Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upChicago · Jun 2
Drop offCincinnati · Jul 3
Total miles2744 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Chicago, IL
Hotel
Chicago Overnight
Check-inTue, Jun 2
Check-outWed, Jun 3
First pitch8:05 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Tuesday, June 2
First pitch at 8:05 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. Athletics at Wrigley Field tonight — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Cap tonight.
Stop 01 of 08
Chicago, IL · Tue Jun 2
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
8:05 PM ET
vs. Athletics
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-inTue, Jun 2
Check-outWed, Jun 3
First pitch tomorrow at 7:45 PM ET. Leave by 12:39 PM.
Wed Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:39 PM
Drive to St. Louis325 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
325 mi · 5.6h · regional run
DAY 2
Wednesday, June 3
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. Texas Rangers at Busch Stadium tonight. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 08
St. Louis, MO · Wed Jun 3
Busch Stadium
St. Louis Cardinals · MLB
7:45 PM ET
vs. Texas Rangers
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-inWed, Jun 3
Check-outThu, Jun 4
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 8
Tuesday, June 9
First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Kansas City Royals vs. Texas Rangers at Kauffman Stadium tonight. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard Route 66 is worth 15 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 08
Kansas City, MO · Tue Jun 9
Kauffman Stadium
Kansas City Royals · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Texas Rangers
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
Stay Tonight · Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Overnight
Check-inTue, Jun 9
Check-outWed, Jun 10
First pitch tomorrow at 8:10 PM ET. Leave by 9:44 AM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by9:44 AM
Drive to Minneapolis518 mi · 8.9h
Game time8:10 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Kansas City overnight.
Breakfast Stop · Kansas City, MO
Before You Hit the Road
Town Topic Hamburgers
Midnight diner on Broadway since 1937. Open 24 hours. The burger is the point but the breakfast menu has fueled Kansas City's night owls and early risers for 85 years. Order at the counter.
Eggs + hash + coffee
Open 24 hours
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Largest Ball of Twine
17,400 pounds of twine wrapped by one man for 29 years. The qualifier matters.
Darwin, MN · 10 min detourKansas City → Minneapolis
518 mi · 8.9h · long haul
DAY 11
Friday, June 12
First pitch at 8:10 PM ET — Minnesota Twins vs. St. Louis Cardinals at Target Field tonight — Pride Night tonight. Largest Ball of Twine is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 08
Minneapolis, MN · Fri Jun 12
Target Field
Minnesota Twins · MLB
8:10 PM ET
vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Must Eat at the Park
Kramarczuk's Bratwurst
Kramarczuk's, the northeast Minneapolis sausage institution since 1954, supplies the best bratwurst at any AL Central park.
Local Beer
Surly Furious IPA
Minnesota's flagship craft IPA. The Surly Tap Room at Target Field is the best brewery bar in the AL Central.
Surly Brewing
The Metrodome, the Homer Hankies, and Kirby Puckett
Pilgrim Notes · Minneapolis Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis Overnight
Check-inFri, Jun 12
Check-outSat, Jun 13
First pitch tomorrow at 6:40 PM ET. Leave by Previous evening — overnight drive recommended.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave byPrevious evening — overnight drive recommended
Drive to Detroit678 mi · 11.7h
Game time6:40 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Minneapolis overnight.
Breakfast Stop · Minneapolis, MN
Before You Hit the Road
Hells Kitchen
Downtown Minneapolis basement, open since 2002. Lemon ricotta hotcakes and house-made peanut butter are extraordinary. Dark, atmospheric, excellent coffee. Perfect before a Target Field day game.
Lemon ricotta hotcakes + house PB + espresso
Open 7 AM daily
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 detourMinneapolis → Detroit
678 mi · 11.7h · long haul
DAY 18
Friday, June 19
First pitch at 6:40 PM ET — Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park tonight — Black in Baseball Weekend + NMU Night tonight. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 05 of 08
Detroit, MI · Fri Jun 19
Comerica Park
Detroit Tigers · MLB
6:40 PM ET
vs. Chicago White Sox
Must Eat at the Park
Detroit Coney Dog
Natural-casing beef frank with beanless meat chili, mustard, and white onion. The Detroit Coney Dog.
Local Beer
Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Voted America's best beer multiple times. Available throughout Comerica Park.
Bell's Brewery
Ty Cobb, Tiger Stadium, and the Long Goodbye
Pilgrim Notes · Detroit Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Detroit, MI
Detroit Overnight
Check-inFri, Jun 19
Check-outSat, Jun 20
First pitch tomorrow at 7:45 PM ET. Leave by 12:46 PM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:46 PM
Drive to Milwaukee318 mi · 5.5h
Game time7:45 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Detroit, MI
Before You Hit the Road
Dulys Place
Springwells neighborhood since 1921. A coney island diner barely changed in 100 years. The best Coney dog in Detroit — and that is not a small claim in a city that defines itself by this dish. Opens at 4 AM.
Coney dog + coffee
Open 4 AM–3 PM daily
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 detourDetroit → Milwaukee
318 mi · 5.5h · regional run
DAY 25
Friday, June 26
First pitch at 7:45 PM ET — Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs at American Family Field tonight. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 06 of 08
Milwaukee, WI · Fri Jun 26
American Family Field
Milwaukee Brewers · MLB
7:45 PM ET
vs. Chicago Cubs
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
Stay Tonight · Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Overnight
Check-inFri, Jun 26
Check-outSat, Jun 27
First pitch tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET. Leave by 12:11 PM.
Sat Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:11 PM
Drive to Cleveland318 mi · 5.5h
Game time7:10 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Milwaukee, WI
Before You Hit the Road
Diner on the Square
Wauwatosa Square. Proper Midwestern diner breakfast done exactly right. German-influenced egg dishes reflect Milwaukee's heritage. 15 minutes from American Family Field — go before a Brewers day game.
German farmer's breakfast + coffee
Open 7 AM daily
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 detourMilwaukee → Cleveland
318 mi · 5.5h · regional run
DAY 26
Saturday, June 27
Milwaukee to Cleveland is 5.5h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 7:10 PM ET — Cleveland Guardians vs. Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field tonight — Tanner Bibee City Connect Jersey Replica tonight. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 07 of 08
Cleveland, OH · Sat Jun 27
Progressive Field
Cleveland Guardians · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. Seattle Mariners
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 27
Check-outSun, Jun 28
First pitch tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET. Leave by 12:34 PM.
Fri Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:34 PM
Drive to Cincinnati296 mi · 5.1h
Game time7:10 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
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 32
Friday, July 3
First pitch at 7:10 PM ET — Cincinnati Reds vs. Baltimore Orioles at Great American Ball Park tonight — Fireworks Friday tonight. Field of Corn (Cornhenge) is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 08 of 08
Cincinnati, OH · Fri Jul 3
Great American Ball Park
Cincinnati Reds · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. Baltimore Orioles
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
Shift 2 days to catch Prince Night at Target Field.
• Prince Night at Target Field
• Puerto Rican Heritage Jersey at Wrigley Field
• Pop Star Night + University of Minnesota Night + Golf Night at Target Field
• Fireworks Friday at Great American Ball Park
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 8 games (avg $46)$368
Hotels · 31 nights (avg $155)$4,805
Fuel · 2744 mi at $0.18/mi$494
Ballpark food & drinks$400
Total Estimate$6,067
* 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 ...