The 2026 NFL schedule is here! And since its release earlier this month, we’ve been scouring the slate for opportunities to see multiple games in one weekend.
Of the four major sports leagues, the NFL is the hardest in which to complete a stadium circuit due to the fact it has so few games each season relative to its peers. However, its relatively rigid schedule structure makes it very much possible to plan out multi-city road trips.
Of course, the easiest way to do that while saving time (and, thus, money) is to rely on the Sunday-Monday schedule, or Thursday-Sunday if you have more time on your hands.
So as we do every year, we’re going through the 2026 NFL schedule to pinpoint those chances to see multiple games in a week. We impose one limitation on these itineraries: They have to involve cities that are within a reasonable one-day driving distance of each other (maximum of 500 miles).
Here’s why: Of course you can go to just about any game you want on Sunday and then fly to the Monday-night home city, for example. But convenience is often a major factor in fans going on road trips to begin with, and limiting travel distance helps save time and money.
Whether you’re looking to check stadiums off your list or you just want travel to check out some of the best NFL games live, I hope this schedule breakdown will inspire you to hit the road in 2026! Keep reading to see all of our NFL itinerary ideas.
One important disclaimer: Keep in mind that the NFL has the ability to flex games in and out of the Thursday and Monday slots, and thus can wreck one of these itineraries by doing so. The league has said it would keep those types of schedule changes to a minimum and would announce it at least a few weeks in advance.
However, it’s much more likely that such a change happens later in the season, so a road trip that occurs before November — while not foolproof — can at least be planned with more confidence.
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Week 2: Two snazzy stadium options
Thursday, Sept. 17: Lions at Bills, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Sept. 20: Packers at Jets, 1 p.m. ET
OR
Sunday, Sept. 20: Dolphins at 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET
OR Seahawks at Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET
Monday, Sept. 21: Giants at Rams, 8:15 p.m. ET
Yes, there are no good doubleheaders to be found on Week 1 of the 2026 NFL schedule. So let’s make up for it with a few good Week 2 options, shall we?
First, you can help the Bills open their new Highmark Stadium with a Thursday-night showcase against the Lions — that is, if you have the money, because tickets are going for a pretty penny on the secondary market. Then, head across to MetLife Stadium for a Sunday tilt between the Jets and Packers.
Or you can hang out on the West Coast with a flexible itinerary! Choose between seeing the defending champion Seahawks visiting the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium or watching the 49ers’ home opener at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, then making your way to SoCal for Rams vs. Giants on Monday night at SoFi Stadium.
Distance between stadiums: 359 miles (GB to MIN); 377 miles (ARI to LAR); 351 miles (SF to LAR)
Week 3: Midwest tripleheader!
Thursday, Sept. 24: Falcons at Packers, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Sept. 27: Texans at Colts, 1 p.m. ET
Monday, Sept. 28: Eagles at Bears, 8:15 p.m. ET
Here’s a chance to check off three Midwest NFL stadiums on the same weekend! It begins on Thursday night with the Packers hosting the Falcons at Lambeau Field.
From there, head down to Indianapolis and catch the Colts in a divisional tilt with the Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Finally, reverse course and go back to Chicago, where the Bears take on the Eagles on Monday night at Soldier Field.
Distance between stadiums: 394 miles (GB to IND); 181 miles (IND to CHI)
Week 4: North or South?
Thursday, Oct. 1: Steelers at Browns, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 4: Patriots at Bills, 1 p.m. ET
OR Jaguars at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET
OR
Sunday, Oct. 4: Cowboys at Texans, 1 p.m. ET
Monday, Oct. 5: Falcons at Saints, 8:15 p.m. ET
The 2026 NFL schedule is heating up at this point as far as road trip options, with opportunities in two different regions of the country in Week 4.
In the Midwest, check out the Thursday night AFC North showdown between the Browns and Steelers at Huntington Bank Field, before taking your choice of two options on Sunday: Either the Bills at their new Highmark Stadium, or the Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Alternatively, you can see some NFL stadiums in the south: First, visit Houston’s NRG Stadium for Texans-Colts on Sunday. Then, head to the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans for the Monday-nighter between the Saints and Falcons. It’s the 20th anniversary of the famous “Domecoming” game in 2006 that marked the Saints’ return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.
Distance between stadiums: 183 miles (CLE to BUF); 252 miles (CLE to CIN); 355 miles (HOU to NO)
Week 5: Arizona to SoCal
Sunday, Oct. 11: Lions at Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET
Monday, Oct. 12: Bills at Rams, 8:15 p.m. ET
Explore a little bit of the Southwest with this two-day jaunt, beginning with the Cardinals welcoming the Lions to State Farm Stadium on Sunday. After that, head west through the desert on Interstate 10 and catch the Rams hosting the Bills in an interconference showdown at SoFi Stadium.
