Big Ten – Long Road Trips: airports for fans and campus visits
The Big Ten’s recent expansion means long road trips - by airplane - are needed for fans.
Image: The Window Flyer
The 2021 to 2024 NCAA realignment has reshaped college sports forever, including the expansion of the Big Ten Conference, from a traditionally Midwestern conference to a supersized, 18-team conference spanning coast-to-coast.
In a quest to solidify its long-term status as a Power Five (seemingly headed to the Power Two) Conference and harvesting the TV media rights dollars that come with it, the Big Ten and its member institutions have added USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington from the Pac-12 Conference.
All four schools will begin playing in the Big Ten during 2024-2025 academic year.
Road Trips become Airplane Trips in the Big Ten
College athletics, their conferences, traditions, and rivalries have historically been geographically regional and much commentary has been written about the impacts expanding geographic footprints of super conferences will have on student athletes.
Fans of Big Ten Conference teams better get used to going to the airport to follow their favorite teams as a result of the conference’s coast-to-coast expansion.
Image: Matthew Groh / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
However for you, the fan, the expansion and evolution of college sports will also forever alter your experience. There something to be said about the camaraderie of packing into a car or RV with your friends, family, and colleagues for a road trip to the next town over to see your favorite college team play on Saturday.
The nationalization of the college sports, especially football, means it will no longer be feasible to do a weekend road trip by car.
With West Coast teams playing East Coast teams, in order to watch their teams, Big Ten / B1G / Big 10 sports fans (and players alike) will now need to rely on air transportation to span the thousands of miles in between Big Ten schools.
If you’re a fan of a current or future Big Ten school and wondering how you’ll be able to keep up with their sports team, or just a parent or prospective high school student looking to make a campus visit, look no further.
We’ve put together a guide of which airports to fly through to see each of the 18 Big Ten teams and universities play in 2024 and beyond.
Airports serving the Big Ten Conference universities
There is a great diversity of campus settings and locations amongst the Big Ten Conference. College campus range of urban settings to rural college towns, which greatly varies the availability of airlines and airports serving each individual campus.
Traveling between Big Ten schools may be as simple as flying big city-to-big city, or as complicated as involving multiple layovers if going from college town-to-college town.
West Coast Big Ten Schools (Newest Additions)
If you’re curious about the Big Ten’s latest additions, they are based on the west coast in Washington, Oregon, and California, located in or near major cities.
Washington Huskies
University of Washington, which is moving from the Pac-12 to Big Ten in 2024 is in Seattle.
Image: The Window Flyer
Located on the shores of Lake Washington just north of Downtown Seattle, the University of Washington and home of Dubs II, UW’s live husky mascot, is well connected to the city, hotels, entertainment, and the airport.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the main airport serving the Seattle area. Big Ten fans visiting the University of Washington can easily hop on board Link Light Rail at the airport and head north to the city.
Downtown Seattle is served by Link and a great place to stay for a weekend outing. Continuing on Link Light Rail, fans can access UW’s athletic venues at the University of Washington Station, located adjacent to Husky Stadium. Another option from the airport or Downtown Seattle is to hop off at U District Station, which is located near the core of the UW campus for some college-town vibes and the ability to walk UW’s iconic cherry blossom-lined quad.
If the cards fall in your favor, you might even be able to see the University of Washington campus out your airplane window when you land (hint: sit on the left side of the plane).
Oregon Ducks
Nestled deep into the Pacific Northwest, the University of Oregon and its Oregon Ducks are located the college town of Eugene, Oregon.
Flying in and out of Eugene to other Big Ten college destinations in the Midwest and East may be tricky due to its small size. Eugene Airport (EUG) is only served by a few airlines, mostly to West Coast and Mountain West hubs like Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Denver, which will require onward connections and layovers for fans.
An alternative airport option to see the Ducks play in the Big Ten may be using Portland International Airport (PDX), which is much larger, with more direct flights east.
Renting a car will be necessary from Portland International Airport’s on-site consolidated rental car facility, and Eugene and Autzen Stadium, home of Oregon Ducks football, are about a 2-hour drive south of Portland.
UCLA Bruins
Pauley Pavilion is located on UCLA’s campus and is the home of Bruins Basketball.
Image: The Window Flyer
UCLA stands for the University of California, Los Angeles. Its campus is located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, on the north side of the city.
The Los Angeles metro area is the 2nd largest area by population in the United States, so it should come with no surprise that, like many other big cities, the area is served by multiple airports.
LA has five airports, but we would recommend two airports for going to/from UCLA. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the biggest airport in LA and the closest to UCLA’s campus (more on that below).
Santa Monica and its famed Santa Monica Pier are also located close to both UCLA and LAX and might be a destination worth considering for staying over the weekend. Or if you’re looking for a hotel near LAX, there are plenty of hotel options near there as well.
Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) is the next closest to UCLA and a bit smaller if you don’t like busy airports. Given its smaller size, however, going between California and the Midwest or East will most likely require a layover at another airport.
At either LAX or Burbank, you can rent a car to get around Los Angeles.
