Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upWashington · May 2
Drop offMilwaukee · May 8
Total miles1369 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Washington, DC
Hotel
Washington Overnight
Check-inSat, May 2
Check-outSun, May 3
First pitch4:05 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Saturday, May 2
First pitch at 4:05 PM ET — Washington Nationals vs. Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park today — Star Wars Day: Grogu Bobblehead today.
Stop 01 of 05
Washington, DC · Sat May 2
Nationals Park
Washington Nationals · MLB
4:05 PM ET
vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Must Eat at the Park
Ben's Chili Bowl Half-Smoke
A half-smoke sausage with Ben's chili, mustard, and onions. Ben's Chili Bowl has been a DC institution since 1958.
Local Beer
DC Brau Penn Quarter Porter
DC's first packaged craft brewery since Prohibition. The porter is excellent.
DC Brau Brewing
Baseball Returns to Washington After 33 Years
Pilgrim Notes · Washington Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Washington, DC
Washington Overnight
Check-inSat, May 2
Check-outSun, May 3
First pitch tomorrow at 1:35 PM ET. Leave by 7:56 AM.
Sun Morning
When to Depart
Leave by7:56 AM
Drive to Pittsburgh241 mi · 4.2h
Game time1:35 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Worth the Detour · +15 min
The Graffiti Warehouse
A massive legal graffiti mural wall in Baltimore's Station North arts district. Blocks of paint on brick that changes constantly. The city funded it. The art never stops.
Baltimore, MD · 15 min detourWashington → Pittsburgh
241 mi · 4.2h · easy leg
DAY 2
Sunday, May 3
Washington to Pittsburgh is 4.2h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 1:35 PM ET — Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park today — Family Fun Day: Pirates Comic Book (Kids 14 & under) today. The Graffiti Warehouse is worth 15 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 05
Pittsburgh, PA · Sun May 3
PNC Park
Pittsburgh Pirates · MLB
1:35 PM ET
vs. Cincinnati Reds
Must Eat at the Park
Primanti Brothers Sandwich
Pittsburgh's most iconic food in its natural habitat. Meat and cheese on airy Italian bread loaded with tomatoes, coleslaw, and french fries inside the sandwich. Designed for Pittsburgh truckers in 1933.
Local Beer
Fat Head's Bullpen Tap Bar
Eight rotating taps positioned directly above the Pirates bullpen. The only bar in baseball where you can watch a reliever warm up while drinking a Head Hunter IPA. Arrive before first pitch for a seat at the rail.
Fat Head's Brewery · North Olmsted, OH
Maz, Clemente, and the Most Beautiful View in Baseball
Pilgrim Notes · Pittsburgh Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Overnight
Check-inSun, May 3
Check-outMon, May 4
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 9:21 AM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by9:21 AM
Drive to Chicago511 mi · 8.8h
Game time7:40 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Pittsburgh overnight.
Breakfast Stop · Pittsburgh, PA
Before You Hit the Road
Pamela's Diner
Multiple locations. Obama ordered here on the campaign trail. The hotcakes are thin, buttery, perfect.
Crepe-style hotcakes
Lunch Stop · I-71 N to I-75 N, Covington KY exit
Midway Fuel-Up
Skyline Chili Covington
The Cincinnati-area Skyline Chili location just off I-71/75 on the Pittsburgh to Chicago corridor. Cincinnati chili on spaghetti with shredded cheddar — a 3-Way — is one of the great regional American dishes. This is the correct stop at the midpoint of this drive.
3-Way chili + oyster crackers + coffee
Open 10 AM–10 PM daily
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Field of Corn (Cornhenge)
109 concrete ears of corn arranged in rows like Arlington National Cemetery outside Columbus. Each one weighs 1,500 lbs and stands 6 feet tall. There is no satisfying explanation.
Dublin, OH · 10 min detourPittsburgh → Chicago
511 mi · 8.8h · long haul
DAY 4
Tuesday, May 5
It's a 8.8h haul from Pittsburgh — plan to break this into two days or drive the night before. First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field tonight. Field of Corn (Cornhenge) is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 05
Chicago, IL · Tue May 5
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Cincinnati Reds
Must Eat at the Park
Chicago-Style Hot Dog
A Vienna beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun, dragged through the garden: yellow mustard, bright green relish, onions, tomato wedges, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt. No ketchup. Ever.
