Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upChicago · Jun 2
Drop offCleveland · Jun 26
Total miles2223 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Chicago, IL
Hotel
Chicago Overnight
Check-inTue, Jun 2
Check-outWed, Jun 3
First pitch8:05 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Tuesday, June 2
First pitch at 8:05 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. Athletics at Wrigley Field tonight — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Cap tonight.
Stop 01 of 07
Chicago, IL · Tue Jun 2
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
8:05 PM ET
vs. Athletics
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, Jun 2
Check-outWed, Jun 3
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 10:30 AM.
Thu Morning
When to Depart
Leave by10:30 AM
Drive to Minneapolis445 mi · 7.7h
Game time7:40 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Minneapolis.
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
Jolly Green Giant Statue
A 55-foot vegetable mascot who will let you stand in his palm.
Blue Earth, MN · 10 min detourChicago → Minneapolis
445 mi · 7.7h · regional run
DAY 3
Thursday, June 4
It's a 7.7h haul from Chicago — plan to break this into two days or drive the night before. First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals at Target Field tonight — Prince Night tonight. Jolly Green Giant Statue is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 07
Minneapolis, MN · Thu Jun 4
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
Stay Tonight · Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis Overnight
Check-inThu, Jun 4
Check-outFri, Jun 5
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 9:14 AM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by9:14 AM
Drive to Kansas City518 mi · 8.9h
Game time7:40 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Minneapolis overnight.
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
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 detourMinneapolis → Kansas City
518 mi · 8.9h · long haul
DAY 8
Tuesday, June 9
First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Kansas City Royals vs. Texas Rangers at Kauffman Stadium tonight. Largest Ball of Twine is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 07
Kansas City, MO · Tue Jun 9
Kauffman Stadium
Kansas City Royals · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Texas Rangers
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-inTue, Jun 9
Check-outWed, Jun 10
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 8:46 AM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by8:46 AM
Drive to Milwaukee545 mi · 9.4h
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
Jolly Green Giant Statue
A 55-foot vegetable mascot who will let you stand in his palm.
Blue Earth, MN · 10 min detourKansas City → Milwaukee
545 mi · 9.4h · long haul
DAY 11
Friday, June 12
First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field tonight — Pride Night tonight. Jolly Green Giant Statue is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 07
Milwaukee, WI · Fri Jun 12
American Family Field
Milwaukee Brewers · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Philadelphia Phillies
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, Jun 12
Check-outSat, Jun 13
First pitch tomorrow at 4:10 PM ET. Leave by 12:50 PM.
Sat Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:50 PM
Drive to Chicago106 mi · 1.8h
Game time4:10 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 12
Saturday, June 13
A short 1.8h drive from Milwaukee sets up the day. First pitch at 4:10 PM ET — Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Guaranteed Rate Field today — Colson Montgomery Bobblehead today. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 05 of 07
Chicago, IL · Sat Jun 13
Guaranteed Rate Field
Chicago White Sox · MLB
4:10 PM ET
vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
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-inSat, Jun 13
Check-outSun, Jun 14
First pitch tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET. Leave by 12:16 PM.
Mon Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:16 PM
Drive to Cincinnati313 mi · 5.4h
Game time7:10 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Cincinnati.
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-65 S to IN-43, Chauncey Hill, W Lafayette
Midway Fuel-Up
Triple XXX Family Restaurant
West Lafayette, IN since 1929. Diner on the Purdue University strip open for nearly 100 years. The Duane Purvis All-American burger (peanut butter on a burger) is the reason people stop here. Sounds wrong. Is right.
Duane Purvis All-American burger
Open 7 AM–10 PM 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 → Cincinnati
313 mi · 5.4h · regional run
DAY 14
Monday, June 15
Chicago to Cincinnati is 5.4h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 7:10 PM ET — Cincinnati Reds vs. New York Mets at Great American Ball Park tonight. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 06 of 07
Cincinnati, OH · Mon Jun 15
Great American Ball Park
Cincinnati Reds · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. New York Mets
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-inMon, Jun 15
Check-outTue, Jun 16
First pitch tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET. Leave by 12:34 PM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:34 PM
Drive to Cleveland296 mi · 5.1h
Game time7:10 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Cleveland.
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
Field of Corn (Cornhenge)
109 concrete ears of corn arranged in rows like Arlington National Cemetery outside Columbus. Each one weighs 1,500 lbs and stands 6 feet tall. There is no satisfying explanation.
Dublin, OH · 10 min detourCincinnati → Cleveland
296 mi · 5.1h · regional run
DAY 25
Friday, June 26
First pitch at 7:10 PM ET — Cleveland Guardians vs. Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field tonight. Field of Corn (Cornhenge) is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 07 of 07
Cleveland, OH · Fri Jun 26
Progressive Field
Cleveland Guardians · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. Seattle Mariners
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
Shift 2 days to catch Puerto Rican Heritage Jersey at Wrigley Field.
• Puerto Rican Heritage Jersey at Wrigley Field
• Prince Night at Target Field
• Fireworks Friday at Great American Ball Park
• Pop Star Night + University of Minnesota Night + Golf Night at Target Field
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 7 games (avg $46)$322
Hotels · 24 nights (avg $155)$3,720
Fuel · 2223 mi at $0.18/mi$400
Ballpark food & drinks$350
Total Estimate$4,792
* 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 ...