Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upMinneapolis · Aug 10
Drop offPittsburgh · Sep 1
Total miles1029 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Minneapolis, MN
Hotel
Minneapolis Overnight
Check-inMon, Aug 10
Check-outTue, Aug 11
First pitch7:40 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Monday, August 10
First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Minnesota Twins vs. Baltimore Orioles at Target Field tonight — University of North Dakota Night tonight.
Stop 01 of 05
Minneapolis, MN · Mon Aug 10
Target Field
Minnesota Twins · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Baltimore Orioles
Must Eat at the Park
Kramarczuk's Bratwurst
Kramarczuk's, the northeast Minneapolis sausage institution since 1954, supplies the best bratwurst at any AL Central park.
Local Beer
Surly Furious IPA
Minnesota's flagship craft IPA. The Surly Tap Room at Target Field is the best brewery bar in the AL Central.
Surly Brewing
The Metrodome, the Homer Hankies, and Kirby Puckett
Pilgrim Notes · Minneapolis Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis Overnight
Check-inMon, Aug 10
Check-outTue, Aug 11
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 11:47 AM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by11:47 AM
Drive to Milwaukee370 mi · 6.4h
Game time7:40 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Milwaukee.
Breakfast Stop · Minneapolis, MN
Before You Hit the Road
Hells Kitchen
Downtown Minneapolis basement, open since 2002. Lemon ricotta hotcakes and house-made peanut butter are extraordinary. Dark, atmospheric, excellent coffee. Perfect before a Target Field day game.
Lemon ricotta hotcakes + house PB + espresso
Open 7 AM daily
Lunch Stop · I-90/94 E, John Nolen Dr exit
Midway Fuel-Up
Mickey's Dairy Bar
Madison. The butter burger and frozen custard combo is the Wisconsin road trip essential. Window service, cash preferred.
Butter burger + frozen custard
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Jolly Green Giant Statue
A 55-foot vegetable mascot who will let you stand in his palm.
Blue Earth, MN · 10 min detourMinneapolis → Milwaukee
370 mi · 6.4h · regional run
DAY 9
Tuesday, August 18
First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Milwaukee Brewers vs. Seattle Mariners at American Family Field tonight — Wisconsin Artist Series Hat (Ric Stultz / Racine) tonight. Jolly Green Giant Statue is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 05
Milwaukee, WI · Tue Aug 18
American Family Field
Milwaukee Brewers · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Seattle Mariners
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
Stay Tonight · Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Overnight
Check-inTue, Aug 18
Check-outWed, Aug 19
First pitch tomorrow at 2:20 PM ET. Leave by 11:02 AM.
Wed Morning
When to Depart
Leave by11:02 AM
Drive to Chicago104 mi · 1.8h
Game time2:20 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Milwaukee, WI
Before You Hit the Road
Diner on the Square
Wauwatosa Square. Proper Midwestern diner breakfast done exactly right. German-influenced egg dishes reflect Milwaukee's heritage. 15 minutes from American Family Field — go before a Brewers day game.
German farmer's breakfast + coffee
Open 7 AM daily
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Gemini Giant Wilmington
A 28-foot spaceman on Route 66 since 1965. The drive-in still serves burgers.
Wilmington, IL · 10 min detourMilwaukee → Chicago
104 mi · 1.8h · easy leg
DAY 10
Wednesday, August 19
A short 1.8h drive from Milwaukee sets up the day. First pitch at 2:20 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field today. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 05
Chicago, IL · Wed Aug 19
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
2:20 PM ET
vs. Chicago White Sox
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-inWed, Aug 19
Check-outThu, Aug 20
First pitch tomorrow at 1:10 PM ET. Leave by 6:31 AM.
Thu Morning
When to Depart
Leave by6:31 AM
Drive to Cleveland299 mi · 5.2h
Game time1:10 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 → Cleveland
299 mi · 5.2h · regional run
DAY 11
Thursday, August 20
Chicago to Cleveland is 5.2h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 1:10 PM ET — Cleveland Guardians vs. San Francisco Giants at Progressive Field today. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 05
Cleveland, OH · Thu Aug 20
Progressive Field
Cleveland Guardians · MLB
1:10 PM ET
vs. San Francisco Giants
Must Eat at the Park
Polish Boy Sausage
A kielbasa in a bun topped with french fries, coleslaw, and hot sauce. A Cleveland original found nowhere else.
Local Beer
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold
The Cleveland craft institution. Dortmunder Gold has won more awards than any Ohio beer.
Great Lakes Brewing
The Longest Championship Drought and One Perfect Game
Pilgrim Notes · Cleveland Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Overnight
Check-inThu, Aug 20
Check-outFri, Aug 21
First pitch tomorrow at 6:40 PM ET. Leave by 12:45 PM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:45 PM
Drive to Pittsburgh256 mi · 4.4h
Game time6:40 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Cleveland, OH
Before You Hit the Road
West Side Market
Ohio City since 1912. The greatest market hall in the Midwest. Over 100 vendors — pierogi, kielbasa, fresh bread. Grab breakfast from multiple stalls and eat in the main hall. A Cleveland essential.
Fresh pierogi + kielbasa + bread from multiple stalls
Open 7 AM Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun
Lunch Stop · I-76/80 E, Mahoning Ave exit
Midway Fuel-Up
Simon's Deli
Youngstown. The triple-decker club that Rust Belt travelers have been stopping for on I-76.
Triple-decker club
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Zanesville Y-Bridge Ohio
The only Y-shaped bridge in the world. Cross it from any side, end up where you started.
Zanesville, OH · 10 min detourCleveland → Pittsburgh
256 mi · 4.4h · easy leg
DAY 23
Tuesday, September 1
First pitch at 6:40 PM ET — Pittsburgh Pirates vs. San Francisco Giants at PNC Park tonight. Zanesville Y-Bridge Ohio is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 05 of 05
Pittsburgh, PA · Tue Sep 1
PNC Park
Pittsburgh Pirates · MLB
6:40 PM ET
vs. San Francisco Giants
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
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 5 games (avg $46)$230
Hotels · 22 nights (avg $155)$3,410
Fuel · 1029 mi at $0.18/mi$185
Ballpark food & drinks$250
Total Estimate$4,075
* 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 ...