Four bobbleheads. Three states. One legendary highway. Five days of baseball from the Lehigh Valley to the Virginia coast to the bright lights of Queens.
4 bobbleheads. 5 days. ~700 miles total. The I-95 Express.
This isn't a one-metro trip. The I-95 Express runs you from eastern Pennsylvania down to Norfolk, Virginia, then back north into the biggest baseball market on the planet. You'll grab a cult-favorite mascot bobble, an Orioles top prospect, a back-to-back NYC giveaway pair, and end the week with a Mets MLB bobblehead at Citi Field.
The whole trip is one long ride down, one long ride up, and a subway weekend at the end.
The Route
| Stop | Date | Team (League) | Bobblehead | Stadium & City | Distance from Previous | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu 8/13 | IronPigs (MiLB) | Chris P. Bacon Bobblehead (3,000 adults 18+) | Coca-Cola Park, Allentown, PA | — | — |
| 2 | Fri 8/14 | Tides (MiLB) | Samuel Basallo Bobblehead (2,500) | Harbor Park, Norfolk, VA | ~275 mi | ~4.5 hrs |
| 3 | Sun 8/16 | Cyclones (MiLB) | Cowboy Nolan McLean Bobblehead (2,000) | Maimonides Park, Brooklyn, NY | ~360 mi | ~6 hrs |
| 4 | Mon 8/17 | Mets (MLB) | Bo Bichette Bobblehead | Citi Field, Queens, NY | ~5 mi | ~15 min |
Total Distance: ~700 miles · Total Days: 5 · Total Bobbleheads: 4 (3 MiLB + 1 MLB)
Day 1 · Thursday, August 13 · Allentown, PA — IronPigs
Game: RailRiders @ IronPigs · First Pitch: 6:45 PM ET Bobblehead: Chris P. Bacon Bobblehead · First 3,000 adults 18+ Stadium: Coca-Cola Park
If you know MiLB mascots, you know Chris P. Bacon. The IronPigs' pig mascot is one of the most recognizable characters in affiliated baseball, and the bobble is going to be a collector's item on mascot brand equity alone. Coca-Cola Park is consistently ranked among the top MiLB stadiums for fan experience — the food alone is reason to drive in.
Arrival Strategy: A 3,000-cap giveaway at a 10,000-seat park is a soft target — but Chris P. Bacon is one of the better-known mascots in MiLB, and the cap is "adults 18 & over," which tightens supply. Arrive 45–60 minutes before gates. Parking is plentiful (you won't get this experience again on this trip).
While You're There: Allentown is central to the Lehigh Valley — solid craft-beer scene (Weyerbacher, Fegley's), and easy access to both Philadelphia (60 mi south) and the Poconos (45 min north). Pre-game dinner at Molinari's or The Hamilton Kitchen.
🎟️ Get Tickets → · 🏨 Hotels in Lehigh Valley →
Day 2 · Friday, August 14 · Norfolk, VA — Tides
Game: Stripers @ Tides · First Pitch: 6:35 PM ET Bobblehead: Samuel Basallo Bobblehead · 2,500 Stadium: Harbor Park
This is where the trip earns the "Express" name. You're heading SOUTH on I-95 — through Philly, past Wilmington, through Baltimore and DC, all the way to Norfolk on the Virginia coast. Samuel Basallo is the Orioles' top prospect catcher and one of the better switch-hitting backstops in the minors. The bobble has serious shelf-value if he hits the show — and he will. Harbor Park sits on the Elizabeth River with sunset views that rival any stadium in the minors.
Arrival Strategy: Leave Allentown by noon. I-95 South to I-64 East into Norfolk, ~4.5 hours, accounting for some congestion around DC/Baltimore. Friday midday traffic should be tolerable. Gates at Harbor Park open about an hour before first pitch — Basallo is popular and capped at 2,500, so arrive 30 minutes before gates.
The Drive: You'll pass Philly, Wilmington, and Baltimore without stopping (or with a quick roadside lunch). The Richmond interchange where I-95 meets I-64 is where you officially leave the Northeast and enter the South. Windows down by then.
While You're There: Norfolk's Waterside District is walkable from the stadium — restaurants, bars, and live music on the harbor. The USS Wisconsin battleship museum is two blocks from Harbor Park if you arrive early. Virginia Beach is 20 minutes east.
🎟️ Get Tickets → · 🏨 Hotels in Norfolk/VA Beach →
Day 3 · Saturday, August 15 · Travel Day — Norfolk to NYC
No game today. Recovery day plus the big northbound push.
Option A — The Straight Shot: I-64 West to I-95 North. Norfolk to Brooklyn is about 6 hours / 360 miles. Leave by 10 AM, arrive in NYC by 4 PM, check in, walk the neighborhood, dinner.
Option B — The DC/Baltimore Stop: 3.5 hours to the DC/Baltimore area. Spend the afternoon in either city — the National Mall, the Inner Harbor, Georgetown. Crash overnight, then make the easy 3.5-hour Sunday morning drive into Brooklyn.
Option C — Virginia Beach Morning: Sunrise on the boardwalk, a quick swim, breakfast on the oceanfront. On the road by 11 AM.
Pro Tip: If you take Option B and stop in Baltimore, walk past Camden Yards even if the Orioles aren't home. The warehouse, the skyline, the smells — pure baseball pilgrimage.
