Game Weekend
The Toyota Center entrance in downtown Houston, with palm trees, flags and an event marquee above the glass doors

Houston Rockets

Toyota Center

Houston, Texas

A Rockets night at Toyota Center, on the east side of downtown Houston.

Plan my tripJust find a hotel

The local take

An arena on the east end of downtown, within walking distance of Discovery Green and the George R. Brown Convention Center, with an EaDo brewery beer garden nearby and METRORail less than a half mile away.

Most Rockets home games tip off at 7:30 p.m. Central, many of them on weeknights, and a few weekend games start in the afternoon, so check your game’s time. The arena doesn’t publish one doors-open time: check your ticket or call the arena. The arena garage isn’t available to non-passholders on Rockets game days, so plan to walk, ride METRORail or book a lot ahead. For a weekend trip, Discovery Green and the Downtown Aquarium fill the day before.

Toyota Center

Your Houston weekend

Pick your game, then your hotel, food and things to do, or let a quick start choose them with you.

Which game are you going to?

Houston Rockets

Exploring the weekend before choosing a game. Dates stay open.

Find your places.

Find your stay, your local pub, and everything around the game.

Each one picks a hotel and food that work together. Change anything below.

My weekend

6 hotels

Houston places

HotelSuggested

Downtown and the Theater District · 0.82 mi from the arena

A 1911 bank building on Main Street with its own restaurant and bar, Line & Lariat and L&L Bar, and a free downtown shuttle.

There’s no car or parking to plan on a game night: the arena is under a mile away in a straight line, and the Red Line to Bell Station is there if you’d rather ride. Line & Lariat serves dinner daily until 10 p.m., and Vic & Anthony’s bar opens at 4 p.m.

  • Free downtown shuttle
  • Valet $58 per day
Check rooms
Details

Keep in mind: The arena is on the far side of downtown, under a mile away in a straight line. Valet is the only parking mentioned, at $58 a day.

On game day: Downtown stay: walk to 1510 Polk Street or ride the Red Line to Bell Station. Polk Street is closed to traffic between Chartres Street and Avenida de las Americas, near the convention center; the sidewalk stays open.

220 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002

0.82 mi straight-line from the arena. This is not a walking or driving route.

Live rates are not quoted here. Confirm the full stay total, fees, and cancellation terms with the provider. Arena directions use a general arena location; follow your assigned lot and gate instructions.

Expedia opens a named-hotel search, not a verified property page. Enter dates there; adults and rooms are prefilled.

Directions: Directions to arena for Hotel ICON, Autograph CollectionOfficial details for Hotel ICON, Autograph Collection
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Hotel

Downtown and the Theater District · 0.76 mi from the arena

A 1926 hotel in the Theater District with a free breakfast buffet every morning and its own restaurant, Cultivated F+B.

  • Free breakfast buffet
  • Valet parking
Check rooms
Details

Keep in mind: The arena is about three-quarters of a mile away in a straight line. The hotel lists valet parking but no rates.

On game day: Downtown stay: walk to 1510 Polk Street or ride the Red Line to Bell Station. Polk Street is closed to traffic between Chartres Street and Avenida de las Americas, near the convention center; the sidewalk stays open.

701 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002

0.76 mi straight-line from the arena. This is not a walking or driving route.

Live rates are not quoted here. Confirm the full stay total, fees, and cancellation terms with the provider. Arena directions use a general arena location; follow your assigned lot and gate instructions.

Expedia opens a named-hotel search, not a verified property page. Enter dates there; adults and rooms are prefilled.

Directions: Directions to arena for The Lancaster HotelOfficial details for The Lancaster Hotel
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Hotel

Museum District, Midtown and the Medical Center · 2.5 mi from the arena

A boutique hotel on Main Street in the Museum District with Monarch, a restaurant open until midnight, and until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

  • Valet parking, fees vary
  • Hotel shuttle
Check rooms
Details

Keep in mind: Guests must be 21 to book or stay unless a parent or guardian is present. Parking is valet, with fees that vary by length of stay.

