Why I Made a Reds Road Trip Planner (And What's Actually In It)

Spoiler: I showed up to one too many away games with a dead phone, no restaurant plan, and a complete vibe. The planner was born from that chaos.

Let me paint you a picture.

It's game day. You're in the city, wearing your Reds gear, absolutely thriving on the energy — right up until you realize it's 5:30 PM, you have no idea where to eat before first pitch, your phone is at 12%, and you're standing on a sidewalk Googling "restaurants near stadium" like a person who definitely did not plan this trip.

That was me. Multiple times. Enthusiastically, unapologetically me.

I love Reds road trips more than I can reasonably explain. New York. DC. Cincinnati when we're playing home. There's something about following your team into someone else's ballpark — in full Reds gear, fully outnumbered, completely unbothered — that just does something for the soul.

But I kept showing up underprepared for everything that happens around the game. The hotel. The food. The getting-around-without-losing-your-mind part. The "wait, can I bring this bag in?" panic at the gate.

So I built the thing I wish I'd had.

Introducing the Away Game Weekend Planner

It's a printable trip planner designed specifically for Reds fans doing road trips — whether that's a quick overnight or a full weekend away. And it's not just a list of fields to fill in. It's actually useful. Grab it in the shop here ($14.99) — or keep reading to see what's inside.

Here's what's inside:

Trip overview + hotel notes. Confirmation numbers, check-in times, parking info, distance to the stadium, and a little space for hotel perks because yes, blackout curtains are important information.

A packing checklist that actually makes sense. Two sections — stadium bag (MLB-compliant clear bag requirements included, you're welcome) and your overnight bag. There's even a line that reads: "Pack what you need. Then remove one thing. Then add it back because you know yourself." Because we all do it.

Dining + food notes. Pre-game meal. In-stadium must-eats. Post-game eats. Coffee spots. And most importantly: a dedicated line for "the best thing I ate this trip." Because every ballpark has a signature food and you should absolutely find it.

A trip reflections page. For people who want to remember more than just the score. It's gentle — answer what feels right, skip what doesn't. One of the prompts is "one word for this whole trip," which I find surprisingly hard to answer and also kind of love.

City Spotlights — filled in from real trips I've actually taken. This is the part I'm most proud of, honestly.

I wrote detailed guides for Cincinnati, Queens/NYC, and Washington DC — based on places I've actually been, stayed, eaten, and wandered around in Reds gear. Real recommendations from someone who has done the thing.

For Cincinnati: the free Connector streetcar that gets you everywhere (yes, free), the bag policy at GABP (soft cooler allowed — use it), where to stay downtown, and why Cincinnati Lager House is the pre-game move. There's even a note about the plaque near the host stand that marks where first base used to be at old Riverfront Stadium. Because details like that are why we travel. Read my full Cincinnati Reds weekend guide here.

For New York: where to stay in Queens so you're not losing your mind, why the 7 train to Citi Field is genuinely easy, the Shea Stadium bases embedded in the parking lot pavement that you need to walk before the game, and why you should build in a full extra day because New York will eat your schedule in the best possible way.

For DC: why I will die on the hill of staying in Old Town Alexandria instead of DC proper, how to get literally everywhere on the Metro, the Smithsonian museums (free — all of them), and why Chinatown dinner should be on your list.

If you want the full story on the New York and DC legs, I wrote about our Reds road trip from NYC to DC here.

Plus a blank city template at the end — because eventually you'll go somewhere I haven't covered yet and you'll want to do it right.

Ready for some baseball!

Who this is for

This planner is for the fan who loves the game and loves the trip around it. The one who wants to eat well, stay somewhere good, know how to get around, and actually remember the experience when it's over.

It's for the person who has shown up underprepared one too many times (hi, same) and wants a simple system that does the thinking ahead so they can just enjoy being there.

If you're already planning a Reds road trip this season — or thinking about one — grab it before you need it. Future you, standing calmly at the stadium gate with a legal bag and a dinner reservation, will be very grateful.

And if you find a ballpark food situation that genuinely changes your life while using it, I want to know. That's not a joke. I want to know.

Go Reds. ❤️

The Away Game Weekend Planner is $14.99 — a printable trip planner for Reds fans who want to actually enjoy the whole trip, not just the game.

Grab it in the shop at harmonyhorizon360.com/store →

Not ready to plan solo? I host Reds road trips too — you show up, I handle the details. Get on the interest list here.

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