Batter Up! Baseball Season Is here!

To a baseball fan, the sounds of spring include more than birds chirping. They just might include the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, the vendors walking the stands hawking their ballpark fares, and the walk-up music preferred by each batter. Those are the sounds that let a baseball fan know that spring has arrived and with it the beginning of another baseball season.

Granted, in many locations, the first few weeks of the season may involve bundling up while you cheer on your favorite team, but some teams are fortunate to play in warmer temperatures most, if not all, of the season. But if you truly love baseball, a few chills are worth watching the thrills of a live baseball game. There are plenty of Major League Baseball locations near RV resorts and campgrounds across the country. So, whether it’s your home team or you’re a fan for the day, see what great combos you can find that combine America’s favorite pastime and America’s favorite outdoor experience!

California

The Los Angeles Dodgers play at Dodger Stadium, which is the third-oldest ballpark, behind Boston’s Fenway Park and Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Dodger pitching, both past and present, is one of the team’s claims to fame. Sandy Koufax is considered the best pitcher ever but current Dodger Clayton Kershaw is considered the best pitcher in baseball. So, grab a Dodger Dog and enjoy the sunshine at this ballpark that is a little over an hour from Soledad Canyon RV Campground in Acton.

Pio Pico RV Campground is so close to the San Diego Padres stadium you just might be able to catch a foul ball (not really, it’s about 26 miles but you never know with today’s hitters)! Petco Park is one of the newer MLB ballparks having opened in 2004. The park is located at 19 Tony Gwynn Drive, named for the late, great Padres Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. At every Friday home game, they host Party in the Park that offers drink specials and live music before game time.

Washington

You don’t really have to worry about the weather thanks to the retractable roof at Safeco Park, where the Seattle Mariners play. Actually, they call it a “retractable umbrella” because the roof closes but the sides of the park remain open to the weather, so technically, you’re still outdoors but the game can continue in case of rain. If you’re staying at Tall Chief RV Campground, in nearby Fall City, you’re just about a 30-minute drive from the stadium. One neat thing to notice at the park is the artwork, which is “one of the most comprehensive art programs in any major league baseball park.”

Illinois

Join forces with the “Southsiders” of Chicago to root for the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, or head north to Wrigleyville and cheer on the Chicago Cubs in the “friendly confines” of Wrigley Field. Both teams are worth the trip, but if you plan it right, you can catch the CrossTown Classic where the teams play each other. Wrigley plays host first May 11-13 while the Sox are the home team September 21-23. Chicago is about a two-hour drive from Pine Country RV Campground.

Massachusetts

A visit to Fenway Park is more than a baseball game, it’s actually an immersion into all things Boston. The Red Sox are the beloved team of Beantown and the Green Monster is not the team’s mascot but the 37.2-foot wall in left field and although it was original to the park in 1902, it remains the highest wall in the MLB. Needless to say, it has robbed many opponents of a home run at Fenway. Yawkey Way is adjacent to the park and is alive on game days, with street vendors, entertainment, and other family fun. Fenway Park is about an hour drive to Tuxbury Pond RV Campground.

Ohio

The Great American Ball Park is home to the Cincinnati Reds and just about an hour from the Wilmington RV Campground. Opened in 2003, it sits on the banks of the Ohio River. The power stacks in right-center field were deliberately designed to resemble the smokestacks of the old paddle boats that traversed the river in the early 20th century. The Park is also home to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame museum and houses scads of memorabilia of the oldest team in baseball.

If camping and baseball are some of your favorite things to do, check out thousandtrails.com for campground locations and MLB.com for stadium locations and game schedules.