How to Enjoy Petco Park: Tips for Visiting America's #1 Ballpark
- Gissel Lopez
- Jun 2
- 4 min read
From the nosebleeds to nachos, here are your tips for visiting America's #1 ballpark!
Petco Park, home to the San Diego Padres, is THE best stadium in the MLB! From views to food vibes, many people neglect to visit the best spots in the stadium, missing out on the food hot spots and viewpoints. This guide will help you decide where to eat, sit, and get the full San Diego experience!
Parking
For the best access to the stadium, I always park in the Tailgate Lot. It’s a short three-minute walk to the stadium where you can get fellowship with other fans and talk before the first pitch. Post-game, there isn’t much traffic leaving the lot because it is always guided by traffic patrol down one-way streets for an easy exit! If the tailgate lot is full, parking in the Padres Parkade or the San Diego City Library is always a good option, too! The Padres Parkade is an easy five-minute walk from Petco and is 9-stories tall with endless parking, but with only two exits, leaving the game can be a bit long. The San Diego City Library, located next to the Tailgate Lot, is also a three-minute walk. The Library has rough traffic leaving the small underground lot, but it can be a great last-minute resort for the last-minute adventure! If you plan to take public transportation, I always recommend the trolley! Park near a trolley stop for free, hop on one of the lines for $5 round trip, and forget about the hassle and expense of parking!
Food
You can never go wrong with some nachos or a hot dog or a slice of pizza, but Petco Park is home to so many different cuisines. Here are a few of my favorite staples! Hodads is THE burger of San Diego, and they have a few locations inside of the stadium where you can get a burger with some onion rings or potato wedges with vegetarian options! Usually, I pair my Hodads hamburger with garlic fries from Gaglione Bros! They have two locations in the ballpark, and in addition to the famous garlic fries, they also have Philly cheese steak fries, which are an absolute chef's kiss!
One tip not many fans know is you can bring your Padres souvenir cup back to the stadium for free refills, not just for that season but for every season to follow! This saves you $7-$10 on soft drinks! I have yet to try the Lobster Hotdog or New Mostra Coffee cart in the Mercado, but I will for sure go back!
Seats
As someone who has officially sat around the diamond, here are my top 5 seat choices! For the pitching fans sitting in left field, next to the bullpen, is a must! Normally, the starting pitcher for the Padres, along with his fellow starters and pitching coach, will come warm up right in front of you! The sections are 126, 128, 130, 132, and 134. These sections not only have a great view of the game, but there are food, drinks, and bathrooms right behind you with TVs, so you don’t have to miss the action!
For those on a budget, sitting in the nosebleeds isn’t that bad! In fact, it's one of my favorites! It comes with a view no other seat has, a skyline view highlighted by a beautiful California sunset! SO GORGEOUS! They also have a wide variety of ballpark classics and new cuisine! I choose to sit in 317 or 319, because once the sun goes down, it's the best view!
Section 209 has cushion seats and in-seat delivery! With a view right over the first baseline, you have a great view of both dugouts and both big screens! These tickets are a bit pricey but worth the comfort!
Section 235 is always a good choice. Sitting in right field, the top section isn’t as high as the nosebleeds, but still gives a bird's eye view of the park. It is still reasonably priced and neighbors the stairs to field level for an easy exit.
The first section I ever sat in and still love sitting in now is section 122. The section where I fell in love with the game not only has a great view right behind the best third baseman in the League, Manny Machado, but also gives a clear view of the strike zone and allows you to fully appreciate the ballpark from the players’ view!
Whether you're watching from your living room or in the stands, you can feel the good vibes the team brings, and it's partly because of the fan atmosphere. If you have a question or just want to have a good time, ask any fan! I promise you we want to be your ballpark bestie and help you enjoy the ballpark we call home! Go Padres!
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