Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upChicago · Jul 10
Drop offMilwaukee · Jul 18
Total miles732 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Chicago, IL
Hotel
Chicago Overnight
Check-inFri, Jul 10
Check-outSat, Jul 11
First pitch7:40 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Friday, July 10
First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Chicago White Sox vs. Athletics at Guaranteed Rate Field tonight — Mexican Heritage Night + Mexican Heritage Jersey tonight.
Stop 01 of 04
Chicago, IL · Fri Jul 10
Guaranteed Rate Field
Chicago White Sox · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Athletics
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 10
Check-outSat, Jul 11
First pitch tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET. Leave by 12:16 PM.
Sat Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:16 PM
Drive to Cincinnati313 mi · 5.4h
Game time7:10 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-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 2
Saturday, July 11
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. Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park tonight. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 04
Cincinnati, OH · Sat Jul 11
Great American Ball Park
Cincinnati Reds · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. Chicago Cubs
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-inSat, Jul 11
Check-outSun, Jul 12
First pitch tomorrow at 8:05 PM ET. Leave by 1:09 PM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by1:09 PM
Drive to Chicago315 mi · 5.4h
Game time8:05 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
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
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 detourCincinnati → Chicago
315 mi · 5.4h · regional run
DAY 8
Friday, July 17
First pitch at 8:05 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. Minnesota Twins at Wrigley Field tonight — #BudFridays: Cubs 1940s-50s Replica Jersey tonight. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 04
Chicago, IL · Fri Jul 17
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
8:05 PM ET
vs. Minnesota Twins
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-inFri, Jul 17
Check-outSat, Jul 18
First pitch tomorrow at 4:10 PM ET. Leave by 12:52 PM.
Sat Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:52 PM
Drive to Milwaukee104 mi · 1.8h
Game time4:10 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
104 mi · 1.8h · easy leg
DAY 9
Saturday, July 18
A short 1.8h drive from Chicago sets up the day. First pitch at 4:10 PM ET — Milwaukee Brewers vs. Miami Marlins at American Family Field today — Brandon Woodruff Trading Card Bobblehead today. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 04
Milwaukee, WI · Sat Jul 18
American Family Field
Milwaukee Brewers · MLB
4:10 PM ET
vs. Miami Marlins
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
Shift 2 days to catch Noche de Cerveceros (Community Night) at American Family Field.
• Noche de Cerveceros (Community Night) at American Family Field
• #BudFridays: Cubs 1940s-50s Replica Jersey at Wrigley Field
• Fireworks Friday at Great American Ball Park
• 2016 World Series Anniversary Celebration at Wrigley Field
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 4 games (avg $46)$184
Hotels · 8 nights (avg $155)$1,240
Fuel · 732 mi at $0.18/mi$132
Ballpark food & drinks$200
Total Estimate$1,756
* 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 ...