On game day: Museum District stay: ride the Red Line north along Main Street to Bell Station, or book a Lyft, the arena’s rideshare partner.

5701 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005

2.5 mi straight-line from the arena. This is not a walking or driving route.

Live rates are not quoted here. Confirm the full stay total, fees, and cancellation terms with the provider. Arena directions use a general arena location; follow your assigned lot and gate instructions.

Expedia opens a named-hotel search, not a verified property page. Enter dates there; adults and rooms are prefilled.

Directions: Directions to arena for Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum DistrictOfficial details for Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District
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Hotel

Museum District, Midtown and the Medical Center · 5.1 mi from the arena

A boutique hotel on Main Street south of the Medical Center, with free hot breakfast and free accessible parking.

  • Free hot breakfast
  • Shuttle to the Medical Center
  • Free accessible parking
Check rooms
Details

Keep in mind: It’s about 5 miles from the arena in a straight line. The hotel shuttle is listed for the Medical Center only.

On game day: Museum District stay: ride the Red Line north along Main Street to Bell Station, or book a Lyft, the arena’s rideshare partner.

8080 Main Street, Houston, TX 77025

5.1 mi straight-line from the arena. This is not a walking or driving route.

Live rates are not quoted here. Confirm the full stay total, fees, and cancellation terms with the provider. Arena directions use a general arena location; follow your assigned lot and gate instructions.

Expedia opens a named-hotel search, not a verified property page. Enter dates there; adults and rooms are prefilled.

Directions: Directions to arena for Hotel YlemOfficial details for Hotel Ylem
We may earn a commission. Your final total is confirmed with the provider.
Hotel

Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) · 11.4 mi from the arena

A hotel on the North Freeway with free light breakfast and free parking for oversized vehicles.

  • Free light breakfast
  • Free oversized-vehicle parking
Check rooms
Details

Keep in mind: No airport shuttle is listed. The arena is about 11 miles south in a straight line, so plan a drive or a rideshare.

On game day: Airport stay: the arena garage isn’t available to non-passholders on Rockets game days, so book a surface lot ahead with ParkWhiz, which the arena links, or take a rideshare.

10137 North Freeway, Houston, TX 77037

11.4 mi straight-line from the arena. This is not a walking or driving route.

Live rates are not quoted here. Confirm the full stay total, fees, and cancellation terms with the provider. Arena directions use a general arena location; follow your assigned lot and gate instructions.

Expedia opens a named-hotel search, not a verified property page. Enter dates there; adults and rooms are prefilled.

Directions: Directions to arena for Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Houston IAH AirportOfficial details for Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Houston IAH Airport
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Hotel

Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) · 13.4 mi from the arena

An airport hotel four miles from IAH, with a free airport shuttle, free breakfast and an outdoor pool.

  • Free IAH shuttle
  • Free breakfast
Check rooms
Details

Keep in mind: The shuttle is listed for airport trips; no arena service is mentioned. The arena is about 13 miles south in a straight line, so plan a drive or a rideshare.

On game day: Airport stay: the arena garage isn’t available to non-passholders on Rockets game days, so book a surface lot ahead with ParkWhiz, which the arena links, or take a rideshare.

15510 J.F.K. Boulevard, Houston, TX 77032

13.4 mi straight-line from the arena. This is not a walking or driving route.

Live rates are not quoted here. Confirm the full stay total, fees, and cancellation terms with the provider. Arena directions use a general arena location; follow your assigned lot and gate instructions.

Expedia opens a named-hotel search, not a verified property page. Enter dates there; adults and rooms are prefilled.

Directions: Directions to arena for La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Houston Bush IAH SouthOfficial details for La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Houston Bush IAH South
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Your weekend

2 adults, 1 room
Stay
Not chosen
Food
None chosen
Do

Choose a hotel first

Travel & full itinerary

The full plan, stop by stop

2 adults · 1 room

Choose a hotel to plan travel.

