We are almost done with my least favorite season of the year: the off season. Pitchers and catchers have reported. Opening Day is right around the corner. What better way to spend the next month or so than planning the ultimate baseball road trip?
I started by using data science tools to find the shortest path to all 30 stadiums. Then I made some adjustments in order to accommodate the schedules and to attempt to keep any single trip to under 1,000 miles. There are three trips that are over 1000 miles: Houston to Tampa (1,001 miles), Kansas City to Denver (1,303 miles), and Phoenix to Arlington (1,047 miles).
The trip starts in Houston on Opening Day and ends in Arlington on July 24. The total distance is 10,845 miles. There is plenty of time to get between cities, and many times there will be enough time to explore the city before leaving for the next one. This itinerary gets us to Los Angeles in time for the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.
The trip will be broken down into four legs with an article previewing each leg. Unfortunately, I will not actually be making this trip. However, if you have the means and the time off, this could be the ultimate road trip for any baseball fan.
First Leg (7 stadiums, 2,809 miles)
The first leg starts on Opening Day, March 26, in Houston, home of the latest scandal. Next up is Tampa, followed by Miami, Atlanta, and Cincinnati. Unfortunately, the Indians are out of town, so the next stop is Pittsburgh before traveling back to Cleveland.
Second Leg (7 stadiums, 1,580 miles)
From Cleveland, the second leg travels to the east coast. Here is another spot where the schedule took precedence over a more efficient route. This leg goes to Philadelphia, down to Washington and Baltimore, then back up to New York for the Yankees and Mets before heading to Boston and finishing in Toronto.
Third Leg (7 Stadiums, 1,742 miles)
The third leg starts by traveling from Toronto to Detroit, then to Chicago to see the Cubs and White Sox. Next up is Milwaukee and Minnesota. This leg finishes off in Missouri, first in St. Louis, then in Kansas City.
Fourth Leg (9 cities, 4,714 miles)
The final leg heads out west, starting in Denver. Next up is the longest drive of the trip, 1,303 miles to Seattle. Then it’s down the west coast, hitting Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles (for the Angels, All-Star Game, and Dodgers), and San Diego. From there, it’s off to Phoenix before taking on the second longest drive, 1,047 miles to Arlington to finish the Ultimate Road Trip.
And there you have it: 30 stadiums, 31 games, and 10,845 miles in 120 days. The Ultimate Baseball Roadtrip.