Three bobbleheads. Two stadiums. One freeway. Six days from Dodger Stadium to Petco Park and back.
3 bobbleheads. 6 days. ~240 miles round-trip. The I-5 Dream.
The first full week of July 2026 stacks up at Dodger Stadium — Freddie Freeman's "18th Inning Walk-Off" bobble Monday, Shohei Ohtani's "Greatest Game" Part 2 mid-week, and a Son Heung-min crossover Saturday. The road-trip play is to drop south to Petco Park on Wednesday for a Trevor Hoffman bobblehead, then drive back up the 5 for the weekend finale.
This is The I-5 Dream — a built-in long weekend for any collector within striking distance of SoCal.
The Route
| Stop | Date | Team | Bobblehead | Stadium & City | Distance from Previous | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon 7/6 | Dodgers | Freddie Freeman "18th Inning Walk-Off" | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA | — | — |
| 2 | Wed 7/8 | Padres | Trevor Hoffman Bobblehead | Petco Park, San Diego, CA | ~120 mi | ~2 hrs |
| 3 | Sat 7/11 | Dodgers | Son Heung-min Bobblehead | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA | ~120 mi | ~2 hrs |
Total Distance: ~240 miles · Total Days: 6 · Total Bobbleheads: 3
Day 1 · Monday, July 6 · Los Angeles — Dodgers
Game: Rockies @ Dodgers · First Pitch: 7:10 PM PT Bobblehead: Freddie Freeman "18th Inning Walk-Off" Bobblehead Stadium: Dodger Stadium
This one kicks off the trip. Freeman's 18th-inning walk-off in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series is one of the more iconic moments in recent Dodger lore. The Rockies are the opponent — a relaxed game day, but the giveaway will draw a crowd.
Arrival Strategy: Gates open 2 hours before first pitch (5:10 PM). For a giveaway of this profile, line up by 4:00 PM. Reserve-level entrances off Academy Road typically have shorter lines than the main gates on Vin Scully Ave.
While You're There: Settle into LA for a couple of nights. After the game, grab a French Dip at Philippe's near Union Station — it's a Dodgers tradition older than the team.
🎟️ Get Tickets → · 🏨 Hotels near Dodger Stadium →
Day 2 · Tuesday, July 7 · Travel Day
No bobblehead today. Two reasonable plays:
- Stay in LA. The Rockies are in town for one more night. Salvadoran Heritage Night ticket pack is on offer; a low-pressure game and a chance to explore the stadium.
- Start the southbound drive. Leave LA late morning, stop for lunch at Sancho's Tacos in Oceanside, the best Carnitas Tacos I've found and arrive in San Diego by mid-afternoon. Check into the Gaslamp Quarter and have a full evening before tomorrow's game.
The Drive: I-5 South from LA to San Diego is ~2 hours without traffic. Avoid leaving LA between 4 and 6 PM. The stretch through Camp Pendleton offers Pacific Coast views once you hit Carlsbad and Del Mar.
Day 3 · Wednesday, July 8 · San Diego — Padres
Game: Diamondbacks @ Padres · First Pitch: 7:10 PM PT Bobblehead: Trevor Hoffman Bobblehead Stadium: Petco Park
Trevor Hoffman. 601 career saves. First-ballot Hall of Famer. The greatest closer in Padres history. A legacy bobblehead of this caliber doesn't repeat. Petco Park sits in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter — walkable bars, craft beer, the Park at the Park rooftop, and reliably perfect July weather.
Arrival Strategy: Petco gates open about 90 minutes before first pitch (5:40 PM). Aim to be in line by 4:30–4:45 PM. Park in a Gaslamp garage and walk over rather than fighting the stadium lots or take the Trolley, there are 3 stops within minutes of of the park.
While You're There: Beach of choice in the morning, fish tacos for lunch, can't go wrong with Hodad's or Oscar's Mexican Seafood.
🎟️ Get Tickets → · 🏨 Hotels near Petco Park →
Days 4–5 · Thursday–Friday, July 9–10 · Flex Days
No bobbleheads. Three options:
- Stay in San Diego. Beach, zoo, Balboa Park, La Jolla. Catch another Padres game - they do have a theme game San Diego Zoo figurine event on Thursday.
