The 2025/26 League One line-up has been finalised and Wanderers supporters will have to rack up the miles again if they are to visit every ground next season.
The longest journey is Plymouth after the Pilgrims’ two-year stay in the Championship came to an end.
Bolton supporters who decide to head down to Devon will rack up nearly 600 miles across both legs of the trip.
The long journeys to Exeter and Leyton Orient are still on the cards and Wimbledon is back on the agenda after the Dons’ play-off final victory at Wembley.
The average trip for Wanderers fans in League One next season works out at 130 miles each way, setting off from the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
We take a closer look at the away grounds on the list next term and what Bolton’s record is like in recent history
BARNSLEY – Aiming to bounce back from a disappointing campaign which saw the Yorkshire club finish 12th. Conor Hourihane was appointed on a permanent basis in April following a stint as interim boss.
Past form: Bolton endured a miserable afternoon at Oakwell this season, losing 4-1 despite Aaron Collins’ late consolation. The play-off victory a year prior was much more enjoyable as the Whites seized control of the tie.
The trip: 56.6 miles
BLACKPOOL – Finished in ninth place after looking at one stage like they could make a late surge into the play-offs. The Seasiders are now looking to kick on after a first pre-season under Steve Bruce.
Past form: It hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Bolton, whose last win at Bloomfield Road was in 1977/78. Since then, there have been 15 winless trips including the most recent at the end of March when Aaron Collins’ header proved in vain.
The trip: 34.8 miles
BRADFORD – Back in the third tier after securing promotion thanks to ex-Bolton skipper Antoni Sarcevic’s dramatic late winner on the final day.
Past form: Wanderers were minutes from victory on their last trip to Valley Parade after Nathan Delfouneso’s goal, but Danny Rowe found an equaliser at the death. The Whites’ last win there was in September 1996 when Nathan Blake bagged a brace.
The trip: 45.8 miles
BURTON – Maintained their League One status after pulling off a great escape under Gary Bowyer, who took charge in December.
Past form: Wanderers secured their first win at the Pirelli Stadium at the sixth attempt in March thanks to Josh Sheehan’s moment of magic. Aaron Morley had initially opened the scoring after a well-worked move.
The trip: 90 miles
Past form: Wanderers haven’t played in the Welsh capital since February 2018 when they returned empty-handed. The last victory there was in April 2015 when Craig Davies bagged a brace.
The trip: 214 miles
DONCASTER – Aiming to hit the ground running in the third tier after clinching the League Two title, finishing four points clear of second-place Port Vale.
Past form: Bolton won 2-1 on their last trip to the Eco-Power Stadium in April 2022 thanks to goals from Amadou Bakayoko and Kieran Sadlier. It kicked off a run of four straight victories to end the campaign on a high note.
The trip: 77.8 miles
EXETER – Finished in 16th place and well clear of any relegation trouble after another season under Gary Caldwell.
Past form: It might be a gruelling journey but Wanderers have done pretty well at St James Park in recent seasons. Collins and Aaron Morley struck in the final stages as the Whites pulled off an unlikely comeback in January – the latter’s first game back from his loan at Wycombe.
The trip: 249 miles
HUDDERSFIELD – Looking to bounce back from a disappointing first season back in the third tier, and another club still searching for a new manager after Jon Worthington’s spell as caretaker boss.
Past form: Bolton enjoyed a memorable trip to the John Smith’s Stadium in January. It was the first game since Ian Evatt’s exit and club legend Julian Darby stepped into the dugout, overseeing a spirited 1-0 victory with Collins netting the winner.
The trip: 37.4 miles
LEYTON ORIENT – Set for another season in League One after falling at the final hurdle in the play-off final.
Past form: Wanderers won at Brisbane Road on the opening day last year thanks to Victor Adeboyejo’s winner 15 minutes from time.
The trip: 226 miles
LINCOLN – Finished in 11th place and now gearing up for their second full season under Michael Skubala.
Past form: The Whites played at the LNER Stadium twice in the space of a few months, initially winning 1-0 in the Vertu Trophy thanks to Collins’ goal. The outcome was less enjoyable in the league, though, as Jay Matete and Alex Murphy’s goals proved redundant in a 4-2 defeat.
The trip: 126 miles
LUTON – Were playing Premier League football in 2023/24 but now find themselves in League One following back-to-back relegations. Matt Bloomfield left Wycombe to take charge in January but couldn’t quite keep the Hatters up.
Past form: Bolton held Luton to a goalless draw in the FA Cup in January 2024, earning a replay at the Toughsheet Community Stadium which they lost 2-1. The last win at Kenilworth Road was in September 1994 when John McGinlay bagged a brace, although the sides haven’t met in the league since that season.
