Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upChicago · Jul 21
Drop offMinneapolis · Jul 28
Total miles479 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Chicago, IL
Hotel
Chicago Overnight
Check-inTue, Jul 21
Check-outWed, Jul 22
First pitch8:05 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Tuesday, July 21
First pitch at 8:05 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. Detroit Tigers at Wrigley Field tonight. Don't leave without Chicago-Style Hot Dog.
Stop 01 of 04
Chicago, IL · Tue Jul 21
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
8:05 PM ET
vs. Detroit Tigers
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, Jul 21
Check-outWed, Jul 22
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 6:07 PM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by6:07 PM
Drive to Chicago3 mi · 0.1h
Game time7:40 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
Gemini Giant Wilmington
A 28-foot spaceman on Route 66 since 1965. The drive-in still serves burgers.
Wilmington, IL · 10 min detourChicago → Chicago
3 mi · 0.1h · easy leg
DAY 4
Friday, July 24
First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros at Guaranteed Rate Field tonight. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 04
Chicago, IL · Fri Jul 24
Guaranteed Rate Field
Chicago White Sox · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Houston Astros
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-inFri, Jul 24
Check-outSat, Jul 25
First pitch tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET. Leave by 3:50 PM.
Sat Morning
When to Depart
Leave by3:50 PM
Drive to Milwaukee106 mi · 1.8h
Game time7:10 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
Lunch Stop · I-94 N Exit 342
Midway Fuel-Up
Frank's Diner
Classic Wisconsin diner on I-94 northbound. The Locomotive has been fueling road trippers for decades.
Locomotive Burger — everything on it
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
106 mi · 1.8h · easy leg
DAY 5
Saturday, July 25
A short 1.8h drive from Chicago sets up the day. First pitch at 7:10 PM ET — Milwaukee Brewers vs. Colorado Rockies at American Family Field tonight — Brewers Guess Who (Board Game) tonight. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 04
Milwaukee, WI · Sat Jul 25
American Family Field
Milwaukee Brewers · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. Colorado Rockies
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-inSat, Jul 25
Check-outSun, Jul 26
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 11:47 AM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by11:47 AM
Drive to Minneapolis370 mi · 6.4h
Game time7:40 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Minneapolis.
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
Jolly Green Giant Statue
A 55-foot vegetable mascot who will let you stand in his palm.
Blue Earth, MN · 10 min detourMilwaukee → Minneapolis
370 mi · 6.4h · regional run
DAY 8
Tuesday, July 28
First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals at Target Field tonight — Wine, Women & Baseball tonight. Jolly Green Giant Statue is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 04
Minneapolis, MN · Tue Jul 28
Target Field
Minnesota Twins · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Kansas City Royals
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 · 4 games (avg $46)$184
Hotels · 7 nights (avg $155)$1,085
Fuel · 479 mi at $0.18/mi$86
Ballpark food & drinks$200
Total Estimate$1,555
* 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 ...