Petco Park is rightfully known as America’s Finest Ballpark. With gorgeous weather, sweeping views of the downtown skyline and San Diego bay, consistent sell-out crowds, a hint of history, and thoughtful architecture, Petco Park is truly one-of-a-kind and something everyone should experience at least once.

While you should definitely add attending a Padres game to your “must do” list, the Petco Park Daily Tour is an inexpensive, lesser-known way to get an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the ballpark. Covering baseball, architecture, trivia, and history, the daily tour is one of the best things to do in downtown San Diego.

Whether you’re a diehard baseball fan or just looking for an enjoyable way to spend an hour and a half, you won’t want to skip the Petco Park daily tour. Below I share what to expect, what you will see, tips to make the most of the experience, and whether it’s actually worth the money (or better to just attend a game).

petco park daily tour review

The Petco Park Daily Tour is a behind-the-scenes look at the stadium that last around 80 minutes. Available on non-game days and some game days, this tour combines baseball trivia, San Diego history, architecture, and fun facts to give you an inside look into America’s Finest Ballpark.

For all ages, this tour is engaging and enjoyable for tourists, locals, baseball fans, families, and even solo travelers (like me). Whether you want to learn about the Petco Park or just take a break from the “going out” vibe of downtown San Diego, it’s really fun.

This walking tour covers special areas of Petco Park like the press box and members-only suites, combining information about the Padres and San Diego to give you a unique behind-the-scenes experience.

what you see on the petco park daily tour

I was pleasantly surprised by how much you get to see and explore while on the Petco Park Daily Tour. You get a good mix of San Diego views, Petco Park architecture, and members-only exclusive spaces that cater to those who spend up to $100,000 a year. Highlights include:

press box

A favorite amongst visitors for a reason, this is super cool. View the field just as the announcers see it, check out the press lounge (featuring Jerry Coleman memorabilia), and take pictures from the open-air press box.

You’ll learn the story behind the “hang a star” catchphrase and can see up-to-date press badges where reporters sit every game.

premium suites and clubs

You get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at some of the most luxurious spaces at Petco Park, including the Blue Shield Home Plate Club. With accommodations like Michelin star food, a one-way window into the Padres warm-up area, and top bottle service, this area is beyond fancy and something many will only experience on the tour.

You also get to check out the seats directly behind home plate, which are closer to the batter than the pitcher.

If you are interested about upgraded experiences, you also get a tour of the suites available for rent each game. Each suite has a garage-door style window, which is a nice touch for those who want the exclusivity of a suite but still want to feel like they’re part of the game.

visitor dugout

One of the biggest highlights, towards the end of your tour you get to explore the visitor dugout. See the bullpen phone up-close, take pictures, and feel what it’s like to be a visitor player; this was one of the best parts of our tour. We spent enough time here for everyone to enjoy it and take pictures, and also got to see the grounds crew working on field maintenance to prep for tomorrow’s game.

historic western metal supply co. building

History meets baseball at this part of the tour, and while the Western Metal Supply Co. Building is one most notable parts of Petco Park, rarely do people take the time to explore inside. A declared historic landmark that dates back to 1909 (which predates Fenway Park), this was one of my favorite parts of the tour.

The inside is decorated beautifully and also includes arcade games, a bar, and lounge seating, and many people enjoy hanging out here so much that it’s not uncommon for people to never make it outside to actually watch the game.

You’ll learn that there is no foul pole in left field, take in the view from the rooftop, and see what fancier areas like The Rail and Foul Pole Suite have to offer.

field and skyline views

The walkways of Petco Park are open air and specifically designed to give you a picturesque view of the San Diego skyline, plus the Bay and Coronado Bridge. You’ll see firsthand why Petco Park is considered one of MLB’s prettiest stadiums. As someone who attends a handful of games each year, I realized I hadn’t fully appreciated the views from Petco Park until I did the tour, partially because gamedays can get crowded!

breitbard hall of fame

The tour ends with the Breitbard Hall of Fame, which is located near the Gaslamp Gate. Typically a very busy area during game days, it was nice to check out all of the plaques, as this HOF features San Diego athletes of all sports. Believe it or not, Dave Roberts is featured - try to find his plaque.

