Houston, Texas

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?

Hotels Near Minute Maid Park. All 6 below are within walking distance of the ballpark.

Unlimited budget

The Westin- Houston Downtown

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

Four Seasons Hotel 

Moderate budget

Residence Inn by Marriott- Downtown Convention Center

Holiday Inn Express - Downtown Convention Center

Hyatt Regency Houston

Holiday Inn Houston Downtown 

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

Sleep Inn & Suites Near Downtown North

Courtyard by Marriott - West University

WHERE TO PARK?

Minute Maid Park is a downtown ballpark 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. Look for one of these 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 six blocks from the ballpark.

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 Irma's Southwest Grill and Vic and Anthony's Steakhouse. Both are recommended before or after an Astros game.

Ballpark Chasers Favorite Bar- Home Plate Bar & Grill

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 ultimate nacho supreme. This 30 oz. plate of goodness is found in sections 111 and 431.  Other fun options include the BBQ Funnel Cake, Osso Italian Nachos, Haute Dogs, and all the tex-mex food at the HTX Mex concession stand. For those hot dog lovers, check out the Astros Sizzling Extreme Grill stand for their specialty hot dogs from ballparks around the country. Current hot dogs featured are: Cincinnati Cheese Coney dog, Georgia dog, New York dog and the Chicago Dog. If you prefer sit-down dining, try FiveSeven Grill, located in center field. In tribute to Astros' greats Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, the FiveSeven Grill packs a mean plate by offering "Texas size portions". This is a great choice to grab a meal before the game. Otherwise, the FiveSeven Grill offers to-go dining in order to eat at your seat while watching the game.  For dessert, our favorite is the Cinnamon Bun Sundae. This jumbo cinnamon roll comes with vanilla bean ice cream, whiskey caramel sauce, Bailey’s chocolate sauce, whipped cream and berries.

Ballpark Chasers Tip: Dollar Dog Nights on Tuesdays throughout the season. While other ballparks sell smaller franks on their discount dog nights, the Astros offer the same size frank as other games!

New to Minute Maid Park

Fritos Pie Corn Dog —a foot long hot dog, dipped in Fritos corn chips batter, and smothered with queso blanco and Texas chili. 

The Lamb Gyro -- fresh pita bread topped with lamb and beef, lettuce, tomato, red onion and a drizzle of tzatziki sauce (sections 127 and 409).

Fried Shrimp Po' Boy -- split-top bun loaded with crispy fried shrimp, lettuce, tomato and a drizzle of remoulade sauce (Sections 127 and 409). 

Calabrese Shrimp Sandwich -- crispy shrimp, pepperoncini, romaine lettuce, potato sticks and Calabrian remoulade (section 227).

WHERE TO BUY TICKETS?

Despite a World Series season, Minute Maid Park was in the middle of Major League baseball attendance in 2017. We expect attendance to rise this season as the Astros look to make a run at another World Series title.  For the best deal, Ballpark Chasers recommends pre-purchasing tickets through the Astros ticket office. For those last minute shoppers, scalpers are noticeably present along the streets of Houston and love to bargain during the last 30 minutes before 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. 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 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! 

UPDATE: Finger Furniture store has closed. Check back for updates on where the museum will be located next.  

BALLPARK CHASERS VACATION?

Minute Maid Park is part of Ballpark Chasers “Texas Dos" vacation which includes seeing the Rangers at Globe Life Park. 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 three hour drive to 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.