Miami trip planning turns NFL weekends into ticket hunts

With Miami Dolphins games spread across September through January, travelers are mapping flights, hotels, and rental cars around hard dates at Hard Rock Stadium—plus high-profile matchups against the Chiefs, Bills, Patriots, and more.
Fall in Miami usually starts with a familiar routine: flight searches, hotel comparisons, and the quiet hope that rental cars won’t sell out before you click “book.” This year, the schedule has a different kind of gravity—because for fans, the trip is built around Sundays at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins’ home slate lands across much of the season. including showdowns that feel like they belong in the same sentence as Chiefs. Patriots. Bills. and Lions. For anyone planning a football-filled getaway. the math is straightforward: lock in flights. accommodations. and rental car bookings early. then build the rest of the weekend around kickoff.
If you’re looking to travel to watch the Dolphins this season. the guidance coming from the Dolphins’ official travel partner is to compare travel rates across flights. accommodations. and rental cars using Skyscanner. The aim is to avoid guesswork—especially when demand spikes around marquee matchups.
That demand is easy to understand when you look at who Miami hosts. Because the Dolphins play in the AFC East. home games include teams and quarterbacks tied to this season’s biggest names. Two of the most talked-about opponents are tied to quarterback Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. and quarterback Drake Maye and the New England Patriots.
Here’s the Dolphins’ home schedule for 2026:
Week 1: Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders — Sunday, Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m. ET. Week 2: Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers — Sunday, Sept. 20 at 4:25 p.m. ET. Week 3: Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs — Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. ET. Week 4: Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings — Sunday, Oct. 4 at 4:05 p.m. ET. Week 5: Miami Dolphins vs. Cincinnati Bengals — Sunday, Oct. 11 at
1 p.m. ET. Week 6: Bye Week. Week 7: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets — Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. ET. Week 8: Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots — Sunday, Nov. 1 at 4:25 p.m. ET. Week 9: Miami Dolphins vs. Detroit Lions — Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. ET. Week 10: Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts — Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. ET. Week 11: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo
Bills — Sunday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. ET. Week 12: Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets — Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. ET. Week 13: Miami Dolphins at Denver Broncos — Sunday, Dec. 6 at 4:05 p.m. ET. Week 14: Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears — Sunday, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. ET. Week 15: Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers — Sunday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. ET. Week 16: Miami Dolphins
vs. Los Angeles Chargers — Sunday, Dec. 27 at 1 p.m. ET. Week 17: Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills — Sunday, Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. ET. Week 18: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots — TBD.
Between the early-season dates and the games that stretch into January, fans have a lot to juggle. The core pressure is the same every year: the earlier you plan your travel. the more control you keep over cost and availability—especially when your weekend depends on a single. immovable kickoff time.
For those already thinking about next fall, the push is to book the trip and watch the Dolphins live—then let the rest of the itinerary fall into place around the home games and the matchups that pull the biggest crowds.
Miami travel rates Skyscanner Miami Dolphins schedule 2026 Hard Rock Stadium NFL tickets flights accommodations rental cars Miami trip