When it comes to NFL travel, most fans focus on action on the field, the wins and the losses. But in 2025, one team stood out for a very different reason: mileage. The Los Angeles Chargers once again earned the unofficial title of the league’s ultimate road warriors, logging an NFL‑high 38,214 miles during the regular season — more than any other franchise. This grueling travel schedule read like a world tour and posed challenges that went far beyond Xs and Os.
For context, a subscriber to my newsletter, Martha (thanks for the idea!), asked me: “Can you tell us which NFL teams travel the most and how far they go?” Here’s the breakdown as the season now wraps up and Super Bowl LX is this Sunday (Feb. 8, 2026) between the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks and AFC champion New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The Chargers’ international kickoff
The 2025 season began in spectacular fashion with the Chargers opening the schedule in São Paulo, Brazil, at Arena Corinthians against the Kansas City Chiefs. It was one of only a handful of regular‑season NFL games ever played in South America. That one international trip alone added 12,600 miles to their total before they even set foot in a domestic stadium.
How far teams traveled in 2025
The Chargers’ extensive travel wasn’t an isolated case, but it did stand out in the league’s travel totals. Based on mileage info revealed during the season, here’s how the highest‑traveling teams stacked up:
These totals include regular‑season travel across the continental U.S. and international games like the Chargers’ opener in Brazil.
Least travel in 2025
At the other end of the spectrum, the Cincinnati Bengals traveled the least, with only 10,640 miles on the road. Their geographically compact schedule and lack of international games contributed to a far lighter travel burden than most teams.
Why travel matters
Logging the most miles is not just a fun stat. It can have real impacts on performance. Long flights, time zone changes and disrupted sleep can all challenge a team’s recovery, focus and endurance. West Coast teams like the Chargers often face additional hurdles when flying to the East Coast, playing in colder weather or hopping across multiple time zones in a short span. Despite these logistical tests, the Chargers and other high-mileage teams must stay mentally and physically prepared each week.
What’s also interesting is that I once asked the Chargers’ head coach about all the travel. He told me the team flies on chartered American Airlines planes and that he sits in the back so the big guys can take the first-class seats.
A season that felt like a world tour
The Chargers’ away games were in São Paulo, Las Vegas, Miami, NY (East Rutherford), Denver, Nashville, Jacksonville, Kansas City and Foxboro (Boston). The Chargers’ 2025 schedule felt like a full‑blown journey across hemispheres and climates. It’s a reminder that the NFL is as much a test of logistics and resilience as it is of athletic skill.
And with Super Bowl LX happening this Sunday, travel fatigue could play a role off the field. The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots have both had their own travel ups and downs, but when the ball kicks off at Levi’s Stadium, it will cap a season that was as demanding on the road as it was exciting to watch.
Looking ahead to 2026, it looks like the Rams and 49ers are going to get a jump on the competition, as they are kicking the season off in Melbourne, Australia, which is more than 14,000 miles round-trip.