Pirates and Guardians Baseball Roadtrip

Staring in Central Ohio made it quite easy to get to Pittsburgh, and the highways were pretty clear even for a federal holiday — Juneteenth. As we were crossing the state line, traffic did get noticeably worse as we were caught in game traffic. After getting off the highway, we found our way to the parking garage — after circling the block a couple times — and walked to PNC Park.

The Roberto Clemente Bridge, named after Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder and MLB Hall of Famer, has two decently wide sidewalks on either side of car lanes that give you a direct path to PNC Park’s Center Field Gate, which is right beside the Pirates Clubhouse Store for your Pirates gear and plenty of food options before you take your seats.

Image 1: Much of Progressive Field is under reconstruction so that a fifth level can be added to the stadium, including an all new team store

After the Pirates game, we drove back to Ohio but up to Cleveland so that we could get dinner with my in-laws at Crocker Park, an open-air mall in Westlake, and see a Cleveland Guardians game the next day.

With my in-laws living in the western suburbs of Cleveland, we chose to stay by the airport for two reasons. It was more cost-effective than downtown and it was a short drive to the RTA Bridge Park Rapid Station. I wanted to stay somewhere truly original, enter The Orbit Hotel.

Image 1: The Roberto Clemente Bridge is just a short walk over the Allegheny River letting out near PNC Park’s Center Field gate

The Orbit Hotel is a boutique hotel in Cleveland, within eye-sight of the Cleveland Airport tarmac and the NASA Glenn Research Center. It was formally a NASA building, built in 1964 and converted into a hotel in 2021. The hotel features decorations and furniture that are styled after the furniture and decorations from its NASA days in the 1960s.

The hotel has complimentary hot breakfast, cold bottled water for your arrival, a wine dispenser in the lobby — just use your key card, a fitness center, free parking, a meeting room and common areas on every floor. With only four floors and 54 rooms, we loved our boutique hotel experience and didn’t feel overwhelmed or crowded. Our one-king studio had a bedroom, living room with a mini-fridge, microwave, sink and Keurig, as well as a bathroom with a massive, relaxing shower.

After a very good hot breakfast at the hotel, we checked out and started to make our way to the Bridge Park Rapid Station. The ticket machines could use some updating but take both card and cash, but we bought our tickets and headed into Cleveland on the train. We opted for the all-day tickets rather than a roundtrip ticket so we could have some flexibility if we wanted to stop at the Aquarium before the game or try to end up as an extra in the Superman movie that’s being shot in Cleveland this summer.

After a semi-confusing walk through Tower City Center, we made our way over the bridge connecting the city center near Huron Road and Ontario Street, and walked into Progressive Field. The ballpark is currently under renovation to add another level to the stadium — five, instead of four levels — which has forced the Team Store into the plaza between Rocket Mortgage Field House and Progressive Field. Don’t worry, you and all your new Guardians gear can get into the ballpark after your shopping and enjoy your Guardians game.

Major League Baseball stadiums seem to have the same bag and food policies, so pack smart: an unopened bottled water, 24 ounces or less to refill them at the water fountains; a soft-sided bag smaller than 16” x 16” x 8” with disposable or reusable food containers. Outside food and drinks are not permitted in the club and suite-level areas.

Pre-pay for parking in a garage using a website or app so you can research the best rates rather than trying to park in designated areas set up by the stadiums. We parked across the Allegheny River from PNC Park and walked about 10 minutes to get to the park, including stopping for traffic lights and walking across the bridge. Parking in the garage costs about $16.

If you are not staying in downtown Cleveland and are willing to take the RTA train, there are train stations that have free, long-term parking, like the Brook Park Rapid Station. You can buy all-day tickets for $5 and take the train into the city — get off at Tower City Rapid Station — and then walk to the park, which will take about eight minutes.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel in the Midwest. In need of further inspiration? Check out Angelica Hyde’s guide, 14 Day Irish Road Trip.