Petco Park With Kids: 10 Tips for A San Diego Padres Game

Going to a baseball game at Petco Park is one of the best San Diego experiences! I recommend it for visitors and local families as the stadium is fun for the whole family. They’ve made great efforts to make it family-friendly and keep their smallest Padres fans in mind. It’s the best way to introduce your kids to baseball. Consider this your complete guide to Petco Park with kids!

We love seeing The San Diego Padres games from the first pitch to the bottom of the ninth inning! With lots of playground breaks in between. The stadium food is amazing and I am always finding new favorites. 

Here is the calendar for June for Gallagher Square! The other months are in the Gallagher Square section.

Here is everything to know before taking your kids to a San Diego Padres game and Petco Park with kids!

1. Gallagher Square and the brand-new playground (free on non-game days!)
2. Best places to sit with kids
3. Do kids need tickets?
4. How to get there
5. Where to get Padres gear
6. What you can bring into the stadium
7. The best food to try
8. Kids Fest on Sunday home games
9. Extra Tips For Bringing Babies

Gallagher Square and the brand-new playground (free on non-game days!)

Let’s start with their new playground and kid’s area in Gallagher Square! This just opened this year in 2024 and it’s so fun! It’s behind the outfield so you can’t see the actual game from here, but a ticket here gets you access to the whole stadium. It’s fun to watch from the grassy fields plus the kids have space to move around.

The playground is open for public play on non-game days or before evening games. That’s right, you don’t need a ticket to get in to play on the playground! The calendar of when it is available for play is linked here. On game day, you DO need a ticket to access the playground. 

They have tons of live music and concerts that come to Gallagher Square! Those are on the calendar as well.

Note that sometimes it is partially open and sometimes fully open. They have an area where the kids can run the bases and play baseball! I stopped and watched that game for a while at the most recent game we went to and honestly it was just as entertaining as the real game. 

Gallagher Square opens about two hours before every game so you can go super early to play on the playground and on the ball field. That way you don’t miss too much of the actual game.

Ticketing and best places to sit with kids at Petco Park

General admission tickets range from $30 at the lower end up to the premium seats. An easy place to sit is in the Gallagher grassy area and enjoy open seating. Technically it’s standing room / sitting room only. The game ticket gets you into Gallhager Square, but you can wander the entire stadium and get whatever food you want. Note that you can’t see the real game from here but there is a huge TV screen so you won’t miss any of the action. While there, make sure to go into the stadium a bit to see the Padres Hall of Fame! If you sit here, don’t forget your picnic blankets.

For the more dedicated fan, you’ll want to grab tickets for the seats. It’s an additional cost, but it’s worth it. You don’t have to stay there the entire game. Nine innings is a long time for kids to stay in one place. However, it’s fun to be in there and watch the kids cheer together for their favorite players. 

Whether you sit up high or down low, you will want to ensure you are in the shade for day games. It gets warm in the sun in San Diego and you are gonna have some grumpy kids. Your best bet is to check this shade map to help you decide which seats will be in the shade. It makes all the difference!

We sat in section 116 row 40 and were in the shade the entire time for a day game. It felt close enough to the action but not so close that my rowdy kids disturbed everyone. If you sit in the front rows I noticed they were giving special giveaway item to the kids. Just pack your hats and double-digit sunscreen, especially for summer games. 

As long as you are in the stadium there are no bad seats! If you choose to sit on second level or third level you will have an amazing view of the downtown skyline. 

Do kids need tickets?

Kids under 3 feet do not need a ticket though they will need to sit on the lap of their parent. It can get loud in there so make sure to have a backup plan in case things go south and the baby doesn’t want to be there. I saw some parents with headphones, though it wasn’t too loud in our section so I didn’t feel we needed them. 

They have security wristbands available with your seat numbers on them if your kid gets lost. You can pick those up at guest services. Or you can drill your phone number into your kids’ brains as soon as they can talk which is what I do and tell them to find a mom with a kid to call you if they get lost. 

How to get to Petco Park with kids

Public transit is your friend. I know we SoCal moms are attached to our cars, but this is one case that you should brave public transit. Our red trolley line is excellent AND kids under 18 ride free. The best place to get off is at The Gaslamp Quarter. Then follow the crowd of brown and gold to San Diego’s Petco Park.

Both the green line and the blue line let off right near the stadium. We like to park at one of the stops with free parking in downtown San Diego such as Old Town or Fashion Valley. Just note that the parking lot at Fashion Valley closes so make sure that you aren’t there too late during a night game. 

