Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upChicago · Apr 11
Drop offDetroit · Apr 15
Total miles508 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Chicago, IL
Hotel
Chicago Overnight
Check-inSat, Apr 11
Check-outSun, Apr 12
First pitch2:20 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Saturday, April 11
First pitch at 2:20 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field today — Ben Zobrist Bobblehead (150th Anniversary) today.
Stop 01 of 04
Chicago, IL · Sat Apr 11
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
2:20 PM ET
vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
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-inSat, Apr 11
Check-outSun, Apr 12
First pitch tomorrow at 2:10 PM ET. Leave by 10:52 AM.
Sun Morning
When to Depart
Leave by10:52 AM
Drive to Milwaukee104 mi · 1.8h
Game time2:10 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Chicago, IL
Before You Hit the Road
Ann Sather
Boystown since 1945. The cinnamon rolls are mythological — the size of your head, fresh every morning. Swedish-American diner that has defined Wrigleyville breakfast culture for 80 years.
Giant cinnamon roll + eggs
Open 7 AM daily
Lunch Stop · I-94 N, Exit 344, Kenosha
Midway Fuel-Up
Brat Stop
Kenosha, WI on I-94. The Wisconsin welcome mat between Chicago and Milwaukee. Beer-soaked bratwurst grilled and served with sauerkraut and Stadium Sauce. The German heritage of the I-94 corridor in sandwich form.
Bratwurst + sauerkraut + Stadium Sauce
Open 11 AM–10 PM 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 detourChicago → Milwaukee
104 mi · 1.8h · easy leg
DAY 2
Sunday, April 12
A short 1.8h drive from Chicago sets up the day. First pitch at 2:10 PM ET — Milwaukee Brewers vs. Washington Nationals at American Family Field today — Kids Giveaway: Wiffle Ball Set today. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 04
Milwaukee, WI · Sun Apr 12
American Family Field
Milwaukee Brewers · MLB
2:10 PM ET
vs. Washington Nationals
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-inSun, Apr 12
Check-outMon, Apr 13
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 4:20 PM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by4:20 PM
Drive to Chicago106 mi · 1.8h
Game time7:40 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
106 mi · 1.8h · easy leg
DAY 4
Tuesday, April 14
A short 1.8h drive from Milwaukee sets up the day. First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field tonight. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 04
Chicago, IL · Tue Apr 14
Guaranteed Rate Field
Chicago White Sox · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Must Eat at the Park
Maxwell Street Polish Sausage
Jim's Original Maxwell Street Polish — a grilled Polish sausage with mustard and grilled onions on a bun.
Local Beer
Revolution Anti-Hero IPA
Chicago's largest independent craft brewery also serves the South Side.
Revolution Brewing
The Friendly Confines and the Longest Drought in Sports
Pilgrim Notes · Chicago Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Chicago, IL
Chicago Overnight
Check-inTue, Apr 14
Check-outWed, Apr 15
First pitch tomorrow at 6:40 PM ET. Leave by 12:02 PM.
Wed Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:02 PM
Drive to Detroit298 mi · 5.1h
Game time6:40 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Chicago, IL
Before You Hit the Road
Ann Sather
Boystown since 1945. The cinnamon rolls are mythological — the size of your head, fresh every morning. Swedish-American diner that has defined Wrigleyville breakfast culture for 80 years.
Giant cinnamon roll + eggs
Open 7 AM 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 detourChicago → Detroit
298 mi · 5.1h · regional run
DAY 5
Wednesday, April 15
Chicago to Detroit is 5.1h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 6:40 PM ET — Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park tonight — Sisterhood Night tonight. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 04
Detroit, MI · Wed Apr 15
Comerica Park
Detroit Tigers · MLB
6:40 PM ET
vs. Kansas City Royals
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
Shift 2 days to catch 414 Day: Local Artist T-Shirt (Ali Acevedo / All Goods MKE) at American Family Field.
• 414 Day: Local Artist T-Shirt (Ali Acevedo / All Goods MKE) at American Family Field
• Sisterhood Night at Comerica Park
• Jackie Robinson Day at Wrigley Field
• Ron Santo Bobblehead (150th Anniversary) at Wrigley Field
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 4 games (avg $46)$184
Hotels · 4 nights (avg $155)$620
Fuel · 508 mi at $0.18/mi$91
Ballpark food & drinks$200
Total Estimate$1,095
* 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 ...