Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upPhiladelphia · Jul 21
Drop offCincinnati · Jul 27
Total miles717 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Philadelphia, PA
Hotel
Philadelphia Overnight
Check-inTue, Jul 21
Check-outWed, Jul 22
First pitch6:40 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Tuesday, July 21
First pitch at 6:40 PM ET — Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park tonight. Don't leave without Tony Luke's Cheesesteak.
Stop 01 of 05
Philadelphia, PA · Tue Jul 21
Citizens Bank Park
Philadelphia Phillies · MLB
6:40 PM ET
vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Must Eat at the Park
Tony Luke's Cheesesteak
The definitive Philly cheesesteak at the ballpark. Chopped ribeye, American or Whiz, on a seeded Amoroso roll.
Local Beer
Yards Brawler
Yards, the iconic Philadelphia craft brewery. Brawler is a pugilist-style mild ale.
Yards Brewing
Broad Street Bullies and the Best Fans in Sports (Maybe)
Pilgrim Notes · Philadelphia Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Overnight
Check-inTue, Jul 21
Check-outWed, Jul 22
First pitch tomorrow at 7:05 PM ET. Leave by 3:40 PM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by3:40 PM
Drive to Baltimore111 mi · 1.9h
Game time7:05 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Philadelphia, PA
Before You Hit the Road
Down Home Diner
Reading Terminal Market since 1987. Jack McDavid's Southern-inspired diner inside the greatest indoor market in America. Scrapple, eggs, grits — the Philadelphia breakfast you're supposed to eat.
Scrapple + eggs + grits
Open 7 AM Mon–Sat
Lunch Stop · US-50 E off I-97, Downtown Annapolis
Midway Fuel-Up
Chick and Ruth's Delly
State Circle, Annapolis since 1965. Every morning the staff and customers recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The sandwiches are named after Maryland governors and local legends. A perfectly weird American institution.
Governor's club sandwich + milkshake
Open 6:30 AM–11:30 PM daily
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 detourPhiladelphia → Baltimore
111 mi · 1.9h · easy leg
DAY 4
Friday, July 24
First pitch at 7:05 PM ET — Baltimore Orioles vs. Atlanta Braves at Oriole Park at Camden Yards tonight — Birdland Hawaiian Shirt tonight. The Graffiti Warehouse is worth 15 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 05
Baltimore, MD · Fri Jul 24
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Baltimore Orioles · MLB
7:05 PM ET
vs. Atlanta Braves
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-inFri, Jul 24
Check-outSat, Jul 25
First pitch tomorrow at 4:05 PM ET. Leave by 1:49 PM.
Sat Morning
When to Depart
Leave by1:49 PM
Drive to Washington44 mi · 0.8h
Game time4:05 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
Lunch Stop · US-1, near University of Maryland
Midway Fuel-Up
Ledo Restaurant
College Park, MD since 1955. Ledo pizza — thick square slices with a buttery, almost cookie-like crust — is a Maryland institution. Completely unlike anything else called pizza and beloved by everyone who grew up near DC.
Square slice + pitcher of soda
Open 11 AM daily
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 detourBaltimore → Washington
44 mi · 0.8h · easy leg
DAY 5
Saturday, July 25
A short 0.8h drive from Baltimore sets up the day. First pitch at 4:05 PM ET — Washington Nationals vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park today — Harry Potter™ Day: Tank Top today. The Graffiti Warehouse is worth 15 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 05
Washington, DC · Sat Jul 25
Nationals Park
Washington Nationals · MLB
4:05 PM ET
vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
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-inSat, Jul 25
Check-outSun, Jul 26
First pitch tomorrow at 1:35 PM ET. Leave by 7:56 AM.
Sun Morning
When to Depart
Leave by7:56 AM
Drive to Pittsburgh241 mi · 4.2h
Game time1:35 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
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 detourWashington → Pittsburgh
241 mi · 4.2h · easy leg
DAY 6
Sunday, July 26
Washington to Pittsburgh is 4.2h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 1:35 PM ET — Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs at PNC Park today — Yinzerpalooza Weekend: Kids Daniel Tiger Plush (14 & under) today. The Graffiti Warehouse is worth 15 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 05
Pittsburgh, PA · Sun Jul 26
PNC Park
Pittsburgh Pirates · MLB
1:35 PM ET
vs. Chicago Cubs
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-inSun, Jul 26
Check-outMon, Jul 27
First pitch tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET. Leave by 12:08 PM.
Mon Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:08 PM
Drive to Cincinnati321 mi · 5.5h
Game time7:10 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
Lunch Stop · I-77 S to OH-7, Marietta Downtown
Midway Fuel-Up
Marietta Soda Luncheonette
Downtown Marietta, OH — the oldest settlement in the Northwest Territory, founded 1788. The Ohio River at your feet, a proper diner lunch, and a short walk to the historic Mound Cemetery. Perfect midpoint on the Pittsburgh–Cincinnati drive.
Daily soup + sandwich + soda fountain
Open 11 AM–3 PM 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 detourPittsburgh → Cincinnati
321 mi · 5.5h · regional run
DAY 7
Monday, July 27
Pittsburgh to Cincinnati is 5.5h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 7:10 PM ET — Cincinnati Reds vs. Cleveland Guardians at Great American Ball Park tonight. Field of Corn (Cornhenge) is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 05 of 05
Cincinnati, OH · Mon Jul 27
Great American Ball Park
Cincinnati Reds · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. Cleveland Guardians
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
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 5 games (avg $46)$230
Hotels · 6 nights (avg $155)$930
Fuel · 717 mi at $0.18/mi$129
Ballpark food & drinks$250
Total Estimate$1,539
* 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 ...