Download the Pronto app and load $5 on your card. You pay $2.50 each way per adult. It’s a timed ticket. Scan in before you get on the train because they check tickets often on game days. 

If you want to park at the stadium, be prepared to pay premium prices. It can run up to $60 to park there. They are relentless about giving parking tickets at the metered spots around the stadium and the signage is confusing.

Another option is to pre-reserve your parking spot with ACE Parking for $15. Here’s the link to do that! It’s a little extra prep but it’s worth it to not be stressed on game day.

Where to get Padres gear

We got our Padres gear from Amazon, Target, and the MLB store. The gear is more expensive inside the stadium. Some of the hats and jerseys were up to $100 when they were only about $30 at Target. Grab your gear ahead of time. I also saw a lot of resellers outside the stadium who seemed to have decent prices, though you might be forced to haggle a bit.

My kid’s favorite player is Manny Machado so I picked up those jerseys at Target. Bauble Bar has a great Padres jewelry line that is so cute I incorporate it into my everyday wardrobe. The link to that is here!

What you can bring into Petco Park with kids

We brought a diaper bag fanny pack and empty water bottles. You can bring in bottled water if it is factory-sealed. The cheapest bottle of water inside the stadium is $8, so bring your own as there are plenty of refill stations around the park. 

Diaper bags ARE allowed and baby-related items. Anything else will need to go in clear bags. It’s a little less clear on whether or not you are allowed to bring in your own snacks. I have one VERY picky child so I brought a few snacks and they didn’t seem to mind. Except in certain situations, I would leave the snacks at home because ballpark food is part of the fun. 

They are clear that outside food (like restaurant food) for groups is not allowed. You also can’t enter with any liquids unless they are sealed and not alcohol. 

The best food to try

The best thing I have eaten at the stadium is the tri-tip nachos. You can get them all over the stadium. A classic hot dog for the kids is never a bad move. Also worth trying: Board and Brew Sandwiches, Pizza Port, Puesto Tacos, Seaside Market, Hoddad’s Burgers and I saw a gelato place.

The only thing I have had that I would not get again is the ahi tuna bowls from the sushi place. It wasn’t the vibe for a ball game. I did not try the sushi however so it might be good. Someone go try it and let me know.

We got cotton candy for the kids. It was only $7, making it one of the cheapest treats at the stadium. They also have tons of beverage options including craft beer and lemonades. I may know everything going on during the game like a true diehard fan, but I am a diehard fan of all the food options they have at the stadium!

Kids Fest on Sunday home games

Sunday games at home are for Kids Fest! Kids Fest is a special event that promises a great time for San Diegans with kids! The picnic area in Gallagher Square is transformed into a kids’ activities paradise with bounce houses, face painting, balloon artists, and other kid-friendly activities. These special Sundays filled with family fun are great for a kid’s first time attending a game. I love the Padres organization because they think so much about their youngest fans!

Extra Tips for those coming with babies

Sharp March Birch sponsored a nursing lounge on the Toyota Terrace level next to the Western Metal Supply building. It’s quiet and it has a view of the stadium so you won’t miss any gameplay. There are wipes, plugs for your breast pump, and even wipes if you forget them at home. There’s also a bottle warmer for any formula-fed babies! I have babies that take 20 minutes to nurse on each side and refuse to nurse anywhere noisy AND one even refused a bottle so I appreciate them making this addition to the stadium. There is a family restroom nearby as well. 

Strollers are allowed inside the stadium however you will be happy with parking them as you won’t be able to bring them down the stairs to your seats. There is stroller parking on the first level near section 116. I noticed they had an attendant to watch it too. So in all, this is a great place to take kids for their first visit to a baseball stadium! Whether you go for opening day or for one of the many games throughout spring and summer I hope you have the best time.

This website is a living breathing thing. I am constantly getting updates from moms so if you have anything to add about taking kids to Petco Park please let me know!

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My name is Camille! I am a San Diego stay-at-home mom who is never ever at home. I share a lot of fun things to do around San Diego including parks, restaurants, LEGOLAND, the zoo etc.

My goal with my Instagram account and blog is to make any mom feel prepared for any outing with her kids so that she doesn’t have to stay home unless she wants to. Getting out with my kids was key for me in overcoming postpartum depression so I try to pay it forward by sharing what we do to help other moms in a similar situation. Read more about my story here.

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