Congratulations! Your favorite program made the College Football Playoff National Championship game and you have a chance to travel and watch them etch their name into the history books. If you have the opportunity, take it. Nothing beats watching that confetti rain from the ceiling.
But planning a trip to the National Championship game can be intimidating. It may be in a city you’ve never been to before and the bustle in that city can be intimidating.
In 2025, I seized the opportunity to watch Ohio State play in the championship game in Atlanta and I’m glad I did. Here’s some tips I used that made my experience easy and unforgettable.
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College Football National Championship Travel Playbook for Fans
Ditch the personal vehicle
Most cities hosting the National Championship have strong public transportation systems. Leave your personal vehicle at a satellite parking spot or rideshare to RTA stations, train stations (like Chicago’s L or Atlanta’s MARTA), or park-and-rides. Given the influx of people, many of whom are going to utilize public transportation, this is a safe, cheap, and convenient option.
Make sure to study the routes and stops and pick which ones work best for you. Don’t try to guess the day of!
You’ll avoid traffic congestion–the title game plays on Monday, so you’ll battle rush hour–and expensive parking fees.
Public transportation options for upcoming host cities
- Miami (2026 & 2030): Brightline – take to Aventura Station and, from there, use the free shuttle.
- Las Vegas (2027): RTC Southern Nevada
- New Orleans (2028): RTA LA Pass – choose the street car option for a unique experience
- Tampa (2029): HART Bus Lines
Eat (and drink) local
Part of the travel experience is enjoying the local fare. Opt for Cuban cuisine and key lime pie in Miami or gumbo and beignets in New Orleans. Take some time to research local restaurants (perhaps within walking distance of the stadium) and skip the chains. Note: Local chains like In-N-Out may be a must.
Are there local breweries? Perhaps a style of coffee that isn’t common elsewhere?
Eat and drink locally!
Cut dollars off your ticket
This one’s a bit of a risk, but I found it well worth the gamble. CFP-RSVP offers fans an opportunity to purchase face-value championship tickets. It’s a legitimate offer (I can personally vouch since I used it) that will help shave hundreds off your ticket. They are not a sponsor.
Fans put non-refundable deposits down to “RSVP” for their team in the title game. Those RSVPs get more expensive as the CFP Rounds progress. This process opens as early as Week 1 of the season. If your team you RSVP’d for makes the championship, you are guaranteed the opportunity to buy a face-value ticket. The risk here is if the team you RSVP for does not make the championship game, you will not get your deposit back.
For example, I put in a $200 RSVP for Ohio State ahead of the opening round of the Playoff. The Buckeyes made the championship game and I purchased my seat for about $300. So $200 RSVP + $180 ticket price = $380 all-in for a championship ticket that, the day of, started at $1,200. Do note, the cost of the RSVP does not go toward the cost of your ticket.
For more longshot teams (say, James Madison), the RSVP cost is significantly lower.
Explore fan fests
Fan fests put on by the College Football Playoff and host city are wonderful. Go early in the week to avoid crowds and enjoy photo ops with trophies, mascots, players, and more. These fan fests are usually completely free and you can walk away with a ton of free swag. In 2025, the Atlanta Convention Center hosted Fan Fest and was steps away from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Lines the day before and day of for popular attractions (like the Heisman Trophy photo op, above) can be really long. Thursday or Friday before the game offer a more tame environment with far shorter wait times.
Don’t skip these events! Find out where and when they occur and check them out.
Find other walkable attractions
Some cities are far more walkable than others. For Tampa and Miami Gardens, there’s not as much to walk to as, say, Atlanta. But it’s worth a look!
I scheduled a packed Saturday with trips to the Georgia Aquarium, College Football Hall of Fame, and Olympic Park. Fortunately, these were all within a reasonable walking distance to the stadium. On brand, I also took a stroll through Georgia Tech and visited Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Find these local attractions and take in the city – not just the football. Parks, museums, and aquariums offer great glimpses into what make each city so great.
Future College Football National Championship Sites
2026: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL)
2027: Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV)
2028: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, LA)
2029: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)
2030: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL)
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