Where to stay to visit Progressive Field
As you know, choosing a hotel is a key decision when it comes to enjoying your stadium experience. But where should you stay? Near the ballpark? Closer to other attractions? Close to a public transit station? As with anything, the answer is: it depends. It depends on your priorities, the price, the availability, what time the game(s) might be, transportation … it just depends!
This chapter will help you make the best decision for you when it comes to visiting Cleveland to see Progressive Field.
Where Progressive Field is located
Progressive Field is situated right downtown, off the interstate. It’s about a 15-minute drive from Cleveland Hopkins Airport and nestled right at the corner of Ontario Street and Carnegie Avenue.
One of the best things about Cleveland is that it’s compact. If you’re centrally located, then almost anything you might want to see or do is a 15-minute-or-less walk (if you’re staying on the far east or west side of the city, it could take more like 30 minutes).
And, in our opinion, downtown Cleveland is a safe place to walk, both during the day and at night. While you should always be aware of your surroundings and take proper precautions, we believe all of the hotels on the chart below are safe to walk to, especially since there are usually plenty of fans on gameday walking these streets with you.
Deciding where to stay for a Progressive Field visit
Because of the small size of the downtown area and the lack of relevant alternatives, there’s just one appropriate hotel zone for a Progressive Field visit, and that’s … downtown. In most cities we could at least point out one or two other options, but Cleveland is just too simple for that. You may have heard of The Flats, but even though it’s a cool area, there are no hotels there. And although the University Circle area has a lot of hotels, especially centered around the medical facilities, those hotels wouldn’t save you much money over staying near the ballpark, so there’s no reason to recommend them either (unless, somehow, everything downtown is sold out, in which case it would be an acceptable alternative).
So your lodging choice is really going to come down to how far you want to walk to the stadium, what amenities you’re looking for, or what price point you’d like to be at.
So we’ll do our best to describe some of the options so you can decide what might work best for you.
TSI TIP: The RTA is really convenient for travelers going from Cleveland Airport to downtown, but you should note that the Tower City station is the only relevant stop for the entire downtown district. Once you’re downtown, you won’t be able to take the subway to anywhere of consequence, because there’s no other downtown stops. There’s the public bus, but we highlighted why we don’t recommend that in the Local Transit chapter.
Cleveland is a walking city. If you have limited mobility, choose a hotel that is closest to both the ballpark and the other attractions you are most likely to visit. Stick to rideshares or taxis for any other destinations you need to reach.
Link Hotel Distance to Progressive Field Distance to RTA Breakfast included Pool Parking Notes
Check Rates Hotel Indigo .2 mile / 5 min walk .4 mi / 10 min walk No No $50/day valet Closest hotel to ballpark
Check Rates Hilton Garden Inn .2 mi / 5 min walk .8 mi / 20 min walk No Yes, Indoor $20/day self Very close to ballpark, but further from restaurants
Check Rates Metropolitan at the 9 .2 mi / 5 min walk .5 mi / 12 min walk No No $48/day valet Marriott Autograph Collection, rooftop lounge
Check Rates Kimpton Schoefield .2 mi / 5 min walk .5 mi / 12 min walk No No $52/day valet
Check Rates Holiday Inn Express .3 mi / 8 min walk .4 mi / 10 min walk Yes No $39/day valet
Check Rates Crowne Plaza at Playhouse Square .3 mi / 8 min walk .6 mi / 15 min walk No Yes, Indoor $49/day valet Closest to Playhouse Square
Check Rates Residence Inn .4 mi / 9 min walk .3 mi / 8 min walk Yes No $44/day valet Close to 4th Ave. bars
Check Rates Roost Cleveland .4 mi / 9 min walk .2 mi / 5 min walk No No N/A Aparthotel with washer/dryer, kitchen, complimentary bike use
Check Rates Hampton Inn .4 mi / 10 min walk .6 mi / 15 min walk Yes No $48/day valet
Check Rates Ritz Carlton .5 mi / 12 min walk .1 mi / 2 min walk No No $60/day valet
Check Rates Westin .6 mi / 15 min walk .5 mi / 13 min walk No No $49/day valet Central location between Browns and Guardians
Check Rates Hyatt Regency Arcade .6 mi / 15 min walk .5 mi / 12 min walk No No $49/day valet Directly across from 4th Street
Check Rates Hotel Cleveland .6 mi / 15 min walk .1 mi / 2 min walk No No $48/day self Formerly the Renaissance, attached to Tower City RTA
Check Rates Marriott at Key Tower .7 mi / 17 min walk .4 mi / 10 min walk No No $48/day valet
Check Rates Hilton Cleveland .8 mi / 20 min walk .4 mi / 10 min walk No Yes, Indoor $45/day self
Check Rates Doubletree by Hilton .9 mi / 21 min walk .9 mi / 25 min walk No No $30/day self Longer walk from ballpark
Check Rates ALoft 1.1 mi / 27 min walk .7 mi / 18 min walk Continental incl. No $40/day valet Closer to Flats, farthest from ballpark
The closest hotels to Progressive Field: Hilton Garden Inn & Indigo Hotel
In this case, we’re not talking “close” like a 10-minute drive close. In this instance, “close” means that you could probably look out the nearest window and see Progressive Field from your room.
Hotel Indigo Cleveland Downtown
Just on the other side of the Gateway East Garage is Hotel Indigo. It’s just down the street from the famed East 4th Street hotspot that features some of the top local bars and restaurants in town, from local taco joint favorite Barrio to Mabel’s BBQ. East 4th is one of the most popular pre- and post-game spots, so staying nearby is really convenient.