Note that you don’t explore Gallagher Square as part of the tour, so make sure to save a few minutes to check it out before or after! There is a playground for kids, grassy areas for hanging out, and the Tony Gwynn statue. However, we did stop at the Trevor Hoffman statue towards the beginning of the tour and learned about the baseball-inspired detail on the ground, plus why the Hoffman and Gwynn statues are placed where they are - very cool.

what i liked about the tour

Honestly, I loved the tour way more than I expected to. With so many different Petco Park tour options, I was worried that the Daily Tour would be basic or would feel sparse compared to all of the perks you get at the other tours, but it was a comprehensive, engaging experience that I genuinely enjoyed.

As a San Diego local, I learned fun facts about the city and surrounding areas I didn’t know before, and all baseball fans will geek out over the memorabilia and history that is shared throughout the tour.

It’s no secret that Petco Park is a beloved ballpark, and this tour made me appreciate the stadium even more. The behind-the-scenes aspect was crazy; to be able to see suites and areas that cost people $100,000+ a year to hang out in was wild.

Petco Park sells out regularly, so even if you get to the stadium 90 minutes before the first pitch, it can be hard to take it all in. This tour was quiet, intimate, and way less crowded than game day. It gave me a chance to appreciate the architecture and design, and I’ve since enjoyed game days a lot more knowing everything I now know!

And if you are all about taking pictures and video, you’ll have some great opportunities throughout the tour.

Lastly, I want to give recognition to my tour guide, Thor. He was professional, personable, entertaining, spoke clearly, and made the tour even better. He kept a steady pace, helped with pictures, and really went above and beyond to make sure we all had a good time.

things to know before you go

have a light snack before

There’s no time for eating or purchasing snacks; I toured on a non-game day and vendors weren’t even open. As such, have a light snack before the tour. You want to be satiated and energized for the tour, not so full that walking for the next 80 minutes feels like a chore.

Grab a coffee and croissant or light meal. Some nearby favorites:

Izola Bakery or Modern Times Coffee/ The Invigatorium for coffee and pastries
Tacos el Gordo (also a favorite among Padres players)
The Waves Taco Club (typically less crowded than Tacos el Gordo)
TNT Pizza (can buy by the slice)
Cloud 9 Deli

Check out my Gaslamp and East Village Travel Guides for all recommendations, plus more things to do before or after your tour.

wear comfortable shoes

Plan to be on your feet for the entire duration of the tour. Bigger groups will take the stairs exclusively. If you have a smaller group, you may ride in the elevator at one point or another, but even with a group of three, we still took the stairs the majority of the time.

Wear comfortable shoes with arch support. It’s kind of a toss-up if you’re allowed on the field, but you don’t want to wear heels or anything that could damage it just in case.

bring water and sunscreen

The tour is 80 minutes long. You do not spend much (if any) time sitting, and a good portion of the tour is spent outside so you can take in the incredible skyline views. Make sure you wear sunscreen, especially if you are visiting during a hot summer day.

You may also want to bring water; we didn’t have any bag checks, but to be on the safe side, a regular, sealed plastic bottle is pretty much always allowed in. It’s a lot of walking, so it is better to bring water and not need it than be thirsty for half of the tour.

parking

Because Petco Park is in the heart of downtown San Diego, make sure to factor in enough time to account for traffic plus parking and walking to Petco. The closest parking lot is 6th and K Parkade, but Park It On Market is another cheap option that is just a few blocks away.

arrive early

Check in for the tour about 10 minutes before the start time. You can then explore the Padres in Cooperstown wall. We briefly went over this as part of our tour because we had a small group and extra time, but if you want to squeeze in all the Padre info, explore it independently while you wait for tour to start.

where to meet for the petco park daily tour

You will check in at the Gaslamp Gate, which (if you are facing the stadium, not downtown) is to the left of the team store at the intersection of K Street and Tony Gwynn Drive.

If you need exact directions or something to put into maps to follow, I recommend putting in the Team Store’s address.

post-tour perks

You are given a sticker as your “pass” for the tour which also gets you 10% off at the team store as well as Bub’s at the Ballpark (sports bar), so don’t go shopping until after your tour so you can take advantage of that discount! The store has everything you could ever want - clothes, hats, kids’ stuff, drinkware, etc. - and is open until around 5PM most days (but subject to change based on game schedule).