One important thing to note - not all sports are played on the UCLA campus. Basketball is played in Pauley Pavilion on campus, but for football, UCLA does not have an on-campus stadium. The Bruins play in the famed Rose Bowl, which is located in Pasadena, CA on the other side of town, to the northeast of Los Angeles. LAX and Burbank are still in relatively close proximity to the Rose Bowl, but it is something to consider when planning a football trip.
Other airports around Los Angeles include John Wayne Airport (SNA), which is near Disneyland if you want to turn your Big Ten trip into more of a vacation. Long Beach Airport (LGB) or Ontario International Airport (ONT) are also good choices if you prefer to fly Southwest Airlines.
If you’re looking to experience more of Southern California while on your fan trip (beaches, theme parks, or sights, etc.), you could also consider flying into San Diego International Airport (SAN) about 120 miles to the south and either taking a train to up to LA renting a car in San Diego.
USC Trojans
The University of Southern California and the LA Coliseum are located close to Downtown Los Angeles.
To see your favorite Big Ten team play the Trojans, we would recommend flying into and out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), but many of the alternative LA-area airports mentioned for UCLA would work for USC as well.
Midwest Big Ten Schools
Going from west to east across the Midwest, these are the airports serving Big Ten schools in the conference’s original geographic region.
Many of the Big Ten’s Midwest schools are either located in a big city with big airports or within a 1 to 3 hour drive of cities with numerous flight options.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Go Big Red! The University of Nebraska’s flagship campus, and home of the Cornhuskers (or Huskers) is located in the state capital of Lincoln, Nebraska.
The City of Lincoln has an airport (Lincoln Airport, code LNK) if you want to fly into the closest airport, but know that the airport is very small with very little scheduled airline service.
Being located just 60 miles from Omaha, using Eppley Airfeld / Omaha Airport (OMA) would be the better choice for college fans going to and from the University of Nebraska.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The University of Minnesota is located right across the Mississippi River from Downtown Minneapolis.
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is the primary airport serving the Twin Cities, where University of Minnesota is located, and is a major hub for Delta Air Lines.
Any Big Ten fans doing long-distance trips to and from the University of Minnesota campus, including TCF Bank Stadium, will want to use MSP.
Ground transportation between MSP and the Minnesota campus is a breeze as both are connected by Metro Transit’s light rail system. Getting between the two will require a transfer between lines, however (Blue Line from MSP to Downtown Minneapolis, and Green Line from Downtown Minneapolis to the University of Minnesota campus)
Iowa Hawkeyes
Kinnick Stadium at the University of Iowa.
Image: Alan Light / Flickr.com (CC BY 2.0)
The University of Iowa and the Hawkeyes are located in Iowa City, Iowa on the eastern half of the state.
For fans new to the Big Ten, Iowa’s Kinnick Wave tradition is one of the most heartwarming traditions in the conference, where the entire stadium waves to the children looking out the windows of the adjacent Children’s Hospital and surely one to experience in person.
For flying to and from the University of Iowa, there are a number of options.
The closest airport is Eastern Iowa Airport (CID), located about 20 miles away in Cedar Rapids, however Cedar Rapids is not that big of a city, so flight options may be limited.
For a larger selection, it may be worth renting a car and using Des Moines International Airport (DSM) or flying through Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
Chicago is about a three and a half hour drive from Iowa City and the Hawkeyes but has direct flight options to virtually anywhere, including Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles.
Wisconsin Badgers
On, Wisconsin! The University of Wisconsin Badgers are located on the school’s flagship campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) is located in Madison, but being a smaller airport, most of its flights tend to go east, not west.
The nearest big airports to the University of Wisconsin-Madison are Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), or either of the Chicago airports. Car rental options at MKE, ORD, and MDW should be a breeze given the large size of these airports.
Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern University is located in the Chicago area.
Image: bradleypjohnson / Flickr.com (CC BY 2.0)
We’ll keep going with the Chicago theme.
Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois, in metropolitan Chicago, right on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Given its location in a major city, the best airport options for Big Ten sports fans going to/from the home of the Wildcats are going to be the two Chicago airports, O’Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW).
Evanston is accessible by both Metra Rail (Union Pacific North Line) and Chicago CTA’s “L” rapid transit system (Purple Line). Connections can be made to either of Chicago’s airports through Downtown Chicago.
Illinois Fighting Illini
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is located in east-central Illinois in a small college town, but fans traveling to and from the home of the Fighting Illini have several airport options to choose from.
The closest will be the university-owned University of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI), however, be advised this airport is tiny, with minimal flight options
For better airplane access to Urbana-Champaign, it is good to know that the city is located almost equidistance to Chicago and Indianapolis, giving travelers options to use Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Chicago Midway (MDW), or Indianapolis International Airport (IND) and rent a car. It’s about 2 hours in either direction (via I-57 to Chicago or I-74 to Indianapolis).
Purdue Boilermakers
West Lafayette, Indiana is home to the campus of Purdue University and the Boilermakers.
Lafayette has an airport, which is owned by the university. However it does not currently have any commercial airline, though it historically has, and the university is also actively working to restore some commercial service directly into West Lafayette.
