Dodger Stadium Pregame Guide
Los Angeles Dodgers · Los Angeles, CA
Tailgating is prohibited at Dodger Stadium, and the club states it twice over: fans should not consume food or alcoholic beverages in the stadium parking lots before, during or after a game, and the code of conduct separately bars tailgating or picnicking in any lot at any of those times. What the lots are for is arriving. Parking gates open two and a half hours before game time and stadium gates two hours, the speed limit inside the lots is 14 miles per hour, and the club pushes hard on buying parking in advance to keep the auto gates moving.
Tips & Fan Reports
Parking gates open only half an hour before the stadium gates, so there is little waiting time built in.
Buy parking in advance — the club asks for it specifically to speed up the auto gates.
Do not plan to eat in the lot. The Dodgers prohibit consuming food and alcohol there entirely, not just grilling.
The lot speed limit is 14 mph and is posted as such.
Where to Go Before the Game
The general parking lots
The terraced lots ringing the stadium, opening 2.5 hours before first pitch. No food or alcohol may be consumed in them, and the posted speed limit inside is 14 miles per hour.
Known for Open 2.5 hours before · No eating or drinking · 14 mph limit
Preferred Parking
The closer, paid-ahead option among the stadium lots, bought in advance rather than at the gate.
Known for Closer to the gates · Buy in advance
The stadium gates
Open two hours before game time — half an hour after the parking gates — so the gap between arriving and entering is short by design here.
Known for Open 2 hours before · 30 min after parking gates
Rules to Know
What Dodger Stadium allows, and what it does not.
- Tailgating is prohibited. Fans should not consume food and alcoholic beverages in the stadium parking lots before, during or after a game.
- Disorderly conduct, noise disturbances, tailgating and picnicking are prohibited in any of the parking lots before, during or after an event.
- Parking gates open 2.5 hours before game time, and stadium gates open 2 hours before game time.
- The speed limit in the parking lots is 14 miles per hour.
- Fans are encouraged to purchase parking in advance to help traffic flow through the auto gates.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
Permitted bags are clear plastic bags no larger than 12 x 12 x 6 inches and non-clear wristlets or clutches no larger than 5 x 8 x 2 inches.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Outside food is allowed when carried in a clear bag no larger than 12 x 12 x 6 inches.
- A card or a phone wallet
All Dodger Stadium purchases are cashless; debit cards, credit cards, and digital wallets are accepted.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
Dodgers games and events use digital tickets accessed and scanned through the MLB Ballpark app.
- A light layer for after sunset
April, the coolest month of the season here, still averages 55°F at night.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
August highs average 84°F at Dodger Stadium, with no roof over the seats.
Los Angeles Dodgers Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official Los Angeles Dodgers gear for the ultimate tailgate.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Pregame
Los Angeles Dodgers official site: Dodger Stadium Policies and Procedures, Fan Code of Conduct, and General Parking
- Venue policies
Dodger Stadium policy, accessibility, concessions, payment, parking, and mobile-ticket guidance reviewed for entry, family, payment, food, and accessibility rules.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals