Going to a Padres day game? San Diego's coastal weather is mild, but a summer afternoon in the sun is still a summer afternoon. Our 3D model ray-traces every row: the third-base side and club level hold shade the longest (~78%), while the first-base/right-field side, the upper deck, and the Park at the Park lawn stay in the sun.
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▶ Hit Play to watch the shade sweep across the Petco Park bowl. Want to set your exact game date & first pitch? Open the full map ↗
Home plate at Petco faces roughly north-northeast, so as the afternoon sun swings west it loads the first-base side and right field, while the third-base/left-field side and the seats behind home fall into shade first. San Diego's marine layer often keeps day games comfortable, but on a clear, warm afternoon the shaded third-base side is the difference-maker, and the iconic Western Metal Supply Co. building in the left-field corner throws its own shade later in the day.
These are the share of a typical early-afternoon game each zone holds shade in our 3D model, based on the seating-bowl geometry and the sun's real path, not a specific day's clouds:
| Section area | Level | Shaded for… |
|---|---|---|
| Third-base side | Lower & Club | ~78% of the game |
| Left-field line | Lower | ~65% |
| Behind home plate | Lower & Club | ~64-66% |
| First-base side | Lower & Club | ~47-54%, more sun |
| Upper deck & Park at the Park lawn | Upper / outfield | Mostly sun, avoid for shade |
Percentages are for a typical 1:10 PM start in midsummer; your exact game may differ. Plug your date and first pitch into the live map for a per-row read.
If shade is the priority at Petco, aim for the third-base side with a deck overhead. The best bets:
| Seats | Why they're shaded |
|---|---|
| Third-base side, Lower & Club level | Orientation puts the afternoon sun at their backs; ~78% shaded |
| Behind home plate, back rows of the Lower/Club | Deck overhang shades them as the sun moves west |
| Toyota Terrace / covered premium levels | Covered clubs stay cool through a warm afternoon |
The first-base and right-field side bakes through the afternoon, and the open upper deck and the Park at the Park grass berm beyond center field have no cover, full sun for a day game. Front rows everywhere sit exposed until late. The marine layer can take the edge off, but don't count on it for a midday first pitch.
The third-base/left-field side and the seats behind home plate shade first, because home plate faces roughly north-northeast and the afternoon sun loads the first-base/right-field side. The club level on the third-base side holds shade the longest, around 78% of a typical day game in our model.
Yes, the Park at the Park grass berm beyond center field is open with no cover and stays in full sun for a day game. It's a fun, cheap spot, but bring sunscreen if you're there for an afternoon start.
Lower and Club level on the third-base side hold shade the longest, followed by the back rows behind home plate under the deck overhang and the covered Toyota Terrace level. San Diego's marine layer also keeps many day games mild.
For afternoon starts, target the third-base side Lower and Club levels, or a covered club behind home. Evening games are easy, the sun sets low and the bowl shades quickly, and San Diego evenings cool off nicely. The interactive tool models any start time and the live weather.
Shade predictions come from a 3D ray-traced model of the seating bowl combined with the exact solar position for your date and time. The bowl geometry is a calibrated approximation, so use the map to pick a side, level and row range, then confirm the precise seat on a ticket map. Independent tool; not affiliated with MLB or the Padres.
The rest of the NL West, same treatment:
Petco Park ranks #18 of 30 for sun exposure in MLB: the average seat sits in direct sunlight for about 118 of a 190-minute day game, or 62.1% of it. Full ranking and method in the sunniest seats in baseball.