Ballpark · Baseball
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium is the third oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball and the most beautiful of the three, cut into a hillside in Chavez Ravine with the San Gabriel Mountains behind the outfield and downtown Los Angeles visible off to one side. The terraced design means you drive in at the level of your seat and walk in almost horizontally, which is unlike any other park. It is also the most car dependent major venue in American sport, and getting in and out is the single thing that defines the trip.
The capacity has been held at 56,000 for decades, which makes it the largest ballpark in Major League Baseball by seating.
What happens here
The teams and events that put this venue on a fan travel itinerary.
Major events
- MLB regular season and playoffs
- Concerts
How it got here
The history that still shapes what you see on a visit.
The Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958 and played their first four seasons at the Coliseum while the ballpark was built. The land in Chavez Ravine was cleared through the 1950s in a process that displaced established Mexican American communities, initially for public housing that was never built, and the history remains a genuine part of the site rather than a footnote. The stadium opened in 1962 and has been renovated repeatedly without ever losing its original shape.
Getting there
Including what changes on the way out, which is usually the harder half.
Transit summary
There is no rail station at the ballpark, which is the central planning problem. The Dodger Stadium Express bus runs from Union Station and from the South Bay on game days and is free with a game ticket, which makes it the best option by a distance. Union Station itself connects Metro rail, Amtrak and regional services, so the realistic public transport route is rail to Union Station and then the shuttle.
Parking and rideshare
Parking is expensive and materially cheaper if bought in advance rather than at the gate. The lots are terraced by seating level, so park in the lot matching your ticket or you will walk a long way uphill. The exit after a full house is famously slow, routinely forty five minutes or more to clear the ravine. Rideshare pickup is staged in designated lots away from the gates and surges heavily.
Where to stay, eat and drink
Nearby hotel areas
- Downtown Los Angeles (closest practical base, connects to the stadium shuttle at Union Station)
- Echo Park and Silver Lake (closest neighbourhoods, good bars and food, short ride to the gate)
- Los Feliz (attractive, good restaurants, 15 minutes from the ballpark)
- Hollywood (wide hotel stock, Metro connection to Union Station)
- Santa Monica and the beaches (better holiday base, an hour or more away on a game night)
Bars and restaurants nearby
- There is nothing walkable at the ballpark itself. It sits alone in a park on a hill.
- Echo Park along Sunset Boulevard, the closest proper bar and restaurant strip
- Silver Lake and Los Feliz for the best eating within a short ride
- Chinatown, between the ballpark and Union Station, convenient if you are taking the shuttle
Tours and visits
The club runs stadium tours on selected non game dates covering the dugout, the field level and the club areas, with a longer pregame tour option on some game days. The schedule is limited during the season, so book ahead.
Practical tips
Planning a visit to Dodger Stadium
- Take the Dodger Stadium Express from Union Station. It is free with a game ticket and it removes the worst part of the experience.
- If you drive, buy parking in advance and park in the lot that matches your ticket level. The stadium is terraced and the wrong lot means a long uphill walk.
- Leaving takes a long time regardless of how you arrived. Build it into the evening rather than fighting it.
- Los Angeles evenings cool down sharply after sunset even in summer, and the ballpark sits exposed on a hill. Bring a layer.
- Day games in July and August are hot with limited shade in the upper decks. Check where the sun falls on your section.
Bags, security and accessibility
A bag policy limiting size and type is enforced, with clear bags recommended. The ballpark is cashless. Accessible parking and seating are available and should be arranged in advance, and the terraced layout actually makes step free access simpler here than at most older parks.
Related teams
Clubs that play here, and others we cover in the same city
Los Angeles Dodgers travel guide
Baseball · Major League Baseball
The third-oldest ballpark in baseball, and the hardest to park at
Open guideLos Angeles Dodgers travel guide
Baseball · Major League Baseball
The third-oldest ballpark in baseball, and the hardest to park at
Open guideLos Angeles Lakers travel guide
Basketball · National Basketball Association
Downtown arena, the one LA venue you can reach on rail
Open guideRelated destinations
The wider city guide around this venue
Related events
Major events staged at or around this venue
Related competitions
How the leagues and championships behind this actually work
MLB guide
Baseball · League
Thirty clubs play 162 games from late March or early April into September, in series of two to four games against the same opponent. Twelve teams reach the postseason, six per league, playing a wild card round, division series, league championship series and then the World Series. Spring training runs through February and March in Florida and Arizona.
Open guideWorld Series guide
Baseball · Series
A best-of-seven series between the American League and National League champions, played in a two-three-two home pattern: the club with home-field advantage hosts games one, two, six and seven, the other hosts three, four and five. Games five, six and seven are played only if required.
Open guideWhere to go next
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Dodger Stadium without driving?+
The Dodger Stadium Express bus from Union Station is free with a game ticket and runs before and after games. Take Metro rail or Amtrak to Union Station and connect to the shuttle there.
Why is leaving Dodger Stadium so slow?+
The ballpark sits in a ravine with a small number of exit roads and holds 56,000 people, most of whom arrive by car. Clearing the lots routinely takes forty five minutes or more. The shuttle avoids most of it.
How old is Dodger Stadium?+
It opened in 1962, making it the third oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball behind Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, and the oldest west of the Mississippi.
Last updated August 19, 2026
Sources and verification
- LA Metro Dodger Stadium Express service information
- Los Angeles Dodgers official ballpark, parking and tour information
Capacity figures are approximate and configuration-dependent. Transit routes, bag policies, and tour access change around fixtures and construction. Verify before travel.
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FanForged has no affiliation with Dodger Stadium, its operator, or any team or event staged there. Venue names are used descriptively and no venue marks are reproduced here.