PNC Park's ballfield and stands, with the yellow Roberto Clemente Bridge and downtown Pittsburgh beyond the outfield

Visit Pittsburgh · Pirates

A trip to PNC Park.

The Pirates' riverside ballpark faces the Roberto Clemente Bridge and the downtown skyline. Here's the verified game-day detail, a sun tracker for the shade question, and a planner keyed to your flights.

Track the sun Plan the trip

Photo: redlegsfan21, CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Short answer

PNC Park is at 115 Federal Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, on the North Shore, 18.2 miles, about 30 min with no traffic from PIT. Gates open 90 minutes before first pitch (one hour for 6:40 PM games Monday to Thursday). Bring one soft-sided bag up to 16" x 16" x 8". The ballpark is cashless. On shade: the Pirates publish no shade map, so we show you where the sun will be during your game instead.

The ballpark

PNC Park, by the numbers

2001Opened in spring 2001 on the Allegheny River.

443 ftFrom home plate to the Allegheny River, per the Pirates.

90 minGates open before game time (most games).

Mar 25Opening Day 2027, at home against the Athletics.

Interactive

Sun or shade? Track your game.

Pick your date and first pitch. See how high the sun sits and which way it shines, inning by inning, and when it drops below the horizon.

Sun tracker: where the sun is, inning by inning

Game dateExample date. Change it to your game. First pitch (Eastern)From your ticket. Game length (your estimate):

Quick picks:

Sky view. The ring is the horizon, the center is straight up. Orange is first pitch.

Moment	Time	Sun height, direction	What it means

Computed with standard solar-position formulas for PNC Park's location. Innings are spaced evenly across your game length, so treat the times as approximate. This shows the sun, not which sections are shaded; for that, use the Pirates' official 3D seat map.

Shade

Finding a shaded seat: what's official

No official shade map

The Pirates don't publish which sections are shaded. Be wary of any site that claims a precise shade chart without saying how it was made.

Checked on mlb.com/pirates, October 19, 2026

Seat upgrades

The Pirates' seat-upgrade program lets fans move during a game, including to a shaded area on a warm day.

Pirates seat upgrades page

3D seat map

The official 3D seating chart shows the view from each section, including whether a deck sits above your row.

mlb.com/pirates 3D seat map

Night games

After sunset no seat gets direct sun. The tracker above shows sunset for your date.

Computed for PNC Park's location

Interactive planner

Fly in, catch the game.

PNC Park trip planner

Pick a home date:

Event date Start time (Eastern, from your ticket) Arrival flight: date Arrival flight: lands at PIT Flight home: date Flight home: departs

PIT to the venue: Starts at the no-traffic estimate. Add time for game-day traffic. Bags and walk to your ride: Your estimate. Be at the venue before the start: Your choice. How long you expect the event to run: Your estimate. It varies by game. At PIT before your flight home: Your choice. See the airport guide for security.

Opening Day is from the Pirates' 2027 schedule announcement (July 16, 2026). The first-pitch time wasn't published when we checked, so enter it from your ticket.

Know before you go

Game-day rules

Topic	The rule	Source
Bags	One soft-sided bag per guest, up to 16" x 16" x 8". All bags searched. Medical and diaper bags excepted.	Pirates gameday info
Payment	Completely cashless. Free reverse ATMs at gates 119 and 319 load $1 to $500 onto a prepaid card.	Pirates gameday info
Gates	90 minutes before game time. 6:40 PM games: 60 minutes Monday to Thursday, 90 on Friday and Saturday.	Pirates A-Z guide, 2026 season
Clemente Bridge	Closed to vehicles on game days, so you can walk across from Downtown.	Pirates ballpark features
Tours	Walk-up, gameday, pregame, clubhouse and group tours. About 90 minutes, over a mile on foot. Mobile tickets only. Enter at the Allegheny Health Network Gate on Federal Street.	Pirates tours page

One of Pittsburgh's yellow Three Sisters bridges crossing the Allegheny River toward downtown on a blue-sky day

Getting there

Walk the Clemente Bridge.

From PIT by car or rideshare: 18.2 miles, about 30 min with no traffic.

By transit: The 28X Airport Flyer runs between the airport terminal and Downtown and Oakland, every 30 to 40 minutes from about 5 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. The fare is $2.75 (exact cash, ConnectCard or mobile ticket). From Downtown, walk across the Roberto Clemente Bridge, which closes to cars on game days, or ride the free T to North Shore station.

The PIT airport guide Find your nonstop

Photo: Pexels

Around the ballpark

Make a weekend of it.

Downtown Pittsburgh lit up at blue hour from Mount Washington, with Point State Park, the rivers and the Fort Pitt Bridge below

After the gameThe skyline at nightRide up Mount Washington for the view.

Smallman Street in Pittsburgh's Strip District, lined by the old produce terminal and warehouses, with St. Stanislaus Kostka Church's twin towers at the end

Strip DistrictBreakfast in the StripPick your base neighborhood.

The Point State Park fountain shooting a tall column of water at the tip of downtown Pittsburgh, with wooded Mount Washington across the river

DowntownPoint State ParkThree rivers, one fountain. Plan 48 hours.

The yellow-and-black Steel Curtain roller coaster rising over the Kennywood Park entrance building and the Racer

West MifflinKennywoodPittsburgh's classic amusement park.

Questions

What are the best seats at PNC Park for shade?

The Pirates do not publish a section-by-section shade map. The only official mention is their seat-upgrade program, which lets you move to a shaded area on a warm day. Use the sun tracker on this page to see where the sun will be during your game, and the Pirates' 3D seat map to see which rows sit under the deck above.

What is the PNC Park bag policy?

One soft-sided bag per guest, no larger than 16" x 16" x 8". All bags are searched. Medical and diaper bags are exceptions to the size limit.

When do PNC Park gates open?

An hour and a half before game time. For 6:40 PM games, gates open one hour early Monday to Thursday and an hour and a half on Friday and Saturday (the Pirates' 2026 guide).

Is PNC Park cashless?

Yes. Free reverse ATMs at gates 119 and 319 turn $1 to $500 in cash into a prepaid card.

When is Pirates Opening Day 2027?

The Pirates open the 2027 season at home against the Athletics, a three-game series starting March 25, 2027. The team says it is the earliest start in its history.

How far is PNC Park from the Pittsburgh airport?

18.2 miles, about 30 min with no traffic, by OSRM road routing.

Can you tour PNC Park?

Yes. The Pirates run walk-up, gameday, pregame, clubhouse and group tours. They take about 90 minutes and over a mile of walking. Tickets are mobile only.

Keep planning

Sources