Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upBaltimore · Sep 3
Drop offMilwaukee · Sep 26
Total miles3530 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Baltimore, MD
Hotel
Baltimore Overnight
Check-inThu, Sep 3
Check-outFri, Sep 4
First pitch6:35 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Thursday, September 3
First pitch at 6:35 PM ET — Baltimore Orioles vs. Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards tonight. Don't leave without Boog's BBQ Pit Beef Sandwich.
Stop 01 of 10
Baltimore, MD · Thu Sep 3
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Baltimore Orioles · MLB
6:35 PM ET
vs. Boston Red Sox
Must Eat at the Park
Boog's BBQ Pit Beef Sandwich
Boog Powell — former Orioles MVP — has operated his BBQ stand at Camden Yards since 1992. The pit beef sandwich is Baltimore.
Local Beer
Dempsey's Brew Pub
Full-service brew pub on the right field lower concourse that brews its own beers on site.
Dempsey's Brewing
Camden Yards Changed Everything
Pilgrim Notes · Baltimore Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Baltimore, MD
Baltimore Overnight
Check-inThu, Sep 3
Check-outFri, Sep 4
First pitch tomorrow at 6:40 PM ET. Leave by 12:56 PM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:56 PM
Drive to Pittsburgh246 mi · 4.2h
Game time6:40 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Baltimore, MD
Before You Hit the Road
Attmans Delicatessen
Corned Beef Row, East Baltimore, since 1915. The last great Jewish deli on what was once Baltimore's deli corridor. Corned beef sandwich before an Orioles game is a rite of passage.
Corned beef on rye + pickle + coffee
Open 8 AM daily
Worth the Detour · +15 min
World's Largest Glacial Pothole
A coal miner set off explosives in 1884 and accidentally uncovered a 38-foot-deep Ice Age hole. It held 140,000 gallons of meltwater. You can look straight down into the Earth.
Archbald, PA · 15 min detourBaltimore → Pittsburgh
246 mi · 4.2h · easy leg
DAY 2
Friday, September 4
Baltimore to Pittsburgh is 4.2h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 6:40 PM ET — Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Los Angeles Angels at PNC Park tonight — Drone Show; Negro League Legacy Night tonight. World's Largest Glacial Pothole is worth 15 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 10
Pittsburgh, PA · Fri Sep 4
PNC Park
Pittsburgh Pirates · MLB
6:40 PM ET
vs. Los Angeles Angels
Must Eat at the Park
Primanti Brothers Sandwich
Pittsburgh's most iconic food in its natural habitat. Meat and cheese on airy Italian bread loaded with tomatoes, coleslaw, and french fries inside the sandwich. Designed for Pittsburgh truckers in 1933.
Local Beer
Fat Head's Bullpen Tap Bar
Eight rotating taps positioned directly above the Pirates bullpen. The only bar in baseball where you can watch a reliever warm up while drinking a Head Hunter IPA. Arrive before first pitch for a seat at the rail.
Fat Head's Brewery · North Olmsted, OH
Maz, Clemente, and the Most Beautiful View in Baseball
Pilgrim Notes · Pittsburgh Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Overnight
Check-inFri, Sep 4
Check-outSat, Sep 5
First pitch tomorrow at 6:45 PM ET. Leave by 1:06 PM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by1:06 PM
Drive to Washington241 mi · 4.2h
Game time6:45 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Pittsburgh, PA
Before You Hit the Road
Pamela's Diner
Multiple locations. Obama ordered here on the campaign trail. The hotcakes are thin, buttery, perfect.
Crepe-style hotcakes
Worth the Detour · +15 min
The Graffiti Warehouse
A massive legal graffiti mural wall in Baltimore's Station North arts district. Blocks of paint on brick that changes constantly. The city funded it. The art never stops.
Baltimore, MD · 15 min detourPittsburgh → Washington
241 mi · 4.2h · easy leg
DAY 9
Friday, September 11
First pitch at 6:45 PM ET — Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Angels at Nationals Park tonight. The Graffiti Warehouse is worth 15 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 10
Washington, DC · Fri Sep 11
Nationals Park
Washington Nationals · MLB
6:45 PM ET
vs. Los Angeles Angels
Must Eat at the Park
Ben's Chili Bowl Half-Smoke
A half-smoke sausage with Ben's chili, mustard, and onions. Ben's Chili Bowl has been a DC institution since 1958.
Local Beer
DC Brau Penn Quarter Porter
DC's first packaged craft brewery since Prohibition. The porter is excellent.
DC Brau Brewing
Baseball Returns to Washington After 33 Years
Pilgrim Notes · Washington Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Washington, DC
Washington Overnight
Check-inFri, Sep 11
Check-outSat, Sep 12
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 Minneapolis1169 mi · 20.1h
Game time2:10 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Washington overnight.
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Big Metal Dragon
A fire-breathing steel sculpture rises from a field beside Route 20 near East Bethany. Private property, but clearly visible from the road and absolutely baffling.