Hotel Indigo is a part of IHG’s boutique collection. If you’ve been to Cleveland in the past, it used to be the Radisson Hotel, but was acquired in 2019 and underwent a $7 million renovation during the pandemic, so it’s essentially a brand-new property. If you’re looking for the shortest walk from your room to the ballpark, you’ll find it here.
Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland Downtown
The Hilton Garden Inn has two main things going for it: inexpensive self-parking ($20/night), and it’s very close to the ballpark (less than a five-minute walk door to door). But on the flip side, it’s the farthest hotel from 4th Street and a lot of the pregame action in downtown Cleveland, and the hotel has really struggled with reviews on TripAdvisor in recent months. We checked it out for ourselves (April 2025), and we weren’t impressed. There was a 30-minute line to check in (an understaffed front desk, which was surprising given that the Yankees were in town), the rooms could definitely use a renovation, and we even found someone’s abandoned clothes hanging in our closet.
If you’re not fussy, can get a good rate, or just want the cheapest parking, the hotel is fine. But it’s not one of our favorites.
The upscale options
The Ritz-Carlton
You don’t need much explanation from us – the name says it all. It’s attached to Tower City, but we guess that you probably won’t be taking the subway from the airport if your destination is The Ritz. But if you’re looking for fancy, look no further.
The Metropolitan at the 9
The Metropolitan At The 9 (or just “The 9”) is one of a couple of four-star hotels in the city, and its biggest attraction is a terrific rooftop bar and restaurant. In fact, The 9 is more than just a hotel for Clevelanders, serving as a popular spot to celebrate anniversaries and local nights out on the town.
They offer a multitude of dining options, from The Centro (its internal gastropub) to the aptly-named Garden of Eden rooftop bar; they even have a bar outfitted in a bank vault.
Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center
This hotel is attached to Cleveland’s tallest skyscraper, the Key Bank Tower. Nearby attractions include Public Square, East 4th Street (a 10-minute walk), and the House of Blues. It’s halfway between Huntington Bank Field and Progressive Field, making this hotel convenient to both Lake Erie and the ballpark, if you don’t mind a little walk.
Kimpton Schofield Cleveland
Another four-star hotel situated directly across from The 9, Kimpton Schofield is a newer boutique addition to the downtown hotel scene. It has an upscale feel, and complimentary tea and coffee are offered, but not breakfast, so factor that into your decision-making when comparing it to other hotels.
Closest to 4th Street bars and restaurants
Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade
The Arcade was once a bustling downtown mall, but now it hosts events and serves as a backdrop for wedding photos, in addition to being the home of the Hyatt. The location is really fantastic, as the south entrance to the hotel is located directly across from 4th Street, so you’re steps away from food, drinks, and shops. And the ballpark is a quick walk as well.
Residence Inn by Marriott Cleveland
Just down the street from Rocket Arena is one of the more popular downtown hotels, the Residence Inn. The Residence Inn puts you right in the middle of everything – Barrio is next door, Harry Buffalo is across the street, and the ballpark is a quick five-minute walk away. And the Residence Inn includes a complimentary daily breakfast.
The Closest Hotels to Tower City / the RTA train to the airport
Hotel Cleveland (formerly The Renaissance)
Hotel Cleveland is attached to Tower City Center, the downtown RTA stop serving the airport. And Tower City is attached to JACK Cleveland Casino, so there’s a lot of benefit to be had without stepping outside.
And speaking of not stepping outside, a sky bridge connects Tower City Center to Rocket Arena, which is just steps from the outfield gate at Progressive Field. So if you’re visiting during hotter/colder/rainy weather, then this is a great option.
The Free Breakfast hotels
While we think you should take it easy on the wafflemaker and save room for ballpark food, if you’re interested in having free breakfast included with your stay, the Holiday Inn Express, Residence Inn (above), Drury Plaza, and Hampton Inn will be your picks.
Our guideline is to stay north of the interstate highway, west of East 18th Street, and east of the Cuyahoga River. The closer to Lake Erie you get, the less walkable Progressive Field is.
Staying beyond downtown Cleveland
If for some specific reason you need to stay outside of the downtown area, our list of appropriate alternatives would be:
- The Medical District (four miles to the west)
- Independence (from the South, 12-minute drive)
- Lakewood (from the northwest, 12-minute drive)
- North Olmsted (from the west, 15-minute drive)
- Eastlake (from the east, 24-minute drive)
But as we mentioned, these areas don’t connect easily or quickly to the ballpark via RTA, and getting rideshares to/from these suburban areas is difficult and very expensive. Therefore, you’d want to have a car to get back and forth to the ballpark. The Medical District would be an acceptable alternative if you can’t find anything downtown, but you’d want to take rideshares from there to the ballpark and airport.
Bottom Line
Our advice to visitors to Progressive Field is:
A) Stay close to the ballpark. There are plenty of options that range in both price and quality within a short walk (15 minutes or less) of the gates.
B) Think about where else you’re going to visit while in Cleveland. Many hotels bisect the distance between the ballpark and entertainment centers like East 4th, the Flats East Bank, Playhouse Square, and Tower City Center. If you’re interested in seeing these attractions, pick a hotel between them and the ballpark.
C) If you’re staying elsewhere downtown, keep in mind the parameters: north of the interstate, west of East 18th, and east of the Cuyahoga River. For those looking to stay outside downtown, we recommend the suburbs of Independence, Lakewood, North Olmsted, and Eastlake, or the Medical District to the east of the city.