For now, fans will need to travel through Indianapolis International Airport (IND), located about 60 miles from the Purdue campus. Another possibility is to fly into Chicago’s airports, though the drive to West Lafayette will be a little bit farther.
Car rentals are an option, and private shuttle operators also provide shuttle service between West Lafayette, Chicago, and Indianapolis.
Indiana Hoosiers
Located in southern Indiana, in Bloomington is the home of Indiana University’ flagship campus and Hoosier athletics.
Similar to other Big Ten schools in small cities, there is no direct commercial airline service to Bloomington, so sports fans will need to travel through Indianapolis International Airport (IND), located about 50 miles to the north.
Michigan State Spartans
Going one state to the north into Michigan, the state’s capital city of Lansing is home (okay, technically East Lansing) to Michigan State University and its Spartans athletic teams.
Lansing, Michigan has an airport, Capital Region International Airport (LAN), but it is small with very limited airline service.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), one of the largest airports in the country and major Delta Air Lines hub, would be much more suited for getting to and from the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing. It’s about a 90-mile drive between DTW and MSU.
Michigan Wolverines
The gameday experience in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan.
Image: JW_PNW/Shutterstock.com
Go Blue! One of the most storied programs in college football, the Michigan Wolverines football team calls its home stadium The Big House. Michigan Stadium, which it is officially called, is the largest stadium by seating capacity in the United States and third-largest in the word! It’s located on the South Campus of UM’s flagship Ann Arbor campus alongside its other athletic facilities.
Ann Arbor, Michigan is also a quaint, but bustling college town to visit and spend time in.
The University of Michigan and Ann Arbor can best be reached through Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), located about 30 miles away.
Ohio State University
Michigan’s biggest rival (the football game is simply called “The Game”), Ohio State University and Ohio Stadium are located in central Ohio in the city of Columbus.
The home of the Buckeyes, Columbus is a large city and capital of Ohio, boasting a population of nearly one million.
Big Ten fans needing to get to/from Columbus and Ohio State should use John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), which has airline service to all across the country, including the newest Big Ten cities of Seattle and Los Angeles.
If needed, for additional direct flights, fans going to Ohio State can rent cars and use either Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), or Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). These alternative Ohio State University airports are located about three, two, and one-and-a-half hours away from Columbus, respectively.
Eastern Big Ten Schools
The last batch of schools on our list are the Big Ten’s eastern schools. Two of the three are located in major metropolitan areas making air travel easy, but one is located in an isolated college town.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State football is a big deal in the state of Pennsylvania.
Image: Governor Tom Wolf / Flickr.com (CC BY 2.0)
We are not Penn State here at The Window Flyer, but if you like chanting “We Are Penn State!” or want to follow your Big Ten team to a game at Penn State, you’ll need to travel to/from University Park, Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University and the Nittany Lions are located in a pretty isolated area in the middle of Pennsylvania, far from any major city. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are located over two hours away, and Harrisburg, the capital of the state is almost two hours away.
This isolated location means traveling to and from the Penn State campus, its venues like Beaver Stadium, and its traditions such as its football White Out games, will be a little bit more complicated.
The Pennsylvania State University does own University Park Airport (SCE) near campus, but airline options are extremely limited there. As a fan or campus visitor, you’d be better off using Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), or Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and renting a car to drive to Penn State.
Maryland Terrapins
The Terrapins, or Terps, are located in College Park, Maryland, which is just outside of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC).
The DC metro area, and University of Maryland, are served by the three primary airports in the Washington metro area – Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
Feel free to choose any of the three airports, as they are all about the same distance from College Park and the Maryland campus (20 to 40 miles).
Getting between the University of Maryland campus and DC’s airports is easy via Washington’s Metro rapid transit system.
The DC airports are served by the Silver Line (Dulles) and Yellow and Blue Lines (National). University of Maryland is along the Green Line, and transfers can be made between lines in Downtown Washington DC.
Getting from BWI to College Park is a little bit trickier by transit; we recommend using a map app to figure out your itinerary or rent a car instead.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Big Ten’s furthest-east school, a whopping 2,400 miles away from Washington, Oregon, USC, and UCLA, is Rutgers University. Home of the Scarlet Knights, Rutgers began playing in the Big Ten in 2014 and is located in New Brunswick-Piscataway, New Jersey.
How do you say Piscataway? Pis-cah-tah-way.
Piscataway is located in the New York City metropolitan area. Being on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, Newark International Airport (EWR) is the closest airport to Rutgers University and Scarlet Knights events.
Conclusion
With the recent expansion of the Big Ten Conference, taking the conference from a regional one to one with a coast-to-coast footprint, air travel will certainly need to be factored in for college sports fans as well as general campus visitors.
The long-term viability of a coast-to-coast college conference remains to be seen; will fans grow tired of the long distance travel over time and miss their old regional rivalries? Who knows.
But for the foreseeable future, until the next major round of NCAA realignments, Big Ten fans will need to know which airports they need to fly into and out of to follow their favorite Big Ten teams to visiting schools.
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