East Bethany, NY · 10 min detourWashington → Minneapolis
1169 mi · 20.1h · long haul
DAY 11
Sunday, September 13
It's a 20.1h haul from Washington — plan to break this into two days or drive the night before. First pitch at 2:10 PM ET — Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Guardians at Target Field today — Armed Forces Appreciation today. Big Metal Dragon is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 10
Minneapolis, MN · Sun Sep 13
Target Field
Minnesota Twins · MLB
2:10 PM ET
vs. Cleveland Guardians
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-inSun, Sep 13
Check-outMon, Sep 14
First pitch tomorrow at 6:40 PM ET. Leave by Previous evening — overnight drive recommended.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave byPrevious evening — overnight drive recommended
Drive to Cleveland678 mi · 11.7h
Game time6:40 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
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 detourMinneapolis → Cleveland
678 mi · 11.7h · long haul
DAY 13
Tuesday, September 15
It's a 11.7h haul from Minneapolis — plan to break this into two days or drive the night before. First pitch at 6:40 PM ET — Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field tonight. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 05 of 10
Cleveland, OH · Tue Sep 15
Progressive Field
Cleveland Guardians · MLB
6:40 PM ET
vs. Chicago White Sox
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
Stay Tonight · Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Overnight
Check-inTue, Sep 15
Check-outWed, Sep 16
First pitch tomorrow at 3:07 PM ET. Leave by 9:10 AM.
Wed Morning
When to Depart
Leave by9:10 AM
Drive to Toronto258 mi · 4.5h
Game time3:07 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Cleveland, OH
Before You Hit the Road
West Side Market
Ohio City since 1912. The greatest market hall in the Midwest. Over 100 vendors — pierogi, kielbasa, fresh bread. Grab breakfast from multiple stalls and eat in the main hall. A Cleveland essential.
Fresh pierogi + kielbasa + bread from multiple stalls
Open 7 AM Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Culvert Road — The Road Under the Erie Canal
The only road in the world that passes underneath the Erie Canal. Beep your horn inside the tunnel. It's tradition, and the echo makes it worth it.
Medina, NY · 10 min detourCleveland → Toronto
258 mi · 4.5h · easy leg
DAY 14
Wednesday, September 16
Cleveland to Toronto is 4.5h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 3:07 PM ET — Toronto Blue Jays vs. Detroit Tigers at Rogers Centre today — Work From Dome (3:07 PM game) today. Culvert Road — The Road Under the Erie Canal is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 06 of 10
Toronto, ON · Wed Sep 16
Rogers Centre
Toronto Blue Jays · MLB
3:07 PM ET
vs. Detroit Tigers
Must Eat at the Park
Peameal Bacon Sandwich
Cornmeal-crusted back bacon on a kaiser roll — the classic Toronto sandwich. Not available south of the border.
Local Beer
Steam Whistle Pilsner
Toronto's most visible craft brewery, brewed in a historic railway roundhouse.
Steam Whistle Brewing
Stay Tonight · Toronto, ON
Toronto Overnight
Check-inWed, Sep 16
Check-outThu, Sep 17
First pitch tomorrow at 6:40 PM ET. Leave by 8:18 AM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by8:18 AM
Drive to Cincinnati514 mi · 8.9h
Game time6:40 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Toronto overnight.
Breakfast Stop · Toronto, ON
Before You Hit the Road
Frans Restaurant
Toronto diner institution since 1940. Open 24 hours. The full Canadian breakfast with back bacon, eggs, toast, and homefries is the essential pre-Blue Jays morning. Multiple downtown locations.
Full Canadian breakfast + coffee
Open 24 hours
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 detourToronto → Cincinnati
514 mi · 8.9h · long haul
DAY 16
Friday, September 18
It's a 8.9h haul from Toronto — plan to break this into two days or drive the night before. First pitch at 6:40 PM ET — Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park tonight — Fireworks Friday tonight. Field of Corn (Cornhenge) is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 07 of 10
Cincinnati, OH · Fri Sep 18
Great American Ball Park
Cincinnati Reds · MLB
6:40 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-inFri, Sep 18
Check-outSat, Sep 19
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 12:44 PM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:44 PM
Drive to Chicago315 mi · 5.4h
Game time7:40 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 20
Tuesday, September 22
First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field tonight. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 08 of 10
Chicago, IL · Tue Sep 22
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Miami Marlins
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, Sep 22
Check-outWed, Sep 23
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
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 23
Friday, September 25
First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Chicago White Sox vs. Colorado Rockies at Guaranteed Rate Field tonight — Hispanic Heritage Night + Los White Sox Poncho tonight. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 09 of 10
Chicago, IL · Fri Sep 25
Guaranteed Rate Field
Chicago White Sox · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Colorado Rockies
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, Sep 25
Check-outSat, Sep 26
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 344, Kenosha
Midway Fuel-Up
Brat Stop
Kenosha, WI on I-94. The Wisconsin welcome mat between Chicago and Milwaukee. Beer-soaked bratwurst grilled and served with sauerkraut and Stadium Sauce. The German heritage of the I-94 corridor in sandwich form.
Bratwurst + sauerkraut + Stadium Sauce
Open 11 AM–10 PM 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 → Milwaukee
106 mi · 1.8h · easy leg
DAY 24
Saturday, September 26
A short 1.8h drive from Chicago sets up the day. First pitch at 7:10 PM ET — Milwaukee Brewers vs. St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field tonight — City Connect Tumbler tonight. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 10 of 10
Milwaukee, WI · Sat Sep 26
American Family Field
Milwaukee Brewers · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. St. Louis Cardinals
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 Hello Kitty® Night at Wrigley Field.
• Hello Kitty® Night at Wrigley Field
• Fireworks Friday at Great American Ball Park
• Drone Show; Negro League Legacy Night at PNC Park
• Bobblehead Giveaway (TBD) at Great American Ball Park
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 10 games (avg $46)$460
Hotels · 23 nights (avg $155)$3,565
Fuel · 3530 mi at $0.18/mi$635
Ballpark food & drinks$500
Total Estimate$5,160
* 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 ...