Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)

10 miles/15 minutes to Oriole Park

WHERE TO STAY? 

Hotels Near Oriole Park at Camden Yards (All within walking distance of the ballpark)

Unlimited budget

Hyatt Regency Baltimore

Residence Inn Baltimore Downtown/Inner Harbor

Hilton Baltimore

Baltimore Inner Harbor Marriott at Camden Yards

Moderate budget

Hampton Inn & Suites Inner Harbor

Hampton Inn Baltimore Camden Yards 

Days Inn Inner Harbor

Embassy Suites Baltimore- Inner Harbor

Chaser budget traveler

Sleep Inn & Suites - Downtown Inner Harbor 

Hotel Brexton

Best Western Plus Hotel & Conference Center  - 4 miles from Oriole Park

WHERE TO PARK?

Over 30,000 street, metered, garage and paid lot parking spaces are available surrounding Oriole Park. The downtown/Inner Harbor area of Baltimore offers plenty of parking, ranging from $5 to $25, depending on the distance to the ballpark.  Expect a 5 to 20 minute walk to the Oriole Park from these parking lots. 

Ballpark Chasers Tip: be cautious of the “free street parking” signs. Not only is there usually a two hour limit, but game days will void any free parking. 

WHERE TO EAT?

Downtown Baltimore is one of our favorite cities for pre-game food and beverages. It was difficult to narrow down all of the great sports bars and restaurants next to Oriole Park, but we have managed to recommend the top three. Pickles Pub takes the top honor for our favorite local sports bar and restaurant. Ballpark Chasers come here for the pre and postgame atmosphere and to hang with the local Oriole fans. Don’t leave without trying your luck in a game of cornhole.

For those beer connoisseurs, check out The Wharf Rat on Pratt Street. With over 15 homemade Ales to choice from, the Wharf Rat is a perfect restaurant if you are looking for more than just a quick bite. Be sure to order the Ballpark Chasers meal: cheese fries to start, Henry VIII’s meatloaf for the main course and an Oliver Ironman Pale Ale for your beverage.

For those traveling with a rental car or willing to take public transpiration, head over to Blue Moon Cafe'. Roughly 2 miles from Oriole Park (40 minute walk), Blue Moon Cafe' is one of the best breakfast joints in America. They are open 24 hours on the weekends which makes for a great late night meal after the game. What to order? The Captain Crunch French Toast of course!

Ballpark Chasers Favorite Bar- Pickle's Pub

Once inside Oriole Park at Camden Yards, you must try Boog’s Barbeque. Don’t worry about where to find it; just follow the smell as it will lead you to their stand. Owned, operated and sometimes served by Boog Powell himself, one of Baltimore’s local legends for his big bat and four World Series appearances. Boog’s is consistently voted as one of the top ballpark foods in all of baseball and is worthy of a sample of beef, pork or turkey BBQ sandwich.

Other Oriole Park favorites include Attman's Deli for their "cloak and dagger” sandwich,  Boardwalk Fries, Pinch Dumplings, and Pizza Johns & Lobster Hut. But the best is Stuggy's Crab Mac N Cheese Dog. 

New Ballpark Food

Harris Creek Oyster & Seafood (on Eutaw Street) - fried Cajun catfish sandwiches, oyster po’boy sandwiches and jumbo lump crab cakes. 

Pigtown Stack (near section 68) - barbecue pork patty with sweet mustard slaw, tobacco onions and pickles on a brioche long roll.

Harbor Crisps (near section 68)  — a bed of kettle chips topped with gravy and mozzarella.

Charm City Chicken Shack (near sections 12, 68 and 80) - mac and cheese, a family-style chicken tender basket in a souvenir helmet and the “sweet heat” chicken sandwich.

Birdland Nachos - Doritos-style chips with white cheese sauce, black olives, sour cream, salsa and scallions in a souvenir helmet.

WHERE TO BUY TICKETS?

The 2017 season ranked Oriole Park at Camden Yards 23rd in MLB attendance.   Unless the Orioles are playing the Red Sox or Yankees, tickets will be easily available last minute at the main box office. Keep in mind that the city of Baltimore allows the resale of tickets outside of Oriole Park as long as one is selling at face value or less. 

Ballpark Chasers recommends pre-purchasing tickets through the Orioles ticket office. 

Ballpark Chasers tip: Bring your best appetite for the Left Field Club Picnic Perch. These seats go for $45 ($50 on game day) and include all you can eat hot-dogs, peanuts, nachos, salad, soda and popcorn.

WHEN TO GO?

Baltimore’s coastal climate tends to bring warm and sunny summers. On average, July and August tend to the warmest and most humid, with temperatures in the mid to upper 80s and even reaching into the 90s. Rainfall is pretty consistent month-to-month during the summer. Ballpark Chasers find May and June the most pleasant time of year to travel to Oriole Park.

WHAT ELSE TO SEE?

The perfect way to spend an afternoon before an Orioles game is to visit the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum and the Sports Legends Museum. Both are within walking distance  from one another, as well as from Oriole Park. Since 1974, the Babe Ruth Museum has been a shrine to arguably the greatest baseball player of all time. Current exhibits include the 500 Home Run Club, artifacts from the Babe’s childhood and the actual room where the great George Herman Ruth was born.

The Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards is a two-floor, 22,000 sq ft. former train station that had Abraham Lincoln pass through on several occasions. Thankfully, the building was saved and remolded throughout the years and converted into a top notch sports museum. Showcases include: the history of Orioles baseball, the 1958 World Champion Baltimore Colts football, Johnny Unitas’ jersey, minor and amateur baseball in Maryland, Negro Leagues and a “locker room” for kids to try on uniforms and jerseys.

Ballpark Chasers Update: Sports Legends at Camden Station is now closed to the public as the foundation board searches diligently for a new location.

About 30 miles North of Baltimore is a small town called Aberdeen where sports fans come to pay tribute to the “Iron Man”. Aberdeen is the birthplace of Cal Ripken Jr. as well as the hometown for most of the Ripken family (Cal, Cal Sr. and Billy Ripken). Although The Ripken Museum is now permanently closed, there is a ballpark to visit in town. Ripken Stadium is home of the Aberdeen Iron Birds . The Iron Birds are the Class A (short season) affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. 

Other fun attractions to visit in Baltimore include: Fort McHenry National Monument, Fell's Point, and visiting the Inner Harbor. Or to see them all together, take the Baltimore Trolley Tour. 

BALLPARK CHASERS VACATION?

Oriole Park at Camden Yards is part of the “East Coast Swing” Ballpark Chasers vacation. This trip includes seeing the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park and the Nationals at Nationals Park. We suggest finding the cheapest flight to Washington DC, Baltimore or Philadelphia and getting a rental car to drive in between. Expect up to a one hour drive from Baltimore to DC, a three hour drive between DC and Philadelphia and two hours from Philadelphia back to Baltimore. Keep in mind that these times reflect little traffic but that will never happen during the weekdays. The “East Coast Swing” can easily be done in three days but plan for five to have time at local attractions and museums.

For those Ballpark Chasers looking to embark on a Minor League quest, check out the Bowie Baysox battle at Prince George’s Stadium. Bowie, Maryland is home to the Orioles AA Affiliate and is only about 30 miles south of Baltimore. One hour West is newly renovated Harry Grove Stadium, home of the Frederick Keys. Named after Francis Scott Key, a native of Frederick County, “The Grove” houses the Orioles Class A Minor League squad.