Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upMinneapolis · May 20
Drop offCleveland · May 26
Total miles775 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Minneapolis, MN
Hotel
Minneapolis Overnight
Check-inWed, May 20
Check-outThu, May 21
First pitch1:40 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Wednesday, May 20
First pitch at 1:40 PM ET — Minnesota Twins vs. Houston Astros at Target Field today. Don't leave without Kramarczuk's Bratwurst.
Stop 01 of 05
Minneapolis, MN · Wed May 20
Target Field
Minnesota Twins · MLB
1:40 PM ET
vs. Houston Astros
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-inWed, May 20
Check-outThu, May 21
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 11:47 AM.
Fri 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-94 E, Exit 88, Osseo WI
Midway Fuel-Up
Norske Nook
Osseo, WI on I-94 — the Norwegian-American pie shop that has won the Wisconsin State Fair pie competition more times than anyone else. The pies are extraordinary. Pull off the highway and eat one. You are in Wisconsin now.
Seasonal cream pie + coffee
Open 6 AM–9 PM 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 detourMinneapolis → Milwaukee
370 mi · 6.4h · regional run
DAY 3
Friday, May 22
It's a 6.4h haul from Minneapolis — plan to break this into two days or drive the night before. First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at American Family Field tonight. Jolly Green Giant Statue is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 05
Milwaukee, WI · Fri May 22
American Family Field
Milwaukee Brewers · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
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-inFri, May 22
Check-outSat, May 23
First pitch tomorrow at 2:20 PM ET. Leave by 11:02 AM.
Sat 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 4
Saturday, May 23
A short 1.8h drive from Milwaukee sets up the day. First pitch at 2:20 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. Houston Astros at Wrigley Field today. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 05
Chicago, IL · Sat May 23
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
2:20 PM ET
vs. Houston Astros
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, May 23
Check-outSun, May 24
First pitch tomorrow at 2:10 PM ET. Leave by 12:37 PM.
Mon Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:37 PM
Drive to Chicago3 mi · 0.1h
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
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 6
Monday, May 25
First pitch at 2:10 PM ET — Chicago White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field today — Chase Meidroth Bobblehead today. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 05
Chicago, IL · Mon May 25
Guaranteed Rate Field
Chicago White Sox · MLB
2:10 PM ET
vs. Minnesota Twins
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-inMon, May 25
Check-outTue, May 26
First pitch tomorrow at 6:10 PM ET. Leave by 11:32 AM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by11:32 AM
Drive to Cleveland298 mi · 5.1h
Game time6:10 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
298 mi · 5.1h · regional run
DAY 7
Tuesday, May 26
Chicago to Cleveland is 5.1h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 6:10 PM ET — Cleveland Guardians vs. Washington Nationals at Progressive Field tonight. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 05 of 05
Cleveland, OH · Tue May 26
Progressive Field
Cleveland Guardians · MLB
6:10 PM ET
vs. Washington Nationals
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
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 5 games (avg $46)$230
Hotels · 6 nights (avg $155)$930
Fuel · 775 mi at $0.18/mi$140
Ballpark food & drinks$250
Total Estimate$1,550
* 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 ...