Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upMilwaukee · Aug 4
Drop offMinneapolis · Aug 10
Total miles1238 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Milwaukee, WI
Hotel
Milwaukee Overnight
Check-inTue, Aug 4
Check-outWed, Aug 5
First pitch7:40 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Tuesday, August 4
First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field tonight. Don't leave without Wisconsin Brat (Klement's).
Stop 01 of 05
Milwaukee, WI · Tue Aug 4
American Family Field
Milwaukee Brewers · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
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 4
Check-outWed, Aug 5
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 2
Wednesday, August 5
A short 1.8h drive from Milwaukee sets up the day. First pitch at 2:20 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field today. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 05
Chicago, IL · Wed Aug 5
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
2:20 PM ET
vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
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 5
Check-outThu, Aug 6
First pitch tomorrow at 8:15 PM ET. Leave by 1:09 PM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by1:09 PM
Drive to St. Louis325 mi · 5.6h
Game time8:15 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
Gemini Giant Wilmington
A 28-foot spaceman on Route 66 since 1965. The drive-in still serves burgers.
Wilmington, IL · 10 min detourChicago → St. Louis
325 mi · 5.6h · regional run
DAY 4
Friday, August 7
Chicago to St. Louis is 5.6h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 8:15 PM ET — St. Louis Cardinals vs. Colorado Rockies at Busch Stadium tonight. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 05
St. Louis, MO · Fri Aug 7
Busch Stadium
St. Louis Cardinals · MLB
8:15 PM ET
vs. Colorado Rockies
Must Eat at the Park
St. Louis-Style Toasted Ravioli
Pasta filled with meat, breaded and deep-fried, served with marinara dipping sauce — a St. Louis original.
Local Beer
Busch Beer
The stadium is literally named for this beer. Historically appropriate in every way.
Anheuser-Busch
Musial, Gibson, and the Cardinal Way
Pilgrim Notes · St. Louis Baseball History
Stay Tonight · St. Louis, MO
St. Louis Overnight
Check-inFri, Aug 7
Check-outSat, Aug 8
First pitch tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET. Leave by 12:39 PM.
Sat Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:39 PM
Drive to Kansas City291 mi · 5h
Game time7:10 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · St. Louis, MO
Before You Hit the Road
Goody Goody Diner
St. Louis breakfast institution. Pancakes and biscuits-and-gravy have anchored pre-Cardinals mornings for decades. No-nonsense diner that has stayed exactly itself while the city changed around it.
Pancakes + bacon + coffee
Open 7 AM–2 PM daily
Worth the Detour · +15 min
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard Route 66
The Route 66 frozen custard stand held upside-down to prove its thickness since 1941.
St. Louis, MO · 15 min detourSt. Louis → Kansas City
291 mi · 5h · regional run
DAY 5
Saturday, August 8
St. Louis to Kansas City is 5h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 7:10 PM ET — Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago Cubs at Kauffman Stadium tonight. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard Route 66 is worth 15 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 05
Kansas City, MO · Sat Aug 8
Kauffman Stadium
Kansas City Royals · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. Chicago Cubs
Must Eat at the Park
KC Burnt Ends
Kansas City-style burnt ends — the crispy, caramelized points of a smoked brisket. The defining food of KC BBQ.
Local Beer
Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat
Kansas City's defining craft brewery. The Unfiltered Wheat is a KC staple at the K.
Boulevard Brewing
George Brett and the Pine Tar Game
Pilgrim Notes · Kansas City Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Overnight
Check-inSat, Aug 8
Check-outSun, Aug 9
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 9:14 AM.
Mon Morning
When to Depart
Leave by9:14 AM
Drive to Minneapolis518 mi · 8.9h
Game time7:40 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Kansas City overnight.
Breakfast Stop · Kansas City, MO
Before You Hit the Road
Town Topic Hamburgers
Midnight diner on Broadway since 1937. Open 24 hours. The burger is the point but the breakfast menu has fueled Kansas City's night owls and early risers for 85 years. Order at the counter.
Eggs + hash + coffee
Open 24 hours
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Largest Ball of Twine
17,400 pounds of twine wrapped by one man for 29 years. The qualifier matters.
Darwin, MN · 10 min detourKansas City → Minneapolis
518 mi · 8.9h · long haul
DAY 7
Monday, August 10
It's a 8.9h haul from Kansas City — plan to break this into two days or drive the night before. First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Minnesota Twins vs. Baltimore Orioles at Target Field tonight — University of North Dakota Night tonight. Largest Ball of Twine is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 05 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
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 5 games (avg $46)$230
Hotels · 6 nights (avg $155)$930
Fuel · 1238 mi at $0.18/mi$223
Ballpark food & drinks$250
Total Estimate$1,633
* 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 ...