Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
20 miles/25 minute drive to Dodger Stadium
WHERE TO STAY? Hotels Near Dodger Stadium (all within 2 miles)
Unlimited budget
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites/Los Angeles
Omni Los Angeles Hotel
The Standard Hotels Downtown Los Angeles
Moderate budget
Best Western Dragon Gate Inn
Comfort Inn West Sunset Blvd
Super 8 Los Angeles Downtown
Chaser budget traveler
WHERE TO PARK?
The Los Angeles Dodgers make it easy for their guests by offering a large, centralized parking lot in front of the ballpark. The lot is broken up into two sections: “preferred” and “general” parking. The Preferred Parking lot is open to the general public and season ticket holders. Expect to pay $40-$45 in advance or $50-$55 at the gate for this lot as its the closest to the ballpark. The General Parking lot is further out and runs $17 online or $20 at the gate. Lots 13 and 14 are offsite on Stadium Way and allow for easy entrance and exit. Please note there is an uphill walk to the stadium from these lots. Complimentary shuttle service is available for disabled fans.
WHERE TO EAT?
Due to the location of Dodger Stadium, Ballpark Chasers find that it is not convenient to walk to restaurants before or after a game. However, if you have transportation, we suggest a trip to “the birth place of the French Dip Sandwich”. Philippe the Original has been serving sandwiches since 1908 and is a So Cal favorite. Don’t leave without getting a French Dip, but watch out for the hot mustard! Another local favorite is Tommy’s Original Hamburger. This “world famous” hamburger shack has been flipping burgers in LA since 1946. Go with a burger and chili cheese fries. Another fun Los Angeles landmark and quick spot is Pink’s Hot Dogs. Pink’s has been serving hot dogs in Hollywood since 1939. If you are lucky, you will have a celebrity sighting here.
Ballpark Chasers Favorite Bar- The Short Stop
Once inside Dodger Stadium, look for the nearest Dodger Dog stand to grab Major League Baseball’s most famous ballpark food. If you are feeling adventurous, try the Doyer Dog. This spicy dodger dog comes smothered in chili, nacho cheese, onions, tomatoes and jalapenos. Other great concession stands include: Think Blue BBQ, Tommy Lasorda's Trattoria, Lots O' Tots, Chicken N Waffles, and LA Taqueria.
Ballpark Chasers Tip: if you could do without another hot dog and hamburger, look for sections 9, 12 and 30 for a break in traditional artery-clogging ballpark food. Healthy Plate concessions serve everything from vegetable wraps to fruit salads to veggie and turkey dogs. Our favorite is the veggie burger featuring a portobello mushroom, a nopales (cactus) torta and a quinoa salad.
New Food at Dodger Stadium
Dodger Sausage — Stadium exclusive al pastor seasoned sausage stuffed with pineapple chunks and grilled, topped with pineapple salsa and cilantro-lime crema.
California Roll Bowl — Imitation crab, sriracha aioli, edamama, carrots, cucumbers on a bed of sushi rice.
Chicken Burrito Bowl — marinated pollo asada, black beans, pico de gallo, salsa roja on a bed of rice.
Esquite — corn in a cup topped with mayo, cheese and spicy aioli.
Going Yard Sausage - 16.5 inch Jalapeño Bacon Cheddar Sausage serveed under roasted corn, avocado relish, grilled onions with Crema.
WHERE TO BUY TICKETS?
Since 2013, The Los Angeles Dodgers have ranked #1 in Major League baseball attendance. Therefore, Ballpark Chasers highly recommends pre-purchasing your tickets through the Dodgers ticket office. If you are stuck trying to get tickets last minute, make sure to look for scalpers outside of the Dodgers parking area. Selling tickets within the ballpark parking lot is illegal.
Ballpark Chasers Tip: If you win the lottery and are looking upgrade the quality of your food and location of your seat, check out the Dugout Club. Located directly behind home plate, these seats start at a whopping $500 but include top quality 5-star lobster, steak, shrimp and prime rib.
WHEN TO GO?
You can count on Los Angeles to have great weather during the entire baseball season. On the other hand, the smog will make you thankful you are only visiting. We recommend May through July as the best months to travel to Los Angeles and the So Cal area.
WHAT ELSE TO SEE?
Where do we begin? Few cities offer as much to do and see as Los Angeles. Start with Hollywood’s Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard and conclude with a flick at the famous Chinese Theater. If your ballpark trip is a family affair, make the kids happy spending the day at Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags, Disneyland or Magic Mountain. For a complementary event, check out the Griffith Observatory. This museum has free parking and free admission. The Observatory sits over 1,100 feet above sea level atop Hollywood Hills with gorgeous views of the city and the famous Hollywood sign.
If you desire an even closer look at the Hollywood sign, try horseback riding up to it! Sunset Ranch offers one or two hour rides and even a four hour evening trip that concludes with a Mexican dinner after the sun has set.
The perfect way to spend an afternoon before catching a dodger’s game is Paul Ziffren Sports Resource Center. Created in 1985, The Ziffren Center is home of the world’s largest sports library, including: game programs, 100 year old sports publications, books, films, media guides, photographs and game used equipment. The Ziffren Center is the best kept secret in the Los Angeles area for any sports or history buff. For a quick preview, click here for a look at their 70,000 plus documents available online through a digital archive. Just 15 minutes from Dodger Stadium, the Paul Ziffren Sports Resource Center will captivate you for hours.
BALLPARK CHASERS VACATION?
If your baseball trip to Dodger stadium involves traveling a great distance, why not extend your vacation by visiting one or more of the ballparks below?
Angel Stadium- 30 miles/30 minutes
Petco Park- 125 miles/2 hours
Oakland Coliseum- 365 miles/5.5 hours
Chase Field – 375 miles/5.5 hours
Oracle Park- 380 miles/6 hours
Have you heard of the Rancho Cucamonga Quake’s? Travel East on the San Bernardino Highway to Rancho Cucamonga, California. Loanmart Field is home of the Quakes, California League's (Single A) affiliate of the Dodgers.
Last updated by Ballpark Chasers.