Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals Travel Guide: Kauffman Stadium

Getting to Kansas City & The Ballpark

• Flying In: Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is the primary hub, heavily serviced by Southwest, Delta, and American. It is located about 30 miles north of the ballpark and 20 miles north of downtown.

• Airport Transit: Because Kansas City is heavily spread out and public transit from the airport is limited, renting a car or taking an Uber/Lyft is an absolute necessity to get to your hotel and the stadium.

• The Neighborhood: Kauffman Stadium sits right next to Arrowhead Stadium (home of the Chiefs) in the Truman Sports Complex. Because this complex is located several miles southeast of the downtown core, the area is remote and surrounded by a massive "concrete jungle" of parking lots.

Where to Stay

Because the stadium is isolated, your hotel strategy depends entirely on what kind of trip you want: stay right next to the stadium for pure sports convenience, or stay in the city (a 7-to-8-mile drive) to enjoy KC's culture and history.

Budget Options

• Drury Inn & Suites Kansas City Stadium: The ultimate hotel for pure sports convenience. Located just across the highway from the sports complex, you can actually walk across the George Brett Bridge to get to the game. It is basic but perfect for budget travelers, offering free daily hot breakfast and a 5:30 PM "Kickback" with free hot food and cold drinks.

• Hampton Inn & Suites Kansas City Downtown Crossroads: If you want to stay in the city on a budget, this is a fantastic option. It is located right on the KC Streetcar line, making downtown exploration easy. It features a free hot breakfast, a lobby Starbucks, and great city views from corner suite balconies. It is only an 8-mile drive (about 10-15 minutes without traffic) to the stadium.

Higher-End Options

• The Raphael Hotel, Autograph Collection: Located in the beautiful Country Club Plaza district overlooking Brush Creek, this luxurious 1927 Renaissance-style building offers historic charm and high-end shopping right outside your door. It features a hip, elegant American restaurant with live nightly music. Bookable for around 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, it is a great, upscale home base just 7 miles from the ballpark.

• Hotel Kansas City, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt: Housed in a stunning 1920s Gothic-style building, this downtown hotel is incredibly refined, featuring stained glass, walnut wood, and marble bathrooms. It boasts a fantastic midwestern restaurant and a cellar bar with handcrafted cocktails. At 15,000 World of Hyatt points per night, it is a phenomenal redemption for luxury travelers wanting to be in the heart of downtown.

Nearby Activities

• The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum: If you are a baseball fan traveling to Kansas City, visiting this museum in the historic 18th & Vine District is an absolute must. It is a profoundly moving, incredibly detailed celebration of the rich history of the Negro Leagues, and it is widely considered one of the best sports museums in the country.

• The National WWI Museum and Memorial: Located just south of downtown, this is one of the most comprehensive WWI museums in the world. The towering Liberty Memorial also offers some of the absolute best panoramic views of the Kansas City skyline, making it a fantastic daytime stop before heading out to the Truman Sports Complex for an evening game.

Pregame Food and Drink

Because the stadium is in a remote complex, the immediate pregame scene is heavily focused on legendary parking lot tailgating rather than walking between bars.

• Legendary KC BBQ: If you are driving to the game, you must stop at LC's Bar-B-Q. Located just a few minutes north of the stadium, this no-frills, old-school joint serves some of the most authentic, incredible burnt ends and ribs in the city.

• A Century of Chili: Also near the stadium is Dixon's Famous Chili, a local institution that has been serving up legendary chili and American classics since 1919.

• The Local Dive Bars: If you want a cheap beer and sports bar food near the stadium before braving the parking lots, check out Score Sports Bar and Grill to watch early games, or head to Neighbors Cocktail Lounge for a dimly lit, adults-only dive bar vibe with pool tables.

Where to Sit at Kauffman Stadium

• The Fountains: The massive water spectacular behind the outfield wall is the crown jewel of Kauffman Stadium. For an unforgettable experience, look for seats in Sections 201 and 202 (The Fountain Seats). These put you right up close to the misty action. Tip: The team now sells these in advance, and they sell out fast, so do not rely on walk-up availability.

• Away Fans: If you are cheering for the visiting team, look for Sections 119-122. These seats put you directly behind the visitor's dugout on the third-base side, giving you a perfect angle to see the field and the center-field scoreboard.

• The Best Value: If you are on a strict budget, head straight to the View Level (400s). Because Kauffman is not a massive, towering stadium, these upper-deck seats do not feel totally removed from the action. Plus, they offer a completely unobstructed, beautiful overhead view of the field and the fountains.