Your home base

No hotel chosen yet

Your hotel sets the area, both arena journeys and the travel between your stops.

Nothing is in your plan until you choose it. A quick start above the list can choose one for you.

Make time for a good meal

Food for the weekend

Compare and choose food

No food picks yet. Add places in the comparison above when you’re ready.

Check opening hours for your dates and reserve directly where needed.

The reason for the trip

Toyota Center

Pick your game when you’re ready.

Nights open · 2 adults, 1 room

A different hotel?

Your arena travel updates to match. Any food you picked yourself stays.

Get to know the areas

Downtown and the Theater DistrictWalking to the game and dinner nearby

Stay in a historic downtown hotel and walk across downtown to the arena, or ride the Red Line to Bell Station.

Historic Main Street hotels, theaters and hotel bars

To the arena
Walk across downtown to the arena, or ride the Red Line to Bell Station, less than a half-mile walk from the arena.
After the game
Walk back with the crowd, or walk to Bell Station for a Red Line train north.
The tradeoff
Both downtown hotels list valet parking: Hotel ICON’s is $58 a day, and The Lancaster publishes no rate. They sit across downtown from the arena, under a mile away in a straight line.

Hotels in this area

We may earn a commission. Rates and availability are confirmed with the provider.
Museum District, Midtown and the Medical CenterA livelier base with more food choices

Stay along the Main Street corridor south of downtown, with barbecue, breakfast spots and a late restaurant nearby, and ride in.

Museums, Hermann Park, Midtown bars and Montrose barbecue

To the arena
Ride the Red Line to Bell Station and walk less than a half mile, or take a Lyft to the arena.
After the game
Walk to Bell Station for a southbound train, or walk west toward Austin Street, past Root Memorial Square Park, for your Lyft.
The tradeoff
Neither hotel is within walking distance of the arena. Hotel ZaZa is about 2.5 miles away in a straight line and Hotel Ylem about 5 miles.

Hotels in this area

We may earn a commission. Rates and availability are confirmed with the provider.
Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)Late arrivals, early flights and a car

Stay north of the city near IAH with free breakfast and, at La Quinta, a free airport shuttle, and drive downtown for the game.

Airport hotel corridor off Sam Houston Parkway and I-45

To the arena
Drive downtown and park in a surface lot or on the street near the arena.
After the game
Walk back to your lot and drive north.
The tradeoff
Both hotels are more than 11 miles from the arena in a straight line. La Quinta lists its shuttle for airport trips and mentions no arena service.

Hotels in this area

We may earn a commission. Rates and availability are confirmed with the provider.

Upcoming games at Toyota Center

Visiting with the away team? Each game has its own page.

To the game and back

Choose a route from the area you’re staying in.

From downtown on footDowntown and the Theater Districtwalk
Getting there
Walk across downtown to the arena at 1510 Polk Street. For Rockets games, fans with a bag must enter at the Jackson Street or Bell Atrium entrance.
Getting back
Walk back through downtown with the crowd.

Polk Street is closed to traffic between Chartres Street and Avenida de las Americas; the sidewalk stays open. The arena doesn’t publish one doors-open time, so check your ticket.

Route information
From downtown on the Red LineDowntown and the Theater Districttransit
Getting there
Board a southbound Red Line train on Main Street and ride to Bell Station, less than a half-mile walk from the arena. Trains run about every 6–12 minutes, and the fare is $1.25.
Getting back
Walk back to Bell Station and board a northbound train.

METRO lists approximate frequencies only. Its Red Line schedule shows weekday trains about every 18 minutes after about 8:45 p.m. and gives last-train times only from the ends of the line, not from Bell Station, so check the trip planner for your game night. The Green and Purple Lines stop at Convention District Station, also about a half mile away.

Route information
From the Museum District on the Red LineMuseum District, Midtown and the Medical Centertransit
Getting there
The Red Line runs along Main Street between the Texas Medical Center and downtown. Ride north to Bell Station and walk less than a half mile to the arena. The fare is $1.25, with free transfers for up to three hours.
Getting back
Walk back to Bell Station and board a southbound train.

