Are you planning, or dreaming about, an NFL road trip in 2025? PennStakes.com, your home for the best Pennsylvania sportsbook promo codes, offers just the ticket for your pigskin travel dreams (not the actual game or plane tickets, you’re still on the hook for those).
Ahead of the 2025-26 NFL season, we ranked the top 10 best NFL destination cities based on a scoring system including several factors, listed below.
Rank | City (Team) | Total Score |
1 | Minneapolis, Minnesota (Vikings) | 116 |
2 | Chicago, Illinois (Bears) | 112 |
3 | Houston, Texas (Texans) | 108 |
4 | Atlanta, Georgia (Falcons) | 106 |
5 | New Orleans, Louisiana (Saints) | 102 |
6 | Cleveland, Ohio (Browns) | 101 |
7 | Baltimore, Maryland (Ravens) | 100 |
8 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Eagles) | 91 |
9 | Indianapolis, Indiana (Colts) | 90 |
10 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Steelers) | 88 |
PennStakes.com offers this top 10 as well as current Pennsylvania sports betting coverage.
We used a ranking system for the best NFL destination cities based on average NFL ticket price, average 4-star hotel cost, average rating of the top 10 activities, how easy local travel is (public transportation, rideshares, etc.), the number and quality of local airports, and the local food and bar scene.
There are six states with multiple NFL stadiums: Florida has three and Maryland, California, Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania have two each. The Keystone State was the only one that had two stadiums in our top 10.
The defending league champions – see the latest Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl odds for their chances to repeat – and the record-tying six-time Super Bowl winners both play in Pennsylvania. Both the Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers have passionate fanbases and many decades of history, adding to the appeal for road trips to either end of the state. Philly is easy to reach for NFL fans anywhere on the East Coast – it’s a little more than an hour from New York by train – and Pittsburgh is a quick trip from midwestern locales.
Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field weighs in at the eighth spot on our list and Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium is No. 10. Follow PennStakes for Pittsburgh Steelers playoff chances all season to see if Aaron Rodgers can have one last great season wearing the black and gold.
The city that came out on top of our ratings was Minneapolis, home of the Minnesota Vikings.
Minneapolis had a total score of 116 points to edge Chicago – home of the Vikings’ NFC North rivals, the Bears – and top the list of most desirable NFL destinations for 2025.
The No. 1 ranking for U.S. Bank Stadium (which, ironically, has an address on Chicago Avenue) involves several factors. Ticket prices for Vikings games, a choice of accommodations (in addition to Minneapolis, state capitol St. Paul is another option) and a wide range of attractions outside of football help make Minnesota a desirable NFL destination. Minneapolis ranked in the top 10 in all of our categories and it was No. 1 for ease of travel.
At bet365 PA Sportsbook, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has +1800 odds to be named NFL Most Valuable Player, as of June 24. That’s tied for sixth with Chargers QB Justin Herbert. The favorites are Baltimore’s two-time MVP, Lamar Jackson, at +500 odds, followed by Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen (+600), last season’s MVP.
Our ranking for the “Best NFL Destination Cities” considered several key factors beyond the game itself. We analyzed average NFL ticket prices, the cost of a 4-star hotel, the average rating of the city's top 10 activities, the ease of local travel (including public transportation and rideshares), the number and quality of local airports, and the vibrancy of the local food and bar scene. Each city was scored based on these criteria to provide a comprehensive look at the fan experience.
This ranking serves as a valuable guide for NFL fans looking to combine their love for football with an exciting travel experience. By highlighting cities that excel in areas like affordability, entertainment and accessibility, we aim to help fans choose a destination that offers the best overall value for the most enjoyable trip. This applies whether fans are planning a single away game or a multi-city tour.
Minneapolis, home to the Minnesota Vikings, secured the top spot with a total score of 116. Its high ranking is a testament to a combination of factors, including competitive ticket prices, quality accommodations, a diverse range of activities and efficient local travel options. Minneapolis offers a well-rounded experience that makes it a prime choice for visiting NFL fans.
Author
Jim has more than 20 years of experience in sports journalism and covers sports, gambling and the intersection of those two industries for PennStakes.com. He has worked for publications such as the Tampa Bay Times, FanRag.com, SaturdayDownSouth.com and SaturdayTradition.com. He is passionate about getting Pennsylvania sports betting fans in the know and finding the latest PA sportsbook promos.
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