State on November 7 and ULM on November 21.

What can I do the day after an App State football game?

Visitors can explore downtown Boone or Blowing Rock, visit the Blue Ridge Parkway, relax at Crestwood or schedule a treatment at The Spa at Crestwood.

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