Colts obtain next meeting with Patriots OC Josh McDaniels

Following an NFL Coaching Search on the Road: A Traveler's Angle on Colts vs. Patriots

Headlines about coaching interviews come and go quickly, and the Indianapolis Colts' interest in Josh McDaniels, then the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator, belongs to a hiring cycle that has long since passed. McDaniels famously agreed to the Colts job in early 2018 and then changed his mind, staying in New England. What lasts longer than the news cycle is the rivalry itself, and for Midwest fans that rivalry can be a good excuse for a road trip.

Indianapolis as a drive from Cleveland

Indianapolis sits within a comfortable day's drive of Cleveland, mostly on interstate highways heading southwest through Ohio. Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Colts, is in the downtown area, close to hotels, restaurants and the convention district, which makes it one of the more walkable NFL game-day settings in the region. The stadium has a retractable roof, so late-season games are less at the mercy of the weather than open-air venues near Lake Erie.

Practical tips for a game-day trip

• Buy tickets from official sources. Check the team's own website or the league's authorised resale platforms rather than unfamiliar third-party sites, and be wary of prices that look too good to be true.
• Book a hotel early. Downtown rooms fill fast on game weekends, especially when a high-profile opponent like New England is in town.
• Plan parking or walk in. Staying within walking distance can save time and stress after the final whistle.
• Review the stadium bag policy before you leave home, as NFL venues generally enforce clear-bag rules.
• Make a weekend of it. Indianapolis has museums, the Monument Circle area and a lively canal walk worth an extra morning.

If you prefer to stay closer to home, our destinations section covers Lake Erie and Midwest getaways, and the guides page offers packing lists that work just as well for a stadium weekend as for a lakeside escape.