Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upCincinnati · Jun 12
Drop offChicago · Jun 15
Total miles597 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Cincinnati, OH
Hotel
Cincinnati Overnight
Check-inFri, Jun 12
Check-outSat, Jun 13
First pitch7:15 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Friday, June 12
First pitch at 7:15 PM ET — Cincinnati Reds vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Great American Ball Park tonight. Don't leave without Cincinnati Chili Dog (Skyline).
Stop 01 of 04
Cincinnati, OH · Fri Jun 12
Great American Ball Park
Cincinnati Reds · MLB
7:15 PM ET
vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
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, Jun 12
Check-outSat, Jun 13
First pitch tomorrow at 4:10 PM ET. Leave by 9:34 AM.
Sat Morning
When to Depart
Leave by9:34 AM
Drive to Cleveland296 mi · 5.1h
Game time4:10 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, June 13
Cincinnati to Cleveland is 5.1h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 4:10 PM ET — Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field today — Gavin Williams Bobblehead today. Field of Corn (Cornhenge) is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 04
Cleveland, OH · Sat Jun 13
Progressive Field
Cleveland Guardians · MLB
4:10 PM ET
vs. Detroit Tigers
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, Jun 13
Check-outSun, Jun 14
First pitch tomorrow at 2:10 PM ET. Leave by 7:32 AM.
Sun Morning
When to Depart
Leave by7:32 AM
Drive to Chicago298 mi · 5.1h
Game time2:10 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
298 mi · 5.1h · regional run
DAY 3
Sunday, June 14
Cleveland to Chicago is 5.1h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 2:10 PM ET — Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Guaranteed Rate Field today — Hello Kitty Day today. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 04
Chicago, IL · Sun Jun 14
Guaranteed Rate Field
Chicago White Sox · MLB
2:10 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-inSun, Jun 14
Check-outMon, Jun 15
First pitch tomorrow at 8:05 PM ET. Leave by 6:32 PM.
Mon Morning
When to Depart
Leave by6:32 PM
Drive to Chicago3 mi · 0.1h
Game time8:05 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 4
Monday, June 15
First pitch at 8:05 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field tonight. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 04
Chicago, IL · Mon Jun 15
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
8:05 PM ET
vs. Colorado Rockies
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
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 4 games (avg $46)$184
Hotels · 3 nights (avg $155)$465
Fuel · 597 mi at $0.18/mi$107
Ballpark food & drinks$200
Total Estimate$956
* 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 ...