As a lifelong baseball fan, I absolutely love going to baseball games in any city I visit. For me, it’s always such a fun way to experience the local culture and get swept up in a city’s team spirit. Plus, the best MLB stadiums offer unique tailgating cultures, amazing downtown views, gourmet ballpark foods, and quirky traditions you won’t find anywhere else.
Whether you want to walk the historic halls of Fenway Park in Boston, tailgate with beers and brats galore at American Family Field in Milwaukee, or witness a rare “splash hit” land in the bay at Oracle Park in San Francisco, every MLB stadium offers something completely unique.
If you’re wondering which ballpark is the best fit for your next weekend away, here’s my list of the top 8 MLB stadiums that are well worth traveling for!
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The Top 8 MLB Stadiums That Are Well Worth Traveling For
1. Petco Park – San Diego Padres
As a San Diego native, I’m lucky enough to have watched many a game at Petco Park. So yes, I am biased when I say that Petco is an amazing setting for a baseball game. But I’m not alone! Even USA Today named this stadium as the “No. 1 Best MLB Stadium” in 2024.
It’s perhaps best known for incorporating the 19th-century Western Metal Supply Co. building into left field. But architecture aside, one of the best things about Petco Park is that it’s located right in the heart of downtown San Diego, which means before or after the game, you can walk to all of the bustling bars, restaurants, and shops that line the streets of the historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown.
Even if you’re not a huge baseball fan, taking a trip to San Diego is always a fun idea. And having the chance to take in the city and San Diego Bay views while sipping on a Swami’s IPA and noshing on a bacon-wrapped Barrio Dogg, is just icing on the cake.
2. Fenway Park – Boston Red Sox
If you’re a baseball fan, chances are a trip to “America’s Most Beloved Ballpark” is on your bucket list. Dating all the way back to 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest stadium in the MLB and it even holds a spot on the National Register of Historic Places list.
Make the excuse to travel to the great city of Boston and spend at least one day gorging on Fenway Franks, taking in the views of the famous Green Monster, singing “Sweet Caroline” before the bottom of the 8th, and drinking all the beer. Plus, there are some seriously cool hotels near Fenway Park where you can rest up after the big game.
Because of its history, this is one of those stadiums that’s well worth taking an official tour of. After all, from Babe Ruth to Ted Williams and David Ortiz, many of the greats have walked these halls.
3. PNC Park – Pittsburgh Pirates
PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is another one of the most beautiful MLB stadiums that’s well worth a visit. One of the best things about PNC Park is that it has a capacity of under 39,000, so the stadium feels intimate, no matter where you’re sitting.
PNC Park’s location in Pittsburgh’s happening North Shore neighborhood is also a perk, because you’ll be within walking distance of tons of buzzing bars and restaurants. It’s also perched right on the banks of the Allegheny River, offering views of the river, Roberto Clemente Bridge, and downtown’s South Shore.
The incredible riverside setting aside, pay a visit to PNC Park and you’ll get to see the iconic Pierogi Race, eat excellent ballpark food (like pierogies at Mrs. T’s Pierogies and fried chicken sandwiches at Chicken on the Hill), and sample a few of the 50 local craft beers on tap at Mike’s Beer Bar!
4. Camden Yards – Baltimore Orioles
Built in the 1990s as the home of the Baltimore Orioles, Camden Yards is another one of the best MLB stadiums that is well worth traveling for. From visiting The National Aquarium to taking an Inner Harbor excursion, there’s a lot going on in Baltimore. And Camden Yards’ downtown location makes it easy to do it all!
This intimate, “modern-retro” gem harkens back to the ballparks of old and is known for its incorporation of the 1899 brick B&O Warehouse in right field. Architecture aside, going to a game here is always a fun experience with quirky traditions like yelling out “Oh!” during the “Oh say can you see” part of the National Anthem or dancing to “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” during 7th-inning stretch.
And this is Baltimore, so you’ll want to order some of the ballpark’s crab dishes, like the Crab Cake Egg Roll from Jimmy’s Seafood or the Crab Mac n Cheese Dog from Stuggy’s!
5. Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodgers fans are a unique breed, and seeing the team play at Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine is always a wild ride, starting with the traffic getting into the stadium – get there early! This place dates back to 1962, making it the third-oldest MLB stadium behind Fenway Park and Wrigley Field.
Walk the grounds and you’ll find all sorts of memorabilia and tributes highlighting this great team’s history, including statues of Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax. But if you really want to dig into the history here, this is one of those stadiums that’s well worth taking a tour of.
And with the ballpark’s famous Dodger Dogs and LA-inspired eats like burnt-end nachos and smoked elote, you won’t go hungry at Dodger Stadium.
6. American Family Field – Milwaukee Brewers
One of the reasons American Family Field (formerly Miller Park) is one of the best MLB stadiums to visit is because of the tailgating culture. Sure, this stadium isn’t right in the heart of downtown Milwaukee but the ample parking lets the fans go all out before the game.
The parking lots open 3 hours before the game, and it’s best to get there early to snag a spot close to the stadium. If you want to do as the locals do, you’ll skip the hot dogs and bring some brats to grill instead.
But your sausage journey doesn’t end there. Once inside, you’ll want to try a bratwurst with the Secret Stadium Sauce (get a side of cheese curds and a beer, too). And don’t miss the famous Sausage Race, where Brat, Polish, Italian, Hot Dog, and Chorizo race around the field before the bottom of the sixth!
7. Wrigley Field – Chicago Cubs
A trip to Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, is at the top of every baseball fan’s bucket list and it doesn’t hurt that the stadium is surrounded by all the bars, restaurants, and luxury hotels of the Wrigleyville neighborhood.
Opening in 1914, this is the second-oldest MLB ballpark and it’s known for its ivy-covered brick wall in the outfield, its old-school manual scoreboard, and the famous red marquee at the main entrance, where you’ll undoubtedly want to take a picture!
With a capacity of just over 40,000, this ballpark is blissfully intimate, so you don’t have to stress too much about where you sit. You’ll even see fans watching the game just outside the park, on the surrounding “Wrigley rooftops!”
It’s well worth taking a tour of this history stadium, too. Take a tour on a non-game day, and you’ll get the chance to get an insider’s glimpse into the outfield ivy, press box, visiting clubhouse, and dugout.
8. Oracle Park – San Francisco Giants
You don’t really need an excuse to take a trip to San Francisco, but add a day at the ballpark to your itinerary and stay in one of the very cool hotels near Oracle Park, and you’re bound to have a blast!
Perched right on the San Francisco Bay, Oracle Park stands proud as one of the coolest baseball stadiums in the country. This place is famous for its massive Coke bottle and giant baseball glove behind the left-field bleachers, as well as the bay views from many different parts of the stadium.
You might even get to see a rare “splash hit,” when a player hits a massive home run that lands in the water, where kayakers are always waiting! Plus, this is San Francisco, so expect gourmet eats like the Gilroy Garlic Fries, Dungeness Crab Fries from Murph’s Pub, and the Ghirardelli World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae.
