The best time for Jets fans to prepare travel plans, ticket purchases and other accommodations for the NFL season was back in April, when the 2019 season schedule was released and tickets went on sale.
The second best time to plan for Adam Gase’s first season on the sidelines at MetLife Stadium and Sam Darnold’s second season behind center is now.
With the 2019 NFL preseason beginning in a little over a week with the Hall of Fame game coming on Thursday, August 1st, football is close enough to smell the meat on the grill at the tailgate and hear the whistles buzz during pregame warmups.
With that being said, the Jets fans planning to hit the road and watch their favorite team should get that taken care of right now.
The road warriors who watch every away game no matter the location can head here on StubHub and SeatGeek for their pick of the litter on tickets, as well as lodging at Airbnb, Last Minute Travel, Choice Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, Hotels.com and air travel at TripAdvisor, CheapFlights and Priceline.
For those who are more selective of when they hit the road, here is some help in choosing your destination(s) this season.
A ranking of the eight away games the Jets play this season:
8: Buffalo Bills
Date: December 29, 2019
Time: 1 p.m. EDT
How to get tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek
How to book lodging: Airbnb, Last Minute Travel, Choice Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, Hotels.com
How to book flights: TripAdvisor, CheapFlights, Priceline.
Where to get Jets gear to wear on the trip: Fanatics, NFL Shop, Amazon
What you can do, see there: Anchor Bar (original creator of Buffalo wings), tailgate with Bills Mafia, Lake Erie, Niagara Falls.
Why you should go: The Jets might be in the thick of a playoff race, vying for a Wild Card spot in the event they don’t unseat the Patriots.
Why it’s not No. 1: It’s Buffalo in December, it happens every year and the Jets are (probably) not going to be in a Wild Card race.
7: New England Patriots
Date: September 22, 2019
Time: 1 p.m. EDT
How to get tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek
How to book lodging: Airbnb, Last Minute Travel, Choice Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, Hotels.com
How to book flights: TripAdvisor, CheapFlights, Priceline.
Where to get Jets gear to wear on the trip: Fanatics, NFL Shop, Amazon
What you can do, see there: Fenway Park, Omni Parker House (home of original Boston Creme Pie), Atlantic Fish Co. (for some classic clam chowdaaah), Freedom Trail
Why you should go: It is the civic duty of all New York sports fans to attend away games in the Boston area.
Why it’s not No. 1: The trip happens every year, so there’s always next season if you can’t make this one. At least it’s not Buffalo in December.
6: Philadelphia Eagles
Date: October 6, 2019
Time: 1 p.m. EDT
How to get tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek
How to book lodging: Airbnb, Last Minute Travel, Choice Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, Hotels.com
How to book flights: TripAdvisor, CheapFlights, Priceline.
Where to get Jets gear to wear on the trip: Fanatics, NFL Shop, Amazon
What you can do, see there: Liberty Bell, Philadelphia Museum of Art (climb the Rocky Steps), Pat’s/Jim’s/Dalessandro’s (not sure which has the best cheesesteak? Try all three.)
Why you should go: Cheesesteaks. It’s close. It’s the Eagles.
Why it’s not No. 1: Going to Philadelphia from New York/North Jersey barely feels like a road trip.
5: Baltimore Ravens
Date: December 12, 2019
Time: 8:20 p.m. EDT
How to get tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek
How to book lodging: Airbnb, Last Minute Travel, Choice Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, Hotels.com
How to book flights: TripAdvisor, CheapFlights, Priceline.
Where to get Jets gear to wear on the trip: Fanatics, NFL Shop, Amazon
What you can do, see there: National Aquarium, Camden Yards, Jimmy’s Famous Seafood (for all your Maryland crab cake needs)
Why you should go: It’s drivable and close enough to Washington D.C. to make a day trip out of it.
Why it’s not No. 1: Jets typically do not do well there. As in, the Jets have never won a game in Baltimore, going 0-for-5 there since the 2000 season. Also, it’s on a Thursday night, so you’ll probably need to take two days off of work.
4: Cincinnati Bengals
Date: December 1, 2019
Time: 1 p.m. EDT
How to get tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek
How to book lodging: Airbnb, Last Minute Travel, Choice Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, Hotels.com
How to book flights: TripAdvisor, CheapFlights, Priceline.
Where to get Jets gear to wear on the trip: Fanatics, NFL Shop, Amazon
What you can do, see there: Cincinnati Zoo, Skyline Chili, American Sign Museum
Why you should go: It’s different, a change of pace and everyone should try Skyline Chili at least once in their life.
Why it’s not No. 1: Ohio is miserably cold in December.
3: Washington Redskins
Date: November 17, 2019
Time: 1 p.m. EDT
How to get tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek
How to book lodging: Airbnb, Last Minute Travel, Choice Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, Hotels.com
How to book flights: TripAdvisor, CheapFlights, Priceline.
Where to get Jets gear to wear on the trip: Fanatics, NFL Shop, Amazon
What you can do, see there: White House, U.S. Capitol, Washington Monument, Lincoln Monument, National Mall, Smithsonian, Newseum, Ben’s Chili Bowl
Why you should go: No matter how often you go to the nation’s capital, it’s tough to see everything it has to offer. Combine it with the game on Sunday and you’ve got a weekend. Also, Ben’s Chili Bowl is iconic and fantastic.
Why it’s not No. 1: There is so much to pack into one day.
2: Miami Dolphins
Date: November 3, 2019
Time: 1 p.m. EDT
How to get tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek
How to book lodging: Airbnb, Last Minute Travel, Choice Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, Hotels.com
How to book flights: TripAdvisor, CheapFlights, Priceline.
Where to get Jets gear to wear on the trip: Fanatics, NFL Shop, Amazon
What you can do, see there: Haulover Park, Bayside Marketplace, Venetian Pool, Versailles Cuban Cuisine Restaurant
Why you should go: It’s a chance to enjoy South Beach while the weather cools down in Jersey. Enough said.
Why it’s not No. 1: That chance comes every year with the Dolphins in the same division.
1: Jacksonville Jaguars
Date: October 27, 2019
Time: 1 p.m. EDT
How to get tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek
How to book lodging: Airbnb, Last Minute Travel, Choice Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, Hotels.com
How to book flights: TripAdvisor, CheapFlights, Priceline.
Where to get Jets gear to wear on the trip: Fanatics, NFL Shop, Amazon
What you can do, see there: Amelia Island, Friendship Fountain, MOSH
Why you should go: Trips to Jacksonville typically only come every 4-6 years for the Jets. This time around, the Jets make a second straight trip there after having done so in the 2018 season. Fans should take advantage while they can.
Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @briannnnf. Find NJ.com on Facebook.