Milwaukee, Wisconsin

General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)

13 miles/20 minutes to American Family Field

WHERE TO STAY?   Hotels Near American Family Field (within 5 miles)

Unlimited budget

Iron Horse Hotel

Brew House Inn & Suites

Ambassador Hotel – Milwaukee

Moderate budget

Hampton Inn and Suites – Milwaukee West

Doubletree Hotel - Milwaukee City Center

Hilton – Milwaukee City Center

Best Western – Milwaukee West

Fairfield Inn & Suites Milwaukee Downtown

Chaser budget traveler

Sleep Inn & Suites Airport

Extended Stay America - Milwaukee Wauwatosa

Ballpark Chasers Tip: the only hotel within walking distance to American Family Field is the Best Western (Milwaukee West). If you prefer to avoid parking fees, this hotel is the way to go.

WHERE TO PARK?

The Brewers conveniently offer several large parking lots surrounding American Family Field. When purchasing your game tickets online, look to pre-pay for parking as well. Otherwise, you can purchase an advanced parking pass over the phone by calling 414-902-4000.  Make sure to purchase a pass seven days in advance of the game to lock in the discount pricing. Advance parking ranges from $12 to $19 depending on the distance to the ballpark. Same-day pricing can range from $15-$25 on weekdays and $20-$30 for weekends. 

Ballpark Chasers Tip: because the Brewers parking lot tends to be a nightmare after each home game, we suggest to use a restaurant shuttle. Kelly's Bleachers, Dugout 54, Long Wong's, Rounding Third, McGinn's, Steve's on Bluemound, Fiesta Garibaldi and Derry Hegarty's Pub all offer free shuttles to and from each Brewer game for their customers.

WHERE TO EAT?

If you enjoy a sit-down option with a larger menu, Ballpark Chasers recommends eating at Kelly’s Bleachers and Dugout 54. Both offer a free shuttle for customers to American Family Field before and after each home game. Miss Katie’s Diner, a local favorite is just a few miles away and another local favorite. This mom-and-pop 60’s style diner serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and will make you want to go back for all three meals. We recommend trying their omelets, french toast, pancakes, chicken wings, burgers, open face turkey sandwich, patty melt, chili, meatloaf, BBQ ribs or any of their homemade soups. Did we miss anything? If so, we recommend those items too!

Although it’s tough to beat Katie’s ribs, we think we have found a Milwaukee restaurant that gives her good competition. Saz’s, located about two miles from American Family Field, has been serving “award winning ribs” and steaks for over 30 years. Saz’s is so good that they even have their own line of signature sauces in grocery stores across the country.

Ballpark Chasers Favorite Bar - none. We recommend tailgating! 

With the layout of American Family Field and its centralized parking spaces surrounding the stadium, it isn’t practical to park and walk to a restaurant. However, American Family Field has one of the best and liveliest tailgating scenes in all of Major League Baseball and we highly suggest walking through the parking lot to soak up the ambiance.

Once inside American Family Field, head over to left field to grab a bite at Friday’s Front Row Sports Grill. Friday’s serves your traditional American cuisine while providing a great view of the field. Other worthy ballpark options include brats, Italian sausages and Polish sausages. Come on now, you can’t leave American Family Field without trying one or more of their staple ballpark sausages. Our favorite is "The Beast". This grilled bratwurst is sliced in half and stuffed with a grilled hot dog, both wrapped in bacon and topped with sauerkraut and grilled onions on a pretzel roll. Wow!

'Down Wisconsin Avenue Brat'. This foot-and-half-long brat is piled with fries, gravy, cheese curds and sauerkraut. On top of that comes cheese sauce, fried jalapenos, sour cream and chives. Also new and noteworthy is 'Inside the Park Nachos'. These are portable as they are on a stick and packed with taco meat and crusted with Doritos. Other favorites include Bratchos and Holey Moley Doughnut sandwiches.

New food at American Family Field

Wisconsin Ultimate Cheese Fry - craft beer-battered twister fries piled with Sargento cheddar cheese sauce, chopped applewood smoked bacon, and fried cheese curds.

