Petco Park Overview

Located in the Gaslamp District, right in the heart of downtown San Diego, you would be hard pressed to find any list of the best ballparks in baseball that doesn’t include Petco Park. It has been the home of the Padres for nearly two decades, providing fans with one of the most breathtaking views of downtown while satiating them with some of the best food and beverage options in the major leagues. 

The surrounding Gaslamp District is packed with bars, restaurants, and hotels that are all within walking distance of the ballpark, and, not sure if you’ve heard this, but with the weather in San Diego, every day is a great day for a ballgame!

In short, if you’re a baseball fan, it’s hard to beat a visit to Petco Park.

Our five-part guide to Petco Park will help you plan the perfect trip to see baseball in America’s Finest City. We’ll cover:

1. Travel: How to get to San Diego
2. Lodging: Where you should stay to go to Petco Park
3. Local transit: How to get to Petco Park
4. Tickets/seating/premium: Where to sit, how to buy, and whether to opt for premium seating
5. Gameday strategy: What to do before/during/after the game

We hope you enjoy our Petco Park Insider guide. Please be sure to sign up for our free newsletter to keep informed about events, schedules, sales, ticket deals, and everything else you need to know to plan the best fan experiences.

Why you should visit Petco Park

How many games should you see?

You really should see three games to get the full Petco Park experience. Get yourself a good 100-level infield seat one day to see the game up-close.  The next day, grab a cheaper ticket upstairs with a great view of the city. And the third day, you can snag an all-you-can-eat ticket on The Landing or the Western Metal Supply Building (we’ll tell you how), or get there early to grab a rail seat on the Craft Pier. Or even hang out on a blanket in Gallagher Square if you have to leave early to catch your flight. There are tons of great options, and just the food alone is worth spending the extra day.

When should you go to Petco Park?

I mean, are you aware of the weather in San Diego? It’s hard to find a bad day, and the worry of a rainout is virtually non-existent. You can’t beat a beautiful sunny day in July or August, but games in April and May are still usually a fine bet in terms of staying comfortable. Just be aware of what the locals call May Gray and June Gloom, where you are much more likely to have marine layer clouds. But, again, you’ll live.

As for opponents, the NL West division rival Giants, Diamondbacks, and Rockies always bring a bit extra to the atmosphere of the ballpark. Notice we didn’t include the Dodgers in there. Anytime Los Doyers are in town, things can get a bit, uhhh, dicey. They travel well, bringing a caravan of fans south on the 5 expressway (not to mention LA transplants living in America’s Finest City). This tends to jack up ticket prices and create larger-than-usual lines throughout the park. And not to stereotype, but LA fans are a bit, shall we say, rowdier than your typical fan. We’re not saying it’s unsafe … but we’re also probably not talking too much trash to a lot of Dodgers fans. We’ll leave it at that.

Dodgers series aside, getting day-of-game tickets was never really an issue up until a few years ago. But since the Padres started spending big (and winning some), tickets have been less abundant. It’s often a good idea to buy in advance when possible, especially if you have specific seating options in mind or will be there for a weekend series.

Where is Petco Park located?

The stadium is located in the Gaslamp District neighborhood, smack dab in the middle of downtown. The park offers tremendous views of the downtown skyline, and its location promises no shortage of restaurants, bars and lodging within walking distance, a short rideshare, or even a bus or train. It’s about a 15-minute drive from the airport (also located downtown-adjacent, along the harbor). 

Be aware, the park was built on a part of downtown that was maybe not the best place to be. It has certainly gentrified its bubble of land around the park, which is continuing to grow. But it’s not like it did much to solve the growing homeless problem in San Diego. It more just pushed the problem a bit further out. Walk more than a few blocks in the area and you’re more likely than not going to encounter some people experiencing homelessness—an issue that has definitely blossomed the past couple years. From our experience, this does not necessarily create a dangerous situation—but it is something you need to be aware of, and also a reason to keep your head about you. If you don’t look for trouble, there’s a pretty good chance it won’t find you.

About your Petco Park Insider

My name is Matt, and I’ve lived in San Diego for more than a decade.

I covered the team for NBC San Diego, and attend at least a couple dozen games a year as a fan, usually with my 7-year-old son (and die-hard Friars fan) Carter. I was at the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game when they were in town a few years ago, and have attended a number of playoff games.

On this journey, I will provide you with a comprehensive look at this beautiful ballpark and give you the best possible gameday experience.

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We hope you enjoy this insider look at Petco Park.