Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upChicago · Jun 21
Drop offKansas City · Jun 30
Total miles618 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Chicago, IL
Hotel
Chicago Overnight
Check-inSun, Jun 21
Check-outMon, Jun 22
First pitch2:20 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Sunday, June 21
First pitch at 2:20 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. Toronto Blue Jays at Wrigley Field today — Father's Day T-Shirt; Youth Baseball & Softball Sunglasses today.
Stop 01 of 04
Chicago, IL · Sun Jun 21
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
2:20 PM ET
vs. Toronto Blue Jays
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, Jun 21
Check-outMon, Jun 22
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 6:07 PM.
Mon 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
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
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 2
Monday, June 22
First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field tonight. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 04
Chicago, IL · Mon Jun 22
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
Stay Tonight · Chicago, IL
Chicago Overnight
Check-inMon, Jun 22
Check-outTue, Jun 23
First pitch tomorrow at 7:45 PM ET. Leave by 12:40 PM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:40 PM
Drive to St. Louis324 mi · 5.6h
Game time7:45 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
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 → St. Louis
324 mi · 5.6h · regional run
DAY 3
Tuesday, June 23
Chicago to St. Louis is 5.6h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 7:45 PM ET — St. Louis Cardinals vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Busch Stadium tonight. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 04
St. Louis, MO · Tue Jun 23
Busch Stadium
St. Louis Cardinals · MLB
7:45 PM ET
vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Must Eat at the Park
St. Louis-Style Toasted Ravioli
Pasta filled with meat, breaded and deep-fried, served with marinara dipping sauce — a St. Louis original.
Local Beer
Busch Beer
The stadium is literally named for this beer. Historically appropriate in every way.
Anheuser-Busch
Musial, Gibson, and the Cardinal Way
Pilgrim Notes · St. Louis Baseball History
Stay Tonight · St. Louis, MO
St. Louis Overnight
Check-inTue, Jun 23
Check-outWed, Jun 24
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 1:09 PM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by1:09 PM
Drive to Kansas City291 mi · 5h
Game time7:40 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · St. Louis, MO
Before You Hit the Road
Goody Goody Diner
St. Louis breakfast institution. Pancakes and biscuits-and-gravy have anchored pre-Cardinals mornings for decades. No-nonsense diner that has stayed exactly itself while the city changed around it.
Pancakes + bacon + coffee
Open 7 AM–2 PM daily
Worth the Detour · +15 min
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard Route 66
The Route 66 frozen custard stand held upside-down to prove its thickness since 1941.
St. Louis, MO · 15 min detourSt. Louis → Kansas City
291 mi · 5h · regional run
DAY 10
Tuesday, June 30
First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Kansas City Royals vs. Tampa Bay Rays at Kauffman Stadium tonight. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard Route 66 is worth 15 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 04
Kansas City, MO · Tue Jun 30
Kauffman Stadium
Kansas City Royals · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Must Eat at the Park
KC Burnt Ends
Kansas City-style burnt ends — the crispy, caramelized points of a smoked brisket. The defining food of KC BBQ.
Local Beer
Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat
Kansas City's defining craft brewery. The Unfiltered Wheat is a KC staple at the K.
Boulevard Brewing
George Brett and the Pine Tar Game
Pilgrim Notes · Kansas City Baseball History
Shift 2 days to catch Backyard Sports Day at Rate Field.
• Backyard Sports Day at Rate Field
• America's 250th Homage T-Shirt at Rate Field
• University of Notre Dame / Indiana / Purdue Caps at Wrigley Field
• University of Iowa / Michigan / Michigan State Caps at Wrigley Field
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 4 games (avg $46)$184
Hotels · 9 nights (avg $155)$1,395
Fuel · 618 mi at $0.18/mi$111
Ballpark food & drinks$200
Total Estimate$1,890
* 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 ...