Miami, Florida
Miami International Airport (MIA)
4 Miles/10 minutes to loanDepot Park (with tolls) 20 minutes (without tolls)
WHERE TO STAY?
Hotels Near loanDepot Park: all options below are within 10 miles of loanDepot Park and require driving or public transportation.
Unlimited Budget- Stay in South Beach for a real taste of Miami!
Edgewater- South Beach
Epic Hotel - South Beach
Clevelander – South Beach
Ballpark Chasers Tip: When staying in South Beach, check out our two favorites eateries: 11th St. Dinner and the Burger & Beer Joint.
Moderate Budget
Hampton Inn and Suites- Miami Airport/Blue Lagoon
Best Western Premier- Miami Airport
Courtyard- Miami Airport South
Chaser Budget Traveler
La Quinta Inn & Suites- Miami Airport East
Holiday Inn Express – Miami Springs
*The Roadway Inn is the closest motel to loanDepot Park, just over a mile walk. It’s a cheap stay and convenient to the ballpark, but is not recommended by our staff.
WHERE TO PARK?
loanDepot Park lies on the old grounds of the Orange Bowl, in the Little Havana district of Miami. Local fans can tell you horror stories about trying to find one of 3,000 parking spaces, intended for over 70,000 football fans. The Marlins seemed to have listened - somewhat. They have doubled the parking spaces for a ballpark seating 37,000 fans. With that being said, the only way to guarantee an onsite parking spot is to purchase your parking space ahead of time using the Marlins website. We anticipate most, if not all games, to sell out the on-site parking. For the 2018 season, on-site parking ranges between $20-$30.
For off-site parking, there are over a dozen businesses/organizations around the ballpark that sell parking spots ranging from $8 to $33. If you are in a last minute crunch, try to park on someone’s lawn! I know this sounds odd, but homes surrounding the ballpark will give up their driveways and lawns for fan parking. This option can be more expensive and fluctuates depending on the game. For a stress free option, try taking public transportation. The city of Miami offers eight bus routes that stop within walking distance of loanDepot Park, several Metrorail and express shuttle services, Tri-Rail trains and even free trolley service. For a detailed description of these options including maps, check out the Marlins public transportation page.
WHERE TO EAT?
Marlins staff informed us that the commercial buildings surrounding the ballpark are intended to be used for retail and restaurants. While we wait for this new development, there are only two restaurants within walking distance of loanDepot Park that is Ballpark Chaser recommended. la Camaronera is roughly a 15 minute walk from the ballpark and is a nice option to grab a quick bite. Don't expect a full-service restaurant; you order at the counter and eat standing up. However, you can expect some incredible seafood ranging from fried lobster sandwiches to shrimp tacos. Our favorites include the fried calamari for a starter, shrimp or snapper sandwich for the main course along with a side of yellow rice. Who are we kidding? It’s all so good, just order your favorite type of fish.
The menu inside loanDepot Park has us really excited! The Miami Mex in section 4 and 325 serves mouth-watering steak and key-lime chicken tacos, Mahi Mahi tacos, and ballpark nachos served in a helmet. The Metro Grill in section 5 and 323 offers grilled chicken pretzel club, lobster rolls and a beef tenderloin steak sandwich. The Burger 305 concession stands are throughout the ballpark and offer specialty visiting team menu items throughout the season. Standard menu items at Burger 305 include: Miami Shrimp Burgers, single and double cheeseburgers and even a rare ballpark appearance by the homemade veggie burger. For a real taste of Miami, check out the Rincon Habana concession found in section 37, 223 and 314. The empanadas and Cuban sandwiches here are a Ballpark Chaser favorite. Our last recommendation is famous Brother Jimmy's BBQ pork sandwiches in section 8.
Ballpark Chasers fan favorite: try a Sobe Hot Dog. It's an all beef wiener served on a toasted bun with mango slaw, chipotle mayo and potato sticks. Yum!
Ballpark Chasers Favorite Bar- Batting Cage Sports Bar
New food at loanDepot Park
Pincho Factory - Latin-inspired burgers, skewers, and even sweet potato tots.
Sweets - all things that will give you cavities! Our favorite is the Bubble waffle cracker with Jack ice cream sundae.
Miami's Best Pizza - try it and decide for yourself.
SuViche- sushi rolls, ceviches, and other Peruvian specialties.
WHERE TO BUY TICKETS?
Over the last decade, the Marlins have consistently ranked in the bottom five in Major League attendance. Unfortunately, even new loanDepot Park hasn't brought fans to the ballpark. On an average game in 2017, loanDepot Park was only 54% full. With the Marlins rebuilding their team, you can expect few sellouts and tickets to be readily available.
WHEN TO GO?
South Florida is a tropical region with year-round sunshine. Remember that loanDepot Park has a retractable roof, so there is no worry that a rainout will spoil your trip. Ballpark Chasers suggest planning a trip to loanDepot Park in the beginning of the season when your home city is still struggling to see sun.
WHAT ELSE TO SEE?
A trip to Florida isn’t complete without taking a trip to the beach. Although there are many to choose from, South Beach is in a league of its own. After you get your fill laying on the beach and catching some vitamin D, make time for the art deco walking tour to fully appreciate the history of South Beach. No reservations are required; however, tours depart only once per day, so make sure to plan accordingly. Explore Miami via water by embarking on a 2-hour Ocean Force Adventure aboard a Zodiac RIB boat (the same used by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies). This sightseeing/thrill ride travels roughly 40 miles across the ocean to witness marine life, historical landmarks, celebrity homes and gorgeous views of the Miami skyline. With only 6 passengers per boat, reservations are a must.
If you just can’t get enough of the water and are feeling brave, head south until you come across Coopertown, Florida where the population is under 10! After trying some frog legs and gator tails for lunch at their local neighborhood restaurant, embark on an airboat tour through the Florida everglades. Coopertown Airboats offer a one-hour or two-hour ride that will show you the wildlife of Everglades National Park up close and personal. Make sure to bring your camera as alligators and crocodiles like to come out and play during the tour. Come see why Mickey Mantle made a point of taking a ride on one of the most unique tour operations in all of America.
BALLPARK CHASERS VACATION?
loanDepot Park is part of the "Sunshine Pair" Ballpark Chasers Vacation, which includes seeing Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida. The drive between ballparks is roughly 260 miles, about 4.5 hours. Ballpark Chasers recommends searching for airline tickets to either Tampa International Airport or Miami International Airport to find the cheapest ticket from your home city. In order to break up the 4+ hour drive, pick one or more Florida State League ballparks to visit on the way. Our favorite is Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida. The newly renovated stadium is home to the Charlotte Stone Crabs, the High-A Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Further south is Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. The Twins Advanced Single A Affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle, play here and offer a great beer garden along with fabulous turkey legs. If your trip to Miami does not have you traveling to Tropicana Field, check out Roger Dean Stadium, located in Jupiter, Florida. Just 70 minutes to the North of loanDepot Park, Roger Dean Stadium is home to the Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals. Because the teams share the ballpark, there is a game being played nearly every day throughout the summer. The Hammerheads are the Class A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and the Cardinals are (no surprise) the St. Louis Cardinals Class A ball club.
Last updated by Ballpark Chasers.
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