SportsQuest
Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte
All stadiums

Charlotte Sports Park

What a visiting fan needs to know: where to stay, getting in from PGD, parking and tailgating, what to eat and where to sit.

  • Port Charlotte, FL
  • Home of the Rays
  • Fly into PGD
Plan a trip to the next game12 games coming up

Plan every part of the trip

Games at Charlotte Sports Park

Where to stay near Charlotte Sports Park

Where visiting fans stay

From a specialist guide

  • North Port near I-75Visiting fans pick this

    15 min by drive. Chain hotels on Tuscola Boulevard are a short drive up I-75 and about the same distance from CoolToday Park. This is the best base for a Rays and Braves trip.

  • Punta Gorda waterfrontVisiting fans pick this

    25 min by drive. Stay by the harbor for a walkable evening with seafood restaurants on the water, and drive in for the game.

  • Venice
    semer Gorges, Google Maps

    Venice

    35 min by drive. Venice has more hotels, beaches and a fishing pier. It works if you split time between the Rays, Braves and Orioles.

Around the stadium

From a specialist guide
The ballpark sits on El Jobean Road (SR 776) on the west side of Port Charlotte, across from the Charlotte County Fairgrounds. There is no bar district next to it; Punta Gorda's waterfront, about 20 minutes southeast, is the nearest place for dinner and drinks with a view.

Map of the area

Tap a pin to see the place.

Getting to Charlotte Sports Park

From Punta Gorda

From a specialist guide
PGD (Punta Gorda Airport). It is about 15 miles east of the ballpark by road, roughly 30 minutes without traffic.

On game day

Checked at the source
Drive from I-75 north side, about 15 min. Exit 179 at Toledo Blade Boulevard, right on El Jobean Road; the ballpark is on the left. Drive from I-75 south side, about 15 min. Exit 170 at Kings Highway, right on Veterans Boulevard, which becomes El Jobean Road at US 41; the ballpark is on the left. Drive from PGD, about 30 min. Main lot or the Charlotte County Fairgrounds lot across El Jobean Road.

Game day at Charlotte Sports Park

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: Clear bags only: one clear, single-compartment bag up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches or a clear one-gallon storage bag, plus one small clutch, wallet or fanny pack up to 5 x 7 inches. Medical bags and one diaper bag up to 16 x 8 x 16 inches are allowed. Backpacks are not, and there is no bag storage.
  • Cashless: Charlotte Sports Park is cash-free. Credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments are accepted. Tickets and parking are mobile only in the MLB Ballpark app.

After the final whistle

From a specialist guide
Cars leave from the main lot and from the Charlotte County Fairgrounds lot across El Jobean Road. Getting out to US 41 and I-75 on the county road can be slow after weekday games, so plan extra time.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Showing up without parking or tickets in the MLB Ballpark app. Tickets and parking are mobile only, screenshots and printouts are refused, and the bag policy is clear bags only.

Food and drink at Charlotte Sports Park

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source
  • Tiki Bar on the Boardwalk
    Rich n Sue, Google Maps

    Tiki Bar on the Boardwalk

    Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte, FL 33948

    A tiki bar in left field along the boardwalk that rings the outfield, where you can drink and still see the game. It has more liquor choices than the stands, including frozen drinks.

    Away fans: relaxed. Visiting fans make up a big share of spring crowds here.

  • Laishley Crab House
    Laishley Crab House, Google Maps

    Laishley Crab HouseBefore or after

    150 Laishley Court, Punta Gorda, FL 33950

    A seafood restaurant on the Punta Gorda waterfront known for crab, including Alaskan king crab buckets. It is the easy dinner stop after a day game.

    Away fans: friendly. It is a waterfront seafood restaurant, not a team bar.

  • Peace River Seafood
    Peace River Seafood, Google Maps

    Peace River SeafoodBefore or after

    5337 Duncan Road, Punta Gorda, FL

    A crab shack and seafood market that serves steamed blue crab, shrimp and oysters from local fishermen. Blue crab is the local food to try in Charlotte County.

    Away fans: welcoming. It is an old Florida crab shack.

Things to do around Charlotte Sports Park

Listed in the order they happen on game day. Each one earns points.

  1. Ritual25 points

    Claim a spot on the berm

    A Berm ticket gets you a spot on the grass along the first or third base line. Bring a towel, since chairs are not allowed, and get there when gates open.

    $. 1 hour 30 minutes before first pitch

  2. Photo25 points

    Walk the Baseball Boardwalk

    A wooden boardwalk rings the whole outfield, with tables, party areas and a tiki bar in left field. Walk the full loop for photos of the field from every angle.

    Free. 1 hour before first pitch

  3. Ritual65 points

    Rays morning workouts

    Fans can walk from the parking lot to the practice fields and watch Rays workouts from close range. Players may stop to sign along the ropes as they finish.

    Free

  4. Outing25 points

    Dinner in Downtown Wellen

    Downtown Wellen, the town center next to CoolToday Park, has restaurants and a lakeside path about 9 miles north. It pairs well with a Braves game the next day.

    $$

  5. Double header75 points

    Second game at CoolToday Park

    The Braves' spring home in North Port is 12 miles north, about 25 minutes by car. When one park plays in the afternoon and the other at night, you can see two games in one day.

    $$

  6. Eat50 points

    Crab dinner in Punta Gorda

    Laishley Crab House sits on the Punta Gorda waterfront about 20 minutes from the ballpark and serves crab by the bucket. Go straight from a day game for an early dinner by the water.

    $$. 3 hours 30 minutes after first pitch

  7. Outing25 points

    Punta Gorda Harborwalk

    A waterfront path runs along the harbor in Punta Gorda, right by Laishley Crab House. Walk it at sunset after dinner.

    Free. 5 hours after first pitch

Seats and shade at Charlotte Sports Park

Where the sun lands on a day game, and which seats stay dry when it rains.

Shade and cover

From a specialist guide
  • 200-level reserved seats. The 200 sections above the walkways sit under awnings that give some shade.
  • Last eight rows of the first base 200 sections. This is the most reliable shade in the park. On the third base side only the very last rows of the 200 sections are shaded.
  • Berms and Baseball Boardwalk. The grass berms and the outfield boardwalk tables are in full sun. Bring a hat and sunscreen.