(Note: You could also choose to do a SoFi double this weekend, as the Chargers host the Broncos on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.)
Distance between stadiums: 377 miles
Week 6: Road trippin’ out West
Thursday, Oct. 15: Seahawks at Broncos, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 18: Chargers at Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET
OR
Sunday, Oct. 18: Cardinals at Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET
Monday, Oct. 19: Commanders at 49ers, 8:15 p.m. ET
Let’s bend the rules a little bit, shall we? Empower Field in Denver and GEHA Field at Arrowhead in Kansas City don’t show up on our annual lists very often due to their distance from other NFL cities, but if you don’t mind the long road trip, this is very doable — you’d just have to cover about 600 miles over two off days.
Or, you can just do a standard California twinbill, with the Rams taking on the Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on Sunday and the 49ers hosting the Commanders at Levi’s Stadium on Monday night. The choice is yours!
Distance between stadiums: 610 miles (DEN to KC); 352 miles (SF to LAR)
Week 7: Divisional showdowns galore!
Thursday, Oct. 22: Patriots at Bears, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 25: Packers at Lions, 4:25 p.m. ET
OR
Sunday, Oct. 25: Bengals at Ravens, 1 p.m. ET
Monday, Oct. 26: Cowboys at Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET
Two more options to explore in Week 7! The Thursday-Sunday trip would take you to the Midwest, with the Bears taking on the Patriots at Soldier Field, followed by a visit to Detroit’s Ford Field for an NFC North showdown between the Lions and Packers.
Or, head out east for a Sunday tilt between AFC North rivals, with the Ravens hosting the Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Then it’s a short trip up I-95 to see a Monday-night barnburner at Lincoln Financial Field between the Cowboys and Eagles, two teams with no love lost between them.
Distance between stadiums: 282 miles (CHI to DET); 99 miles (BAL to PHI)
Week 8: More of the NFC North
Thursday, Oct. 29: Panthers at Packers, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Nov. 1: Vikings at Lions, 1 p.m. ET
Before it gets too cold and snowy in the Midwest, here’s a prime chance to check out two more NFC North stadiums. Begin in Green Bay, where the Packers take on the Panthers in prime time at Lambeau Field, before winding your way around Lake Michigan and to Detroit’s Ford Field for a Sunday tilt between the division-rival Lions and Vikings.
Distance between stadiums: 488 miles
Week 9: Beltway or Midway?
Thursday, Nov. 5: Jaguars at Ravens, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Nov. 8: Rams at Commanders, 1 p.m. ET
OR
Sunday, Nov. 8: Buccaneers at Bears, 8:20 p.m. ET
Monday, Nov. 9: Bills at Vikings, 8:15 p.m. ET
Two more intriguing options to choose from in Week 9! Visit Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium for the Thursday night game between the Ravens and Jaguars, then enjoy the Beltway region for a couple days before watching the Commanders host the Rams at Northwest Stadium.
Or, explore the NFC North with two prime-time showdowns. First, stop at Chicago’s Soldier Field to see the Bears take on the Bucs, followed by the Vikings welcoming the Rams to US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Distance between stadiums: 33 miles (BAL-WAS); 411 miles (CHI-MIN)
Week 10: Hangin’ out East
Thursday, Nov. 12: Commanders at Giants, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Nov. 15: Bills at Jets, 1 p.m. ET
Monday, Nov. 16: Chargers at Ravens, 8:15 p.m. ET
The 2026 NFL schedule doesn’t yield many tripleheaders in the early portion of the season, but this one might be worth trying (even though it only involves visiting two different stadiums).
You’ll get to see both New York City teams play at MetLife Stadium, starting with the Giants welcoming the Commanders on Thursday night and then the Jets facing the Bills on Sunday. After that, head down to Baltimore for the Monday night matchup between the Ravens and Chargers at M&T Bank Stadium.
Distance between stadiums: 190 miles
Week 11: Texas two-step, or Eastern shuffle?
Thursday, Nov. 19: Colts at Texans, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Nov. 22: Titans at Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET
OR
Sunday, Nov. 22: Steelers at Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET
Monday, Nov. 23: Bengals at Commanders, 8:15 p.m. ET
Want to see both Texas NFL stadiums in one trip? You can do it in Week 11, with the Texans playing the Colts at NRG Stadium on Thursday and the Cowboys hosting the Titans at AT&T Stadium on Monday.
Or, perhaps this is your week to head out east? See the Eagles host the Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field, then head down to the Capital Region and see the Commanders face the Bengals at Northwest Stadium on Monday night.
Distance between stadiums: 266 miles (HOU to DAL); 129 miles (PHI to WAS)
Week 12: Thanksgiving tripleheader
Thursday, Nov. 26: Chiefs at Bills, 8:20 p.m. ET
Friday, Nov. 27: Broncos at Steelers, 3 p.m. ET
Sunday, Nov. 29: Raiders at Browns, 1 p.m. ET
With the NFL playing games on FIVE different days in Week 12, we were really hoping to see our first-ever quintupleheader opportunity here! Alas, the schedule-makers didn’t cooperate, but we’ll settle for a really nice tripleheader.
Begin on Thanksgiving night in the Buffalo suburbs, with the new Highmark Stadium taking the spotlight for what promises to be another epic Bills-Chiefs showdown. From there, it’s a quick jaunt to Pittsburgh for the Black Friday matchup between the Steelers and Broncos at Acrisure Stadium. Finally, head to Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field on Sunday to see the Browns welcome No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza and the Raiders.
Distance between stadiums: 208 miles (BUF to PIT); 135 miles (PIT to CLE)
Week 13: We’ve seen this one before…
Thursday, Dec. 3: Chiefs at Rams, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Dec. 6: Eagles at Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. ET
Missed your chances at the L.A.-Arizona double earlier in the season? Well, the 2026 NFL schedule provides another opportunity in Week 13. These games promise to be good ones: First, the Chiefs head to SoFi Stadium to take on the Rams on Thursday, then the Cardinals welcome the Eagles to State Farm Stadium on Sunday.
Distance between stadiums: 377 miles
Week 14: East Coast buffet
Thursday, Dec. 10: Vikings at Patriots, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Dec. 13: Broncos at Jets, 1 p.m. ET
OR
Sunday, Dec. 14: Bears at Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET
Monday, Dec. 15: Steelers at Jaguars, 8:15 p.m. ET
Would you rather watch football in the crisp fall air, or be someplace warm in December? You’ve got choices yet again for an NFL road trip in Week 15.
Consider an East Coast trip that starts at New England’s Gillette Stadium on Thursday night, with the Patriots hosting the Vikings. Then head down to the NYC area and see the Jets face the Broncos on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. (By the way, this second game is highly customizable, with the Eagles, Ravens and Commanders all at home in the Sunday 1 p.m. window.)
Or, the opportunity for a Florida double presents itself for the first time on the 2026 NFL schedule: Check out Dolphins vs. Bears at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, then make your way up the coast to see Jaguars-Steelers at EverBank Stadium on Monday night.
Distance between stadiums: 207 miles (NE to NYJ); 332 miles (MIA to JAX)
Week 15: Two weekend getaways
Saturday, Dec. 19: Seahawks at Eagles, 5 p.m. ET
Sunday, Dec. 20: Browns at Giants, 1 p.m. ET
OR Falcons at Commanders, 1 p.m. ET
OR
Saturday, Dec. 19: Bears at Bills, 8:20 p.m. ET
Sunday, Dec. 20: Ravens at Steelers, 1 p.m. ET
The NFL’s tradition of placing a few games on Saturday once college football’s regular season is over allows for a couple doubleheader opportunities just before Christmas.
You can piggyback off the Seahawks-Eagles showdown at Philly’s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, choosing to see either the Giants at MetLife Stadium or the Commanders at Northwest Stadium on Sunday. Or, go watch the Bills host the Bears at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, then see the AFC North showdown between the Steelers and Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday.
Distance between stadiums: 96 miles (PHI to NYG); 129 miles (PHI to WAS); 208 miles (BUF to PIT)
Week 16: Holiday cheer
Friday, Dec. 25: Packers at Bears, 1 p.m. ET
Saturday, Dec. 26 OR Sunday, Dec. 27: Bengals vs. Colts, TBD
Monday, Dec. 28: Giants at Lions, 8:15 p.m. ET
Want to use the Christmas Day schedule as a jumping-off point to a 2026 NFL road trip? Try this three-game journey on for size.
Don your Santa hat and head to Soldier Field for a renewal of the Packers-Bears rivalry on Christmas afternoon. Then, head down to Indianapolis to see the Colts host the Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium (note that this is a flex game and will likely be played on either Saturday or Sunday). Finally, see the Lions host the Giants on Monday night at Ford Field.
Distance between stadiums: 182 miles (CHI to IND); 288 miles (IND to DET)
Week 17: An early 2027 road trip!
Thursday, Dec. 31: Ravens at Bengals, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 3: Lions at Bears, 4:25 p.m. ET
Monday, Jan. 4: Texans at Packers, 8:15 p.m. ET
It’s a rare season in which the NFL is playing two regular-season weeks after New Year’s Day, so here’s an early 2027 tripleheader to try out! And like many of the itineraries on this year’s list, it takes us to the Midwest.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Cincinnati, with the Ravens coming to Paycor Stadium for an AFC North showdown. From there, head up to Chicago to see the Bears and Lions at Soldier Field, before finishing up on Monday night with the Packers hosting the Texans at Lambeau Field.
Distance between stadiums: 296 miles (CIN to CHI); 210 miles (CHI to GB)
Got a few different NFL road trip ideas in mind that you’d like to share? Drop me a line and let me know!
