Top Five Sporting KC Road Trips for 2024

With the weather turning colder and snow falling around Kansas City I can’t help but dream about warmer weather and vacations. Over the last few seasons, I have decided that I was going to work my vacations around Sporting Kansas City matches. That decision has led to a lot of fun road trips with my sister, who shares a season ticket membership with me. We have been to Dallas, Houston, Columbus, St. Louis, Colorado, and Minnesota. Some of them multiple times.

Now that the 2024 season schedule has been released, it is time to start planning the road trips for the new season. The point of the road trip is the fun of the drive, but of course all of these are easy flight trips too if that is more your speed. This is my Top Five choices (with one honorable mention) for the season.

Houston Dynamo – Saturday, February 24

What better way to jump right into a new season but with a return to the place that knocked Sporting KC out of the playoffs in 2023!? After a remarkable end to the season and a great playoff run, Sporting came up short of making it to the Western Conference Finals with a 1-0 loss in Houston with a controversial no call on a hand ball in the box. A perfect start to the 2024 season would be a little retribution and an away win.

What else to do: Houston Zoo, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Space Center Houston, shopping at The Galleria

Drive: about 11 hours

Columbus Crew – Saturday, June 22

Columbus ended the 2023 season on the very top, winning MLS Cup over LAFC in the finals. Wilfried Nancy is one of the best MLS coaches out there and will look to have another successful season. One exciting part of this trip would be to see the new stadium, Lower.com Field, that was completed and opened in 2021. The stadium holds 20,000ish fans and you know that the Crew fanbase will be hyped for the 2024 season.

What else to do: Columbus Zoo, North Market Farmers Market, Easton Town Center, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, COSI Center of Science and Industry

Drive: about 9.5 hours

Colorado Rapids – Thursday, July 4

The trip to Colorado is one that is often taken by fans of Sporting. It is quick, easy (and very boring) drive west on I-70. The Sporting fan section of the stadium is always full and loud. I have taken this Sporting road trip a few times and have really enjoyed my time each match. This year would be a little bit more exciting as you would get to celebrate Independence Day in the beauty Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

What else to do: Denver Botanical Gardens, Mount Evans, Coors Field

Drive: about 8 hours

Saint Louis City FC – Saturday, September 28

Does this one need any explaining? Sporting Kansas City finally has a real and true rival in MLS and it is so much fun. The stadium is St. Louis is great and the fans have created a really fun, ruckus environment. It is the best place to go and cheer on SKC because where else would it be so much fun to win on the road?

What else to do: The Gateway Arch, Missouri Botanical Gardens, City Museum, Busch Stadium

Drive: about 4 hours

FC Dallas – Saturday, October 19

Decision Day 2024 finds Sporting hitting the road to Dallas. Hopefully by the last day of the regular season SKC will have already clinched a great playoff spot and this game will just be for fun. Just in case the game matters in playoff position make sure to get this road trip on your calendar now to make sure there are plenty of us in the stadium to really make ourselves known!

What else to do: The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, Dallas Museum of Art, The Dallas World Aquarium, US Soccer Hall of Fame

Drive: about 8 hours

Honorable Mention: Minnesota United – Saturday, June 1

Minnesota United is always on the list of road trips for no other reason but “why not?”. The drive is easy, the stadium is nice enough and there are plenty of other things to do in town while you’re there.

What else to do: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Mall of America, Historic Fort Snelling, Chain of Lakes Regional Park

Drive: about 6.5 hours

I’m still hoping in the next few years to make it to Nashville, Austin and Cincinnati and to fly to so many more places. What about you? Where have you had your best SKC road trips? Where are you planning on heading this season? Where do you hope to catch a match in the future?