Minute Maid Park

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) - 20 miles/30 minutes to Minute Maid

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) - 10 miles/20 minutes to Minute Maid Park

WHERE TO STAY?

Unlimited budget- all 3 are within walking distance to Minute Maid Park

Inn at the Ballpark - Luxury Hotel

Magnolia Hotel- Houston (free cookies and milk each night on the second floor)!

Four Seasons Hotel- Houston

Moderate budget – all 3 options are within walking distance to Minute Maid Park

Residence Inn by Marriott- Downtown Convention Center

Holiday Inn Express- Downtown Convention Center

Hyatt Regency – Houston

Chaser budget traveler- the following lodging is within 5 miles of Minute Maid Park

Holiday Inn Select Hotels – Greenway Plaza

Courtyard by Marriott Houston- West University

Comfort Inn- Downtown Houston

WHERE TO PARK?

Minute Maid Park is a downtown stadium that offers street, metered, garage and paid lot parking. There are over 25,000 parking spaces within a ½ square block radius of Minute Maid Park. To make it easy and stress free, look for one of the three main garages: Convention Center (corner of Polk Street and Avenida de las Americas), Toyota Center and the Harris County Courthouse building (corner of Austin and Congress).

Ballpark Chasers Tip: if you are staying at a hotel that is not within walking distance, ask the front desk staff if you are close to Houston’s light-rail system. This quick ride will drop you off just 6 blocks from the stadium!

WHERE TO EAT?

Let your trip to Minute Maid Park start across the street at Home Plate Bar and Grill. The menu is full of amazing burgers, sandwiches, salads, dogs and wings. The Home Plate offers much needed air conditioning during an Astros day game or a nice outdoor patio for those cooler Texas evenings.

Other restaurants just a few feet from Minute Maid Park are Picazo’s and Landry’s Seafood House. Both options are recommended before or after an Astros game.

Inside Minute Maid Park, the Astros offer a plethora of food options that rank as one of the top in the country! Ballpark Chasers suggest starting with the best: Rosa’s Taqueria fajitas. They can be found in carts throughout the concourses. Other fun options include Sliders (mini hamburgers), sausage sandwiches and a superstar dog with chili cheese (warning- these are messy)! If you prefer sit-down dining, try the newly opened FiveSeven Grille in center field. In tribute to Astros' greats Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, the FiveSeven Grille packs a mean plate by offering "texas size portions". This is a great choice to grab a meal before the game. Otherwise, the FiveSeven Grille offers to-go dining in order to eat at your seat while watching the game!

WHERE TO BUY TICKETS?

Although the Astros have a good fan base and new stadium, Minute Maid Park is not ranked within the top 10 of Major League attendance. Unless you are attending a game against a big-market team, it is not a problem to count on box office tickets to be available before the game. Also, scalpers are noticeably present along the streets of Houston and love to bargain during the last 30 minutes of the first pitch.

WHEN TO GO?

The summer months in Texas are a scorcher! Temperatures average in the upper 80s and low 90s during June, July, August and September.  For this reason alone, Ballpark Chasers suggest a trip to Minute Maid Park in the early part of the season. April and May are your best bets for an enjoyable sunny day. As far as rain, not to worry as Minute Maid Park has a retractable roof that can close within 10 minutes.

WHAT ELSE TO DO?

A fun, relaxing and free option just blocks from Minute Maid Park is Discovery Green. This newly opened park is full of entertainment for all ages. Everything from recreational games, to playgrounds, concerts, natural gardens, and art displays can be found all throughout this 12 acre park. Don’t leave without trying the Lake House french fries served in a compostable cup! A trip to Texas just isn’t complete without a stop at the Houston Space Center. Located 30 minutes from Minute Maid Park, Houston’s Space Center is a great way to spend an afternoon before catching a night game. Regular attractions include: theater presentations, space simulations, NASA tour, kid’s activities, galleries and memorabilia.

Ballpark Chasers Hidden Gems: Finger Furniture store at 4001 Gulf Freeway. I know! What could possibly be inside a furniture store that a Ballpark Chaser needs to see? Well, the Houston Sports Museum of course! Still confused? The location is the exact spot of old Buff Stadium, home of the Houston Buffaloes. Inside the furniture store holds the exact location where home plate once laid as well as a bunch of other amazing local sports memorabilia. Just a heads-up, there is no sign outside the Finger Furniture store, nor a website that you can Google to find more information. Trust us, it’s there! For those Astros fans, or any true fan of baseball, make the 45 minute trip south to Alvin, Texas, home of the Nolan Ryan Foundation and Museum. Once here, look for the exhibit to feel what it’s like to catch a Nolan Ryan fastball.

BALLPARK CHASERS VACATION?

Minute Maid Park is part of Ballpark Chasers “Texas Dos Trip” which includes seeing the Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. We suggest searching for flights to both cities to determine which airfare is the cheapest. Expect a 4 hour drive (256 miles) between ballparks, with heavy traffic in both cities.

If you prefer to stay within the Houston surrounding area, Ballpark Chasers suggests attending a few Texas League baseball games. The San Antonio Missions and Round Rock Express are a short drive away for some exciting Double-A baseball. If you only have time for one game, we highly recommend the 3 hour drive to the Dell Diamond Stadium, home of the Express. This Minor League Park has received numerous awards as one of the best Double-A stadiums in the country!