Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upSt. Louis · Aug 11
Drop offMilwaukee · Aug 18
Total miles1355 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · St. Louis, MO
Hotel
St. Louis Overnight
Check-inTue, Aug 11
Check-outWed, Aug 12
First pitch7:45 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Tuesday, August 11
First pitch at 7:45 PM ET — St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies at Busch Stadium tonight. Don't leave without St. Louis-Style Toasted Ravioli.
Stop 01 of 05
St. Louis, MO · Tue Aug 11
Busch Stadium
St. Louis Cardinals · MLB
7:45 PM ET
vs. Philadelphia Phillies
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, Aug 11
Check-outWed, Aug 12
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 Pittsburgh696 mi · 12h
Game time6:40 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in St. Louis overnight.
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 · +10 min
Hug Me Jesus (Lux Mundi)
A 62-foot statue of Jesus with outstretched arms looms over I-75 near Monroe. The original 'Touchdown Jesus' was struck by lightning in 2010. This is the replacement. It was not struck by lightning.
Monroe, OH · 10 min detourSt. Louis → Pittsburgh
696 mi · 12h · long haul
DAY 4
Friday, August 14
First pitch at 6:40 PM ET — Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Boston Red Sox at PNC Park tonight. Hug Me Jesus (Lux Mundi) is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 05
Pittsburgh, PA · Fri Aug 14
PNC Park
Pittsburgh Pirates · MLB
6:40 PM ET
vs. Boston Red Sox
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-inFri, Aug 14
Check-outSat, Aug 15
First pitch tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET. Leave by 1:15 PM.
Sat Morning
When to Depart
Leave by1:15 PM
Drive to Cleveland256 mi · 4.4h
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
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Zanesville Y-Bridge Ohio
The only Y-shaped bridge in the world. Cross it from any side, end up where you started.
Zanesville, OH · 10 min detourPittsburgh → Cleveland
256 mi · 4.4h · easy leg
DAY 5
Saturday, August 15
Pittsburgh to Cleveland is 4.4h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 7:10 PM ET — Cleveland Guardians vs. San Diego Padres at Progressive Field tonight — City Connect Sling Bag tonight. Zanesville Y-Bridge Ohio is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 05
Cleveland, OH · Sat Aug 15
Progressive Field
Cleveland Guardians · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. San Diego Padres
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, Aug 15
Check-outSun, Aug 16
First pitch tomorrow at 3:10 PM ET. Leave by 8:31 AM.
Sun Morning
When to Depart
Leave by8:31 AM
Drive to Chicago299 mi · 5.2h
Game time3:10 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
299 mi · 5.2h · regional run
DAY 6
Sunday, August 16
Cleveland to Chicago is 5.2h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 3:10 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field today. Tower of VW Bugs is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 05
Chicago, IL · Sun Aug 16
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
3:10 PM ET
vs. St. Louis Cardinals
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, Aug 16
Check-outMon, Aug 17
First pitch tomorrow at 7:40 PM ET. Leave by 4:22 PM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by4:22 PM
Drive to Milwaukee104 mi · 1.8h
Game time7:40 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
Lunch Stop · I-94 N Exit 342
Midway Fuel-Up
Frank's Diner
Classic Wisconsin diner on I-94 northbound. The Locomotive has been fueling road trippers for decades.
Locomotive Burger — everything on it
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 → Milwaukee
104 mi · 1.8h · easy leg
DAY 8
Tuesday, August 18
A short 1.8h drive from Chicago sets up the day. First pitch at 7:40 PM ET — Milwaukee Brewers vs. Seattle Mariners at American Family Field tonight — Wisconsin Artist Series Hat (Ric Stultz / Racine) tonight. Gemini Giant Wilmington is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 05 of 05
Milwaukee, WI · Tue Aug 18
American Family Field
Milwaukee Brewers · MLB
7:40 PM ET
vs. Seattle Mariners
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
Shift 2 days to catch Replica Jersey Giveaway at Busch Stadium.
• Replica Jersey Giveaway at Busch Stadium
• City Connect Sling Bag at Progressive Field
• Wisconsin Artist Series Hat (Ric Stultz / Racine) at American Family Field
• Soccer Night at PNC Park
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 5 games (avg $46)$230
Hotels · 7 nights (avg $155)$1,085
Fuel · 1355 mi at $0.18/mi$244
Ballpark food & drinks$250
Total Estimate$1,809
* 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 ...