How to get to Madison Square Garden

Quick insights

• You may travel to Madison Square Garden by car or public transportation.
• MTA, NJ TRANSIT, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), PATH and Amtrak are some of the public transportation options available that serve the venue.
• Parking apps may help travelers locate and reserve parking spots in advance of the event.

Now that you’ve snagged your event tickets, you may be wondering about how you’ll get to Madison Square Garden. Fortunately, you have multiple convenient ways to access this venue.

This article will unpack the available options for traveling to the Garden based on your location and preferred mode of transportation.

Travel options to Madison Square Garden

Located at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, this New York City venue is in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The plaza is on 7th Avenue between W. 31st and W. 33rd Streets. You may access the Madison Square Garden via these transportation modes:

• Car
• Train
• Subway
• Bus
• Rideshare services

Accessing Madison Square Garden by car

If you are traveling by car, you may park on the street or in a nearby parking garage or lot. Parking apps are available for download, which may help you locate, price and book a spot in a lot or garage in advance. SpotHero is the official parking app of Madison Square Garden. 

For street parking, you may need to familiarize yourself with local parking rules and regulations. Note that only New York City Special Parking Permits are honored by the city for people with disabilities.

Driving may be a convenient choice, but it’s possible to hit a traffic jam during busy times. You may find that public transportation is an affordable option if the train, bus or subway schedule works for you.

Getting to Madison Square Garden by train

Madison Square Garden sits directly atop Penn Station New York, which is New York City’s major intercity railroad station. NJ TRANSIT, Amtrak and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) all have lines that make stops at New York Penn Station. When you exit your train, follow the signs that direct you to the Garden.

Schedules are subject to change and may have altered schedules on holidays and weekends. Check the train schedule before planning your trip.

From New Jersey

These NJ TRANSIT rail lines provide direct service to Penn Station New York:

• Northeast Corridor Line
• North Jersey Coast Line
• Raritan Valley Line

If you’re traveling from the west, you may transfer at Newark Penn Station to a line that provides service to the city. From the north, transfer at Secaucus Junction for New York service.

Some PATH trains from New Jersey travel to the 33rd Street/Avenue of the Americans, which is the closest stop to the Garden. These PATH trains stop at this station:

• Hoboken-33 Street
• Journal Square-33 Street
• Journal Square-33 Street (via Hoboken)

Travelers may take the Journal Square-33 Street (via Hoboken) PATH train on weeknights, weekend and holidays.

From Long Island

All Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) branches service New York Penn Station, including:

• Babylon Branch
• Hempstead Branch
• Montauk Branch
• Port Jefferson Branch
• Ronkonkoma Branch
• Far Rockaway Branch
• Long Beach Branch
• Oyster Bay Branch
• Port Washington Branch
• West Hempstead Branch

In addition to these commuter rails, travelers may use any Amtrak line that stops at New York Penn Station to visit Madison Square Garden. This may be an option for traveling long distances to the venue.

Traveling to Madison Square Garden by subway

Subway riders have a variety of options for traveling to the Garden. The closest stop to the venue is 34th Street/Penn Station, which connects to Madison Square Garden. The following trains service the 34th Street/Penn Station stop:

• 1
• 2
• 3
• A
• C
• E

These trains stop at 34th Street/Herald Square:

• B
• D
• F
• M
• N
• Q
• R
• W

The venue is roughly one block west of this stop.

Reaching Madison Square Garden by bus

Several MTA buses travel near the arena to the 7th Avenue/Penn Station stop. You may reach this stop via these buses:

• M4
• M10
• M16
• M34
• Q32

Review the Manhattan and Queens bus schedules to get the most current itinerary.

Using rideshare services to get to Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden has designated locations for rideshare pickup and drop off. These Access-A-Ride stops are at 7th Avenue southbound and 33rd Street northbound. If you need to purchase tickets once you arrive, the 7th Avenue location is closest to the box office.

You may be able to schedule a ride in advance if the ride service has this option.

Tips for traveling to Madison Square Garden

• Leave early. Traveling in a major metropolitan area can be unpredictable, and your visit may be less stressful if you give yourself extra time for travel.
• Check service status before you begin your trip. Schedules may change at the last minute.
• Bring a charged cell phone. If you’re using a digital ticket for your event or the contactless fare payment system for public transportation, you’ll need a phone. You may rent a portable charging device during the event, or you can use your own charger at the electrical outlets located throughout the venue.
• Pay your travel fare or reserve your parking spot in advance. This may make your trip less stressful.
• Limit the items you bring with you. The venue does not have storage lockers, and there are size limits on bags and devices.
• Check your digital ticket to know which entrance to use. This information will be based on where your seat is located. 

In summary

If you’re planning a visit to Madison Square Garden, you have several convenient public transportation options. You also have the option to travel by car and park on a nearby street or in a garage or lot. Planning your travel itinerary in advance and knowing where to go may help alleviate additional stress.