Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upCleveland · Aug 5
Drop offChicago · Aug 7
Total miles609 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Cleveland, OH
Hotel
Cleveland Overnight
Check-inWed, Aug 5
Check-outThu, Aug 6
First pitch6:40 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Wednesday, August 5
First pitch at 6:40 PM ET — Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Mets at Progressive Field tonight — 125th Anniversary Tumbler Cup tonight.
Stop 01 of 03
Cleveland, OH · Wed Aug 5
Progressive Field
Cleveland Guardians · MLB
6:40 PM ET
vs. New York Mets
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-inWed, Aug 5
Check-outThu, Aug 6
First pitch tomorrow at 12:40 PM ET. Leave by 6:04 AM.
Thu Morning
When to Depart
Leave by6:04 AM
Drive to Cincinnati296 mi · 5.1h
Game time12:40 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
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 detourCleveland → Cincinnati
296 mi · 5.1h · regional run
DAY 2
Thursday, August 6
Cleveland to Cincinnati is 5.1h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 12:40 PM ET — Cincinnati Reds vs. Athletics at Great American Ball Park today. Field of Corn (Cornhenge) is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 03
Cincinnati, OH · Thu Aug 6
Great American Ball Park
Cincinnati Reds · MLB
12:40 PM ET
vs. Athletics
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, Aug 6
Check-outFri, Aug 7
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 12:46 PM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:46 PM
Drive to Chicago313 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
313 mi · 5.4h · regional run
DAY 3
Friday, August 7
Cincinnati to Chicago is 5.4h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field tonight. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 03
Chicago, IL · Fri Aug 7
Guaranteed Rate Field
Chicago White Sox · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Cleveland Guardians
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
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 3 games (avg $46)$138
Hotels · 2 nights (avg $155)$310
Fuel · 609 mi at $0.18/mi$110
Ballpark food & drinks$150
Total Estimate$708
* 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 ...