Baltimore's Orioles Park @ Camden Yards is simple to travel to by Public Transit. Its a Great Day Trip if you're in the area. If you're flying in for the game, here's what you need to know.
The Orioles ALCS is a sell out, but there are hundreds of tickets for sale on StubHub & Ticketmaster. On game day, all the unsold tickets show up at the stadium. See below Score The Best Seats - Cheap.
Hotels - Alternative to Downtown
On the weekend, there are plenty of affordable hotels around the airport; BWI Business (Hotel) District. They all have free transportation to/from the Airport & Light Rail. All the downtown Baltimore hotels are walking distance to Oriole Park @ Camden Yards. Take taxis at night - from dinner back to your hotel. This will be expensive if you're at an airport hotel. Lots of "local" restaurants near the airport hotels. Ask the staff for suggestions - here's mine...
Best Crab Cakes in Baltimore
I'm going to lose a lot of friends in Baltimore, but G & M Lounge & Restaurant...and its near the airport. Get the double crab cake platter BROILED. Thank me later.
Best Breakfast In Baltimore
There are three (3) awesome breakfast places not far from the stadium:
1) Closest to stadium is Miss Shirley's in the Constellation Energy Building (Pratt @ Fallsway). Gourmet breakfast, little pricey, but very good. Only negative on weekends, some tables in lobby of building (i.e. poor service & patrons hovering around you). Get a table inside.
2) Blue Moon Cafe is the Best Breakfast in Baltimore. It's in Fells Point on Aliceanna @ Broadway. Open 24/7 on the weekends. Excellent Omelets, Pancakes, the Capt Crunch French Toast is a TV Travel favorite, but too sweet for my taste. The biscuits are home made and excellent when baked long enough. Not a big place, so if you don't want to wait....
3) Jimmy's is at 801 S Broadway...around the corner from Blue Moon Café. Regular breakfast place of Baltimore Police, Hopkins Hospital Interns & Residents. In the 70's & 80's, the Mayor & City Council would have breakfast here all the time. This place "IS" Baltimore...diner style.
Light Rail - Information
You Must Buy Your Fare Card Before You Board Train. All Day Pass is $3.50 (this is 20 cents more than a round trip ticket, Good for Light Rail, Metro & Bus, Buy it!)...senior & disabled fare is $1.20. Maryland MTA doesn't have "Transfers." The machines take cash and credit cards. DC Metro SmarTrip Card & Maryland MTA Charm Card can be used, tap the fare "target" before you board. If you use a large bill, it will give you change in dollar coins (pain).
Your stop is Camden Yards. You'll have an extra 15 minute walk to the stadium through all the parking lots, if you get off at Hamburg Street (M&T Bank Stadium).
Light Rail From & To BWI Airport:
BWI Airport (now Officially called Thurgood Marshall-Baltimore Washington Intl) has direct public transit (Light Rail) to Camden Yards. The Light Rail is located on the Baggage (Ground Transportation) Level at the FAR END of the Terminal, past the International Gates. If you arrive by Southwest Airlines (Gates A & B) its a 10 minute walk around the horseshoe shaped terminal. Its a shorter walk from other airlines using Gates, C, D & E.
The Last Light Rail train returning to BWI on Saturday leaves downtown at Midnight. There are two trains going southbound towards the airport; BWI Airport & Cromwell Bridge. When returning to BWI, use the BWI Airport Train, otherwise you will have to get off in a desolate (and potentially dangerous area) to wait for the BWI Airport Train. Since Saturday is scheduled for 4 pm, this should not be a problem. **If Saturday's game goes into extra innings; do NOT count on MTA to have trains past midnight.
Traveling By Amtrak:
Baltimore's Penn Station (Amtrak) has a Direct Train to Camden Yards. When you arrive upstairs in the "Waiting Room" (looks like a 1930s movie set), pass the Information Board and Turn Right. Down the Stairs is the Light Rail Station. Buy your ticket before you board.
Traveling From Wash DC & VA
MARC (commuter train) operate on Saturday now. Check with Maryland MTA for updates.
From Wash DC Greenbelt (Green Line) Metro Station, get on the B-30 Bus. The fare is $6 cash and DC Metro "SmarTrip Card" is accepted. Take the B-30 Bus to BWI Airports 2nd Stop (next to Light Rail Station). Follow Light Rail - Information Below.
Traveling From the North (PA, DE)
The Light Rail goes as far North as Hunt Valley, MD, I-83 Exit Shawan Road (East). There is free MTA parking at the train station. Wegmans and other restaurants are right there. Its a great place to eat before or after the game. First train leaves Hunt Valley on Sundays at 10:30 am. See Above for Light Rail - Information.
Metro Trains Run All Day, leaves from as far North as Owings Mills, MD. Use Owings Mills Blvd Exit of I-795. Follow signs to Metro. The Metro has plenty of Free Parking. See below Metro - Information.
