Baseball Stadium Guide: Fenway Park

Address

4 Yawkey Way
Boston MA, 02215

General info

Fenway Park is the oldest operating ballpark in Major League Baseball. It dates all the way back to 1912. One of its defining characteristics is the "Green Monster," which stands taller than any fence in the Major Leagues out in left field. Since Fenway Park sits against the highway, the left field fence has to be extremely close to home plate, and the Green Monster is there to compensate.

Because of its age, Fenway Park is the smallest park in the American League, seating only 36,298 fans. To improve this, Fenway Park recently added seats on top of the Green Monster. Some fans at Fenway Park have complained that certain seats are misaligned and watching the game is difficult, but going to Fenway Park is still a great experience since the park is such a part of baseball lore.

Gates open 2 hours and 15 minutes before game time.

Getting there by the roads

Traffic is notoriously terrible on game days. Yawkey way is unnavigable, and parking is limited and expensive. Those who wish to drive can use these directions:

From I-90/I-95/Western Suburbs:

Take I-90 east towards Boston, exiting at the Allston/Cambridge tolls. Bear right out of the tolls, heading in the direction of Cambridge. Turn right on Storrow Drive before crossing the Charles River. Continue on Storrow Drive east to the Kenmore exit (for Brookline Avenue, Beacon Street and Commonwealth Avenue) or the Fenway exit (for Boylston Street).

From Northern Suburbs:

Take I-93 towards Boston, exiting at Storrow Drive heading west. Continue on Storrow Drive to the Fenway exit.

Parking

The best option is the garage at 50 Dalton Street near the Back Bay fire station. Parking is $10 with a Fenway Park ticket. It's about a 5 minute walk to the stadium. Bike taxis also generally wait around near the garage to pick up fares on game days.

See the directions here.

Getting there by public transportation

The closest station on the commuter rail is the Yawkey station on the Worcester/Framingham line. Depending on how far you travel, the train cost will be different, but the maximum is $6. Trains run frequently and two trains depart immediately after the games. Look for a schedule on the MBTA website.

The subway Green Line splits into multiple branches. Most branches travel to Kenmore, which is the nearest stop to Fenway Park. The D branch has its own Fenway Park stop. On most lines, the best way to get to Fenway is to transfer from your line to the Green Line (see the map at the MBTA website). The Orange Line does not intersect the Green Line, so your best bet is to take the Orange Line to the Ruggles station. From Ruggles, there are free shuttles to Fenway Park every 10 minutes starting 90 minutes before the game. Again, costs vary, but usually don't exceed $3.50.

Nearby restaurants and bars

The most popular spot for fans is probably the Cask'n'Flagon, located on the corner of Landsdowne Street and Brookline Avenue. This spot is known for its history, much like Fenway Park itself, but it can be a long wait on game days. 21+ only.

Jillian's is a modern bar and restaurant on the corner of Ipswitch and Landsdowne Streets. It has large-screen TVs and pool tables for a casual yet fun pre- or post-game hangout.

India Quality is a good and cheap Indian place on the Commonwealth Avenue side of Kenmore Square. The food is pretty standard but tasty.

Cornwall's serves traditional Americana like burgers and beer. It's a pretty classy hangout, even though it can be spotted right beneath the Citgo sign at Kenmore Square. It's got outdoor tables and chairs.

Nearby hotels

Boston Hotel Buckminster:
645 Beacon Street
Inexpensive but comfortable, the Buckminster is best for the fan on a budget, though the amenities are nonetheless substantial.

Hotel Commonwealth:
500 Commonwealth Ave.
The Hotel Commonwealth is one of Boston's more upscale hotels. It has a grand history in Boston and usually costs well in excess of $200 a night.

Hyatt Regency Cambridge:
575 Memorial Drive
A pretty standard Hyatt with some fancy architecture, this hotel usually costs around $100 to $150 a night.

Howard Johnson Inn Fenway Park:
1271 Boylston Street
Again, a pretty standard chain hotel, but very reasonably priced, and about as close to Fenway Park as you can get.