Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upCincinnati · Aug 14
Drop offMilwaukee · Aug 18
Total miles699 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Cincinnati, OH
Hotel
Cincinnati Overnight
Check-inFri, Aug 14
Check-outSat, Aug 15
First pitch6:10 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Friday, August 14
First pitch at 6:10 PM ET — Cincinnati Reds vs. Miami Marlins at Great American Ball Park tonight — Fireworks Friday tonight.
Stop 01 of 04
Cincinnati, OH · Fri Aug 14
Great American Ball Park
Cincinnati Reds · MLB
6:10 PM ET
vs. Miami Marlins
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, Aug 14
Check-outSat, Aug 15
First pitch tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET. Leave by 12:34 PM.
Sat Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:34 PM
Drive to Cleveland296 mi · 5.1h
Game time7:10 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
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 2
Saturday, August 15
Cincinnati to Cleveland is 5.1h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 7:10 PM ET — Cleveland Guardians vs. San Diego Padres at Progressive Field tonight — City Connect Sling Bag tonight. Field of Corn (Cornhenge) is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 04
Cleveland, OH · Sat Aug 15
Progressive Field
Cleveland Guardians · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. San Diego Padres
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-inSat, Aug 15
Check-outSun, Aug 16
First pitch tomorrow at 3:10 PM ET. Leave by 8:31 AM.
Sun Morning
When to Depart
Leave by8:31 AM
Drive to Chicago299 mi · 5.2h
Game time3:10 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
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 detourCleveland → Chicago
299 mi · 5.2h · regional run
DAY 3
Sunday, August 16
Cleveland to Chicago is 5.2h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 3:10 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field today. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 04
Chicago, IL · Sun Aug 16
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
3:10 PM ET
vs. St. Louis Cardinals
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-inSun, Aug 16
Check-outMon, Aug 17
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 4:22 PM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by4:22 PM
Drive to Milwaukee104 mi · 1.8h
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
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
104 mi · 1.8h · easy leg
DAY 5
Tuesday, August 18
A short 1.8h drive from Chicago sets up the day. First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Milwaukee Brewers vs. Seattle Mariners at American Family Field tonight — Wisconsin Artist Series Hat (Ric Stultz / Racine) tonight. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 04
Milwaukee, WI · Tue Aug 18
American Family Field
Milwaukee Brewers · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Seattle Mariners
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 Wisconsin Artist Series Hat (Ric Stultz / Racine) at American Family Field.
• Wisconsin Artist Series Hat (Ric Stultz / Racine) at American Family Field
• Black Culture Fest (Community Night) at American Family Field
• Hank Aaron Replica Jersey at American Family Field
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 4 games (avg $46)$184
Hotels · 4 nights (avg $155)$620
Fuel · 699 mi at $0.18/mi$126
Ballpark food & drinks$200
Total Estimate$1,130
* 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 ...