Trains run about every 6–12 minutes before a game, but METRO’s Red Line schedule shows weekday trains about every 18 minutes after about 8:45 p.m. and gives last-train times only from the ends of the line, not from Bell Station, so check the trip planner before a late game. Check METRO’s service alerts on the day.

Route information
From the Museum District by LyftMuseum District, Midtown and the Medical Centerrideshare
Getting there
Take a Lyft, the arena’s rideshare partner, to the arena.
Getting back
Head west toward Austin Street, on the other side of Root Memorial Square Park, to meet your Lyft.

The arena publishes the pickup point but no wait times or prices.

Route information
From IAH by carBush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)drive
Getting there
Drive downtown and park in a surface lot or on the street near the arena. The arena’s own garage isn’t available to non-passholders on Rockets game days. Book a lot ahead with ParkWhiz, which the arena links.
Getting back
Walk back to your lot and drive north.

The arena publishes no parking prices. It says TxDOT has closed the I-59 southbound ramps to I-45 for demolition of the GRB South Ramp, and asks drivers to allow extra time.

Route information

At Toyota Center

Bags and bag entrances

The arena encourages you not to bring a bag. Bags up to 10 × 6 × 2 inches, diaper bags and medical bags are allowed. For Rockets games, fans with bags must use the Jackson Street or Bell Atrium entrance (or the Skybridge for premium ticket holders). Lockers at the Jackson Street and Skybridge entrances start at $10 a bag, card or mobile payment only.

Arena information
Tickets, doors and payment

Door times change by game, so check your ticket or call 713-758-7200. Enter with AXS Mobile ID in the Houston Rockets app or the AXS app. The arena is cashless, re-entry isn’t allowed, and at Rockets games alcohol sales typically stop at the start of the fourth quarter.

Arena information
No arena garage on Rockets game days

The arena’s garage isn’t available to non-passholders on Rockets game days. The arena points to surface lots and street parking nearby and links ParkWhiz for booking ahead. No parking prices are published.

Arena information
Box office closed for renovation

The box office is closed while the arena is renovated. On event days, ticket help is at the Bell Atrium and Polk Lobby entrances once doors open. The renovation will also reconfigure the south entry on Bell Street.

Arena information
METRORail to the arena

The arena is less than a half-mile walk from Bell Station on the Red Line, and about a half mile from Convention District Station on the Green and Purple Lines. Rail and local bus fares are $1.25. Paying by fare card, the RideMETRO app, a pass or a bank card includes free transfers for up to three hours; cash on a bus doesn’t.

Arena information
From IAH or Hobby by bus

METRO Route 500 Downtown Direct links Bush Intercontinental, downtown and Hobby, and METRO lists the George R. Brown Convention Center, at Polk Street and Avenida de las Americas, among its destinations. It runs about every 30 minutes for most of the day and costs $4.50. The last trips end between 8 and 9 p.m., so it won’t get you back to the airport after a night game.

Arena information

Find your game & tickets

Use the team schedule for home dates and tip-off times.

Houston Rockets schedule

Useful things to know

Can I park at Toyota Center for a Rockets game?

Not in the arena garage unless you hold a pass: it isn’t available to non-passholders on Rockets game days. Use a nearby surface lot or street parking, and book ahead with ParkWhiz if you want a space held.

What size bag can I bring?

Up to 10 × 6 × 2 inches, plus diaper bags and medical bags. At Rockets games, use the Jackson Street or Bell Atrium entrance if you have a bag. Lockers for larger bags start at $10, card or mobile payment only.

What time do doors open?

The arena doesn’t publish one time. Door times change by game, so check your ticket or call 713-758-7200.

Can I pay cash or leave and come back?

No to both. The arena is cashless, and re-entry isn’t allowed unless you have an unused ticket.

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