The trip: 177 miles
MANSFIELD – Preparing for their second season back in League One after finishing well clear of the relegation picture under Nigel Clough.
Past form: Wanderers were beaten at Field Mill on New Year’s Day despite Collins’ goal on the stroke of half time. Arthur Gnahoua’s late winner capped off a remarkable comeback against the Stags in February 2021, in which the hosts led 2-0 with 13 minutes to go before Declan John struck.
The trip: 88.1 miles
NORTHAMPTON – Ex-Bolton hero Kevin Nolan is gearing up for his first full season at Sixfields, having taken charge last December and guided the Cobblers to a 19th place finish.
Past form: The Whites won on their last trip to Northampton thanks to goals from John McAtee, George Thomason, Eoin Toal and Dion Charles. The result would have been much more emphatic if not for Tom Eaves and Jon Guthrie’s consolations in stoppage time.
The trip: 149 miles
PETERBOROUGH – Looking to build on their 18th place finish and have lost several key players in Hector Kyprianou, Kwame Poku and Ricky-Jade Jones.
Past form: The points have been shared during Wanderers’ last couple of trips to London Road, with Chris Forino cancelling out Malik Mothersille’s penalty in a 1-1 draw last month. Bolton hit five past Posh in February 2023 following an emphatic display on the road.
The trip: 163 miles
Past form: Bolton haven’t had much joy at Home Park in recent history and the 3-0 defeat in October 2021 was a bitter pill to swallow after the almost comical third goal in torrential conditions. The last victory there was in October 1975.
The trip: 292 miles
PORT VALE – Relegated at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in April 2024 but secured an immediate return to the third tier under Darren Moore, finishing second in League Two.
Past form: The Whites won 1-0 on their last trip to Vale Park thanks to Charles’ goal on the stroke of half time. There was also a memorable victory in March 2021 when Gethin Jones scored the decisive goal to extend a remarkable run, which eventually resulted in promotion.
The trip: 52.7 miles
READING – Missed out on the play-offs on the final day following defeat against Barnsley but have since been boosted by their long-awaited takeover being finalised.
Past form: Schumacher’s first game in charge was a late defeat at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, although the head coach had less than 48 hours to jobs" target="_blank">work with his new squad. Yanic Wildschut was the hero in August 2018 as Wanderers secured a narrow victory.
The trip: 213 miles
ROTHERHAM – First season back in League One didn’t go to plan but there is a renewed sense of optimism after Matt Hamshaw was appointed on a permanent basis last month.
Past form: Bolton endured a miserable trip to the New York Stadium in January and the damage had already been done when McAtee pulled one back late on. The history books don’t make for pleasant reading, with the last victory there coming in August 1966 just after England had won the World Cup.
The trip: 62.1 miles
STEVENAGE – Looking to build on a mid-table finish which never saw Alex Revell’s side really threaten the play-off race or in any danger of being dragged into the relegation battle.
Past form: The Whites enjoyed a successful trip to the Lamex Stadium last October thanks to goals from Ricardo Santos, McAtee, Adeboyejo and Charles. It was only the club’s third competitive fixture there and they are yet to taste defeat.
The trip: 193 miles
STOCKPORT – At one stage looked a strong shout to join Wrexham in back-to-back promotions but ultimately fell short in the play-offs. Dave Challinor’s side will be aiming to go one step further next term.
Past form: Another miserable away trip in recent memory after Wanderers were thumped 5-0, shipping four goals in the second half. There was also disappointment in the FA Cup in November 2021, although Bolton did win at Edgeley Park in the Vertu Trophy the following season after Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s brace.
The trip: 24.8 miles
WIGAN – Schumacher’s good mate and former colleague Ryan Lowe is preparing for his first full season at the Brick Community Stadium.
Past form: The Whites ended a decade of pain against their local rivals in April thanks to Forino’s late heroics. It was ultimately a disappointing campaign but the scenes after the final whistle will live long in the memories of the 4,000-plus fans who made the short trip.
The trip: 7.6 miles
WIMBLEDON – The final addition to next season’s line-up after edging past Walsall in a tight play-off final at Wembley.
Past form: The points were shared at Plough Lane in August 2021 following a six-goal thriller in which Eoin Doyle, Sheehan and Dapo Afolayan were on target. Wanderers came from behind to win in 2016 thanks to goals from Gary Madine and Liam Trotter.
The trip: 226 miles
WYCOMBE – Another club who missed out in the play-offs despite being in the automatic promotion race for most of the campaign.
Past form: Bolton showed resilience in a goalless draw at Adams Park last December. A season prior, they secured all three points thanks to Paris Maghoma, Thomason, Toal and Morley.
The trip: 194 miles
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