This season, don’t miss a single pitch thrown at Petco Park. Game days can be a bit hectic, so find the best travel method for you, whether it involves car, trolley, ferry, bicycle, or some combination thereof. Arrive early and you’ll be in your seat—with a hot dog and beer—when the first pitch crosses home plate.
(Here’s a wealth of general information about accessing Petco Park, for further inquiry.)
By Car
If traveling by car, God help you. Game day parking is limited, generally costing $21 to $40, unless you’re bringing hiking boots and trekking poles. For this reason, pre-purchasing parking is a good idea. Find specific lot locations and prices here and information on parking for disabled guests here.
Rideshare services like Lyft and Uber are a good method, but be prepared to walk a few blocks or more—hoofing it may be quicker than sitting in a traffic jam.
By Trolley
Conveniently, all three trolley lines swing by the park, with beefed-up service following night games—you can’t beat that for $2.50. Petco is best accessed by three stations: 12th and Imperial Transit Center, the Park and Market Station (at 12th and Market Streets), and the Gaslamp Quarter Station (at Fifth Avenue and Harbor Drive).
Park-and-ride is a good option—there are 5,000 parking spots at SDCCU Stadium (except of major event days) and Hazard Center.
By Coaster
Avoid I-5 traffic on the Coaster with regional roundtrip day passes ($15 for adults or $7.50 for kids) that grant free trolley connections to Petco. To get back home, Northbound trains leave Santa Fe Depot one hour after the end of the game or fireworks, but no later than midnight.
For Padres fans in Orange County and L.A. (bless your hearts, children) ride the Pacific Surfliner to Santa Fe Depot, just a 25-minute walk or quick trolley ride on the southbound Green Line to the park.
By Bus
An abundance of bus routes pass by Petco, including Routes 12 and 901, which pull up practically on home plate. Routes 4, 12, 901, and 929 arrive at the nearby 12th and Imperial Transit Center. Routes 3 and 5 put riders within easy strolling distance of park entrances.
By Ferry
If you live on Coronado Island, start your mainland leg of the journey at 5th Ave. Landing. But you already knew that.
Bicycling
Cyclists can lock their trusty steeds on public racks on these corners: Park Boulevard and Tony Gywnn Drive; Park Boulevard and 10th Avenue; J Street at 8th and 9th Avenues; near the 7th Avenue Gaslamp Entry Gate.
Look for bike share stations and wayward share-bikes scattered about downtown to pedal to Petco.
By FRED
AKA the Free Ride Everywhere Downtown Shuttle. All that’s required is waving one down during their operating hours. View the schedule here.
How To Get to Petco Park (Sanely, and On Time)
Photo courtesy of MTS
