FanroadtripsGames · Travel · Memories
☕
🌆 Great Lakes / Midwest

Midwest Marathon

Chicago · Detroit · Cleveland · Columbus · Indianapolis · Milwaukee

The Great Lakes cities sit within easy driving distance of each other, and Chicago alone gives you five major teams. Loop through Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Columbus, Cleveland and Detroit and you can put together a marathon week of games across all four leagues.

⚡ Build this trip (Chicago → Detroit)🗓 Check the schedule

🚗 On the road

~1,086 mi end to end
  1. Chicago→Detroit· ~299 mi driving · 7h 7m
  2. Detroit→Cleveland· ~114 mi driving · 2h 43m
  3. Cleveland→Columbus· ~158 mi driving · 3h 46m
  4. Columbus→Indianapolis· ~210 mi driving · 5h
  5. Indianapolis→Milwaukee· ~305 mi driving · 7h 16m

Approximate driving distances between metros — order and dates are yours to set. Game schedules decide the exact route.

🗺️ The route, city by city

Chicago

Don't miss

  • Art Institute of Chicago — World-class; the Impressionists alone are worth it.
  • Deep-dish + Italian beef — Lou Malnati's / Pequod's; then a dipped beef.
  • Lakefront Trail — 18 miles along Lake Michigan.
Full Chicago guide →🏠 Where to stay

Columbus

Don't miss

  • Columbus Museum of Art — Approachable and well-curated.
  • North Market — Historic food hall.
  • The Scioto Mile — Riverfront parks downtown.
Full Columbus guide →🏠 Where to stay

Detroit

Don't miss

  • Detroit Institute of Arts — The Diego Rivera Court is stunning.
  • Coney dogs — American vs. Lafayette — settle it yourself.
  • The Detroit RiverWalk — Miles of riverfront to Belle Isle.
Full Detroit guide →🏠 Where to stay

Cleveland

Don't miss

  • Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — On the lakefront.
  • West Side Market — Historic 100-year-old food hall.
  • Cleveland Metroparks — The 'Emerald Necklace' of trails.
Full Cleveland guide →🏠 Where to stay

Indiana

Don't miss

  • Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art) — Art plus huge gardens.
  • Mass Ave — Massachusetts Avenue's restaurant row.
  • The Canal Walk — White River State Park downtown.
Full Indianapolis guide →🏠 Where to stay

Milwaukee

Don't miss

  • Milwaukee Art Museum — The Calatrava 'wings' on the lake.
  • Friday fish fry — A Wisconsin institution.
  • The lakefront & Lake Park — Lake Michigan on your doorstep.
Full Milwaukee guide →🏠 Where to stay

Indianapolis

Don't miss

  • Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art) — Art plus huge gardens.
  • Mass Ave — Massachusetts Avenue's restaurant row.
  • The Canal Walk — White River State Park downtown.
Full Indianapolis guide →🏠 Where to stay

Ohio State

Don't miss

  • Columbus Museum of Art — Approachable and well-curated.
  • North Market — Historic food hall.
  • The Scioto Mile — Riverfront parks downtown.
Full Columbus guide →🏠 Where to stay

✨ Why this trip

  • ›Chicago = Bulls, Blackhawks, Bears, Cubs, White Sox
  • ›Compact interstate loop (I-94 / I-90 / I-75)
  • ›Classic buildings: United Center, Little Caesars Arena

🧭 More road trips

🌴 California Sports Road Trip
LA to the Bay — the deepest sports state in America
🤠 The Texas Triangle
Dallas · Houston · San Antonio — everything's bigger
🗽 I-95 Northeast Corridor
Boston to DC — the densest run of arenas anywhere
🏒 Alberta Hockey Road Trip
Oilers & Flames — the Battle of Alberta, both barns
← All road trips