Bub’s is best for appetizers, drinks, and bar food. Stop for a quick snack after your tour; if you want a nicer meal, go elsewhere.

best time to take the tour

The best time to take the tour truly depends on your schedule and what else you’d like to do while you’re downtown. I do believe that the earlier tours tend to have more people; on the day I went, the 10AM tour had 25 people and my tour (2PM) only had 3.

The 2PM tour felt less rushed; I can’t speak for earlier tours, but knowing it was the last of the day, we were able to linger a little longer.

As far as game day vs non-game day tours:

You may be more likely to see coaches or players walking through the tunnel, etc. on game days but they won’t stop to chat.
Some areas may be closed off to accomodate the team as needed; watching batting practice isn’t guaranteed.
Going on a non-game day, the only area we didn’t see was the visitor dugout as staff was prepping it for tomorrow’s game.

is the petco park daily tour worth it?

As I mentioned, I’m not one to love guided tours, but the Petco Park Daily Tour was really informative and enjoyable. You get to see areas that are insanely exclusive ($100,000+ annual fees) while learning fun facts about the team, stadium, and San Diego. I’ve been going to games for years and still learned a lot. The tour is engaging for all ages, there are lots of photo opportunities, and even a few of the rival Dodger fans loved the tour, which is saying something.

PS: if you don’t have anyone to go with, go alone! I did and it was awesome. Of course I wished that some of my baseball-loving friends were with me because I felt like they would have enjoyed it and were missing out, but as a solo explorer, I still had an amazing time by yourself.

it’s worth it if…

You love baseball.
You enjoy stadium tours.
You want behind-the-scenes access, or want to see the ultra-exclusive areas.
You’re visiting San Diego for the first time.
You’re a local but haven’t really experienced the park.
You want good photo spots downtown.

it may not be worth it if…

You only care about watching games.
You only want to learn about the Padres (not the stadium or San Diego).
You dislike walking tours.
You’re traveling with very young kids who would rather play at the playground at Gallagher Square.
You’re on a tight budget and would rather attend a game.

how much does the petco park daily tour cost?

The Petco Park Daily Tour cost $42.50 (technically $41.50 plus a $1 fee). This is the cheapest tour available; others cost anywhere from $96 to $186, yet it doesn’t feel like a budget experience. The daily tour runs for 80 minutes and you see quite a bit of the stadium, including exclusive areas, so it feels like a great value and is fairly priced.

Book online and keep in mind that prices and availability are subject to change based on the baseball schedule or other events. Season ticket holders receive a discount, so have that information ready when you go to book.

tips for the best experience

You don’t have to attend a game for the Petco Park Daily Tour to be a worthwhile experience. To make the most of your experience, I recommend:

Stay near the tour guide - they’re mic’ed up, so you can hear from a further distance, but the closer you are, the more engaging it feels.
Ask questions.
Bring a camera and take photos - don’t be shy; there are incredible photo opportunities you will want to take advantage of.
Pair it with time spent exploring Gaslamp Quarter (here are my go-to Gaslamp recommendations).
Have a snack before - you’ll be on your feet/ walking the entire 80 minutes, so you don’t want to go in hungry, but having a heavy meal isn’t ideal, either.
Wear sunscreen and bring water, especially if you’re going on a warm day.

Overall, the Petco Park Daily Tour is worth it for most visitors, especially baseball fans, first-time San Diego tourists, or locals who want a true behind-the-scenes experience. The skyline views alone make it memorable, but the dugout access and stadium history are what really make the tour stand out. The tour is long enough to give you your money’s worth, but not so long that you lose focus. It’s a great way to spend a morning or afternoon, and still leaves you plenty of time to enjoy Gaslamp Quarter and downtown San Diego.

I would definitely do it again, especially because I have a few friends who I know would enjoy it and wish they had gone with me. Fortunately, because it only costs $42.50 we all have plans to go together (and I think it’s worth paying for again).

Petco Park Daily Tour Review: Is It Worth It?