How to Travel to Glendale for Super Bowl LVII

If you're planning on splurging for Super Bowl tickets to watch your team, you'll need to figure out how to get Glendale, Arizona — and fast. Super Bowl LVII is going to be held at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 12.

The stadium is just outside of Phoenix, Arizona, so if you'd like to extend your stay, you can also check out Phoenix's abundance of up-and-coming art galleries, famous midcentury architecture and inventive cuisine. Of course, Phoenix is also known for high-end spas, inviting golf courses and incredible hikes.

Here's how to travel to Super Bowl LVII on a budget.

Getting to Phoenix

Nearest airports

Located about 20 miles from the stadium, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is Arizona’s largest and busiest airport.

Major airlines flying to Phoenix

PHX is a hub for American Airlines and a base for Southwest Airlines. It is served by 20 airlines in total, including:

• Advanced Air - Swift Aviation.

• Air Canada.

• Alaska Airlines.

• American Airlines.

• Boutique Air.

• British Airways.

• Condor Airlines.

• Contour Airlines.

• Delta Air Lines.

• Eurowings.

• Frontier Airlines.

• Hawaiian Airlines.

• JetBlue Airways.

• JSX - Swift Aviation.

• Southwest Airlines.

• Spirit Airlines.

• Sun Country Airlines.

• United Airlines.

• Volaris.

• WestJet.

With 1,200 daily flights, there are lots of great options to PHX from major cities all around the country.

Flying to Phoenix on points and miles

If you have airline miles (or credit card points that you can transfer to an airline), you might be able to use them to cover the cost of your Super Bowl flight.

The chart below displays a snapshot of prices for a flight departing Thursday, Feb. 9, and returning Monday, Feb. 13, across three different airlines — Southwest, American and United — so you can get a general idea of how many points you might need for a trip.

As you look at your flight options, check out Southwest Airlines first. It consistently offers the least expensive rates for booking award flights to Phoenix.

Getting to and from the city

Once you’ve landed, there are many different ways to get from the airport to the city, including rideshares, taxis, shuttles and public transportation.

An inexpensive option for getting to downtown Phoenix from the airport is to take the free Sky Train connection from Terminal 3 or 4 to the light rail. Hop on the light rail for $2, then get off at 44th Street and Washington Avenue. It takes about 20 minutes to get from the airport to the heart of the city.

After planning your Phoenix trip, this is a great way to keep the savings going.

Hotels on points in Phoenix

There are several hotels close to State Farm Stadium, but almost none of them have any rooms available during Super Bowl weekend. The closest option we found was the Comfort Suites Glendale - State Farm Stadium Arena, where a two-night stay would run you a whopping $1,000.

Luckily, when it comes to hotels in Phoenix, visitors are spoiled for choice. So if you're willing to look a little further from the stadium, you'll likely find something that works for your budget. Here are a few hotels to book with points in Phoenix that we think are especially great.

Phoenix Marriott hotels

The Camby Hotel

Located in the upscale Biltmore neighborhood next to Camelback Mountain, this eclectic boutique hotel was No. 2 on Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for the Southwest and West for 2020.

Cost to book in points: The Camby is subject to Marriott Bonvoy's dynamic pricing model, so rates will vary based on demand. We found standard room nights starting at 33,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points per night.

NerdWallet values Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.9 cent each, so do the math to make sure you’re getting the value you want out of your stay.

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

• The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, which offers a welcome bonus (see rates and fees): Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

• The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card allow you to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express also lets you transfer points to the Bonvoy program at a 1:1 ratio (see rates and fees). Terms apply.

If you're on the fence about which Marriott Bonvoy credit card to choose, this deep-dive comparison can help.

Hilton hotels in Phoenix

The Boulders

The Boulders could be described as a “haute hippie” location as it’s a truly decadent resort in the middle of some pretty spectacular nature.

Cost to book in points: Hilton doesn’t have a set award chart, but rooms at the Boulders start at 64,000 points per night and go up from there, depending on room type and time of year.

The Boulders has a daily resort fee of $35, which covers basic guest internet access, fitness center access, fitness classes, gratuities for bell service, concierge and shuttle drivers, club storage, local and toll-free calls, and on-property shuttle use. Note that Hilton will typically waive resort fees on award stays.

The Arizona Biltmore

The Arizona Biltmore is an iconic property that’s known for its luxury and grandeur. Built by Albert Chase McArthur and Frank Lloyd Wright, it’s one of America’s classic hotels. It’s also the birthplace of the Tequila Sunrise cocktail. For a bit of history, sample the original at the hotel’s Wright Bar.

Cost to book in points: Standard rooms at the Arizona Biltmore typically cost 64,000 points. There’s a daily resort fee, but if you book on points, this is usually waived. The fee includes complimentary bike rentals, bottled waters daily, Biltmore golf and lawn games, and access to the fitness center, Wi-Fi and the digital newspaper.

NerdWallet values Hilton points at 0.6 cent each. When you’re deciding whether to use points or pay cash, do the math to decide which is more valuable to you.

How to earn Hilton Honors points

• American Express offers a suite of co-branded Hilton cards with various welcome bonuses. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card also features one weekend night reward when you first get the card and every year after renewal (see rates and fees). Terms apply.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express lets you transfer points to the Hilton Honors program at a 1:2 ratio, which means that 1 American Express point can be turned into 2 Hilton Honors points. Terms apply.

If you're stuck between these hotel credit card options, read our advice on figuring out which Hilton credit card to get.

Hyatt hotels in Phoenix

The Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Bungalows

The Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Bungalows is known for its connection to the nearby Cattle Track Arts Compound, which is a collection of working artist studios. Artists-in-residence work in mediums ranging from pottery and photography to fiber and visual arts.

Furthering the arts theme, the resort also offers “Create and Cultivate” experiences for guests in music, art, nature and community, such as a sunset photography course and a sound healing.

Cost to book in points: The Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Bungalows is a Category 6 resort, which means that rooms start at 25,000 points per night. There’s a daily resort fee of $39, but Hyatt typically waives resort fees on award bookings, which can make using points even more valuable.

The fee includes a variety of perks, including complimentary house car drop-off service within a 3-mile radius, fitness classes, access to Cattle Track Art Compound, a seasonal welcome beverage and more.

The Royal Palms Resort

The Royal Palms Resort is a Spanish colonial mansion located at the foot of Camelback Mountain. Built in 1929, the resort features luxurious special touches like Oriental rugs and art, which make it feel like a private estate.

Cost to book in points: The Royal Palms is a Category 6 property, so standard rooms start at 25,000 points a night.

The daily resort fee is $35, which includes a long list of goodies, including mixology classes for handcrafted seasonal cocktails in the Mix Up Bar and even a hiking kit. This kit includes bottled water, a granola bar, sunscreen, insect repellent, trail maps and a backpack. Remember that Hyatt typically waives resort fees on award bookings, so booking this property on points can add extra value.

NerdWallet values Hyatt points at 2.2 cents apiece, so do some quick calculations to determine if it's wiser to book using points or cash.

How to earn Hyatt points

• The World of Hyatt Credit Card offers the following to new cardholders: Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

• You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.

If you travel to the Super Bowl this year

Using miles and points can be one way to offset the cost of the Super Bowl. The abundance of flight and hotel options, combined with the great variety of vacation experiences in Phoenix, can make for an inviting, inexpensive trip for the points-savvy traveler.

If you don't have points and miles, remember that travel prices are driven by demand. The best ways to save on your Super Bowl trip include extending your trip, so you don't fly on the busiest days or times, and staying further from the stadium.