Been to The Hall several times. Everything, the museum, grounds, and ballpark are very compact and easy to navigate. Finding a parking place is easiest if you go there the night before and stay in a local hotel (Holiday Inn Express recommended). My advice is to drive into Cooperstown an hour or so before The Hall opens, especially in summer. You should be able to find street parking within 5-8 blocks of The Hall. I think that the HI has a shuttle service in, but we did not use that. Bottom line is that driving even very early from the City to Cooperstown will not allow sufficient time to do The Hall justice. They close early, too.

Once inside The Hall, either stick together if you want to be with one or more in your group or fan apart and see everything at once. Keep note of what you see "special" such that you can bring others back around who might have interest. Things are very close together and quick to re-find. If they are conducting a special exhibition at a time when you are there, by all means GO. It is often showcasing a specific piece in the collection that has never been or is not unusually shown to the public/. There will always be a learned HoF guide to explain and expound and, if you are REALLY lucky, a HoF might be on hand.

As for meeting, I’d just pick a time and tell everyone to meet in the gift shop, which is large and varied. That way, if people straggle along, the others will have plenty to look at it nt interim.

Have a great time and, if you are a die hard baseball fan like me, bring an extra box of tissues along with plenty of memory card capacity.

Each lot is several blocks away. (walkable)

It also depends on which way you come in to town.

The trolley will take you all over town for 3.00 a day each.

Also the HOF closes at 9:00 PM

Thanks so much for the replies so far! This is such a great resource, especially with having local brains to pick!!! :) One more question: how much is the newly institued parking at the Doubleday lot and what is the maximum duration you can park there without having to revisit the pay and display machine?

If you have AAA, you can get a discount off of the HOF tickets. I'll be going in August myself. We can't wait.

The lot off of Rte 28 North of the village is closest to HOF. But bring good walking shoes. Actually by foot is probably the best way to appreciate Cooperstown. Enjoy!

2.00 an hour. But you can only stay there for 2 hours. Then you have to move your car.

stupid I know!

You've got to be kidding! At those rates, they should at least give the ability to pay for the entire day!

Thanks everyone for the info.

the parking lot north of town tends to fill first