🏨 Hotels in Brooklyn/NYC → · 🚗 Rent a Car →
Day 4 · Sunday, August 16 · Brooklyn, NY — Cyclones
Game: BlueClaws @ Cyclones · First Pitch: 2:00 PM ET Bobblehead: Cowboy Nolan McLean Bobblehead · First 2,000 Stadium: Maimonides Park
Welcome to Coney Island. Maimonides Park is small and intimate — the Wonder Wheel is visible over the outfield wall, and the Atlantic is a block away. Nolan McLean is one of the Mets' more dynamic prospects, and the "Cowboy" theme adds novelty value. A 2:00 PM Sunday game means you get the full Brooklyn experience before and after: boardwalk, Nathan's Famous, the beach, then baseball.
Arrival Strategy: Sunday afternoon games at Maimonides are family-friendly with a relaxed pace, but a 2,000-cap bobble is still a real target. Arrive 45 minutes before gates. The stadium is a literal walk-off from the D/F/N/Q Coney Island–Stillwell Ave subway stop.
While You're There: Coney Island in mid-August is peak Coney Island. Luna Park rides, Nathan's at the original corner of Surf & Stillwell, the boardwalk, the aquarium. Make a day of it. After the game, take the subway into Brooklyn proper — DUMBO, Williamsburg, or Park Slope for dinner.
🎟️ Get Tickets → · 🏨 Hotels in Brooklyn →
Day 5 · Monday, August 17 · Queens, NY — Mets
Game: Padres @ Mets · First Pitch: 7:10 PM ET Bobblehead: Bo Bichette Bobblehead Stadium: Citi Field
The grand finale — Bo Bichette in Mets blue at Citi Field. Citi's food scene is one of the best in MLB (Shake Shack, Pat LaFrieda's, Mama's of Corona), and the Padres bring real star power as the visitors. Monday-night MLB is underrated — lighter crowds, easier giveaway grab, and a more intimate atmosphere than weekend Citi.
Arrival Strategy: Citi Field is a 15-minute drive from Brooklyn or accessible via the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point. Gates open 90 minutes before first pitch. For a Monday night Bichette bobble, 45–60 minutes before gates is comfortable. This is your easiest grab of the trip.
While You're There: The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (US Open) is across the parking lot. Flushing's Chinatown is a five-minute walk for some of the best dumplings in America.
🎟️ Get Tickets → · 🏨 Hotels near Citi Field →
Budget Breakdown
| Category | Estimated Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tickets | $80–$180 | 3 MiLB ($15–$25 ea) + 1 Mets ($40–$80) |
| Hotels | $500–$900 | 4 nights · Allentown + Norfolk + 2 NYC nights |
| Gas | ~$75–$90 | ~700 mi · 30 mpg · ~$3.50/gal avg PA/VA/NY |
| Tolls | ~$40–$60 | NJ Turnpike, Delaware Memorial Bridge, I-95 segments |
| Food / Parking | ~$150–$250 | Stadium food, restaurants, parking. NYC: subway > driving. |
| Total | ~$850–$1,500 | Per person, full 5-day trip |
This is a more expensive trip than the I-5 Dream — NYC hotel prices and tolls add up — but you're getting four bobbles AND three completely different baseball environments: PA minor league, VA coastal, NY metropolis.
Pro Tips for This Trip
- Friday is your longest drive day. Allentown to Norfolk is 4.5 hours. Everything else is short hops or subway rides.
- NYC parking is optional. For Cyclones and Mets, take the subway. Cheaper, faster, and you skip Queens-area traffic. Park your car at the hotel for the weekend.
- Norfolk is the sleeper. Samuel Basallo is the Orioles' top prospect and could be an All-Star within two years. Bobble has real long-term value. Plus Harbor Park is genuinely underrated as a venue.
- Monday night = your easiest grab. Bichette at Citi Field on a Monday is the most relaxed giveaway of the trip.
- Book Brooklyn, not Manhattan. You're at a Brooklyn stadium Sunday and a Queens stadium Monday. Brooklyn hotels are cheaper than Manhattan and better positioned for both. The subway connects everything.
Make It Yours
The Extended Version (5 bobbles, stay through Friday Aug 21): Stay through Friday Aug 21 and the Cody Bellinger Bobblehead Night at Yankee Stadium adds a 5th bobble + a Bronx side trip — still subway-accessible, still no driving. Tuesday–Thursday become your NYC exploration days.
The 10-Day Mega Trip (6 bobbles, including the Saturday Collector's Dilemma): Stay through Saturday Aug 22 and you face the trip's biggest decision: the Yankees give away a Hello Kitty Yankees Bobblehead (1:35 PM, Bronx) the same day the Orioles give away a Pete Alonso Bobblehead (7:05 PM, Baltimore, vs. Rays). Same day, 190 miles apart, both worth chasing. The Hello Kitty bobble is the rarer get; Alonso has the player-value angle.
The Budget Version (3 bobbles, skip Norfolk): If 700 miles sounds like a lot, skip Norfolk and make it a pure NYC trip. Arrive Thursday for Allentown, explore the city Friday-Saturday, then Cyclones Sunday and Mets Monday. Three bobbles, minimal driving.
The Train Version (no car needed): Amtrak runs direct from Philadelphia (30th Street Station) to Penn Station NYC. Skip the rental: rideshare to Allentown for Day 1, Amtrak to NYC for Days 3–5. Cyclones and Mets are both subway-accessible from Manhattan.
Book This Trip
🗺️ Build This Route in Trip Planner → 🎟️ Buy Tickets → 🏨 Compare Hotels → 🚗 Rent a Car → ✈️ Find Flights to LGA →
All giveaways are subject to availability and typically first-come, first-served. Arrive early at every stop.
Taking this trip? Drop a line at mike@bobbleguide.com — we'd love to see your haul.