- -Wildcard - LA is hosting a FIFA World Cup quarterfinal match at 12:00pm on July 10th. I just looked up tickets and the cheapest ones I can find are $2,801. So maybe just find a sports bar to catch the game near SoFi Stadium.
- Side quest to Anaheim. The Angels are home July 10 with a no-giveaway game. If you want to add a third stadium and the I-5 connector, Angel Stadium is right off the freeway, between San Diego and Dodger Stadium.
Day 6 · Saturday, July 11 · Los Angeles — Dodgers
Game: Diamondbacks @ Dodgers · First Pitch: 6:10 PM PT Bobblehead: Son Heung-min Bobblehead Stadium: Dodger Stadium
Son Heung-min is one of the biggest soccer stars on the planet and current Captain of the South Korean National Team. Heung-min joined the Los Angeles F.C. last year after spending a decade at Tottenham Hotspur (English Premiere League). Cross-sport crossover bobbles tend to draw audiences who don't usually attend baseball games, which means the demand is unpredictable. Soccer fans, Korean-American collectors, MLS fans curious about the LA scene — they'll all be there.
Arrival Strategy: Cross-sport bobbles attract first-time stadium visitors who don't know the line dynamics, which usually means lines form earlier, not later. Plan to be in line by 3:00 PM for a 6:10 PM first pitch.
While You're There: Dinner inside the stadium, the Dodger Dog is an essential experience at Dodger Staidum. After the game, Elysian Park has sunset views of downtown LA.
🎟️ Get Tickets → · 🏨 Hotels near Dodger Stadium →
Budget Breakdown
| Category | Estimated Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tickets | $120–$250 total | 3 games. Dodger reserve $35–$70/each + Petco $40–$80 |
| Hotels | $400–$700 total | 5 nights · 2 LA + 2 San Diego + 1 LA |
| Gas | ~$35 | ~240 mi · 30 mpg · ~$4.50/gal CA average |
| Food / Parking | ~$150–$250 | Stadium parking $25–$35/game + meals |
| Total | ~$700–$1,250 | Per person, full 6-day trip |
Three Hall-of-Fame-caliber bobbleheads for less than the cost of a single premium Dodger Stadium package. The gas alone is $35 — this is a trip where you spend more on fish tacos than fuel.
Pro Tips for This Trip
- Monday is your priority arrival. Freeman's Walk-Off bobble will draw the largest crowd of the three. If you arrive earliest at exactly one game, make it Day 1.
- Book San Diego near Petco. The Gaslamp Quarter puts you walking distance to the park and the food scene. Don't stay near the airport.
- Wednesday is the Collector's Dilemma. The Dodgers are also giving away a Shohei Ohtani "Greatest Game" Bobblehead Part 2 on July 8 — same night as Hoffman in San Diego. Pick one. The trip narrative argues for Hoffman; if you stay in LA, Ohtani Part 2 is a monster get on its own.
- Saturday parking hack: the Dodger Stadium Express shuttle from Union Station is free with a game ticket and skips the parking lot entirely.
- Monday and Saturday at Dodger Stadium are different beasts. Monday is mellow. Saturday with a crossover bobble will be packed. Plan accordingly.
Make It Yours
The Stay-Put Version (3 bobbleheads, zero highway): Skip San Diego entirely. Hit Dodger Stadium Monday (Freeman), Wednesday (Ohtani Part 2), and Saturday (Son Heung-min). Three bobbleheads, one stadium, no I-5. You miss Hoffman — but you get the Ohtani sequel.
The Three-Stadium Bonus: Add an Angel Stadium night during your flex days. No giveaway, but Anaheim sits right on the I-5 between San Diego and LA — perfect waypoint. Three SoCal stadiums in one week for a bobblehead-collecting nerd's hat trick.
Book This Trip
🗺️ Build This Route in Trip Planner → 🎟️ Buy Tickets → 🏨 Compare Hotels → 🚗 Rent a Car → ✈️ Find Flights to LAX →
All giveaways are subject to availability and typically first-come, first-served. Arrive early at every stop.
Planning a SoCal baseball trip? Drop us a line at mike@bobbleguide.com — we'd love to hear how it goes.