Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upArlington · May 12
Drop offHouston · May 17
Total miles2270 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Arlington, TX
Hotel
Arlington Overnight
Check-inTue, May 12
Check-outWed, May 13
First pitch8:05 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Tuesday, May 12
First pitch at 8:05 PM ET — Texas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Globe Life Field tonight. Don't leave without Lockhart Smokehouse Brisket.
Stop 01 of 04
Arlington, TX · Tue May 12
Globe Life Field
Texas Rangers · MLB
8:05 PM ET
vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Must Eat at the Park
Lockhart Smokehouse Brisket
Authentic Central Texas BBQ style brisket. Properly smoked, not steam-table. The jalapeño sausage is exceptional.
Local Beer
Shiner Bock
Czech-Texan amber lager brewed in Shiner, Texas since 1909. Cold, amber, distinctly Texan.
Spoetzl Brewery
Texas Baseball and the Ballpark in Arlington
Pilgrim Notes · Arlington Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Arlington, TX
Arlington Overnight
Check-inTue, May 12
Check-outWed, May 13
First pitch tomorrow at 12:40 PM ET. Leave by Previous evening — overnight drive recommended.
Thu Morning
When to Depart
Leave byPrevious evening — overnight drive recommended
Drive to Cincinnati1035 mi · 17.9h
Game time12:40 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Arlington overnight.
Breakfast Stop · Arlington, TX
Before You Hit the Road
Normas Cafe Dallas
Dallas institution since 1956. Multiple DFW locations. Chicken-fried steak at breakfast is a Texas sacrament. Scratch biscuits, real gravy, pies under glass domes. Pre-Rangers game fuel done right.
Chicken-fried steak + eggs + scratch biscuit
Open 6 AM daily
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Hartman Rock Garden Springfield
50 hand-built miniature American monuments in a Springfield machinist's backyard.
Springfield, OH · 10 min detourArlington → Cincinnati
1035 mi · 17.9h · long haul
DAY 3
Thursday, May 14
It's a 17.9h haul from Arlington — plan to break this into two days or drive the night before. First pitch at 12:40 PM ET — Cincinnati Reds vs. Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park today. Hartman Rock Garden Springfield is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 04
Cincinnati, OH · Thu May 14
Great American Ball Park
Cincinnati Reds · MLB
12:40 PM ET
vs. Washington Nationals
Must Eat at the Park
Cincinnati Chili Dog (Skyline)
Cincinnati chili served over a hot dog (the Cheese Coney). Skyline Chili has operated in Cincinnati since 1949.
Local Beer
MadTree Axis IPA
Cincinnati's most celebrated craft brewery. Axis IPA is their flagship.
MadTree Brewing
The Big Red Machine
Pilgrim Notes · Cincinnati Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati Overnight
Check-inThu, May 14
Check-outFri, May 15
First pitch tomorrow at 2:15 PM ET. Leave by 6:07 AM.
Sat Morning
When to Depart
Leave by6:07 AM
Drive to St. Louis385 mi · 6.6h
Game time2:15 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in St. Louis.
Breakfast Stop · Cincinnati, OH
Before You Hit the Road
Price Hill Chili
Price Hill neighborhood. Cincinnati chili for breakfast is the move — a 3-way at 8 AM has no business working and yet it does. Open early for the pre-work crowd.
3-Way chili + coffee
Open 7 AM Mon–Sat
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Hartman Rock Garden Springfield
50 hand-built miniature American monuments in a Springfield machinist's backyard.
Springfield, OH · 10 min detourCincinnati → St. Louis
385 mi · 6.6h · regional run
DAY 5
Saturday, May 16
It's a 6.6h haul from Cincinnati — plan to break this into two days or drive the night before. First pitch at 2:15 PM ET — St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium today — Fireworks Saturday today. Hartman Rock Garden Springfield is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 04
St. Louis, MO · Sat May 16
Busch Stadium
St. Louis Cardinals · MLB
2:15 PM ET
vs. Kansas City Royals
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-inSat, May 16
Check-outSun, May 17
First pitch tomorrow at 2:10 PM ET. Leave by Previous evening — overnight drive recommended.
Sun Morning
When to Depart
Leave byPrevious evening — overnight drive recommended
Drive to Houston850 mi · 14.7h
Game time2:10 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in St. Louis overnight.
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 → Houston
850 mi · 14.7h · long haul
DAY 6
Sunday, May 17
It's a 14.7h haul from St. Louis — plan to break this into two days or drive the night before. First pitch at 2:10 PM ET — Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park today. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard Route 66 is worth 15 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 04
Houston, TX · Sun May 17
Minute Maid Park
Houston Astros · MLB
2:10 PM ET
vs. Texas Rangers
Must Eat at the Park
Texas Smoke Brisket Sandwich
Central Texas-style brisket sliced thick and served on white bread with pickles, onions, and sauce on the side.
Local Beer
Karbach Love Street
Houston's most popular craft blonde ale. Easy drinking for a retractable roof afternoon.
Karbach Brewing
The Astros and the Comeback City
Pilgrim Notes · Houston Baseball History
Shift 2 days to catch Hunter Brown Orange Jersey Replica at Daikin Park, Houston TX.
• Hunter Brown Orange Jersey Replica at Daikin Park, Houston TX
• Fireworks Friday at Great American Ball Park
• Fireworks Saturday at Busch Stadium
• Replica Jersey Giveaway (TBD) at Great American Ball Park
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 4 games (avg $46)$184
Hotels · 5 nights (avg $155)$775
Fuel · 2270 mi at $0.18/mi$409
Ballpark food & drinks$200
Total Estimate$1,568
* 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 ...