WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — All eyes are on the Kansas City Chiefs now that they’ve secured their Super Bowl berth. Now it’s time for fans to plan their trips to Glendale, Arizona.
“It looks like we’re going to have a lot of people going to Phoenix,” said Valerie Wise, Air Service and Marketing Manager at Dwight D. Eisenhower Airport.
The last time the Chiefs went to the Super Bowl, Wise says the flights filled up pretty fast. The same thing happened recently with the Sugar Bowl.
“I think it bodes well for what we can expect for the Super Bowl,” Wise said.
He says the Allegiant flight leaving Feb. 10 is already full. Delta Airlines has added a non-stop flight from Wichita to Phoenix.
“They just opened it up last night after the Chiefs win, so we’ll see how that goes,” Wise said.
For those who want to ride, Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas says you’re looking at about 1,000 miles and 16 hours. So, he says to make sure you factor in roadside hotel stays and gas prices.
“As you head into New Mexico and Arizona, gas prices are higher,” Steward said. “So just look at those and figure out how many tanks you think you need to fill in your particular vehicle to figure out your travel costs.”
Steward says to make sure your vehicle is ready to be on the road for 30+ hours and to consider possible winter weather.
“Be sure to check your vehicle’s battery, tires, all major systems just to make sure they’re in good working order,” Steward said. “You have good tread on your tires and you just want to make sure you don’t break down on your trip there.”
More AAA travel tips for Phoenix-bound fans:
- Hotels: Football fans may find it difficult to find hotel rooms for the match. AAA advises travelers, especially self-bookers and those going the Airbnb route, to personally call the hotel or homeowner to make sure they have an effective reservation. Very few hotel rooms in the Phoenix metro area are available for under $300 a night before tax, and most are much more expensive.
- Rental Cars: Rental cars will be scarce in the Phoenix area, so you need to book sooner rather than later to get what you want. Car rental costs currently range from $90 to $130 per day.
- Road Trip: There are more than 1,000 miles between Wichita and Phoenix, and it’s about 1,200 miles from Overland Park, for a 16-19 hour drive to the Valley of the Sun.
- Gasoline: Gasoline costs for driving will depend on your vehicle’s tank capacity and fuel efficiency. Kansas’ average gas price is currently the sixth cheapest in the nation at $3.20/gallon, while New Mexico ($3.37) and Arizona ($3.55) are more expensive. The average price of gas in the Phoenix metro area is approximately $3.60
The Chiefs will face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, February 12. Kickoff at 5:30pm CST.