Local Beer
Old Style Lager
Served at Wrigley since 1950. The single most identified brand with Cubs baseball. The bleachers run on Old Style.
Pabst Brewing
The Friendly Confines and the Longest Drought in Sports
Pilgrim Notes · Chicago Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Chicago, IL
Chicago Overnight
Check-inTue, May 5
Check-outWed, May 6
First pitch tomorrow at 6:40 PM ET. Leave by 12:01 PM.
Wed Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:01 PM
Drive to Detroit299 mi · 5.2h
Game time6:40 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Chicago, IL
Before You Hit the Road
Lou Mitchell's
Jackson Blvd since 1923. A Chicago institution older than most Wrigley Field renovations. Double-yolk eggs, homemade marmalade, complimentary Milk Duds while you wait. Cubs and Sox fans both claim it.
Double-yolk omelette + fresh OJ
Open 5:30 AM–3 PM Mon–Sat
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Tower of VW Bugs
Five colorfully painted 1960s Volkswagen Beetles stacked on top of each other in a pawn shop parking lot in Defiance. A mannequin climbs out of the fourth one. This is art.
Defiance, OH · 10 min detourChicago → Detroit
299 mi · 5.2h · regional run
DAY 5
Wednesday, May 6
Chicago to Detroit is 5.2h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 6:40 PM ET — Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park tonight — Euchre Night tonight. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 05
Detroit, MI · Wed May 6
Comerica Park
Detroit Tigers · MLB
6:40 PM ET
vs. Boston Red Sox
Must Eat at the Park
Detroit Coney Dog
Natural-casing beef frank with beanless meat chili, mustard, and white onion. The Detroit Coney Dog.
Local Beer
Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Voted America's best beer multiple times. Available throughout Comerica Park.
Bell's Brewery
Ty Cobb, Tiger Stadium, and the Long Goodbye
Pilgrim Notes · Detroit Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Detroit, MI
Detroit Overnight
Check-inWed, May 6
Check-outThu, May 7
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 12:41 PM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:41 PM
Drive to Milwaukee318 mi · 5.5h
Game time7:40 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Detroit, MI
Before You Hit the Road
Dulys Place
Springwells neighborhood since 1921. A coney island diner barely changed in 100 years. The best Coney dog in Detroit — and that is not a small claim in a city that defines itself by this dish. Opens at 4 AM.
Coney dog + coffee
Open 4 AM–3 PM daily
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Tower of VW Bugs
Five colorfully painted 1960s Volkswagen Beetles stacked on top of each other in a pawn shop parking lot in Defiance. A mannequin climbs out of the fourth one. This is art.
Defiance, OH · 10 min detourDetroit → Milwaukee
318 mi · 5.5h · regional run
DAY 7
Friday, May 8
Detroit to Milwaukee is 5.5h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Yankees at American Family Field tonight. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 05 of 05
Milwaukee, WI · Fri May 8
American Family Field
Milwaukee Brewers · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. New York Yankees
Must Eat at the Park
Wisconsin Brat (Klement's)
A Klement's bratwurst grilled over charcoal and served in a hoagie roll with stadium mustard, sauerkraut, and grilled onions.
Local Beer
Spotted Cow
The farmhouse ale sold exclusively in Wisconsin. The most state-exclusive craft beer in MLB.
New Glarus Brewing
The Brewers, Hank the Dog, and Robin Yount
Pilgrim Notes · Milwaukee Baseball History
Shift 2 days to catch Family Fun Day: Pirates Comic Book (Kids 14 & under) at PNC Park.
• Family Fun Day: Pirates Comic Book (Kids 14 & under) at PNC Park
• Cade Horton Graphic Tee at Wrigley Field
• Star Wars Night: Cubs Grogu Bobblehead (Kids) at Wrigley Field
• Bark in the Park at Comerica Park
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 5 games (avg $46)$230
Hotels · 6 nights (avg $155)$930
Fuel · 1369 mi at $0.18/mi$246
Ballpark food & drinks$250
Total Estimate$1,656
* Estimates only. Prices vary.
How This Trip Was Planned
Our Algorithm
We evaluate many stop orders (up to seven parks: every permutation; larger trips: smart samples plus nearest-neighbor paths from home) and keep the version that preserves the most ballparks on your list with the least driving between games, inside an expanded or standard date ...