Elote en vaso - a vegetarian dish of grilled corn mixed with mayo, chili powder, cilantro, lime juice, jalapeño and topped with cotija cheese and a lime wedge. 

BBQ chicken sandwich - in house barbecue slathered in Smoke Shack's BBQ sauce on a brioche bun made from a local Milwaukee bakery. 

Pork tamale - queso blanco, pico de gallo and chipotle sauce.

Pearl sugar waffle from Bernie's Chalet is a Belgian-style waffle drizzled in chocolate sauce.

WHERE TO BUY TICKETS?

Don't call the Brewers a small market team. With the combination of a great ballpark and die hard fans, American Family Field hosted just under 2.5 million fans during the 2017 season. Consequently, Ballpark Chasers recommends pre-purchasing tickets through the Brewers box office.  Despite the centralized parking lot and “no reselling tickets” signs around American Family Field, scalpers are still to be found if you need a last minute ticket.

Ballpark Chasers Fun Fact: upon entry, keep your eye out for a free copy of Brewers Gameday Magazine. Free copies are distributed at all gates to all fans around American Family Field. 

WHEN TO GO?

Milwaukee is on average the second coldest metropolitan city in the country, only behind Minneapolis St. Paul. Annual average temperatures in Milwaukee are a balmy 46 degrees; July and August are the only months to break the 80-degree mark. Although American Family Field has a retractable roof and there are no rainouts, Ballpark Chasers recommend traveling to Wisconsin from late June through August.

WHAT ELSE TO SEE?

A new fan experience at American Family Field is "The Selig Experience". This state-of-the-art exhibit opened in 2015 and quickly became the top attraction when visiting American Family Field. The Selig Experience is located on American Family Field's Loge Level in the left-field corner. Plan on about 15 minutes to experience the multimedia presentation that honors the former owner and Commissioner, Emeritus Allan H. (Bud) Selig.

Whether or not you are a fan of motorcycles, the Harley Davidson Museum is a must-see attraction while in Milwaukee. Located just 10 minutes from American Family Field, the Harley Davidson Museum celebrates the century-old Milwaukee based company. Besides seeing hundreds of old and new Harleys during your audio tour, the museum also offers a “hands-on” demonstration, memorabilia, corporate archives, an in-house restaurant and of course a gift shop. 

If your trip to American Family Field falls over a weekend, head over to the Milwaukee River to take a brewery tour followed by a boat ride on the “Milwaukee Maiden” or the “Brew City Queen II”. Customers get to choose between one of three local brew houses: Lake Front Brewery, The Ale House and Rock Bottom Brewery. The Brewery Tour and boat ride are for ages 21 and older and tickets must be pre-purchased. Ballpark Chasers recommend the Lake Front Brewery tour.

Our final stop gives you a real feel and taste of Milwaukee with a unique 19th-century architectural style. Old World Third Street, just west of the Milwaukee River, is an area of downtown that offers entertainment, dining, shopping, and an up-close look at Wisconsin’s heritage. Before you leave, make sure and stop at Mader’s for a bite to eat where the likes of President Kennedy, John Wayne, Vincent Lombardi and the entire of Brooklyn Dodgers Team once dinned. 

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame & Museum is officially open! Located in downtown Milwaukee, the Bobblehead Museum is home to the world's largest collection of Bobblehead's! Exhibits include the history of bobbleheads, making of bobbleheads and much more.  Which one is your favorite?

BALLPARK CHASERS VACATION?

American Family Field is part of the Ballpark Chasers Midwest Extravaganza. This baseball trip includes a trip to Chicago to see the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field and the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Expect a two hour drive from Milwaukee to Chicago and a 20 minute drive between Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field.   Because the Chicago ballparks are so close together, it is possible to take in a day-night doubleheader.

Just under a two hour drive is Appleton, Wisconsin, home of the Timber Rattlers. The Rattlers are the Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers and play at Fox Cities Stadium. Another Single A ballclub in Wisconsin is the Beloit Snappers, just over an hour drive from American Family Field. The Snappers play at Pohlman Field and are the affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. If you only have time to see one Minor League park, Ballpark Chasers recommend visiting Fox Cities Stadium.