Go short -- or long -- to NFL training camps

Ready for your NFL roadtrip? The Chargers of San Diego are the best bet. But if you find yourself up north in the next week, the Raiders and 49ers offer public access to their training camps as well. Here’s a rundown:

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers have several training practices open to the public, including a free fan fest on Saturday (Aug. 6) at Qualcomm Stadium. The three remaining late afternoon practices take place at Chargers Park training facility, just north of Qualcomm, at 4020 Murphy Canyon Road. On weekends, fans can park at Murphy Canyon Road and in the Kearny Mesa Business Center, just south of Chargers Park. During the week, parking is available only on Murphy Canyon Road.

Gates open an hour prior to practice, close 30 minutes after practice concludes.

Bleacher seating is available, but fans are welcome to bring folding chairs to sit around the practice fields. Coolers with food, water and soft drinks also are permitted, but alcoholic beverages are not. Cameras are allowed, except for video cams and still cameras with long lenses.

Here, subject to change, is the Chargers public practice schedule:

Aug. 6: 10 a.m.-noon FanFest2011 presented by Bud Light at Qualcomm Stadium
Aug. 8: Practice 4-6 p.m. at Chargers Park
Aug. 9: Practice 4-6 p.m. at Chargers ParkAug. 13: Practice 4-6 p.m. at Chargers Park

San Francisco 49ers

Niners camp is free to the public, but tickets must be acquired ahead of time. All training camp sessions take place at the team’s Santa Clara headquarters (4949 Centennial Blvd.), about 40 miles south of San Francisco.

The practice facility is behind the headquarters. Parking is available in a lot across the street (an auxiliary lot for the California’s Great America theme park).

Click here for tickets.

Shady spots are at a premium, so bring water. Fans can bring in their own food and drinks, or purchase hot dogs and typical stadium food on site.

Here, subject to change, is the 49ers public practice schedule:

Aug. 5: 2:30 p.m.

Aug. 6: 2:30 p.m.

Aug. 8: 2:30 p.m.

Aug. 9: 8:45 a.m.

Aug. 17: 2:30 p.m.

Aug. 18: 2: 30 p.m.

Oakland Raiders

Due to limited space, you need to be “on the list” to get into the Raiders daily 3:30 p.m. practices. That doesn’t mean it’s exclusive – the guest list is a mix of youth and church groups, military personnel and fan contest winners. But neither can you just show up the way you can at most other camps.

The Raiders practice in Napa Valley, in facilities so tight there is no place for bleachers. “Please don’t report that practice is ‘closed,’ as so many people have,” said a Raiders spokesman. “It is open to the many, many groups we invite – we simply can’t fling the gates wide open, due to space and logistics.”

The team says youth and military groups should contact Scott Fink; booster groups should contact Morris Bradshaw; and other fan groups should contact the ticket office. They all can be reached at (510) 864-5000.