49ers news: Travel bug won’t bite San Francisco too hard in 2022

The 49ers don’t have to face as arduous an NFL schedule in terms of traveling in 2022 as they did a year ago, but it’s still going to be a challenge.

Simply by the nature of where they’re located, the San Francisco 49ers are always going to be skewed towards the top of teams when it comes to total mileage traveled every year the NFL schedule is released.

NFC West and AFC West teams always have to deal with this, simply given the nature of the location and where teams are spread out across the country.

In 2022, though, things might not be quite as bad.

We don’t know exactly what the Niners’ 2022 schedule will be just yet, as the league will release that later this month. But we do know which teams San Francisco faces this season, both home and away, meaning it’s possible to break down each team’s travel plans and distances.

Fortunately, ESPN’s Adam Schefter did that for everyone already.

49ers travel 8th most miles out of all NFL teams in 2022

Again, West Coast teams are always going to be at a disadvantage when it comes to travel. Even for those inter-division rivalry games, the shortest distance the 49ers would travel is to Southern California to take on the Los Angeles Rams.

A quick one-hour flight. But it’s not like we’re talking about the sub-100-mile drive between the two NFC East rivals, the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles here.

According to Schefter, the Niners travel a total of 20,792 miles this season, which ranks eighth most out of all teams:

Additionally, San Francisco will cross 22 time zones.

A year ago, the 49ers traveled over 28,000 miles, which was the most in the NFL. This was assisted somewhat by staying back east between their opening matchups against the Detroit Lions and Eagles in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively, although the Niners do have to partake in this year’s NFL International Series with a “road game” against the Arizona Cardinals in Mexico City.

NFL schedule makers must love the Steelers, hate the Seahawks

San Francisco fans won’t complain, but as Schefter pointed out, the Seattle Seahawks have to travel the most this season, a total of 29,446 miles while crossing 34 time zones.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers travel the fewest miles (6,442) and don’t leave the Eastern Time zone at all.

Must be nice to be them.

At any rate, the 2022 NFL schedule will be released in full on Thursday, May 12 at 8 p.m. ET.