Metro - Information
You Must Use a Fare Card To Enter the Turnstile. All Day Pass is $3.50 (this is 20 cents over a round trip ticket, Good for Metro, Light Rail & Buses...Buy It!)...senior & disabled fare is $1.20. The machines take credit cards. If you use cash, it will give you change in dollar coins (pain).
Ride Rear Car of Train, Get off at Charles Center. Follow the crowd towards the stadium, it's a 20 - 25 minutes walk to M&T Bank Stadium from Charles Center.. Many fans get off at State Center & take the Light Rail (on Howard Street - 1 block walk) to Camden Yards along Eutaw Street. This is a good reason to buy an All Day Pass, Maryland MTA does NOT have "transfers."
SCORE THE BEST SEATS - Cheap
What you need to know:
At Game Time (Friday 8 pm & Sat 4 pm) Unused Tickets are Worthless.
Tickets for the Best Seats arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the First Pitch
DON'T settle for bad seats. This is YOUR DAY! Your team, on the road; your friends will be talking about this game for years to come.
Season Ticket Holders (i.e. Best Seats) have extras or gave them all away to friends, customers and employees. Those great seats are going into the stadium unused...Unless you offer to buy it from the person that have them. Most people are delighted to get something for it.
A lot of people come to the game with an extra and want to decide who is sitting next to them. That's why they don't sell it on exchange sites. A Good Seat can be had for $40 at Game Time. If bad weather $25.
Buying extra tickets from a season ticket holder is a Win-Win situation. Thank them for selling it to you.
Do NOT buy from Ticket "Scalpers" - The "I need tickets" guys with 10 tickets in their hand. Some sell fakes & voided tickets. Season ticket holders don't want anything to do with them. They would rather "eat" (carrying it unused into the stadium) the ticket...but you're going to help the season ticket holders by buying their tickets.
Season ticket holders don't want to be "embarrassed" by standing outside "hawking" tickets for sale. But, if they see you're looking to buy a couple of tickets they will ask, "Do you need a ticket?"
Never buy an "Internet" printed ticket...they've been photo copied 50 times. Exception to this rule - if you're walking in the stadium with the seller.
What you need to do:
Print up a Seating Chart of Camden Yards and have it with you. Know what range of sections you want. Don't bother with bleachers or upper deck seats, between the bases is a good range.
Know what you are willing to pay - $40-$50 a ticket is plenty for this game. Have CASH READY to buy the tickets.
Dress (your Royals or Orioles attire is fine) & Act like the guy you would want sitting next to your children at Kaufman Stadium. Nearly every ticket I bought was next to the person I bought it from. Nobody wants to sit next to a jerk.
Go to Where The Tickets are - The best seats Come From Permit Parking on the north side of the Stadium. You're getting off the Light Rail at Camden Yards, go to your right, as you walk towards the stadium. The Gates around the stadium to the left is where to find the best tickets. Next to stadium is "Time Will Not Dim The Glory of Their Deeds"...stand there. Put up 1 or 2 fingers (even if you need 4) to let people know you're looking.
The best seats are have Oriole Logos, Fancy Design, Team Logos, Quality Printed tickets.
Do NOT buy "Internet" printed tickets. If Ticketmaster printed tickets, check the back for printed matter - they should not be blank. Also, they won't be good seats. This is risky, many are counterfeit.
Check the tickets for the Section Number, is it in your range? Ask the seller "Are the seats next to you? Are they Good?" If you want the tickets, then offer $30 a ticket. When the person ask for $100, just tell them that's all the want to pay. They may take the $30-$40 or look for a better price, but the clock is ticking. They'll take the $40 and why not? Its better than nothing.
Enjoy the game and your Great Seats.
After the Game - Federal Hill, Harborplace and beyond
Camden Yards is a few blocks from historic Federal Hill. The "Federal" troops lived in the narrow homes during the Civil War.
There are many restaurants and bars on Charles & Light Streets. No chains, all "local" places.
Out of the stadium, walk down Conway, right on Charles St. If in Stadium Parking Lot, go over Hamburg Street Bridge.
Harborplace, five blocks east of the stadium along Conway or Pratt, has the chains & tourist stops. Make a right turn on Conway Street. It comes to an end at Harborplace.
The NEW Horseshoe Casino is behind M&T Bank Stadium on Russell Street. Food & Gaming can be found there.
Little Italy, Fells Point, Canton neighborhoods will require a taxi ride from the Stadium area. Not very expensive, but this is a "Going Green" Blog...haha.
If it's daytime, go back to the Light Rail for the ride back to the airport. At night, take taxis from wherever you are to your hotel.
Buy Royals Tickets for yourself and enjoy the KC Royals set the baseball industry on fire.
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