Green Bay Lambeau Field
I had a quiet, restful night parked off a side street in my Harvest Hosts spot — JD's backyard. After breakfast, I spent time writing and flipping through The MILEPOST: Alaska Travel Planner, a copy JD had loaned me. It's a beast of a guidebook, full of mile-by-mile details. I looked it up later — turns out it’s 21% cheaper on Amazon than directly from the publisher. I guess it makes sense: Amazon handles fulfillment and sells in huge volume.
Eventually, I packed up, said goodbye to JD, and headed toward Green Bay. I took State Highway 21, officially known as a State Trunk Highway, which cut about an hour off the more scenic back-road route. The downside? The truck lane was rough in a lot of sections.
I pulled into Lambeau Field — or at least I thought I did. Google Maps had me in the right lot, but if I’d driven another quarter mile, I would’ve seen the main entrance, the crowd of cars, and the statues of Lombardi and Lambeau out front. As a kid, I remember watching the 1967 Ice Bowl — Green Bay vs. Dallas — played right here, in what looked like Arctic conditions.
I paid $32 for the Classic Tour + Hall of Fame combo. Well worth it. Our guide was knowledgeable — clearly a fan, but also great at distilling over a century of Packers history into something engaging. He started with the origins: founded in 1919, still based in a town of only 110,000, and somehow with over 500,000 shareholders. The Packers are the only publicly owned team in American sports, and you feel that difference in every part of the experience. I’ve recently seen green and yellow t-shirts that say “Owner” on the front (even on kids). Makes sense now!!!
We rode the elevator to the fifth floor and sat in one of the boxes where former players often watch games. He gave us a quick 12-minute history download while we looked out over the field.
From there, we took another elevator to the loading dock and walked through the players’ tunnel. On game day, it’s loud — music blaring, video projections of the Packers’ 13 championships flashing on the walls. Today, it was quiet, but still powerful.
We weren’t allowed on the field itself, but we stood right next to it as the guide explained the turf. There are heating and watering systems under the grass — miles of tubing, layers of sand and soil, and even 5,000 miles of special synthetic fibers to help the real grass roots lock in. The field can allegedly drain 14 inches of water in an hour. He sounded skeptical; I was too. I accidentally brushed my hand against the grass and was politely scolded. Apparently, even fingers are too much.
Museum
After the tour, I spent time in the Hall of Fame. Lambeau Field started as a humble concrete bowl back in 1957, originally named City Stadium. It's changed a lot since then, but it’s retained that gritty, blue-collar energy. The exhibits walk you through decades of evolution — not just of the stadium, but of the team and the town that supports it.
There’s a great section on the team’s championship runs. They won three straight NFL titles from 1929 to 1931 — long before the Super Bowl existed. Then came the Lombardi years: five championships in seven seasons, including the first two Super Bowls. You can see game-worn gear, old highlight reels, and get a feel for how the team’s identity was forged through those early dynasties.
The Lombardi section is fascinating. His office is recreated down to the details. It's quiet and focused. There’s even his typewritten resignation letter on display, a stark reminder that every era ends, no matter how legendary.
The museum also honors the three men who most shaped the franchise: Curly Lambeau, who founded the team; Vince Lombardi, who turned it into a dynasty; and Bob Harlan, who modernized it without selling it out. Harlan was the one who pushed through the 1997 stadium renovation, helping secure the Packers’ long-term future in Green Bay.
There are also exhibits devoted to the legends — Bart Starr, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers. Reggie White, Donald Driver, LeRoy Butler, Jordy Nelson. Some were quiet leaders, others fiery competitors, but all left a mark. What I appreciated most was how the museum focused not just on stats and trophies, but on their character — the way they embodied the team, the community, and the enduring tradition of the Packers.
The stadium was expand 20 years ago, to support tours, the museum, and a restaurant. This is a fun side trip if you’re ever close to Green Bay.
After the tour, I took a nap in the Stadium parking lot, and then did some writing and research for the next couple of days. Sometime around 7 p.m. a security guard stopped by to remind me that I couldn’t camp in the parking lot. I asked him how long the log was open and he said, “The lot is open 24/7, but you can’t sleep in your van.” I thanked him for the information and told him I’d probably be gone by 10 p.m. He gave me a thumbs up.
It’s clear that the town doesn’t want people boondocking. The normal places all had signs up. There are two Walmarts and one of the two didn’t allow overnight parking in the lot. I pulled into the other one and saw large trucks, vans, campers and what looked like homeless people from the flat tire, and rusted out vehicles. I turned my lights off and went to sleep. The lot was fairly quiet given its location.